While the title may be a bit deceiving, it is quite easy to plan for the unexpected. With the holidays right around the corner, think about how many visitors (family, friends, and neighbors) just pop in unexpected or with VERY little notice.

To refresh your memory on the last time this happened, consider the following:

Phone rings. You answer.

(friend): Hi! Listen… we were just out and about and thought we’d drop by for a few minutes. Are you going to be around?

(you): Sure! That would be great! We’d love to see you! Where are you?

(friend): Oh… about 5 minutes away. We were just out running some errands and thought we would drop in for just a few minutes.

(you): Great! We’ll see you in a few!

You hang up the phone and look around. While your house is in some semblance of order, your holiday decorations might be a little lacking. Enter freeze dried rose petals!

Freeze dried rose petals are perfect decorations for those last minute situations! Freeze dried rose petals can last upwards of 2 years and are easy to set up and clean up! Order them in and keep them in the closet for those ’spur of the moment’ occasions.

Rose petals are a unique, eye-catching, fun, affordable, and festive decoration. Order some today!

No holiday wedding flowers are complete without the addition of fresh or freeze dried rose petals! Rose petals in colors such as red, dark red, cream and white are great complements to bouquets and arrangements of wedding flowers. Consider the following ideas as you prepare to decorate for your holiday weddings or events:

Freeze dried rose petals can be scattered around Christmas trees as additional accents to your traditional decorations. Freeze dried rose petals can last a very long time. They won’t wilt, won’t stain, and are easy to clean up! The use of freeze dried rose petals in everyday home decor is a growing trend that is sure to surprise and delight your wedding guests this holiday season!

Freeze dried rose petals are also ideal for surrounding pillar and other sized candles. The light of the candle adds a glow and warmth indicative of the holidays while the rose petals add a touch of elegance. Again, the longevity of the freeze dried rose petals means that they will look great and hold their color and shape throughout the holidays!

Speaking specifically to wedding decorations, the beautiful and classy touch of lining the aisle with rose petals is not only affordable, but adds significant color and richness to existing wedding decor.

Don’t forget to add fresh or freeze dried rose petals to your list as you plan for your wedding flowers and other holiday decor. Rose petals are the perfect addition to your ‘Winter Wonderland’ wedding!

Freeze dried rose petals have become extremely popular throughout the wedding, event, and entertainment industries. Their rise in popularity is most attributed to the fact that they are (1) cheaper than fresh rose petals, and (2) have an amazing shelf life and can last up to 2 years if cared for properly.

In the wedding industry, freeze dried rose petals have proven to be heaven-sent for budget conscious brides. The freeze dried rose petals have allowed brides of all budgets to get more for their money. Also, we have had many brides comment how it has been nice to receive their freeze dried rose petals in advance of their wedding… thereby shortening their to-do list and leaving them with one less worry as their big day approaches.

The event and entertainment industries have also showed increased interest in freeze dried rose petals over the last year. Many of the caterers, hotels, and resorts that have provided feedback to us have mentioned the cost benefits of ordering freeze dried over fresh rose petals. However, cost benefits aside, the main reason they prefer freeze dried rose petals is because they look great and hold strong throughout their whole event. Fresh rose petals have a tendency to become ‘fatigued’ after a few hours. Freeze dried rose petals hold their shape and coloration almost indefinitely.

Freeze dried rose petals have truly left their mark on the floral industry. As you plan for your next wedding or event, consider adding the beauty, color, and longevity of freeze dried rose petals.

Over the past few weeks we have received an overwhelming amount of questions about calculating rose petal coverage for weddings and events. To answer these questions, please consider the following guidelines as you plan for your fresh rose petal or freeze dried rose petal needs:

Step 1: Calculating Square Footage

To calculate the square footage, measure the length and width of the area to be covered. Multiply the length by the width and you will have the total square footage of the area you are trying to cover.

For example: If the room you want to cover is 10 feet long by 20 feet wide, you would multiply 10 x 20 = 200 square feet.

Step 2: Calculating Coverage

We offer our fresh rose petals and freeze dried rose petals in 4 different quantities (3,000 petals, 5,000 petals, 10,000 petals, and 20,000 petals). Start with our box of 3,000 petals and divide that quantity by the square footage you calculated in ‘Step 1′.

