An estimated 29 million people tuned in to watch the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on May 19 — and you can be sure that brides-to-be in the near future will be taking cues from the ultimate trendsetters when planning their own nuptials. Among the most discussed/tweeted/pinned details from the royal affair? The awe-inspiring walls of lush roses and greenery lining the entrance to Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel
The opulent displays reputedly required a team of 28 florists to install and included many big, fat garden roses. “It was a floaty, fluid look and very voluptuous,” said Caroline Marshall Foster, editor of The Florist, who explained to readers of The Sun why the walls cost upwards of £ 100,000.
Although an exact replica is a little far out-of-reach for your commoner clients, all is not lost! In this month’s Floral Management, learn about standard roses that have been bred to display the same wild, untamed and — dare we say? — “voluptuous” qualities present in Harry and Meghan’s floral décor, but with a more attainable price tag.
Even before Harry and Meghan (or, for that matter, William and Kate) tied the knot, affection for garden roses and another full, ruffled flower — the peony — has been very strong. Taking note of consumers’ preference for a soft, garden look, breeders invented standard roses with a looser, more open shape than the typical spiral varieties. Philippe Veys, the rose manager for Dümmen Orange, recalled growers’ initial disdain for the roses’ “imperfect” centers. “When we started showing products that looked like this five or six years ago, people told us they were ugly! Can you believe that?” he said. “Now, everyone’s crazy about the garden style.”
This month’s issue also features two simple, but stunning rose arrangements you can create for shop special. Find them in the Business of Design column.
