Roses for a Summer Wedding

June is the month the rose garden earns its reputation. For anyone planning a summer wedding — or helping someone who is — it's also the best possible time to think about which roses will actually perform when it matters.

Here's what we'd consider if we were choosing roses for a June wedding. Please 

Go for repeat-flowering varieties

A rose that gives you one glorious flush and then rests is no use if your timing is even slightly off. Repeat-flowering varieties — most modern Hybrid Teas and many English roses — will be reliably in bloom through June and into July, giving you a much better chance of having flowers exactly when you need them.

If you're planning to grow your own wedding roses from scratch, it's worth being realistic about timescales. A newly planted rose needs at least two years in the ground before it's established enough to cut from reliably. In its first season it's putting energy into root development, not blooms — and cutting too early will set it back. If your wedding is within the next couple of years, it's well worth supplementing with roses from a trusted florist/grower rather than relying solely on new plants. Plan ahead, plant now, and your garden will reward you — just not necessarily in time for your event.

Fragrance matters more than you think

In a marquee or a church, fragrance fills a space beautifully. Varieties with a strong, true rosy scent — rather than the faint suggestion of fragrance you get from many modern roses — will make a real impression. If fragrance is a priority, it's worth seeking out varieties specifically noted for it rather than assuming all roses smell the same. They don't.

Pale colours hold better in heat

Deep reds and saturated pinks can look stunning, but in warm June conditions they tend to fade faster and show heat stress more quickly. Soft blush pinks, creams, and whites tend to hold their colour and their form for longer — which matters when flowers need to look their best for a full day. That said, if it's damp and drizzly then darker colours are best - the petals don't show the rain damage as much.

Cut in the morning, condition properly

If you're cutting from your own garden, do it early — stems are fully hydrated before the heat of the day. Condition in deep water for at least 24 hours before arranging, and keep them somewhere cool and preferably dark until the 'big day' - even UV light can make rose flowers open very quickly especially in June when the daylight hours are long. Some varieties of garden roses can go from bud to fully open flowers in a matter of hours on a warm sunny summers day!

Plan for the unexpected

June weather in the UK is, as ever, a moveable feast. Heavy rain can mark pale petals; a sudden heatwave can accelerate blooms faster than expected. Growing a few more plants than you think you need is always sensible.

Three from us worth considering

If you're looking for a starting point, here are three varieties we grow that suit a wedding setting particularly well:

• 
  Margaret Merrill— a classic white Floribunda with an exceptional fragrance. Elegant, reliable, and one of the finest scented roses available.

 

 

• 
  A Whiter Shade of Pale— soft blush-white blooms with a strong, true rosy scent. Luminous in evening light and beautifully understated.

 

 

 

• 
  Koko Loco— an unusual and sophisticated blend of lilac, buff, and soft brown tones. Fragrant and distinctive — ideal if you want something a little different.

 

 

 

Planning a wedding and want to talk through what might work for your date and colour scheme? We're always happy to help — get in touch.