Are silk tacky or terrific?

justifyme143

I'm wedding in June (eeek I know its soon!) and my piggy bank is starting to cry.   I guess I did not put much thought into flower expenses.  I'm thinking about using silk flowers from hobby lobby but I don't want to seem tacky.  I can't help but think, "they are so budget friendly, and who would know".  I don't have a few hundred to spare on real ones and I'm feeling overwhelmed.  I have horrible allergies so in some ways I think silk maybe better but, I can also just take a pill and get over it. What do you think?

Also what if I did the corsages for mothers in real and everything else in fake?  Is that extra tacky?  

Please help!! 

themuffinman16

It honestly is the type of flower that makes the difference in silk.  I find cala lilies in silk look VERY similar to the real thing, while most roses look atrocious.  You also could DIY paper flowers, or have a brooch bouquet. I would ask the moms if they want corsages. I find corsages are very matronly and I asked my moms and they felt the same. So, I am saving money on those. I have seen babies breath in rustic vases that look simple and earthy.  

   I  think if you do decide to go faux, spend a large portion on the flower budget on your bouquet.  They are the only flowers that will be in a lot of the photos (So even if you go faux, go nice faux for your bouquet). Also Costco has really inexpensive flowers and you can look at how to make your own bouquets (look up flowers that are seasonal so you can get them at their lowest price.)

Ven&Radio

Personally, I think most fake flowers look tacky.  The ones that look nice tend to be expensive and may not save you anything over real.  I would go real, but try to stick with flowers that are in season and locally grown.  That will keep the cost down.  Get yourself a nice bouquet and maybe a single stem for the BMs?  You can really skip corsages and boutinniers (I'm pretty sure I spelled that wrong).  If you were planning on floral centerpieces, you can go non-floral fairly cost effectively, or again, local, in season flowers can be cheap (my floral centerpieces, including the vase, were $15/table).

Maggie0829

I am a fan of high quality (meaning expensive) silks that make it very hard to determine if they are in fact fake or real.  But the silks that you find at your local craft stores which are in absurd colors like aqua are just wrong.

I would spend your money on real flowers for personal flowers such as bouquets, corsages and bouts.  For centerpieces go the non-floral route and have vases filled with pebbles or sand or glass beads and a pillar candle.  Or you could even buy potted plants and use them as your centerpieces.

rhiannon383

Hobby Lobby actually has some nice real touch/polyurethane flowers. It really depends on the type of flower, I think. Some look great silk or real touch, and some just don't. Right now (at least at the one near me), their flower stems are half off- so it would be a great time to go look! I'm doing fake for bouquets and bouts, and the moms will get real corsages. I'm spending the most money and time on mine, though, since it will be the most featured. 

AddieCake

I am ok with fakes as long as they don't LOOK fake. It really is a personal choice.

justifyme143

Thank you all sooo much!   The centerpieces are going to be with out a doubt fake as they are submerged in water.   BUT Im still torn on what I am going to do about the bridal party and moms.  Thank you all for the advise and I LOVE the photos!!   Thank you soooo much for being kind enough to share them with us!! 

[Deleted User]

I think they can be tacky or fabulous. I think it all depends on what type of flowers and colors you go for. Certain colors like blue daisies, will scream fake. But I've seen other types of silk flowers that look wonderful and you have to touch them to figure out if they are real or silk. My advise is to go to a florist to get an idea of what it would cost to do real flowers with what you like. Then when you go to the craft store, you can see what you like and compare the cost. That is going to be the best way to figure out which way you are better off financially.

fbmandy55

I really can't bring myself to get fake flowers. I read somewhere that flowers should be 40% of your budget... Um, no way. We are having a fall wedding so I'm skipping flowers at the reception and doing DIY wood/candle centerpieces. 

I paid a deposit for a trendy local florist and they gave me their price sheet. We only plan to do bouquets, boutineers and church alter flowers and I was impressed to see that their boutineers were on $5-7 a piece! Not bad. I think just limiting the use of flowers and definitely tell a florist if you are on a budget. They will help you choose less expensive flowers that are in season. 

Maggie0829

fbmandy55 said:

I really can't bring myself to get fake flowers. I read somewhere that flowers should be 40% of your budget... Um, no way. We are having a fall wedding so I'm skipping flowers at the reception and doing DIY wood/candle centerpieces. 

I paid a deposit for a trendy local florist and they gave me their price sheet. We only plan to do bouquets, boutineers and church alter flowers and I was impressed to see that their boutineers were on $5-7 a piece! Not bad. I think just limiting the use of flowers and definitely tell a florist if you are on a budget. They will help you choose less expensive flowers that are in season. 

Yeah that is wrong.  Flowers should be about 10% of your budget.  Your reception should be between 40-60% of your budget.  

justifyme143

@Erikan73 Thank you!

@fbmandy55, WOW your boutineers are priced just $5-7.   wow!   I live in a VERY different area then you then because they start at around $15 here.   I also think the 40% is a VERY high estimate.   Thank you for your comment!  Im going to call around bout I doubt I can find anything that cheap.

@Maggie0829 I thought the 40% seemed high too!  Thank you!!