Real or fake?

jessicarc11

Ok so I want your input: real flowers or fake flowers? I'm on a tight budget, so I'm inclined to go with fake flowers, but real flowers are so much prettier. What do you think? 

jagore08

Real flowers.  I always think fake flowers look fake.  If you purchase the ones that look real then you'll end up sending the same, if not more, than real flowers.  

Don't think that flowers are your only option.  My friend had an Etsy seller make her a fabric, feather, and brooch bouquet and her BM carried clutches.  I don't remember if the guys wore anything but if they didn't I didn't miss it.  The centerpieces were tall vases with firesafe filling and candles, 2 small silver doves, and yellow picture frames with pictures of their dog that served as table numbers.  Her wedding decor was completely flowerless and she said that everything cost her about $350.  There are other options besides flowers.

kmclean29

real

bunchesbob

Go for the real.  If you are doing it yourself, depending on your budget, there are on line suppliers, such as Bunches Direct, where you buy in bulk at really great prices.  Bunches Bob

teralicious

Real for sure, I have heard Costco and Sam's Club has really good deals on bulk flowers or arrangements. Also I was at Trader Joe's last week and they had tons of orchids for $13 a pot, you could always have a potted plant as your centerpiece, it is probably way cheaper and guests could take them home at the end of the night.

Maggie0829

Real all the way!

graysquirrel

Fake flowers are often not cheaper if you are DIYing. I used to work at Michaels and unless you are going for super cheap little silk flowers or shop a clearance blowout, the real flowers from a seller like Sams Club will be cheaper. Real flowers also tend to photograph much better than fake ones.

Victoria+Rory = Victory

Real Flowers. DIY or Sams Club (prearranged stuff)

DEF MUCH CHEAPER

G&E2013

you could do both! Im thinking about doing real flowers for the wedding party and parents, and fake for the centerpieces and other decor!

midgemoto

Real flowers for weddings... otherwise its just another decorating project/

BMcLeodTeam

Looks like I'm in the minority, but mine are all silks and I love them!

Ayla282

I'm DIYing my bouquets with silk flowers.  I'm planning on having a day with my MOH and BMs to do our bouquets together.  It'll be fun, and I won't have to stress about flowers wilting or anything right before the wedding (whether or not that's a concern, I'll stress anyway, haha).  I'm looking on afloral and so far it looks like it'll only cost about 60$ for 4 semi-modest bouquets (mostly daisies and gerbera daises which are fairly cheap). 

BMcLeodTeam

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_flowers_real-fake-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:28Discussion:a3e5a642-023f-4df0-8300-b9c3f2d8e44dPost:ec3e86fe-af38-43a0-b9d0-4c1f6b74a2af">Re: Real or fake?</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm DIYing my bouquets with silk flowers.  I'm planning on having a day with my MOH and BMs to do our bouquets together.  It'll be fun, and I won't have to stress about flowers wilting or anything right before the wedding (whether or not that's a concern, I'll stress anyway, haha).  I'm looking on afloral and so far it looks like it'll only cost about 60$ for 4 semi-modest bouquets (mostly daisies and gerbera daises which are fairly cheap). 
Posted by Ayla282[/QUOTE]

I used Afloral, did all roses... got enough for my bouquet, 4 bridesmaids bouquets, 10 bouts for groomsmen, etc, FI's bout, 7 corsages, all the aisle and alter decorations (also all in roses) for just over $200

mricher1983

I guess i'd be in the minority as well but it really just depends.

I tried to make a mock up centerpiece with hydrangeas and soon realized hydrangeas don't like water beads and require way too much water, Therefore, I tried my silk flowers I had already purchased and I actually thought they looked more glamorous and photographed nicely.
Now, I also think I got a great deal on them and they are of high quality. People who have seen them asked if they were real. I also only require 3 stems instead of 4 that I would need if they were real.
I've seen the ones at Michael's and I find the hydrangeas there look very cheap and they're more expensive.

For the bouquets though, i'm definitely going with real flowers.

All that to say, I would start looking at wholesalers or costco first and compare prices to silk ones. Cause yes they are usually more expensive.
I'm also the planning type and would rather not worry about them wilting. If you feel comfortable DIYing your flowers, go with real flowers.

ashleyvanderhoof

I'm doing silk also. I'm in a position where I need to be getting things done now (my wedding is next Oct.) so I'm doing silk. Hobby Lobby does 50% off all floral every once in a while and since I'm only doing bouquets and boutonnieres, it will stay pretty cheap for me.