13 Types of Romantic Roses for Weddings

Written by Em Casalena
Updated: August 23, 2023
Share on:

Advertisement


So you’ve decided that roses will be your wedding’s floral choice. Do you know which rose of the many varieties, from tea roses to floribunda roses, is your favorite? Before you explore bridal vision boards, learn the names of the roses used in wedding bouquets, centerpieces, and boutonnieres. You will make a better choice for your wedding by being aware of the following roses!

If you’re planning your wedding and need help finding the right flowers, look no further. This guide details the most popular and beautiful wedding rose varieties for you to choose from.

Types of Wedding Roses

1. Old Roses

Tea Rose 'Duchesse de Brabant'.

A popular variety of antique roses is tea roses, such as this tea rose ‘Duchesse de Brabant’.

©ata_moro/Shutterstock.com

Sometimes referred to as heritage and heirloom roses, these roses included any variation of rose that was in existence prior to the late 19th century. Some rose varieties even go as far back as the Roman Empire. Old garden roses are renowned for their size, which is bigger and fuller than the typical rose, as well as for their strong, exquisite smells. These rose varieties are a stunning choice for traditional, romantic, and antique wedding themes since they contain a lot of petals and give your decor a lush and enduring impression. The most common old garden roses are tea roses, which come in soft hues like white, pink, yellow, and peach.

Old garden roses are less common than other varieties of roses. This is because they are often planted outside on bushes that only bloom once a year. Accordingly, if you want to incorporate old garden roses in your wedding decor, be prepared to invest. Depending on the time of year of your wedding, your florist might be unable to locate them readily. You’ll also have a lesser choice of hues. They will vary from pink and occasionally purple to white, cream, peach, and yellow.

2. Modern Roses

An “Ingred Bergman” variety of the hybrid tea rose, a popular type of modern rose.

©Salicyna / CC BY-SA 4.0 – License

There is a desire in the modern flower business for roses that can be grown in large quantities and are more adaptable than traditional garden roses. Modern garden roses fill that need. These roses are created by fusing the pollen of two different rose species to create a hybrid rose that combines traits from both of its parent roses. Modern roses are frequently cultivated in greenhouses instead of old garden roses, giving florists year-round supply. Compared to old garden roses, modern roses have more colors, more flowering seasons, and long stems. As a result, these flowers may be more reasonably priced and simpler to get for your wedding.

The most widely grown category of modern garden roses is the hybrid tea rose. They are the standard rose that is sold in grocery stores, plant nurseries, and flower shops. Due to the wide variety of colors they are widely used as bridal flowers. These roses come in red, burgundy, and unusual two-tone color variants in addition to pastel hues. Because hybrid tea roses are smaller and have fewer petals than classic old garden roses, you might need more of them in your wedding flower arrangements for them to stand out. As a result of the modern rose breeding procedure, these roses also have a tendency to be less fragrant.

3. English Roses

The Poet's Wife Rose

This particular English rose is dubbed “The Poet’s Wife Rose.”

©Sergey V Kalyakin/Shutterstock.com

These roses are sometimes called David Austin roses, after the British rose grower who developed them. In order to combine the scent and look of vintage garden roses with the hues, toughness, and recurrent flowering of contemporary garden roses, David Austin started creating his roses in the 1950s. Some of the most well-known bridal roses in the world today, such as the Juliet and Beatrice roses, were initially bred and produced by David Austin. These roses are prized for their ruffled petals, cupped forms, and vibrant colors.

Although English roses aren’t considered to be a distinct breed of roses, many florists and gardeners greatly respect them for their unmatched beauty and scent. These flowers are the best option if you want to include the most romantic roses in your wedding decor. Although English roses are more expensive than regular roses, you only need a handful of these blooms to change your flower arrangements completely. If you have the money, they are absolutely worth the investment since they are simply so stunning.

Varieties of Wedding Roses

4. Romantic Antike

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Romantic’

The Romantic Antike rose is a massive, dark pink, cabbage-shaped rose with a light scent. Its center has more blush tones, while the surrounding petals are vivid pink. The genetic sibling of the Caramel Antike rose, the Romantic Antike rose resembles the cabbage roses shown in classic Dutch master paintings. Due to its size and excellent vase life, the Romantic Antike is suitable for vase work at weddings.

5. Alabaster Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Alabaster’

Alabaster garden roses can take three to four days to reach their completely open stage, which is when they are most gorgeous and ideal for wedding designs. It has a seven- to nine-day vase life, making it a great option for florist shop designs and a stunning choice for flower arrangements for weddings and other special occasions.

6. Heritage Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Heritage’

A closeup of the beautiful English Heritage rose with light pink petals

The Heritage rose has a classic wedding look, making it a popular selection for all types of weddings.

©alybaba/Shutterstock.com

This English rose has a distinctive look, color, and fragrance. It has a more potent ambrosial aroma than other varieties of English roses. A single whiff of the Heritage Rose’s distinctive perfume will surely transport your guests back to your beautiful wedding. Soft pink cupped flowers with a delicate, shell-like appearance are produced by this cultivar. They smell lovely, like myrrh, with fruit, honey, and carnation undertones. It grows into a bushy, well-rounded shrub that is ideal for wedding gardens.

7. Keira Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Ausboxer’

The English Keira rose offers gorgeous, vintage-style flowers, and a genuine charm. Each rose in this rare variety is subtly different in color, being a lovely combination of blush pink and cream, frequently with warm peachy accents, breaking all the conventional criteria for the cut flower market. Some flowers have an erratic pink flush that draws attention to the outer petals’ edge and produces a very subtle impression. We believe that this look enhances the rose’s inherent beauty. It has a somewhat potent rose scent and works especially well when mixed with seasonal flowers, herbs, and greenery for a romantic, garden-inspired appearance.

