Romantic Bouquets: Pairing Roses and Lavender Perfectly

Key Takeaways:

• Use fresh garden roses in antique shades like peach, berry, and dusty rose
• Complement roses with airy dried lavender for a romantic fragrance
• Mix in earthy accents like wheat, nigella pods, olive branches, and ribbon
• Display in vintage vessels like pitchers, tins, or repurposed bottles
• Create airy, asymmetrical designs with flowers draping naturally
• Ideal for weddings, centerpieces, bouquets, and home decor

There’s perhaps no more intoxicating partnership in the botanical world than the timeless pairing of lush roses and fragrant dried lavender. These two flowers were simply made for one another – the exquisite rose’s blousy, layered blooms providing an irresistibly lush backdrop to lavender’s delicate purple wands and sweet herbal scent.

In my design studio, creating romantic bouquets that highlight this dynamic floral duo is one of my greatest joys and passions. There’s just something so incredibly evocative and nostalgic about the sight of antique rose petals intermingling with wispy lavender stems. It instantly conjures images of lush English gardens and sun-drenched Provencal lavender fields.

But it’s not just the incredible aesthetics at play here. Working with these two botanical stars allows me to harness the most heavenly perfumes nature has to offer. One whiff of their combined aromas and you’re instantly transported to an utterly romantic, almost dreamlike state. Utterly swoon-worthy for weddings and special occasions alike!

How to Style Roses and Lavender for a Wedding Bouquet

When it comes to absolute romance and timeless beauty for bridal bouquets, you simply cannot beat a lush gathering of roses seamlessly combined with lavender’s ethereal elegance. This is a combo I turn to time and again to craft supremely evocative, feminine floral designs for my brides-to-be.

My signature technique is to form an incredibly lush base using full, sumptuous garden rose blooms in soft antique shades like peach, raspberry, and dusty mauve. I’ll then begin delicately inserting sturdy stems of fresh lavender, spacing them in an airy asymmetrical pattern so the wispy purple blooms appear to float amongst the luscious rose petals.

To elevate the look further, I like to incorporate textural, earthy elements that hint at the flowers’ natural origins. Using my hands, I’ll weave in trailing strands of wheat, feathery nigella pods, olive branches, and perhaps a few slips of softly tying ribbon to informally bind the bouquet. This wild, meadow-inspired style feels so wonderfully feminine and romantic.

Learn more by checking out my article about creating unforgettable rustic farmhouse rose porch designs.

What Are the Best Rose Colors to Pair with Lavender?

• Peach – Subtly blushing peach rose tones like those found in Romantic Antike and butterscotch-hued Tiffany varieties provide the perfect sun-kissed warmth to make lavender’s chalky lavender hues positively glow.
  
• Raspberry – There’s just something so decadent about velvety raspberry and rich ruby rose petals mingling with lavender’s delicate purple. Look for varieties with bluish undertones like Purple Davidoff for ultra-romantic impact.
  
• Dusty Rose – Faded, antiqued rose shades with hints of smoky lavender like those of the beloved Charles Rennie Mackintosh rose make for the most sophisticated lavender partners. An utterly timeless pairing.
  
• Antique Pink – Soft, powdery antique pink roses carry all the nostalgic romance of a well-tended English garden. Match them with lavender for a boudoir-inspired look straight from a Jane Austen novel.
  
• Burgundy – For a luxuriously moody, high-drama take on lavender and roses, you can’t go wrong with deep burgundy roses like Black Baccara or Grand Sultan varietals. Deliciously lush and opulent.
  

When paired with lavender’s delicate pastels and soft fragrance, these antique rose tones take on an utterly irresistible, romantic vintage vibe perfect for romantic, old-world floral designs. Get ready to swoon!

What Are the Best Containers for Displaying Bouquets of Roses and Lavender?

• Vintage Pitchers – Rosy-lipped ceramic pitchers with aged patinas and antique floral detailing were practically designed to show off lavender’s sweet charm. Drape blooms languorously over the rims for dreamy romance.
  
• Olive Oil Tins – Beloved accent pieces in my studio, these greenly-aged tins make for impossibly romantic focal points when bursting with roses and lavender. The shapely silhouettes and metallic finishes are utterly timeless.
  
• Mercury Glass Compotes – For traditional elegance, you can’t beat the mirrored sheen and ornate details of antique mercury glass vessels. The reflected lavender hues create such a luxe, lavish overall effect.
  
• Mason Jars – Tap into undone, pastoral romance with a cluster of mismatched mason jars in varying sizes casually potted with carefree rosa and lavender bouquets. The epitome of farmhouse whimsy!
  
• Repurposed Bottles – For endlessly creative design options, I adore filling vintage glass bottles and decanters with loose, flowing arrangements. Their unique shapes celebrate floral’s natural, asymmetrical beauty.
  

Whether embodying cottage charm, French country glamour or rustic elegance, these containers highlight lavender and roses’ romantic splendor in spectacular fashion. Still craving more exquisite floral styling inspiration?

What Are the Best Seasonal Accents to Combine with Roses and Lavender?

