Meet Revyn Marburger — An Entrepreneur with a Gypsy Soul
By Sharon White | Photography by Justin Borja
Meander through the back roads from Temple to Heidenheimer and onto Stallion Road, and you’ll discover more than rolling hills, cattle and cornfields. Look closely, and you may just spot a thriving business and its successful owner, Revyn Marburger, of Ivory Bell Floral.
It is here, in this bucolic setting, where 21-year-old Revyn Marburger’s charming design studio sits next to the home where she grew up. It is also where the young entrepreneur meets and greets clients, creates floral arrangements, receives wholesale flower deliveries and parks the cargo trailer that carries her designs to the many events with which she has been entrusted.
“I’ve always loved flowers, especially wildflowers,” says Revyn. “When I was 14, and a freshman at Troy High School, I joined the Future Farmers of America Floriculture Program. I started learning more about plants and arranging flowers. That was my ‘aha’ moment, when I realized this was what I was meant to do.”
And Revyn has been pursuing her dream ever since. With the help of her supportive parents, Gary and Shannon, Revyn continued designing in high school, gained internship experience at numerous flower shops and eventually graduated in May 2019 with a degree in horticulture from Texas A&M—with an emphasis in floral design, of course.
During her senior year at A&M, Revyn says, “I was traveling back and forth from College Station several times a week, fitting in job after job between classes and exams. I graduated on a Friday morning, then drove straight home to prepare flowers for a wedding the next day.”
Revyn seems undaunted by the challenge of owning her own business. “I love living out my passion,” she says. “My parents always told me to chase my dream instead of just chasing money.” Revyn’s parents’ advice seems to have paid off. This year, she will design and coordinate 31 weddings.
Revyn says the best part of her job as a wedding consultant and floral designer is getting to know her clients. “When I sit down with a bride, I want to know all about her. I ask about her style—does she like classic or more free-flowing designs? What flowers does she love? What flowers does she hate? My goal is to add a signature touch and personalize the occasion as much as I can. Sometimes a bride will come to me with lots of ideas she’s gotten off of Pinterest, at a bridal show or from magazines, and sometimes brides have no real idea what they want. I love helping them figure it out.”
Part of Revyn’s job as a floral designer and event coordinator is to assure clients that she will deliver exactly what they’ve asked for. “Brides trust me with engagement parties, rehearsals and their wedding day,” she says. “It’s the most important day of their lives—a day some have been dreaming of since they were little girls. I feel honored to have the job. When I arrive with arrangements, bouquets and corsages, and a bride gives me a look of pure joy, that makes everything worthwhile.”
Revyn has faced design challenges, but always manages to work them out. “Once I had to decorate a canoe for the bride and groom. Another time, the bride wanted an arrangement in a large hexagonal arch. Luckily, my mom, who is an A&M engineering graduate, drew out the plan and helped me build it.”
When asked about the pressures of the job—planning, designing, delivering and setting up, Revyn’s confident smile never fades. “It’s always an exciting adventure. No two weddings are ever alike. If a problem comes up, I’ll just figure it out from there.”
IvoryBellFloral.com
Use What You Have
Make this simple arrangement for about $15 using flowers from the grocery store. Revyn ties a mason jar with ribbon and adds larkspur, white wax flowers and myrtle stems. (Perfect for a hospital patient or as a hostess gift.)
Create a Bubble Bowl Centerpiece
Choose the flowers:
Large feature flower like the peony here (hydrangeas, large roses and sunflowers also work)
Longer-stemmed flowers (coordinate with the color of the feature flower). Pink stock and goldenrod were used here.
Greenery, like tree fern.
Fill your bowl halfway with water. Make a nine-square grid on the top of the bowl using clear floral tape. Begin filling your grid with the greenery stems first. Add your feature flowers. Use longer-stemmed flowers to create the width of the arrangement, then add more flowers for height.
