Alternatives to the red rose

Amarillys are a perfect substitution to the red rose. Photo source:www.sxc.hu

The red rose is recognized as a key symbol of love for Valentine’s Day. On this lover’s day, you will find almost all shops, street vendors, fuel stations and every convenience store stocked with the ever so popular red rose. Doesn’t it get a tad bit mundane though knowing that every year you are going to receive a bunch of red roses from your boyfriend, husband or suitor? Isn’t it refreshing to imagine that perhaps for once you will receive something different, even if it is just a different choice of flowers? The good news is that there are many varieties of flowers that are an equal if not better match to the red rose. For a Valentine’s Day wedding, it may be a good idea to stay away from the cliché that is the red rose. This article will provide you with appropriate alternatives for your special day.

Darker Roses

Most people go for the same cherry-red shade of roses on Valentine’s Day. This could be attributed to lack of awareness or unavailability of other shades of red roses. In recent times, it has become fashionable to give darker shades of red roses as a Valentine’s gift and this concept can definitely be applied to your Valentine’s Day wedding for a refreshing change. Other shades of red such as Barkarolle, Black magic, Baccara, Nicole and Leonidas are delightful darker shades of red and that would be an excellent alternative to the classical red rose.

Tulips

Tulips top the list of favorite alternatives to the red rose. Maybe it’s the way the petals are elegantly arranged or the way the flower head bends towards the light. The tulip is a little wonder! And what is even more delightful is the fact that they come in every possible shade (except blue and true black). Hence, red tulips would be a great choice for your Valentine’s Day wedding. Put them up in a vase for use as a centerpiece and you will have instantly brought uniqueness to your wedding. Ensure that you have enough water in the vase as tulips continue growing in water and have a vase life of about a week. Therefore they can stay fresh long after your wedding day provided that you purchase them when they are still in bud with a bit of color showing.

Amaryllis - the ‘Knight Star’

This is also a suitable alternative to the red rose especially because it comes in shades of red such as pillar box red and Christmas red which would be perfect for a Valentines Day wedding. I am a sucker for flowers with leafless stems. The amaryllis is just one such flower and what makes it a beauty to behold is the fact that the stems can be up to half a meter in height , topped by four of five blooms shaped like starry trumpets. For a great centerpiece idea with amaryllis, hung them upside down from the roof of the tent. Their long stems store a lot of water and therefore they can be used as a dry arrangement for a limited period of time.

Anthuriums

This flower is often described as the ‘once seen, never forgotten flower’ and without a doubt this majestic flower has lived up to this description. For a Valentine’s Day wedding whose main theme is love, it is brilliant alternative to the rose as it comes in love heart shapes!! It has a glossy flower bract which surrounds the true flowers and this bract in its various colors is what gives the anthurium its amazing beauty. It comes in glossy lip-stick red and in a heart-shape. What more could you ask for on Valentines Day? Be careful when transporting this flower though as the bract is very sensitive to bruising. Anthuriums can last up to three weeks if well taken care of.

Other selections

Other flowers that you can use in place of the red rose include red peonies whose petals bundle together to give the impression of a bundle of fruit. They are very beautiful when bunched together with other flowers, especially those in shades of pale pink. For another smooth and silky leafless stemmed flower, red calla lilies are an excellent choice. Their delightful beauty is sufficient for them to stand alone in a bouquet or a centerpiece. When matched together with leaves, they are just a sight to behold. How about red Gerbera daisies? I consider them happy flowers. Maybe it’s their brightness and the fact that they are shaped like the sun or it is their magnificent thin petals. For a garden Valentine’s wedding, they are the perfect choice. I recommend mixing them with orange (yes orange) Gerbera daisies to create a mood of warmth and love.

We hope you find some practical ideas on flowers you can use in place of the red rose for your Valentines Day wedding. Go for it... and do send us pictures of your beautiful arrangements.