8. Miranda Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Ausimmon’

There are several pink roses in the David Austin Wedding Rose collection, all with distinct colors and forms. The cut rose variety ‘Miranda,’ which was a member of David Austin’s second generation, is still highly well-liked for weddings and other special occasions. This rose is notable for its enormous blooms, which are composed of about 120 wavy petals that are carefully aligned to produce stunning, almost flat rosettes. 

The Miranda rose’s outer petals fade to the palest shade of pink when completely opened, but the center is a true rose pink. The outer petals may be observed to have a magnificent streaking green appearance during the bud stage, which enhances the garden style and gives the flower a parrot tulip-like appearance. As the blossoms open, the outermost petals gradually peel back and become concealed. This cultivar smells delicately fruity but is not too overpowering for an indoor wedding.

9. Ashley Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Ashley’

A closeup of an Ashley rose's pink petals covered in dew

The Ashley rose can offer a delicate, traditional look to any wedding floral arrangement.

©Viktoria UA/Shutterstock.com

The Ashley rose is not only lovely, but it also has a remarkable 12-day vase life, which is noteworthy for any type of garden rose. The flowers on this rose will be modest when it first arrives. But, after they have bloomed fully, they will be well worth the wait. The Ashley rose is a gorgeous pink rose that is perfect for everyday design work in flower shops and a statement focus flower for weddings and other special occasions.

10. Pink O’Hara Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Pink O’Hara’

The top-quality wedding rose, Pink O’Hara is a huge, French-style pink rose with a quartered opening and somewhat darker core. Although it has a more conventional rose form, the scented garden rose Pink O’Hara is loaded with countless layers of delicate petals that provide a beautiful rose aroma. 

Pink O’Hara will look lovely in bouquets and table settings for a beautiful bridal party or mixed with pinks for a romantic outdoor wedding. The Pink O’Hara rose is an extremely fragrant garden rose that is frequently used for weddings and other special occasions. It ships easily and has a remarkable vase life. This is a truly beautiful pink garden rose that will shine at any wedding.

11. Blanche Spray Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Blanche Spray’

The Blanche garden spray rose is an exquisite spray rose that is all white. The small flowers take five days to open completely, creating a shallow cup with a billowing show. The Blanche rose lasts 10 to 12 days in a vase, making it perfect for wedding bouquets and arrangements.

12. William Shakespeare Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Ausroyal’

A closeup of the William Shakespeare rose with vibrant fuchsia and reddish petals

The bold William Shakespeare rose is an unconventional wedding rose for unconventional, bright weddings.

©Nerus Natalia/Shutterstock.com

This might seem like an unconventional rose to have at your wedding. However, if you need an accent rose that stands out, you might want to consider adding a vibrant red-violet hue to your wedding’s color scheme. This rose variety is more recent, having been released in the year 2000. It was widely planted in the city where William Shakespeare was born. It is a cross between the Squire and Mary roses. Just keep in mind that this is a rarer English rose that might be a bit difficult to find on short notice.

13. Cafe Latte Rose

Botanical Name: Rosa ‘Cafe Latte’

Caffe Latte Rose

The cafe latte rose has a pleasant vanilla scent and an antique appearance.

©T.Kiya / CC BY-SA 2.0 – License

The dusty mauve and brilliant copper color tones of the Cafe Latte garden rose are captivating. The sweet and pleasant vanilla-like smell is released as the bloom progressively unfolds. A beautiful rose with an antique appearance ideal for wedding work and special occasions, the Cafe Latte rose is a real stunner with a seven to nine-day vase life.

With all of these wedding rose varieties in mind, you’ll be able to choose the right combination of flowers for your wedding. Remember, planning the look and feel of your wedding should be fun! Don’t stress about the details. As long as you have some roses that resonate with your personal aesthetic, your wedding will look absolutely beautiful.

Summary of 13 Types of Romantic Roses for Weddings

Here’s a recap of the 13 types of beautiful roses we took a look at that are perfect for weddings.

NumberRose
1Old Roses
2Modern Roses
3English Roses
4Romantic Antike (Rosa ‘Romantic’)
5Alabaster Rose (Rosa ‘Alabaster’)
6Heritage Rose (Rosa ‘Heritage’)
7Keira Rose (Rosa ‘Ausboxer’)
8Miranda Rose (Rosa ‘Ausimmon’)
9Ashley Rose (Rosa ‘Ashley’)
10Pink O’Hara Rose (Rosa ‘Pink O’Hara’)
11Blanche Spray Rose (Rosa ‘Blanche Spray’)
12William Shakespeare Rose (Rosa ‘Ausroyal’)
13Cafe Latte Rose (Rosa ‘Cafe Latte’)

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Steve Lovegrove/Shutterstock.com


Sources

  1. NCSU Staff, Available here: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rosa/
  2. Sheryl Geerts, Available here: https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/roses/ultimate-rose-care-guide/
  3. Brides Staff, Available here: https://www.brides.com/gallery/types-of-wedding-flowers-by-color-glossary
Share on:
About the Author

Em Casalena is a writer at A-Z Animals where their primary focus is on plants, gardening, and sustainability. Em has been writing and researching about plants for nearly a decade and is a proud Southwest Institute of Healing Arts graduate and certified Urban Farming instructor. Em is a resident of Arizona and enjoys learning about eco-conscious living, thrifting at local shops, and caring for their Siamese cat Vladimir.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Why are roses used in weddings?

Roses are often used in weddings because they symbolize love, purity, passion, and joy.

Are roses the most popular wedding flower?

Traditionally, roses have been used for weddings around the world. Other popular wedding flowers include peonies and tulips.

What color roses are used at weddings?

The most common color for wedding roses is red.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.