Whats wrong with Carnations??

lizbabydoll

Okay so we just ordered today 500 carnation flowers (white) and just paid $124.50 total with taxes! We are going to put them all together (forming a ball) for our centerpiece on a cylinder vase. Here's the thing: I told my mom and MOH that we will have them 1. We are on a tight budget, 2. We loved how they looked all together, 3. Finally my fiance liked something that I also liked lol, 4. They're cheap Their reaction was like: "carnations"??? :S eeeh. I explained to them how they will be and still my mom is trying not to tell me what she thinks, bc she says its our wedding and what not, BUT I know she doesnt like the idea. My MOH told me that they use those flowers when people die, and she was trying to tell me what else I could get under my budget lol. I've been reading about them and the more I google for pictures and centerpieces, the more I love them!! It just makes me feel that I am doing something wrong, I dont like the feeling. Ugh! I ended up thinking they have to get over it, its something that we like 100000+ times haha! I just needed some venting......

Tonysgurl020406

Dont feel that way!  I love the way carnations look, when done right...  I love them packed tightly - Ive seen some beautiful pics!  Dont worry - enjoy your flowers :)Where did you order them from?

nancl

Go with what you like!  Carnations can be stunning.Never have I gone to a wedding and wondered what they were thinking using funeral flowers!  I think carnations are being used more and more - not just because they are a little less expensive, but because they are beautiful.

paula_and_dan

Ditto, Carnations definitely have their place! Not as a boutonniere but as a pomander ball is lovely!

clseale13

Our FG's pommander is green and white carnations...basically the same look as your centerpieces but w/ a loop at the top! Do what you like.

jamie'scominghome

although carnations do look lovely...some ppl may associate them with funerals because that is a primary flower they use. this may be what your mother had in mind. that is atleast what my dad told me. i say go ahead and use those carnations. i think they will look great and no will think twice about it.

lizbabydoll

Thanks for your comments Yeah, I am sure they will be beautiful and will work right. We went to the movies yesterday and saw "hangover" and they had the carnation pomanders as decoration for the ceremony, we were like woohoo! lol. Tonysgurl020406- Our wedding is going to be in Puerto Rico, I googled wholesale places and after calling a few, I found "Nicole Flower Distribution" in Carolina, PR. They are really cheap, helpful and friendly. -Hope that helps.

ginam98

I love carnations, they come in so many colors and they last for a long time. I've gotten so many arrangements that have carnations in it and after a week all the tulips, roses, mums etc. will have died and have died and the carnations still look great. Pretty much every wedding has SOME carnations around... They look great in pomanders and centerpieces and mixed with other flowers in bouquets.

sharibare

It will look gorgeous! I first saw this in Martha Stewart and thought it looked so original and beautiful. Very sculptural.I’m planning on doing the exact same thing. But the prices you found are amazing. I was planning on using Sam’s Club. But I must admit, I’m a little scared of the quality.It only matters what YOU think! I know it’s hard, but ignore everyone else ☺

sharibare

I wanted to add one more thing, the pomander idea for bridesmaids, or even the bride, works really great because they are so much easier to carry than a traditional bouquet. Just loop it over one wrist like a handbag. More fun!

cassie11

im doing the same thing! im also doing carnations because i love the way they look and how cheap they are! im ordering them from a wholesale website and making everything myself. when i tell people were doing carnations they give me the same reaction! they will be wowed when they see them at the wedding though!

hokiejennylynn

I saw one of the centerpiece pictures on here with carnation pommanders and loved it (http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/48631/detailview.aspx?id=48631&type=3&wedding_details=Centerpieces).  I was going to try and do that for our wedding despite the carnation connotation. You should definitely do it. It makes sense with your budget and it will look lovely.Plus, I don't think many people will leave your wedding thinking, "man, if they hadn't used carnations - this wedding would have been a whole lot more fun."

nealbl

first of all the most common flower at a funeral is the rose so your MOH is wrong there. Second of all I can picture your centerpiece and it is going to be gorgeous.

MrsK09

I am using carnations also!  My florist is also going to pack them tightly into a ball shape, we want them to look like snowballs!  Ours aren't going to be pomanders, I just didn't care for the look, but it's basically the same premise except they will have a hand tied stem.  We are also on a budget so that is part of the reason why we picked them.  Don't worry about what anyone else thinks especially if you and FI both like them!

ellinger84

Carnations are beautiful flowers - there's nothing wrong with using them!  Carnations sometimes even look like peonies but at a fraction of the cost.  Most importantly though is that YOU & YOUR fiance like them.  They'll get over the flower thing

MeganinWhite

Carnations are beautiful, versatile flowers and are included in many high end arrangements.  You should not feel bad about having them in our wedding.  I am a wedding planner and we use them all the time to compliment other flowers and get shapes correct inside of centerpieces and bouquets.  Infact I was just going over my bouquet with my florist and I told her that she should feel free to throw some carnations into it.  For the arrangement I would recommend that you arrange the balls on a ball shaped piece of floral oasis soaked in water.  It will keep your shape perfectly and then you can set it on top of the cylinder vase and maybe float a few stems of flowers inside.  Simply, elegant, modern and cheap!  Best of luck to you!!