For example, if your total square footage was 200 feet, you would divide 3,000 petals by 200 square feet = 15 rose petals per square foot.

This number (# of rose petals divided by square footage) will give you the number of rose petals per square foot. If you would like a heavier coverage, re-calculate using the next larger rose petal package.

For example, if your total square footage was 200 feet, you would divide 5,000 petals by 200 square feet = 25 petals per square foot.

Step 3: What Does That Number Mean (Rose Petals Per Square Foot)???

The number of rose petals per square foot means just what it says: the number of rose petals that would be in 1 square foot (a box that is 12 inches long by 12 inches wide).

If visualizing this number is difficult for you, swing by your local florist and pick up a few roses (maybe 4 or 5). Remove the rose petals. Measure a 1 foot x 1 foot square on your floor (as a reference for you, many kitchen tiles are 1 foot x 1 foot). Add rose petals to that area until you find the coverage that you are looking for. Count the petals on the floor and that is the number of rose petals per square foot that you will need to achieve the appearance you desire.

In Conclusion…

We have found that desired rose petal coverage does vary from customer to customer, and for that reason we do not provide guidelines for what constitutes ‘light coverage’, ‘moderate coverage’, and ‘heavy coverage’.

If you have any questions about calculating rose petal coverage, please do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable sales representatives by calling 1-888-297-3000 or emailing us at sales@rosepetalshop.com.

Every year new trends emerge in the floral industry. This year we have been pleasantly surprised to see a significant increase in sales of freeze dried rose petals! These beautiful petals are not only being used for weddings and events, but hotels, spas, resorts, and restaurants have taken akin to the freeze dried rose petals for added decor and ambiance!

Hotels & Hospitality: In just the first few months of this year we have shipped a large amount of freeze dried rose petals to hotels and other businesses throughout the hospitality industry. Some of our customers have indicated that they have begun to offer ‘honeymoon packages’ where the room is transformed into an intimate setting with the mere dimming of lights and the sprinkling of rose petals in the bedroom and bathroom.

Resorts & Spas: Resorts and spas have also been quick to pick up on the trend of freeze dried rose petals. The longevity of these petals allows these establishments to create a peaceful and relaxing environment for their customers that requires little maintenance. Due to the fact that freeze dried rose petals maintain their shape and color, resorts and spas are able to leave displays out longer, have less turnover of product than they would with fresh rose petals, and still enjoy the beauty and fragrance of having beautiful rose petals throughout their facility.

Weddings & Events: Freeze dried rose petals remain extremely popular at weddings and events. This year it appears as though many brides have decided to use freeze dried rose petals instead of fresh rose petals. This shift in the trend could be a result of many different factors. It could be that businesses and brides are feeling the pressures of a sluggish economy and have opted for the more economical freeze dried rose petals. The trend could also be a result of an increasing number of venues that are limiting the use of fresh rose petals as decorations. Freeze dried rose petals are more widely accepted at reception halls and wedding and event venues because they don’t stain, and because they are much easier to clean up.

Whether you are a business or a bride, consider adding our beautiful freeze dried rose petals to your list of decorations to be included at your next wedding or event! The Rose Petal Shop offers a wide selection of both fresh and freeze dried rose petals, as well as many varieties of wholesale flowers and wedding flowers.

With Valentine’s Day now passed, many brides-to-be have begun looking forward to wedding season 2008. The date has been set, the reception location confirmed, and the bridesmaids’ dresses picked out. With those tasks aside, the focus now turns to the selection of the wedding flowers! However, with the ever-rising costs associated with weddings, the expense of hiring a floral designer can often be overwhelming. To cut costs, the trend among budget conscious brides is to order wholesale flowers in bulk from online sources like The Rose Petal Shop (www.rosepetalshop.com) and create their own arrangements of wedding flowers.

The budget conscious bride (Bride-on-a-Budget) and the idea of arranging your own wedding flowers (DIY Wedding Flowers) is becoming more and more popular throughout the wedding industry. On average, brides spend 8% of their total wedding budget on their wedding flowers. This can mean spending up to $1,000 to $4,000 for flowers alone! Many brides are going the way of do-it-yourself wedding flowers because of the significant cost savings and because they it provides them with the freedom to create wedding flower arrangements that truly reflect their own personality and style.