Today we’d like to introduce you to Donnamarie Dexter.
Hi Donnamarie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up surrounded by the floral business. My great-grandfather came over from Poland in 1890, started a pansy farm, and his sons (including my grandfather) added greenhouses and started a wholesale floral business and florist. I never imagined this being my path as well. I was a fashion design major. After college, I was looking for a summer job, applied for a design position in 1995, and have yet to look back. I started working for a family business and would explore other shops learning techniques and tricks of the trade. It always felt comfortable for me to design and create. It’s just a part of me and who I am.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
It’s always been a challenging road. Some designers are just content and designers that want more. Some florists take advantage of the better designers to throw themselves the glory. Working in the field never felt stable; other designers would feel threatened by more creatives. Some owners needed help to afford what their talent was worth. I experienced all of these aspects. It felt like hitting the restart button every time, but my love for floral design is my heart.
Thanks for sharing that. Can you tell us more about your work next?
I am a floral designer. I specialize in weddings and everyday flowers. I am known for my bridal bouquets. I’m most proud of my reputation as a bridal designer; my brides come to me with ideas (some have yet to learn) and tell me. I trust you and leave it up to me. I love that I form a personal relationship with my brides, and I can tailor their look just by their personality and style. The time I take to listen, be present, and get in my girl’s heads about what they want and don’t want sets me apart. Most florists are just so impersonal. They take an order and deliver it. That’s not me. I love to see my brides first look at their florals and how emotional they get. I took the time to get to know them, which paid off.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My knowledge of design, especially fashion design, gives me the quality of a keen eye. I see things like an artist’s size, colors .shapes before I even touch a flower to design something—my willingness to learn and embrace constructive criticism. I’m very proud that I am always willing to take on a project far from my comfort zone and hit a home run. Believe in me so much that everything falls into place.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Donnamarie_wedding.florist
