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Mrs. Hot Cocoa, Boston/Los Angeles Age and Occupation: 31, JD/PhD Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Medical Student Engagement Date: May 30, 2008 Wedding Date: March, 2009 Blogging Since: April, 2008 Venue: Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey About Me: I am a professional student by day and an amateur cupcake taster, bargain shopper, and wedding planner by night. I am obsessed with NPR, the Food Network, paper, dance shows, Anthropologie, post-structuralist theory, Weddingbee!, "The Office," and celebrity gossip. When not procrastinating from my dissertation, I spend time catering to Jellyby, our overly anxious shih tzu, and getting to know Mr. Hot Cocoa. We have only been dating for fifteen years, so it's like I'm in love with a stranger! From the East Coast, we are planning a Jewish-Chinese Extravaganza in L.A., where we both grew up.
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A Floral Checklist

December 9th, 2008 @ 9:33 am by Mrs. Hot Cocoa

While I was in LA during Thanksgiving, despite a very hectic schedule of gorging on In ’n Out burgers (everything tastes better when it’s done “animal style”) and Pinkberry, I managed to get together with Angel Swanson (planner extraordinaire and Weddingbee Pro) and to meet with some florists. Since I’m uber-type A, I put together a floral inspiration packet to give the florists a sense of the look I was envisioning for the wedding. The photos included in that packet definitely helped me communicate my vision, but the part of the packet that was most helpful was a floral checklist, on which the florists could rely in putting together an estimate.

I thought I’d share the checklist here. Hopefully, this will be useful for some of you! (Oh, and I added a few other common elements in brackets that weren’t on my checklist.)



Floral Checklist

Personal Flowers

  • Bridal bouquet (1)
  • [Bride’s toss bouquet (1), breakaway or whole]
  • Groom’s boutonniere (1)
  • Bridesmaid bouquets (6 total)
  • Groomsperson boutonnieres (7 total) + grandpa & dad boutonnieres (2 total)
  • Small nosegays for mothers and grandmas (4 total)
  • [Flower girl pomander or bouquet]
  • [Ringbearer boutonniere]
Ceremony Flowers and Décor
  • Chuppah [or altar arrangement for the goyim]
  • Aisle decor (8-10 luminarias, hurricanes with floating candles, or lanterns on shepherd hooks)
  • [Rose petals for aisle or for flower girl]
  • [Pew decor]
Cocktail and Entrance Flowers and Décor
  • Guest book table
  • Gift table
  • Escort card table
  • Small florals for bars and food stations (6 total)
  • Small arrangements for cocktail tables (8 total)
Reception
  • Mix of low/tall centerpieces for guest tables (25-30 total)
  • Arrangements for wedding party “feasting table” (table seats 16]
  • Dessert buffet table
  • [Cake]
  • [Favor table]
Photo 1 Source. Photo 2 Source.

In addition to the above checklist, I also included a list of my favorite and least favorite flowers:

Favorite flowers (no particular order):

  • Ranunculus
  • Peonies
  • Orchids
  • Camelias
  • Dahlias
  • Hibiscus
  • Amaryllis
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Zinnias
  • Lisianthus
  • Mums
  • Cherry blossoms & flowering branches

Least favorite flowers:

  • White flowers (okay in small quantities, but generally to be avoided b/c they are funereal in Chinese culture)
  • Roses (except cabbage or garden roses that resemble ranunculus)

Yeah, I hate roses. I know, it’s like hating rainbows or puppies or babies. Sorry!

Anything missing off the checklist? Anyone else dislike a flower everyone else gushes over?
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25 Responses to “A Floral Checklist”

1.
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Guest
Amanda71109

I have recently become slightly obsessed with fringed tulips..they are wonderful..oh i like carnations to, but they have to be closely bunched together it gives them a peony type look

 
2.
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yelli

great checklist….thank you!

 
3.
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Bee
Mrs. Onion (message)  657 posts, Busy bee

great list - very helpful for the bride who has no idea where to begin. i was “that” girl and when i met with our florist i brought some flowers i’d cut out of magazine to give her a little direction.

she did a GREAT thing that i wish all florists did — she brought folders of inspiration photos of different styles (modern, romantic, formal, garden-y etc) to get a sense of my style (felt a little like a therapist session — respond “yes” or “no” and why). THEN we started talking about colors and flowers. it was sooo helpful to define my floral stlye.

oh — calla lilies!! i just HATE them — mostly because the lily is so often used at funerals, but also because they are so structured.

 
4.
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MsUsUk (message)  108 posts, Blushing bee

I hate spray/sweetheart roses, with a passion. But I like larger, full roses, just not the thumb sized ones.

 
5.
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historybride

I dislike roses too! They can be beautiful, but often they’re too overdone for me. So I have made myself a rose-free pact :D

 
6.
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Shaila

I don’t like roses either. You will not see even one rose at my wedding.

 
7.
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tammi

Wow you should be a part time wedding planner! Mind if I steal this? Hehe

 
8.
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jennred782

My florist added something that I thought was a great idea is a second boutineer for the groom after hugging and congrats it can ended up looking sad so to make sure the pics only show a nice one.

