I have worked on numerous high profile events in Mumbai. Weddings, intimate anniversaries in Malabar Hill and exciting launch events. Something I know from experience is that it’s rarely the actual flower arrangement that is the tricky part. It’s everything that goes in to getting that flower to the recipient.

When delivering to a high profile individual, the florist must ensure everything they do is perfectly executed, discreet and respectful. This is something we strive to achieve at The Botanist’s Story.

Any flower arrangement delivered to a diplomat or corporate titan needs to be delivered with the utmost respect. We ensure our Luxury Bouquet Deliveries in Mumbai are delivered to the highest standard.

When delivering a bouquet to a diplomat’s home or a corporate titan’s office, you need to ensure it is delivered with the right amount of respect. The bouquet can be used to open doors or shut them. I have seen many well meaning bouquets go wrong simply because the florist did not consider what the room looked like. This guide aims to highlight how we approach delivering high profile bouquets in Mumbai.

Discretion is Key

From the first interaction we have with a new client we want to know who they are delivering to. Are they delivering to a large group of people? Where are they delivering to? How much do they want to be seen? When delivering to VIPs discretion is key. Any order that may be leaked, images of the delivery vehicle or thank you note could cause issues.

Everything we do in our studio is discreet. We do not mention our clients on social media, we do not use images of our deliveries for marketing and we do not talk about the details of the private commission outside of our team. When delivering a sensitive order to one of our diplomatic contacts, we ensured the delivery vehicle was unbranded, the driver was briefed on the gate and we made sure no images were taken. This is a standard we always deliver to when providing Luxury Bouquet Deliveries in Mumbai.

Etiquette for Indian Flowers is Strict

Whilst Mumbai is a global city, we are still working within a culture that sees flowers as having a meaning. When delivering to an Indian household, Parsi family, diplomatic contact or foreign executive you need to ensure your bouquet is not misinterpreted.

The most common issue I see with well meaning bouquets are when they are delivered as an all white bouquet. Many Indian cultures associate white with death and funerals. This can be a huge issue when delivering to a celebration or congratulations event. This cannot be resolved with a follow up note.

Marigolds can be a tricky flower to deliver. Whilst they are sacred in Hindu ceremonies and bring good luck when used in the right situation, they can be seen as too ceremonial. When delivering a simple thank you, a marigold bouquet may be too much. Strong scented flowers such as jasmine can be beautiful in a temple but can be overpowering in a private office or dining area. To ensure your high profile gifting is successful, it’s best to deliver a bouquet with a mix of flowers, softer elegant flowers and a light scent. A florist who knows how to navigate the cultural landscape of Mumbai will be invaluable.

Diplomatic Gifting is Formal

When delivering to a visiting dignitary, consul or senior official you need to ensure the bouquet fits within the protocol guidelines. The flowers should be elegant and simple. They should be delivered at the right time and to the right person. They should not put the recipient in an awkward situation. Many official situations will log gifts over a certain value. So a bouquet that looks too extravagant may cause issues.

The safest way to approach diplomatic gifting is to make the bouquet look respectful. A small bouquet with high quality stems and neutral elegant colours will fit in most situations. We ensure the bouquet is delivered in a simple, elegant vase or tied bouquet. We also ensure we are delivering to the right person by confirming with the protocol desk how long we have to deliver. Small details really do make a difference.

Scent Is Important

In a previous blog I talked about controlling the scent of flowers when delivering to a dinner party. This is even more important when delivering to a high profile recipient. A VIP’s office, car or private dining area will be controlled. A strong scented bouquet can cause issues during a meeting, clash with their meal or cause allergies.

We have refused to use certain flowers when delivering to a recipient who is sensitive. We have used an alternative flower that looks similar but has a much lower scent. This means we are adding some beauty without affecting the atmosphere of the room.

It’s important to deliver high quality flowers. If the flowers are not at their prime or have been stored incorrectly they will not hold their shape during a formal delivery. If we are delivering a scheduled bouquet as part of our Luxury Bouquet Deliveries in Mumbai, we will ensure the bouquet is fresh. We will condition and arrange the bouquet close to the delivery time. We will also brief the driver on how to care for the bouquet if there is a delay at the gate. This will not be noticeable to the recipient.

