05/21/2026
Meet our Founder & CEO, !
From a young age, Malea has loved weddings and the beauty of lasting love. Some of her earliest memories include playing dress up at just four years old, creating pretend wedding ceremonies, and dreaming up celebrations long before she knew what event planning was. As she grew older, that love only deepened. A romantic at heart, she was shaped not only by classic love stories in movies and books—The Parent Trap, The Wedding Planner, 27 Dresses, Titanic, and countless others—but also by the real-life examples set before her. Watching her grandparents and parents build marriages rooted in commitment, joy, and faith gave her a deep appreciation for covenant love and the power of choosing one another day after day.
When it came time for college, Malea felt drawn to event planning but chose to pursue a degree in business instead, believing that excellence in experience begins with strong foundations. Her studies gave her a holistic understanding of operations, administration, finances, and leadership—skills that now allow her to approach events with both creativity and clarity. That path led her to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she worked in ministry and discovered the impact thoughtfully designed gatherings can have. In one of her roles, she led large-scale events for a megachurch, overseeing more than 16 events annually with 4,000+ attendees in person and thousands more joining from around the world.
It was during this season that Malea launched her event business and planned her first weddings, pairing her love for romance with her strength in organization and operations. After a season of pause and transition, she returned to Minneapolis with renewed vision and purpose. Exhale Events was born from a desire to partner with people during some of life’s most meaningful moments—serving them with intention, excellence, and care. Grounded in faith and guided by grace, Malea approaches every wedding, church gathering, corporate event, and luxury celebration with the same heart: to carry the weight of the details so her clients can breathe deeply, stay present, and fully enjoy the moment.