Meet Marva | Certified Wedding Planner and Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marva and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marva, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my own business was deeply rooted in my passion for planning. Beyond my roles as a bank manager, teacher, instructional coach, and principal spanning the course of forty years, it was second nature for me to integrate fun celebrations into my work–planning everything from corporate award receptions to school-wide academic events.

Then it happened! During the summer of 2021, I experienced pure joy while planning the wedding of my daughter and son-in-love, Kelly and Eric. The privilege of managing and coordinating three other weddings that year ignited a desire for more, propelling me to transform my passion into a purposeful business.

After retiring on September 30th, I immediately enrolled in a wedding planning certification course the very next day. I remember thinking, “Girl, it’s okay to take a break. After all, you’re retired.” However, being passionate about planning coupled with being a life-long learner, it just made sense to forge ahead. I successfully completed the course and officially established Marvalous Weddings, LLC, a Christian-based wedding planning company, on February 22, 2022. The initial plan was to offer a full-service wedding planning option for couples. Soon thereafter, I refined my offering to a wedding management model, where I can seamlessly blend month-of planning with day-of coordination.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Marvalous Weddings, LLC is guided by four fundamental principles that I stand firmly on, not only in business, but in life. They speak to who I am as a person which sets me apart from others:

1. Build trusting relationships – I value people and therefore invest my time and energy developing respectful relationships through open, honest, and candid communication.

“Marva truly took the time to get to know us and our vision so she could execute the details of our wedding successfully. It’s evident that she has years of experience with wedding planning. Hiring Marva took a load off our shoulders.” –Willie and Shakaila

2. Serve with passion – Serving others is my God-given gift. I will go in hard for you as I honor Him.

“Marva is truly a God send. We decided to hire her with only a few weeks left before the wedding, as we realized we’d need someone to handle the day-of execution. However, Marva did so much more. She went above and beyond during our entire process. She asked me all the right questions, thought about details I missed, and handled all our vendors. She even helped me and my mother get into our dresses. Marva is detail oriented, organized, thoughtful, caring, and has the sweetest personality.” –Mark and DeAnna

3. Remain calm under pressure – It is of a certainty that not everything will go as planned. Such is life and when faced with challenges, maintaining self-control and remaining calm are the character traits that allow me to problem-solve quickly and effectively.

“From start to finish, Marva was there every step of the way. She was absolutely amazing and calmly, yet firmly, stepped in during critical parts of the wedding process.”
–Eric and Kelly

4. Execute with excellence – I show up with a spirit of excellence…every detail…every time.

“If you’re wondering if hiring a wedding planner is worth the investment, it absolutely is. Take that stress off of you and leave it to the best which is Marva.”
–Ken and Tanisha

The biggest challenge that I have faced has now become my proudest moment. The ability to reach my target audience in order to attract clients that have shared values has been difficult over the past three years. However, since the February 14, 2025 publication and launching of “Love is in the Details: A Wedding Planning Devotional for the Engaged Couple”, I have been given the opportunity to promote both my wedding planning business and the devotional as an on-going guest speaker for a couples’ ministry at a church in the DFW area. I am excited for what is to come through this connection, as it was the answer to a three-year prayer.

I want the world to know that I am a God girl with a servant’s heart who happens to have a keen eye for detail. I thrive in the intricate details of planning and find joy in crafting “marvalous” experiences for couples and their guests. Perhaps, more importantly, the world should know that it is never too late to pivot and transition to a new place of peace and purpose.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1 – Arlington, TX
AT&T Stadium Tour
Hang out at Texas Live for food, drinks, and sports action on the big screens,
or take in a Rangers baseball game at Globe Life Field.

Day 2 – Fort Worth, TX
Spend the day at Sundance Square with shopping at the quaint downtown shops.
Indulge in food and drinks at Reata Restaurant or serve up BBQ at Riscky’s.
Enjoy night-time entertainment with a play at Jubilee Theater, a performance at Bass Hall, or a classic movie at Rooftop Cinema Club.

Day 3 – Grand Prairie, TX
Epic Central is the place to be for exercise, entertainment, and dining.
Take a stroll along the scenic paths, play pickle ball, or visit the Summit activities center.
Enjoy waterfront dining at The Finch or Vidorra while viewing the free water and light show at night.

Day 4 – Grapevine, TX
Spend the day in the historic Main Street District.
Enjoy walking through unique shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
Take a relaxing ride on the vintage railroad.

Day 5/6 – Dallas, TX
Spend a couple of days visiting well-known attractions in the Dallas area:
-Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
-Reunion Tower
-Dallas World Aquarium
-Tour the city on the Tea Around Town tour bus
-Try out the BIG screen at Cosm in The Colony
-Many options for dining, including the new Hampton Social

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutouts to:

My husband, William, for giving me the space to pursue my passions and flow in my gifts.

My mother, Marjorie Kelly, for raising me to be her “Christian girl”, for nurturing my creativity, and for being an active presence in my life, even now at the age of 96.

My daughter and son-in-love, Kelly and Eric, for reigniting my passion for wedding planning by entrusting me with theirs and for being a constant source of encouragement.

My brand strategist and coach, Brieanna Lightfoot Smith, for creating my logo and website, for prompting me to write a devotional for engaged couples through her Profitable Products program, and for always believing bigger for me.

Website: https://marvalousweddings.com

Instagram: marvalousweddingsllc

Facebook: Marvalous Weddings, LLC

Image Credits
Tolman Media
Lavishly Lux Studios