Wedding Advice: Real or Fake Flowers?
Everyone wants real flowers, but why break the bank when you can go for faux florals
We all can agree that flowers are the focal point (besides the bride and groom) of every wedding — whether it’s the flower arrangement at the ceremony or the centerpieces at the reception.
But if you’ve started to shop around for florists then you probably already know it can get pricey — fast.
Soon, your dreams of a floral garden at your wedding can quickly disappear and you’re left wondering if you can even afford anything more than bouquets.
Luckily, frustrated brides have come up with more affordable and even creative options.
Luxurious
First, let’s talk about what many of us really want for our wedding: tons and tons of flowers and/or extravagant arrangements. I mean, who doesn’t want a cascading arch of white and blush flowers over them as they say “I do.”
If you’ve got the budget, we say — go for it. Flowers that take over a ceremony and reception can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But there are ways to cut costs even if you do want to spend that kind of money.
Wedding florists can add silk flowers and greenery to fill-in areas between real flowers to help you save.
You can also opt to install flowers on just a portion of an arch or faux trees to cut back on your bill.
Wooden flowers
Did you even know this was a thing before you got engaged? We sure didn’t!
We’re glad to pass on this tip. Sola Wood Flowers has become popular among future brides who are shopping for their wedding flowers on a budget. The company’s flowers are made from tapioca plant roots, and look like the real deal from afar. They also photograph beautifully.
The best part? The kits are affordable, partly because it’s DIY — meaning, you’ll have to dye the flowers yourself. Those with creative minds will dive deep into this project. But don’t fret — Sola Wood Flowers says putting together your wooden flowers is easy.
Artificial flowers
Wooden flowers not for you? Try Ling’s Moment. The company produces artificial flowers out of latex foam or soft fabrics, such as polyester, chiffon and linen.
It’s also a DIY project except there’s no dying involved. But you will have to do the arranging. If you’d like to skip the work, Ling’s Moment also offers pre-made arrangements.
Get crafty
You can skip those options altogether and save even more money by heading to your local arts & craft store, and buying artificial flowers to put together for your wedding.
Keep in mind, however, that flowers at these stores may not look as real or photograph as well as the artificial flowers mentioned above. Unless you’re a florist, it may also take trial and error to arrange a floral bouquet or centerpiece that will look like it should be part of a wedding and not a cafe.
PRO TIP: If you end up going for faux flowers, show a relative or friend (who you know will be completely honest) before your wedding day, and get their opinion. This is your Big Day. You deserve to have beautiful florals — even if they’re not the real deal.
Wholesale
Don’t want to go fake? You can still buy real, live flowers without spending a fortune. Head to your local wholesale store (like Costco or Sam’s Club) or a nearby grocery store that has a floral department. Some wholesale stores have bouquets or even wedding packages (including boutonnières and corsages) for sale. If they don’t, you can purchase bundles of flowers to arrange yourself.
PROTIP: Add faux silk flowers or greenery, like eucalyptus, as fillers to save on your total bill.
If flowers are important to you, talk with your wedding florist about how to make your vision come true without spending more than you can afford. There are ways to be creative and cut back on costs. Remember — there’s nothing wrong with mixing real and faux floral, and taking matters into your own hands rather than hiring someone to do it for you.
Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.
San Francisco-Based wedding and elopement photographer Torez Marguerite gives us the ultimate ceremony photo shot list in this guest feature article