Also having boutineer or corsage pins that are actually magnets so no dresses are ruined. (How cool is that)

 
9.
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Linzerella

I had a long list of flowers I didn’t want included in my bouquets: lilies, gerber daisies (hate, hate, hate), any other kind of daisies, calas (like them when it’s just a bouquet of them, but not when they’re poking their way through a bouquet), greenery and baby’s breath (not really flowers, but…)

 
10.
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E

I also dislike roses… hm.

 
11.
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Bee
Miss Hot Cocoa (message)  1,715 posts, Bumble bee

@Mrs. Onion: What your florist did is such a great idea. I could have used a variation on that: I had a pretty good idea of what I liked, but I couldn’t talk “floral talk.” I had no idea what the name of the style was, which flowers were being used, etc.

@MsUsUk, @historybride, & @Shaila: That’s awesome. We can form an anti-rose club. In our spare time, we can go around telling kids Santa Clause doesn’t exist. LOL.

@tammi: Please do!

@jennred782: Magnets!!! Brilliant. I ended up going with small posies for the moms and grandmas b/c Chinese ladies are very particular about not having pin holes in their St. John’s suits. ;-)

@Linzerella: You hate daises and callas! Love that. You can be an honorary member of the anti-rose club.

 
12.
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Guest
Wolff2Be

While I think they are beautiful, I think the problem with roses is that they are overdone. I feel more special receiving other flowers. My FI knows this and has never once sent me roses for a special occasion.

 
13.
MrsCPT
Member
MrsCPT (message)  241 posts, Helper bee

Can I apply for membership in the anti-rose club? I always thought it showed that I guy did not know ME when he resorted to sending red roses. Everyone sends roses; he should learn my favorite flowers. *shrug* I am so much more high maintenance than I like to pretend. Anyway, the florist looked appalled when I said I did not want roses at my wedding, but she’s dealing with it admirably.

Thanks for posting the checklist. Now I can make sure I actually accounted for everything!

 
14.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  6,063 posts, Bee Keeper

Thanks, I’m totally stealing this too!

 
15.
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Bee
Miss Meatball (message)  613 posts, Busy bee

You are super organized! Kudos! Those pics are lovely - I especially enjoy the figs in the first shot!

 
16.
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Bee
Miss Bunny (message)  310 posts, Helper bee

Thank you so much for this list, Miss HC! I’m guessing I’m going to be getting florist quotes pretty soon, and this will be tremendously helpful!

 
17.
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Miss Glitter (message)  880 posts, Busy bee

That list is a work of art! I think your florist should be paying you as a part time staffer, since you seem to have done a lot of the work for them! Now I’ve got to go google all of these flowers everyone is mentioning, because apparently I know even less about flowers than I originally thought. Great post!

 
18.
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ErinMarieMack

Uh-oh, I thought every bride made a checklist like this! I took one to my florist meeting as well. Guess I am more type A than I expected! Love your list:)

 
19.
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Miss Taffy (message)  2,599 posts, Sugar bee

I don’t like roses, even though they are my birth flower. I also dislike gerber daisies and calla lillies bug me too! Sheeesh, what flowers *do* I like??? ;)

 
20.
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dcm2429 (message)  15 posts, Newbee

an idea that we got from our florist…instead of green floral tape to wrap the mens bouteniers..she is using black floral tape to match the tuxes

 
21.
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MissCricket

I gave my florist the same instructions about roses! Except I love them when they are blown-open garden roses– my parents grew the most beautiful garden roses all my life.

 
22.
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Bee
Miss Hot Cocoa (message)  1,715 posts, Bumble bee

@Anonymous: Application accepted! One of the florists was a bit horrified at my dislike of roses too!

@Miss Glitter: LOL. I totally had to google. I had no clue.

@ErinMarieMack: Nothing wrong with us Type A girls!

@dcm2429: Very cool.

 
23.
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Guest
liane4tino

I’m with you on roses. Can’t stand them! Honestly, I told my florist I would go nuts if I saw one anywhere at my wedding. I don’t know what it is about them, but I like more wild and open flowers like callas, lillies, orchids, stargazers, etc., etc. Great checklist! Looks like you have everything covered!

 
24.
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Guest
Floral Inspirations » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] I posted the floral checklist that I used when interviewing florists. Since it’s dreary, wintry, and barren outside (Boston [...]

 
25.
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Vendor Preview: Kate Baker Florals » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog

[...] my last few posts have been on flowers, I thought I’d shine a little spotlight on the fabulous Kate Baker, who will be taking my [...]

 


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Mrs. Hot Cocoa
Mrs. Hot Cocoa Mrs. Hot Cocoa, Boston/Los Angeles Age and Occupation: 31, JD/PhD Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 32, Medical Student Engagement Date: May 30, 2008 Wedding Date: March, 2009 Blogging Since: April, 2008 Venue: Ritz Carlton, Marina Del Rey About Me: I am a professional student by day and an amateur cupcake taster, bargain shopper, and wedding planner by night. I am obsessed with NPR, the Food Network, paper, dance shows, Anthropologie, post-structuralist theory, Weddingbee!, "The Office," and celebrity gossip. When not procrastinating from my dissertation, I spend time catering to Jellyby, our overly anxious shih tzu, and getting to know Mr. Hot Cocoa. We have only been dating for fifteen years, so it's like I'm in love with a stranger! From the East Coast, we are planning a Jewish-Chinese Extravaganza in L.A., where we both grew up.
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