Delivery is the Most Underestimated Part

Most florists will focus on the bouquet. The best florists will focus on the final 10metres of the delivery. Who is delivering the bouquet? Is it to a house manager, security, PA or directly to the recipient? The tone of the delivery will change depending on who is delivering.

If it’s being delivered to a private home the bouquet should be delivered in a quiet and efficient manner. If it’s being delivered to a corporate office it should be on time and easy to place. If it’s being delivered to a hotel suite or event we will ensure it is co-ordinated with the event manager so it doesn’t disrupt the evening.

We train our delivery team to ensure they know the right way to deliver. With VIP orders we will confirm who they are delivering to, where they are delivering to and if there are any security issues. If they are delivering to a gated property or highly secure building we will allow extra time so the driver is not in a rush. This will not be noticeable to the recipient.

Questions We Ask

When a client asks us to deliver a high profile bouquet we ask them a few questions. These questions will influence how we design your bouquet.

Who are they delivering to? Are they a diplomat, celebrity, business leader or private member of a family? This will influence how formal the bouquet will be.

What is the occasion? Are they congratulating, condoling, apologising, welcoming or thanking? These are all different occasions and shouldn’t look the same.

What is their cultural background? This will influence the colours, flowers and in some cases the number of stems.

Where will the bouquet be placed? Will it be in a boardroom, dining area, hotel lobby or private living space? This will influence the size, width and scent of the bouquet.

Who are they delivering to? Are they delivering from a corporation to a government official? This will influence the protocol.

These questions are not a hindrance they are the foundation of a great design. The more we know about the situation the less likely we are to design a bouquet that is beautifully wrong.

Why Experience Matters

Anyone can show you a picture of a beautiful bouquet. But do they know how to get it through a security gate, to the right person and at the right time? Without causing any issues for the giver or recipient? This is something that takes years of experience.

At The Botanist’s Story our studio is lead by Pooja Chauhan who has experience in Ikebana, event styling and has worked with many private clients in Mumbai. We ask the right questions and plan for any issues. We know that delivering to a VIP is an act of trust. You are trusting us with your reputation and the recipient is trusting us with their privacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you deliver to a diplomatic home or consulate?

Yes we can. We will confirm with the protocol team or nominated receiver. We will confirm the time of delivery, where they are delivering to and if there are any security issues.

Do you use branded vehicles for high profile deliveries?

For sensitive deliveries we will use unbranded vehicles.

Do you consider cultural issues when delivering to Indian’s?

We avoid all white bouquets for celebrations. We are mindful of marigolds and strong scented flowers in formal situations. We will also ask about their background.

Can you deliver to a 5 hotel suite or private club?

Yes we can. We will confirm with the concierge or member services. We will confirm who they are delivering to or appropriate drop off point. We will also ensure we are not causing any disruption to their schedule.

How long do you need for a VIP delivery?

For standard luxury bouquets we can work to a tight timeframe. For high profile deliveries we would recommend allowing at least 48hours. This will give us time to confirm the logistics, source the right flowers and brief our delivery team.

Final Thoughts

Delivering flowers to a high profile recipient is a form of communication. Everything you choose to do will be sending a message. When done correctly it will simply be saying I see you, I respect your position and I have taken care of everything.

This is something we hold ourselves to a high standard on. This is why our clients trust us with their Luxury Bouquet Deliveries in Mumbai. If you are looking to deliver a gesture to someone who values their privacy and protocol, start by talking to us. The right bouquet will begin with a conversation.

I am Pooja Chauhan, founder of The Botanist’s Story. We are a luxury floral studio based in Mumbai. I have over 17 years of experience practicing Ikebana. I am professionally trained in floristry and event styling by the [Judith Blacklock Flower School, London](https://www.judithblacklock.com/ ). I lead a team who design private, corporate and diplomatic floral commissions throughout the city.