All about roses!
When it comes to weddings, a rose is not just a rose!
There are literally hundreds of varieties of roses available to florists. You can choose between South American grown, locally grown, or California grown. The main classifications are garden roses, spray roses and standard roses. They’re all beautiful but also have their pros and cons including very different price points. So, what gives?! Here’s a very summarized synopsis on some the differences. Please feel free to reach out with any other questions you may have!
Let’s start with the types of roses! The floral industry (separate from landscaping) has 4 basic terms for types of roses. “Standard” are the large, long stemmed roses that you think of for Valentine’s day. These are probably the longest lasting, longest stemmed, have the most variety of colors, are often imported from South America and are also often the least expensive (though that varies.)
Another type of rose that we often use for weddings are garden roses. These have a more wide open, soft, look as if they were cut straight out of a garden! They can be quite fragrant and are gorgeous. Unfortunately they don’t last nearly as long as more traditional roses which is why they’re more common in event and wedding work than in gift bouquets. They are also typically more expensive than standard roses. Most of the garden roses we use are grown hyper locally due to their fragility.
Last but certainly not least are spray roses! Spray roses have smaller blooms that that are clustered in multiples at the end of each stem. They are beautiful in centerpieces to add depth and interest. They tend to be middle of the road in terms of cost per stem and also vase life. We can buy both local and imported spray roses.
A bit about pricing…
Imported rose prices are sold at auctions and so the pricing can vary pretty dramatically week to week. These are very “traditional” auctions so supply and demand is very much in play as well as global events, gas prices, etc. For example, “toffee” roses have been really popular in the last few years for their gorgeous coppery hue. In the fall when that color feels so perfect they will often cost 3-4 times that of a more true orange. Fortunately, we’ve been buying and selling roses for a long time so I feel pretty well versed and adopt the pricing risk myself. When you sign a contract we honor quoted prices.
Locally grown roses are typically much more stable in pricing but also start at a higher price since they’re often field grown in smaller quantities and require a lot more hands on care from the farmers.
So, how do you decide which ones are right for you?!
Flowers are so personal and favorites are totally subjective so I’ll show clients samples so they can let me know if they have preferences. To be honest, most of the time we use a combination of all three styles with the most expensive in places like the bridal bouquet, cake and on the outer edges of centerpieces where they get the most viewing time. We’ll tuck the larger, less expensive blooms in places like ceremony arches and low in centerpieces to fill things out.
I’m a huge fan of roses and how could I not be as a florist in the City of Roses?! I hope this post was helpful! Please reach out to us via our contact page to learn more!
Wedding Photos by Amanda K Photography
