Roses are plain and simple – the quintessential wedding flower. A universal symbol of love and beauty, roses are classic and contemporary, omnipresent yet never overdone. Roses are synonymous with romance. More elegant than daisies, less pretentious than French tulips, and more affordable than orchids.

Roses are Symbolic
If you go through a romantic novel or view any romantic painting, it will be  clear to you that throughout the ages writers, poets, artists, and others have used rose as a metaphor for undying love, beaeuty, and passion. It is believed that Chloris,  the Greek Goddess of Flower created the rose out of a lifeless nymph. Chloris called upon Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, to bless the nymph with beauty; Dionysus, the God of Wine, to give her a sweet scent; and the three Graces to bestow charm, brightness, and joy upon her. Then Zephyr, the West Wind, blew away clouds so that Apollo, the Sun God, could make the flower bloom and a rose and symbol of beauty was born.

It was the Victorians, however, who turned flowers into poetry, giving them symbolism and meaning. Inspired by a French book entitled Le Langage des Fleurs by Charlotte de la Tour, those genteel Victorians used flowers to convey their sentiments. Soon every young woman realized that receiving a rose was of the highest significance.

Roses are Reasonable
According to the Society of American Florists, there are at least 120 varieties of roses commercially available. Styles can range from small blooms with sturdy leaves to larger flowers with soft, delicate petals.Roses are widely available and can be reasonably priced (though rare varieties can skyrocket from $4 to $10 per stem).

What affects the cost? The grades of the stem and the head; in which part of the world the rose is cultivated; and the service that’s provided with the flower. ( Is the level of preservation, handling, and care the same with your neighborhood street vendor as it is with a high-end retail florist?) But generally speaking, prices can stoop to as low as $1.50 a stem because of the huge variance in kind, quality, and color of roses.

Roses are Varied
There are three main variety of roses that are used as wedding flowers: hybrid tea roses, spray roses, and garden roses. Take  a look at what makes each flower unique:

Hybrid Tea Roses: With its classic shape, the hybrid tea rose is, in fact, valued for its uniformity, durability (it will last the whole day without wilting), and availability. The most popular kinds include the deep red roses known as Black Magic, the creamy white ones known as Vendela, and the gold-tone roses known as Leonidas.

Spray Roses: These smaller roses include five to 10 small heads per stem and therefore fill out bouquets more than a single stem,  making them a great value. They are available in single hue or two colors, like the hybrid. Because of the variance in size, they are ideal for giving texture and visual interest to an arrangement.

Garden Roses: Garden  roses are larger in size and more lush than the other varieties. They are often very open, and they’re more natural and free form like something you’d find in your own garden (hence the name). Because of the fragility, they are rare, precious, and costly.

Roses are Versatile
Roses are versatile and can be arranged in a number of ways. Here are seven spectacular ways to use roses in your wedding-day decor.

 
Clean & Classic

• Pair white roses with a classic flower like a gardenia or white hydrangea. Or fill a classic silver bowl with 200 of the same variety and color for a clean look with mega impact.
• Create a classic white arrangement and add a black or dark brown floral element, such as an olive or fern shoot, to give a  dynamic contrast.

  

  Romantic & Ornate

• Make a visual statement: Try fur-trimmed or beaded wraps for the bouquets, or jewel-tone (ruby or citrine) tear-shape beads dangling from rose-filled candelabra.
• Think feminine but modern.  Incorporate sweet elements, like satin ribbon looped into an arrangement of big open garden roses.
  If you want something romantic and eccentric suspend a wreath of garden roses from the ceiling over each table.

Mod & Contemporary
Monochromatic arrangements are popular – whether its all white, or shades of pale peach and hot orange. Take the single-color cluster of flowers (white roses, stephanotis, and hydrangeas, for instance) and arrange the bunch in a glass cube or vase with a strong geometric shape. (A Lucite glass or square wooden box will give arrangements an au courant personality.)
Juxtapose roses with spiky dahlias in bright colors, like yellow and orange, and set them in vases in cool colors, such as deep blue ceramic water pitchers.

Roses are Simply Perfection
Whether you  marry outdoors in a garden or in an exquisite ballroom, roses will make your wedding reverberate with romance