When you think of using rose petals in a wedding, a cute little flower girl carrying a basket probably comes to mind.  While this is the most obvious use of petals, it certainly isn’t the only place they are used.  In addition to (or instead of) having the flower girl sprinkling petals, many brides are choosing to decorate the aisle with rose petals.

Aisles:  While simply bordering or covering the aisle with petals is most common, a recent trend is to create a design with the petals.  Swirling patterns or monograms take the design to the next level.  For outdoor aisles, freeze dried rose petals work best since they are biodegradable, while indoors, silk petals are an economical alternative.  A trend this year is to use a graduated “ombre” color effect, such as going from red to yellow with shades of orange in between, or starting with ivory and gradually getting darker towards your primary wedding color.

Tossing:  Another popular use for rose petals is the petal toss when exiting the church or ceremony location.  Brides will often have them packaged in cones or organza bags to contain them, which also makes it easy to distribute them to guests.  Another option is to just have a big bowl for guests to grab a handful.  It’s best to assign the task of distributing the petals to a family member or friend so that all of your guests participate in the toss, and co-ordinate with your photographer so they get the best shots.  If cleanup is easy, such as a concrete sidewalk, silk petals can be used, otherwise, freeze dried rose petals are again recommended as they are eco-friendly.  Either way, go for something colorful here so it shows up better in the photos, you don’t need to match the color of the bridesmaid dresses.

Reception Tables:  Moving on to the reception, rose petals make an excellent table decoration as they complement just about any type of centerpiece.  If you are using a traditional floral centerpiece, just sprinkle the petals in corresponding colors around the base.  If you are using candles, use mounds of petals in complementing colors, just keep them clear of the flame.  For rectangular tables, a runner of petals down the center with clusters of candles adds elegance while allowing room for guests to dine.  The freeze dried petals are recommended on reception tables as they make a great conversation piece.

We’ve touched on the primary uses for petals at a wedding, but you’re certainly not limited by the above suggestions.  More creative uses of petals include making rose petal chandeliers by attaching the petals to strings and draping them around the light.  A similar technique can be used to make curtains.  Even simple ideas such as sprinkling them around the cake table can add an elegant touch to your wedding.  The uses are only limited by your imagination.