beautifulrock

This is my first reply on someones post!  I used white and green carnations at my wedding.  My aunt gave the same reaction when I told her what kind of flowers I had planned on using at the wedding "Well you sure aren't spending a bunch on flowers now are you" to be exact of what she said.  I simply replied no I don't see the point if they are just going to die.  Plus the place we held the wedding/reception at was beautiful enough on it's own to waste a bunch of money on flowers.  Don't worry about what else someone else thinks is a good idea.  If it appeals to you and it's what you want your wedding to be then go for it.  I bet in the end when it's all said and done they will think the outcome is awesome.  And if not who cares.  My only advice is to do a practice run with the size ball you are going to cover.  I had done my calculations wrong and had to send my stepdad back to the flower market for more carnations.  Thank god they had enough!  Here is a pic to see how they look.  Sorry the pic isn't of good quality I don't have the professional ones on work computer.<img src=http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v355/32/41/1497025070/n1497025070_71254.gif

jasmineh7777

I'm doing carnations as well. They are both my and my mother's favorite flower. I think your centerpieces will be gorgeous. Carnations live much longer than most other flowers, sometimes up to two weeks. You are paying for it, and if you love it then you're not doing anything wrong.

Sparkette19

Personally I hate carnations, however we are using them in the BM's bouquets. I didn't want to pay to have expensive peonies so our florist suggested bunching a few carnations together very tightly and you will get a very similar look. That's totally cool by me and it saves me $$$$. I think people have a warped perception of weddings, especially if they ARE NOT PAYING FOR IT. I think the idea sounds great and I know it will look really nice too.

CitadelGirl08

My family is in the funeral business and we definately get more roses than we do carnations.  Carnations are so underrated and unappreciated.  I told my fiance that if he ever buys me flowers, I want carnations, because as long as you change the water they will outlast most other flowers!  Plus, I've never met anyone who is allergic to carnations and roses tend to stink when they wilt! I'm probably using berries and ferns in my bouquets and candle centerpieces with berry wreaths, but if I find I need actualy flowers to supplement, I'll be using carnations and baby's breath.  No roses.

beautifulrock

So I am not able to get my picture to work.  Can you tell I'm new to it! 

dojo1

Do what you love!!  I haven't heard of carnations as "funeral flowers" though I have heard that lilies are (and how many of us haven't admired a lily in a bouqet not intended for greiving? They're just pretty flowers in my book!). Given that most people have no idea what antiquated traditions are piggybacking onto the flowers they're looking at I don't think you should worry.

mizu22

don't worry about it. they will be beautiful, you will be happy and no one will complain about them at the reception congrats on making your budget work!!

themidge

carnations are so pretty! usually when people think of carnations they htink of the pink ones used as filler for cheap bouquets at grocery stores - BUT - when you put them all together like that, all one kind of flower and all one color it will look so lush and so pretty. especially in the white! why don't you make one up as a sample to show your mom and everyone else who doesn't seem to be convinced. i'm sure it's going to come out gorgeous!

Diamond_Doll

When some people hear the word carnation, they automatically think cheap and ugly, but I have seen a lot of carnation centerpieces that I thought were very cute. Maybe you just need to gather a few inspiration pictures to send to your mom and MOH to help them see your vision.

dieselsmomma

I'm using lots of carnations at my wedding! I think they are beautiful too. Use what you like!

SarahSmile23

Not as a boutonniere but as a pomander ball is lovely! Actually, we used carnations for the men's bouonnieres because they complimented the women's peony bouquets beautifully but were more durable than a single peony.Bunches of carnations are gorgeous. I always disliked carnations until i saw them used on their own instead of as filler!

cazzysmith

personally, I'm not a fan of the carnation idea for weddings, either (especially for bouquets, not so bad for centerpieces).  But it's your wedding, you love them, and they're bought & paid for.  Do what you want, it's ok!

buttrfly168

I absolutely do not usually like carnations, but as a ball they look fabulous!  You MOH needs to educate herself on pomander balls. LOL

Nikkiesix

Girl, do what YOU like! Nothing wrong with carnations! The actually last a long time and put together tight in a ball, they look beautiful! Sometimes. people just like to upset the apple cart and think that their ideas are better! Do what cha want!!!!! No Worries, carnations are not only for "the dead", I know many "living" people that love them!

perfectlioness1

I LOVE carnations!  In fact one of my very favorite bouquet pics on theknot is of the pink carnation bouquet!!!  I showed it to my florist for ideas and even SHE loved it!  I think carnations are under-used at weddings.  I don't think people will think they are cheap looking if they are executed beautifully (even super expensive rare orchids will look cheap if thrown together poorly), and it sounds like you are!  Go you!!!