Why Cedar Rae
It started with my mom. And a greenhouse on Cedar Street.
My very first job was at Cedar Street Garden Center in downtown Monticello, Minnesota, working alongside my mom, Christine. We spent our days nurturing the greenhouse, helping customers find the right trees, and creating festive seasonal displays.
Those years planted something in me that never left.
Cedar Rae Floral is the place where all of it comes together: the greenhouse kid, the designer, the nature lover. Named for Cedar Street, where it all began. The Rae is for my mom, and the middle name we share. (And now our most adorable niece, Charlotte Rae!)
My mom passed away from cancer at 48. I carry her with me in every arrangement I design, every bird I notice in the backyard, every bunny statue I come across.
This business isn't just what I do. It's a love letter to her.
From the trees to the flowers
I spent 15 years in government natural resource management — caring for public trees, lands, and green spaces across Minnesota. I loved the work. But I was ready for more joy and less politics.
In 2024, I walked away. I didn't have it all figured out, but the pieces came together naturally, and I found myself putting my roots back into a new career that finally felt like home.
My Arborist background shapes everything I create. I understand how living things grow, how nature moves through seasons, and how the right element in the right place changes everything. Now I get to apply that creativity to your wedding day instead of a permit document.
Certified. Credentialed. Committed.
I didn't come to floristry casually once I found it. I trained at Koehler and Dramm's Institute of Floristry, one of the most respected floral education programs in the country, earning my Professional Floral Designer (PFD) certification. From there, I went on to earn my Certified Floral Designer (CFD) designation through the North Central Florists' Association, a credential that requires demonstrated technical mastery and professional commitment that most designers never pursue.
I continue training with respected designers across the U.S. and internationally, and I'm working toward AIFD membership, the pinnacle of professional recognition in floral design in the USA.
A few things we're proud of.
Cedar Rae Floral has been featured in Voyage Minnesota, exhibited at the MN Landscape Arboretum, Minneapolis Institute of Art's Art in Bloom, and the international Fleurs de Villes show at The Galleria in Edina. All within our first two years.
We've also earned multiple blue ribbons in the MN State Fair Floral Designer of the Year Competition. We're proud of all of it. But what we're most proud of is this: our clients say our process felt effortless, and the result was more beautiful than they imagined.
Floristry that respects the earth.
Sustainable floristry isn't some trend I've just adopted. I spent my entire first profession protecting and enhancing our natural resources. I'm not going to stop now. When I source blooms, choose vessels, or consider what happens to your florals after the celebration, I bring that same commitment with me. The earth that grows these flowers and branches matters to me deeply, and that shows up in everything I do.
The person behind the flowers.
And yes, I'm also a yoga teacher, an outdoor enthusiast, and completely obsessed with our golden retriever, Luna. Our studio is based in Apple Valley, Minnesota. My husband Justin tolerates flowers in the garage, the house, and the shed, and somehow still shows up as Cedar Rae Floral's number one cheerleader, assistant, and engineer. We couldn't do this without him.
Jessica Schaum, CFD
Founder & Lead Floral Designer, Cedar Rae Floral
Justin & Jessica — where it all comes full circle. We were married on the North Shore, surrounded by the people we love most.
Rooted in more ways than one.
As an ISA Certified Arborist, I still love getting my hands in the dirt. I offer private consultations for homeowners and businesses who want to know what's thriving, what's struggling, and what I'd do with it — including full inventories and recommendations.
Interested? Reach out through the inquiry form and mention Arborist consultation.