Dylan Dunn, left, of Everything Floral by Dylan gets ready for Valentine's Day with his husband of three-and-a-half years, Dylan Humphrey, right, of Kool Kakes by Dylan. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Tucked in a little neighborhood off East 5th Street in Tyler, a bakery and a flower shop thrive side by side where sugar and stems share the same space in the backyard of a home.

Dylan Humphrey, the mastermind behind Kool Kakes by Dylan, crafts elaborate cakes and confections, while his husband Dylan Dunn brings blooms to life through Everything Floral by Dylan. Together, they’ve built a unique business, blending artistry and passion one cake and bouquet at a time.

“We’re basically a one-stop shop for whatever you need,” Humphrey said.

A recipe for success

Humphrey, 30, had been making a name for himself in the cake industry since he was in his teens, thanks to his grandmother.

“She got me interested in it,” he said. “I started decorating cakes when I was 13 and then decorated my first wedding cake at that age.”

Humphrey began honing his cake decorating skills by taking Wilton and Michael’s cake decorating classes while still in high school. He started baking at his parents’ house and continued developing his craft while attending Tyler Junior College. By the time he graduated, he had opened his storefront in 2014.

His skills have been spotlighted on food competition shows on Disney+ and the Food Network, where he showcased his talent for intricate cake designs and creative confections. Competing on a national stage allowed him to push his artistic boundaries, gain industry recognition, and share his passion for baking with a wider audience.

“I love to bake. I’m creative in the kitchen,” Humphrey said in a 2020 article. “When I picture something in my mind, I’m determined to find a way to make it.”

A business blooms

Before Dunn, 26, became a master of floral arrangements, he had aspirations of being a Disney Imagineer.

“I’ve always been kind of artsy,” he said. “I wanted to do something, whether it be drawing or painting or creating something as a career. I never really thought about flowers at all and had no idea what all goes into it and how much work that is actually behind the scenes, but as soon as I was able to get my hands on flowers and start making stuff, I kind of fell in love with it.”

Dunn takes a more modern approach when it comes to creating floral arrangements.

“I love just making something different and crazy,” he said. “I’m more into the… asymmetrical kind of stuff, where it’s not like a perfect ball. I like playing with different heights and depths of the flowers, giving it just a lot of character.”

His creativity earned him a top finalist spot at an international floral competition in Florida — an impressive feat against seasoned florists, considering it was his first time competing in anything floral-related.

“I’ve always loved plants and gardening and stuff, being outside and just creating all kinds of different amazing things,” Dunn said.

His creative journey took a few turns, first working with cakes and photography before taking a part-time job at a local flower shop in Tyler where he worked about a year, cleaning buckets and handling deliveries. However, Dunn didn’t have the opportunity to work on arrangements at that shop.

“I would show my boss something I made and she would say, ‘Oh, that looks great,’ but I wasn’t allowed to design anything in the shop,” Dunn said. “But still, I loved working there. It was the best job I ever had.”

That’s why it came as a shock when the shop let him go, claiming he lacked passion. Humphrey was just as baffled.

“I didn’t know they were gonna fire him… he was really enjoying the job,” Humphrey said. “I was like, well, I mean, if something goes south then we’ll just open up your own store, so let’s just do that.”

By April 2022, Everything Floral by Dylan was taking root right next to Kool Kakes by Dylan. They planned a big grand opening, complete with DJs, food, and a photo booth.

“We were super excited,” Humphrey said.

A life-altering diagnosis

But just as Everything Floral was beginning to bloom, life threw the couple an unexpected challenge. The morning of their grand opening, Dunn wasn’t himself. He struggled to get out of bed, moving sluggishly as Humphrey went ahead to the shop to finish preparations.

“To this day, I don’t know how I got there,” Dunn said. “I drove and I remember walking through, not seeing any flowers, just kind of tunnel vision, and I sat down in the office.”

Dunn’s mother, who was there to help with the grand opening, realized something was wrong and rushed him to the hospital.

“Then his dad called me and was like, ‘You need to get up here, this is bad,’” Humphrey said.

Doctors discovered Dunn’s heart was functioning at just 5%. His heart was failing and his body was struggling to keep up. Tests revealed the cause — a genetic condition that had gone undiagnosed until that moment.

“It’s a Titin gene (mutation), basically congestive heart failure,” Humphrey explained. “The bottom of the heart is paper-thin and kind of wavy and doesn’t pump strong enough to get the blood to sort of go all the way around your body. On the echo machine, the heart is supposed to be solid white… but the whole apex of his heart looks like a spider web and it’s not solid tissue.”

With a clearer understanding of his condition, Dunn and his doctors discussed long-term plans, including medication management and an eventual heart transplant. After treatment, he started feeling like himself again.

“This is all happening in the first year of our marriage,” Humphrey said. “So, we’ve been through it.”

Despite the challenges the young couple faced, they remained ambitious and dedicated to their growing businesses.

“Right now I’m a little bit tired, but that’s just because Valentine’s Day is coming up,” Dunn said earlier this week. “But… I feel good, pretty much normal.”

Valentine’s rush

For Valentine’s Day — the busiest time of year for any florist — Humphrey has put his bakery on hold to help manage floral orders. However, the couple is teaming up to offer special Valentine’s packages, including a dozen red roses (or designer’s choice) paired with chocolate-dipped strawberries and cupcakes.

“One of the things we highly recommend is not going through a wire service,” Dunn said. “We’re trying to get out there with local people to call us directly instead of using 1-800-Flowers or Teleflora or any of those places you see on Google that says same-day delivery and it’s really easy and cheap, and it’s really not.”

The Dylans explain that wire services take a cut of the total cost, meaning customers often end up paying more than they expect, often without realizing it. On top of that, since orders go through a third party, special requests can get lost in translation, leading to substitutions or unexpected changes.

“Call someone local, call them directly, whether it be my flower shop or any other flower shop in town,” Dunn said. “Call them, you will get a much better deal and the communication will be crystal clear. You’re gonna get what you want.”

The business owners have an additional message for the procrastinating romantics: “Do not wait at the last minute!”

“Order early and order local,” Dunn said. “But… we know people will still wait at the last minute, so we do make extras to keep at hand.”

A new chapter at home

Originally, the couple’s bakery and flower shop operated from individual storefronts at 5615 Troup Highway in Tyler. However, due to rising costs, in the fall of 2023, they decided to relocate and conduct both businesses inside of their home. To accommodate the move, they converted and remodeled two separate sheds in their backyard — one for baking and one for floral design — ensuring each space met the necessary health and safety codes.

“It actually works out better because we can focus on our crafts without the overhead of a storefront and dealing with the electricity bills,” Humphrey said.

While Dunn and Humphrey are the faces of their businesses, they’re not running the show alone. Humphrey’s mom handles the baking, ensuring every treat is made from scratch, while another cake decorator helps bring custom designs to life. An office manager keeps orders organized and customers happy, especially during the Valentine’s Day rush.

“I think we have a cool, little and unique situation here,” Humphrey said. “We make a great team.”

From birthdays to weddings and everything in between, Dunn and Humphrey have turned their businesses into a trusted destination for cakes and flowers. Whether it’s a custom cake designed to match a bridal bouquet or a last-minute Valentine’s Day surprise, they make sure every customer walks away with something beautiful — and delicious.

For floral needs, visit everythingfloralbydylan.com or call 903-202-0227; for something equally sweet, visit koolkakesbydylan.com or call 903-202-0207. Appointments are required.