Rose Petals - Where to Buy & How
Much You'll Need
June 15, 2009
Fresh
rose petals are a wonderfully romantic touch to any event
especially weddings. Petals are readily available and affordable.
There are three types of petals to choose from; fresh, freeze-dried
and silk. All three are readily available from local growers,
florists, and the Internet. Fresh and freeze-dried are both
fragrant and cost about the same. The count in a pound of
petals and the coverage area will depend on the size and
variety of rose, humidity, weather and thickness of spread
you want.
Fresh Petals - There are a few disadvantages to using
fresh however. Fresh petals will leave stains on carpeting
and linens and are not allowed in most churches or carpeted
facilities for that reason. Also fresh petals have a very
short shelf life which means they must be shipped overnight
or next day so the shipping fees may be costly.
Fresh petals are available from florists, nurseries and
occasionally from commercial rose growers. Many commercial
nurseries and rose growers are wholesale and will sell only
to licensed florists and businesses. If you have a nursery
or grower in your local area give them a call, you may get
lucky, especially if you are willing to go with mixed colors.
I have found that a great number of growers are willing
to sell petals to the public at a retail price.
Petals purchased directly from a local grower usually come
in a 5-gallon bucket and you will have to arrange to pick
them up. Most wholesale growers close by 3 in the afternoon
and are not open on weekends. You can also check with your
local wholesale flower market, some like the San Francisco
Flower Market are open to the public for a few hours after
the wholesale trade is finished for the day.
Petals ordered online can vary greatly in price. Check several
different sites and always pay close attention to the shipping
time and charges. You may find a great low price but the
shipping and handling may be outrageous.
Freeze-Dried
Petals - Freeze-dried petals last considerably longer
will not stain linens or carpeting. Another advantage is
that they do not require overnight shipping, so fees are
normally pretty reasonable. Since they can be delivered
well in advance preparation time is not left to the last
moment which is very nice for the bride.
The disadvantage to freeze-dried is the petals are not as
soft and the colors are not as bright as the fresh. Freeze-dried
petals may be "re-hydrated" if you want a softer
petal and you have the time. To re-hydrate place the petals
in a steamy room for 30-60 minutes or until the petals become
soft but still dry to the touch. Check on the petals about
every 10-15 minutes and remove when they have reached the
desired softness. Never let the petals get wet, any water
whatsoever will ruin them and you will find yourself with
nothing but a big slimy mess.
Silk Petals - The advantage to silk petals are many.
Petals are available at most stores; they last forever;
come in any number of colors and need no particular care
or storage. You do have to watch the packaging. You may
find for decorating projects that require a large amount
of petals it is more cost effective to go with fresh or
freeze-dried.
Here is a simple guide for how much you will need for tables,
walkways and tossing.
Quantity Guide
Pathway - 1 Pound Rose Petals = 900 to 1200 petals = 15
square feet for light spread or 15 inches 12 feet
Rose Petal Pathway - One bag will lightly cover approximately
a 3 feet x 10 feet.
Flower Girls - One bag of rose petals can easily fill one
large basket or two small baskets.
Bridal Toss - One bag will fill 20-30 petal cones or 30-40
guests if asked to take a handful.
Round Tables - One bag will decorate 5 or 6, 60 inch round
tables with a light scatter
Banquet Tables - 200 rose petals for every 3 feet of table
runner.
Petal Storage - In
a perfect world, you would store petals at 65-80 degrees,
with 30-35% humidity. For the imperfect world, avoid storing
petals in high heat & humidity. Store your fresh petals
in a cool, dark place like a bedroom closet or a cool basement
until your wedding day. Many places recommend you order
at least 3 months in advance to guarantee availability,
however last minute orders are often accepted. Shipping
is usually overnight and runs about $30 - $40.
You may be tempted to use petals from your own garden but
I strongly advise against it unless used as an aisle runner.
Roses from your garden may have very tiny bugs about the
size of a grain of pepper that cannot be seen until they
are moving around on your table. I have tried washing petals
from the garden and it eliminates the bugs but drying can
be a problem and if the petals are not thoroughly dry you
will end up with a slimy mess. Do not refrigerate or freeze
petals.
|
|
