Seven Simple Ways to Use Lavender at a Wedding

• Tie bundles of dried or fresh lavender (order here) with bows for the end of each seating row at the ceremony.

• Include fresh or dried lavender in the bridal party bouquets; it is the ancient herb of love and devotion.

• Have the flower girl toss dried lavender buds along the aisle. As the bridesmaids step on the aromatic buds, a gentle, calming fragrance greets the bride. Wedding day jitters disappear!

• Dried or fresh lavender stems in small vases at the reception carry on this fragrant theme.

• Use a ribbon-trimmed bundle of fresh lavender as the bridal bouquet toss. A new tradition is to present the toss bouquet to a guest of honor rather than have the "bouquet battle." Use dried lavender stems along with other dried herbs and flowers for an everlasting memory!

• Use fragrant, environmentally friendly dried lavender as lavender wedding rice. Those fragrant buds are a great alternative for rice. Wedding venues no longer allow rice because it’s difficult to clean up and it attracts rodents. Not only does birdseed also attract unwanted guests, it sprouts unwanted plants. As for bubbles, they create a slippery mess that stains fine fabrics. Lavender used as wedding toss vacuums up easily providing an instant air freshener.

• And finally, make sachet wedding favor cards for guests to take home. I use 1 teaspoon in a small glassine envelope (found at stamp supply stores) along with a personalized card (business card size—2"x3") as a wedding favor commemo­rating the special event. (There are approximately 40 teaspoons per cup of lavender buds.)