19 Lavender Wedding Ideas That Smell As Pretty As They Look

Lavender has been cultivated for centuries for its medicinal properties and heavenly fragrance, and now lots of people are taking advantage of this purple plant for use in weddings.

We won't blame you if you never considered lavender when it comes to your ceremony and reception details, but this flower offers tons of pretty possibilities. Romantic and a bit wild in feeling (the gorgeous rolling lavender fields of Provence come to mind), lavender is the perfect choice for brides seeking an organic, French-inspired wedding style. And with the bloom's season quickly approaching (lavender grows around the world during the hot summer months and flourishes when planted in full sun), now is just the right time to embrace these beautiful lavender wedding ideas.

Using lavender in your bouquet is of course the obvious place to start, and the flower is perfect for slightly rustic, garden-style arrangements. When planning the blooms for your bouquet, note that lavender goes well with other soft pastel summer flowers, like peonies and roses, and it’s nice to play with scale and mix it with larger blooms. Because the stalks tend to be straight and somewhat inflexible, it’s best to use the flowers sparingly in larger, mixed arrangements (too many will make the design feel angular and stiff). If using lavender by itself in a monofleur bouquet, keep the scale small and compact (it’s the perfect size for a flower girl's arrangement or for a grouping of small vases down the table).

Meanwhile, culinary-grade lavender can be used to adorn cocktails, decorate wedding cakes and baked goods, or infuse jars of honey or sugar (the perfect favor for wedding guests) with a light, floral flavor. And due to its hardiness, sprigs of lavender can be incorporated into place cards, boutonnieres, centerpieces, and more. Cut lavender can be left out of water for a long time without wilting, and the flowers will keep their color, scent, and shape for months when dried (to preserve, simply hang bouquets upside down until completely dried). And luckily, lavender is relatively inexpensive compared to the bigger face flowers—and a little goes a long way.

As an added bonus, lavender’s calming scent is said to aid with concentration, relaxation, sleep, and even helps to get rid of headaches. What bride couldn't benefit from lavender's calming effect as she's walking down the aisle?

Scroll below to see our 19 favorite lavender wedding ideas.