Seasonal Accent	Vibe & Color Pop	Texture Benefit	Ideal Home Surface
Pussy‑Willow Catkins (Spring)	Soft gray buds add whisper‑fresh charm	Fluffy contrast to smooth petals	Kitchen windowsill jar
Eucalyptus Ribbons (Summer)	Cool sage deepens pink hues	Airy drape frames bouquet shape	Dining‑table pitcher
Hypericum Berries & Wheat (Fall)	Rust + gold echo harvest tones	Beaded shine + spiky height	Coffee‑table bowl
Cedar Sprigs & Holly Berries (Winter)	Evergreen fragrance; red holiday pops	Needle contrast + berry gloss	Entry console vase

• Spring/Summer: Sunny Sunflowers – These cheerful, sun-soaked blooms lend lavender-rose designs the most delightful pop of golden warmth and cheer for summertime festivities. Layer with wheat for rustic cottage vibes.
  
• Fall: Burnished Oak Leaves – What could be more quintessentially autumnal than the crunch of coppery foliage underfoot? Use preserved oak branches to bring lush, smoky rose-lavender bouquets a lovely sense of seasonal transition.
  
• Winter: Frosted Pinecones – The icy blue undertones of silver-tipped pinecones provide the perfect cool counterpoint to lavender’s purples and pinks when designing festive holiday arrangements.
  

By thoughtfully incorporating these natural seasonal accent pieces, you can create lavender and rose designs imbued with an unmistakable sense of nostalgic, time-honored beauty whatever the calendar says outside.

How to Style Roses and Lavender for Rustic Outdoor Weddings

Ahh, there’s simply nothing more romantic than an idyllic outdoor fete surrounded by the sweet fragrance of lavender-infused rose bouquets kissed by gentle summer breezes. For alfresco weddings steeped in rustic, pastoral charm, this dynamic botanical pairing takes center stage.

Whether displayed in repurposed vintage buckets, galvanized tubs, or loosely-woven willow baskets, these ethereal floral designs call to mind the intoxicating scents of a Provencal lavender field or sun-dappled English garden rose bower in full summer bloom. I especially love to tumble abundant clusters of ivory, peach, and blushing pink antique rose varieties together with gracefully arching lavender stems for a “just gathered” quality.

To reinforce the deliciously undone yet romantic aesthetic, weave in lovely trailing vines like clematis or allow feathery jasmine branches to delicately drape over arrangement edges. For lush bohemian appeal, consider knotting long ribbons of frayed muslin to floral bindings or incorporate snippets of dried nigella pods for whimsical texture. At my recent outdoor wedding in a historic olive grove, this relaxed “garden muse” design style enchanted guests at every turn.

Discover even more inspired, exclusive styling tricks like this to channel authentic farmhouse and vineyard inspiration on the big day by reading my full guide!

How to Combine Roses, Lavender, and Fresh Herbs in Bouquets

One of my all-time favorite ways to style lavender and roses into supremely romantic arrangements is by seamlessly incorporating fragrant fresh herbs into each botanical blend. There’s just something so deliciously evocative about wafting the combined florals, lavender, and herbal aromas – it’s a multi-sensory experience I strive to translate into my designs.

For me, it starts with selecting the most intoxicating herb accents with nuanced yet complementary essences. Lately, I’ve been enamored with feathery dill fronds that visually echo lavender’s soft textures while providing a lovely anise counterpoint to its floral notes. Rosemary’s earthy, piney scents with subtle lavender undertones are another captivating match, especially when paired with dusky plum and mauve rose varieties.

But for sheer romance, you simply can’t beat incorporating sprigs of English garden thyme into flowing, asymmetrical bouquets starring raspberry and antique rose blooms loosely structured with lavender trails. With its gentle lemon-herb fragrance mingling with the sweet floral perfumes, it’s an olfactory experience straight out of a Victorian poet’s soaring musings.

The beauty of mingling herbs and blooms in this manner is how it forges such an immersive multi-sensory connection to the natural world. One deep inhale transports you to those lush, tangled country gardens where roses and lavender mingle freely among humble kitchen herbs. For me, it’s floral design at its most romantic and soulful.

Conclusion

Whether envisioning enchanting wedding centerpieces, lush bountiful bouquets, or casual home decor with countryside flair, the heavenly partnership of roses and lavender presents endless design opportunities for the romantic soul. By carefully styling these two bewitching botanicals using vintage vessels, gracefully flowing arrangements, and thoughtfully selected natural accent pieces, you can craft floral designs practically overflowing with palpable nostalgia and old-world allure.

From French lavender field inspiration to English potting shed romance, these iconic blooms unite to evoke idyllic pastoral settings where fragrant herbs tumble freely over antiqued terracotta pots and roses sway lazily on the warm summer breeze. With a few simple yet artful styling touches, I strive to translate those ethereal visions of botanical beauty into swoon-worthy, unforgettable bouquets for weddings, everyday home decor, and any occasion calling for undeniable romantic flair.

At my design studio, merging lavender and rose compositions in their most feminine, elegant forms is far more than just creating florals – it’s a full-fledged love affair with nature’s most exquisite tokens of beauty. One whiff of their intoxicating aromas and you’re instantly spellbound, spirited away to the most enchanted floral dreamscapes spring and summer have to offer. It’s that kind of profound botanical poetry and effortless romance that I pour into every lush, lavender-laced rose design, infusing each one with the passion and reverence this iconic floral pairing so richly deserves.