Meet Dahlgren Baker | Floral Designer

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

Hi Dahlgren, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Flowering for a large event is a job that takes an entire week (though much longer when all of the administration, flower ordering, and vessel sourcing is involved)! We often receive our flower boxes on Monday or Tuesday for a Saturday wedding, so that there is enough time for flowers to be properly conditioned before they can be designed with. People often ask me, won’t the flowers die??, but this is the constant tightrope that we floral designers walk! The goal is for the flowers to be at their most bloomed and beautiful on the day of a client’s event, and each floral variety has different preferences as to how they liked to be stored, processed, and kept in the cooler, which is a constant education.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My company, Olive & King, is a floral design studio that specializes in weddings and events, and so it is not lost on me that I am often delivering for some of the most special days of my client’s lives. This is not a role that I take lightly! Flowering a wedding is an expensive undertaking, not only because of the delicate and fleeting nature of the flowers themselves, but because of the extensive labor, time, and artistry that goes into making the designs happen. A flower in a single arrangement could have easily been touched by ten different hands from the time it is grown on a farm to being placed at a wedding. Therefore, it’s incredibly important to me that I honor my clients by approaching their event with great intention. My personal excitement comes from the creative aspects of the job, yes, but ultimately my client’s happiness is most important to me, because it is their joy I am being trusted with. I think the wedding industry can, at times, be bogged down by certain perceived expectations or trends, but at the end of the day, it’s all about being present in a moment in time with the people you love, and I encourage my clients to make design choices that will best reflect who they are and celebrate that moment.
Another important element of this profession is that every project Olive & King takes on comes with a unique set of challenges and production logistics. Being detailed oriented when it comes to setups and installations is just as important as artistic creation. But no matter how much is planned for, one of the biggest learning curves (especially for a Type-A person like myself) has been adjusting to roll with the punches and leaning into the on-the-fly nature of this job. It’s important to be able to think and be creative on your feet, and know that flower designs are a living art! But strategizing and devising up all of the ways that we can make our client’s visions happen is also incredibly fulfilling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Montrose, which makes me so happy because it’s one of the few places in Houston that feels walkable to me. So if it’s not the heat of the summer, we’d probably walk to grab coffee at Campesino or a beer at Rudyard’s. Rudyard’s also has a comedy club upstairs, which can be a lot of fun.
For dinner, we’d eat at Nobie’s or The Toasted Coconut (where I always order its namesake drink). Or perhaps, if I’m off work early and feeling indulgent, we’d arrive at Uchi right at 4 PM to snag a happy hour spot.
For a unique visit, I would take them to the Buffalo Bayou Cistern to experience whichever light media and sound installation is currently on display — as I’m writing this, it’s Rachel Rossin’s Haha real, which I took my family to earlier this summer. These tours are ones that defy written explanation, and need to be experienced in person! I’d also recommend attending one of the sound healing meditations held weekly at the cistern, because of the unique environment and acoustics.
If my visitor loved films, like I do, I would take them to a movie showing at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston — they have quite a range of art and foreign films, as well as cult classics. Then, cocktails at Refuge, or karaoke at Nightingale Karaoke Bar for a late night!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Firstly, I would like to thank my parents. When I first started my business, they allowed me to build a flower cooler and garage studio at their home, which I still use for smaller events. I’d like to thank my husband, too, as he has assisted me and my team on many late-night wedding cleanups. Finally — the Houston floral design community is amazing, and it makes me so happy to work in such a collaborative city.

Website: https://oliveandkingdesign.com/

Instagram: @oliveandking

Image Credits
Lightbulb League, Nancy Aidee Photography, The Silhouette Studio Photography, Two Pair Photography, Lauren Slusher Photography, Marco Wang Photography, Jadyn Noelle Photography