(More) Sweet Dreams … are made of this

Longtime local business owner Laura Zabicki announced her retirement from the second of two successful operations, Sweet Dreams Floral Designs, and introduced the community to its new owner, Mary Gotelli-Gomez.

Zabicki formerly owned Sweet Dreams Cakes and flowers and, in 2022, sold the baking portion of the shop to longtime manager Shanon Duran.

Now Gotelli-Gomez and Duran are in the drivers seats for these two outfits and Zabicki couldn’t be more pleased with the results.

“It was immensely gratifying to start and build these businesses,” Zabicki said.

“I am so grateful for the many years of joy, creativity and wonderful relationships within an amazing community. I’m also very excited to see where these bright, enthusiastic and competent young women take both businesses from here.”

For Zabicki and husband Roman, formerly of Crab Cakes Restaurant, it’s a new era and they look forward to some travel.

But things will be just as sweet as ever.

Meet Mary

Award-winning Sweet Dreams Floral Design’s new owner is Mary Gotelli-Gomez. She‘s a local’s local, raised in Yosemite Lakes Park and attending Sandcastles Preschool (now Basecamp) and Rivergold Elementary before graduating from Yosemite High School in 2011.

“Laura and Roman built an incredible business and those principles will stay in place,” Gotelli-Gomez said. “They’ve been delivering amazing service and I’ll continue to do that, with my own spin, as we grow.”

After moving away from the Sierra for college and gaining a background in business and marketing, Gotelli-Gomez spent a decade in Los Angeles working on digital startups and e-commerce for jewelry and fashion brands.

She is married to Crane Valley Hotshots lead firefighter Michael Lawnsbury.

“We met first in high school where we had one freshman Spanish class together and then reconnected in 2020 while we were sheltering in place.”

They carried on with socially distanced dating and, in 2022, were happily married at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The bride designed all the flowers for her own 120-guest wedding.

That was the same year Gotelli Gomez graduated from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business, earning her Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship.

Social entrepreneurship is the practice of building and scaling market-driven businesses with the goal of solving social, cultural or environmental issues. Rather than measuring success solely by profit, ventures integrate purpose with revenue, channeling returns to create lasting impact.

The couple moved back to the area in July of 2022, percolating a plan.

“I wanted to be an entrepreneur and I knew I wanted to be in an in-person business using my hands and brain. I had seen Sweet Dreams Floral listed for sale and my husband is friends with the Zabickis. So I asked Laura if the business was available and it was so cool the way it all came together.”

Gotelli-Gomez closed on the purchase in April this year just as peak wedding season exploded.

“It’s been great — I’m loving it.”

It was a baptism by floral.

“In the first 60 days of owning the business we did between 50-55 weddings. It can be challenging because there are so many details for wedding and events and you have to be incredibly detail oriented.”

Fortunately, Gotelli-Gomez retained two of the florists who previously worked for Zabicki.

Bouquets and brides — the majority of whom are from the Central Valley — are but a part of the equation.

“Floristry is physically demanding. it’s not just playing with pretty flowers. And in peak season it’s a mental challenge. But it’s so rewarding to get on the other side.”

Peak season runs through the end of June but planning takes place all year long. Clientele includes those in the market for flowers to enhance elopements where it’s just the bride, groom and officiant, along with micro weddings of 10 or fewer people — and full size weddings, too.

“We have a unique wedding corridor here with our brides and families and a great community of wedding vendors who are so supportive to work with to help our clients. And I want to partner across the community to serve that influx of people. I care so much about the local economy and I feel so fortunate to be here where opportunity exists.”

A long-term goal she plans is to create more of a walk-in experience at the shop so people can stop by for everyday flowers, curated seasonal blooms and customer favorites.

Just as fashion has trends, so do florals. Currently, Gotelli Gomez said, “the 70s are back,” and sometimes women are choosing smaller bouquets holding fewer blooms but with unique shape and structure.

“For some modern brides it’s about being more editorial and architectural.”

Clients are welcomed online and in person with mood boards featuring specially gathered bloom selections. The florist encourages couples to plan for themselves, “not social media.” “We can get caught up in that and it’s important to choose what you want because flowers are there to complement your special day.”

Gotelli-Gomez at press time was planning a research hike in Yosemite with a couple of different bouquets to see which would best pass the “wilt-test.”

She said one thing that’s struck her since owning Sweet Dreams Floral Design is how much raw emotion goes into planning the big day. And it’s all worth it when the bride sees her flowers and responds accordingly.

“When we get a hug it’s like an Academy Award,” Gotelli-Gomez said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”

Shanon takes the cakes

Right next door and on the same page as Sweet Dreams Floral Design is Sweet Dreams Cakery owned for the last three years by Shanon Duren.

Duren first began working at Sweet Dreams in 2018 and was kitchen manager for the business when Zabicki put a thought in her head.

“She said, ‘If I ever sell the business, would you be interested?’ So we had time to figure it out,” Duren shared.

And in 2023, that’s what happened when Duren acquired the shop and rebranded it as Sweet Dreams Cakery.

Duren is another locally grown entrepreneur, hailing from Coarsegold and graduating from Yosemite High in 2008. After that, she lived in Murphys and worked as a caterer. But eventually she wanted to re-establish herself in the Oakhurst area.

“I moved back with no real plan but knew it would be easy to get a kitchen job — I have an artistic streak and I naturally gravitated toward cakes — and it all worked out perfectly.”

The seasonal peaks and valleys can be challenging for the baker, as they are for anyone in the wedding and special events businesses. And during the height of the season, “we’re busy all day every day,” Duren said.

“In winter we have not as many orders so I go back to baking for restaurants.”

Duren’s delights can be found at the Oakhurst Grill and Tenaya Lodge as well as the new restaurant at Tenaya, “Plates and Pours,” in the Waybound Yosemite clubhouse. She makes cakes, cookies and other baked confections including gluten free and vegan options in most cases.

She has some tips for anyone ordering.

“Don’t drive more than three hours with a cake,” she said, “and delivery is always worth it. We have a temperature controlled vehicle and we will set it up for you.”

Trends for wedding cakes these days include vintage styles like a heart-shaped cake, full floral designs she describes as “maximalist,” and cakes with written messages.

“Some clients want writing like, ‘Just Married,’ or ‘Married AF,’” she laughed.

And it’s not just wedding cakes under Duren’s purview — she and her staff do it all.

Many of the cakes they make are for repeat customers. In one instance, she’s made a birthday cake for one boy every year and the theme varies but remains fixed on vehicles. This year, it’s an army tank.

“The vast majority of our clients are regulars and a special cake is part of their experience.”

One of the things Duren likes best about owning and running the Cakery is being her own boss.

“The best is working for myself, growing my own reputation, displaying my creative side and getting to be part of clients’ special days. I’ve seen some really sweet moments.”