Today we’d like to introduce you to Cillia Marion.
Hi Cillia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always loved everything creative and beautiful. However, I also have a passion for compassion. I need to be doing something that serves others. I have always been adept at planning, organizing, and creating. From birthday parties to getaways, my family says that my experiences have always been “extra.” I have five children under nine now, so you can imagine the opportunities for celebrations!
I considered taking on event planning or floral work for a long time but something was always in the way. My children were too small, I might fail, I had no time, etc. When I met my husband, I had three children and I had been serving in the military for five years. I will never forget when he told me “There will never be a good time, and you need to create.” So I did! I named the business after him and hit the ground running.
I opened the business officially in 2017 and planned my first wedding while deployed to Iraq. It was a great exercise in resource research! I learned to build relationships and use creative solutions. Our clients have been so gracious and word of mouth took off immediately. We added floral officially in 2019 and we have been growing steadily since that first event. I am so in love with what we have created!
I wanted to create events that looked and felt like real couples. I did not want to replicate wood slices and mason jars or mirrors and rhinestones on tables over and over. My desire was to build lush, romantic, perfectly curated events from start to finish. Once clients know that we live outside the box, they love to go there with us! From ice cream trucks to inventive floral installations, we have had the opportunity to fall in love with weddings over and over again. My family has grown and my husband is still military so we have moved quite a bit, allowing us to work in a number of states. We are Texans at heart though! We now have a team in Houston, Austin, and Dallas but we have worked everywhere from the Smoky Mountains to the heart of Nashville and back down to San Antonio.
I wouldn’t trade this for a minute.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been quite a few struggles. One of the reasons I did not sooner was an abusive marriage. It was not until I escaped that relationship and met a man who believed in me that I had the support to do what I love.
I have also had to learn small ways to mitigate the effects that racism has on my business. Things like putting my picture in my signature block and all over the website weeds out those who would rather not have a Planner with maroon locs and dark skin.
I also had to learn the hard way that everyone is not your client. I am pretty good at identifying my people now, but at first I had to really set strict boundaries to protect my intellectual property and set myself up as the expert. My time is so valuable because what I do not give to the business, I give to my family. I will not spend it on just anything. Now, I love spending my time crafting things that express my client’s vibe beautifully.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Marion Matrimony Events is a Wedding Planning and Floral Collective that focuses on client-centric beauty and unique events. We would best describe our work as adventurous! We mainly serve Central Texas but we will travel for love! Our focus is Wedding planning, floral, and design but we also create invitations and hand lettering art.
Why? Because weddings should not have rules! This is your day! You do not have to settle for your choice of 2-3 one size fits all wedding styles. Do you want black dresses and birds of prey at your wedding? Let’s do it. Ice cream trucks and a carnival tent? How about an epic all-white party? We want to go there with you. We want your day to feel like, well, you! We help you surround yourself with the best of you.
We do a lot of things that are out of the norm for most. We are very involved in client planning. I have an entire exercise devoted to choosing a sophisticated color palette that is visually pleasing. I hate to match, but I love to coordinate. We have connections to dress designers and custom suits. We are Equally Wed certified and do not work with those who choose to exclude our LGBTQ+ friends. We thrive on joy, and that is universal.
What’s next?
We are looking forward to expanding our floral offerings soon because our inquiries for personal flowers are overflowing! We will likely launch a subscription and floral delivery service early 2022. Clients will be able to order a new arrangement for their home or office every week or two and we will provide what they need to have fresh flowers year round to enjoy!
Pricing:
- Wedding Coordination starting at $1500
- Wedding Planning starting at $4500
- Event Design/Decoration starting at $1500
- Full Event Flowers starting at $3000
- Calligraphy starting at $2.00/envelope or piece
Contact Info:
- Email: Create@marionevents.com
- Website: www.marionevents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marionevents/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marionmatrimony
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVRXOe8AHsEg0PZOtm5Z3zQ
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/mmevents_
Image Credits
Charmed Life Photography Allie Chambers Photography Kenzie K Photography Captured Moments Photography Availeth Photo, Co.
