Fake Flowers

WildRumpus · June 2010

Since it's dead in here...What's the "official" stance on them? Tacky or not? I've always been on the "tacky" wagon, but I just got home from Michael's, and I have to tell you, I'm starting to lean the other way. Some arrangements look awesome.

btrflykate1230 · June 2010

I personally don't like them.

brilibby4 · June 2010

I don't like them but the only weddings I have been to that used them did so very poorly and it was very obvious. I might feel differently if they were arranged well!

tidetravel · June 2010

Many people choose to do fake flowers because they think that it will be cheaper than real ones. This isn't always true. Good quality fakes are often just as expensive as real ones, if not moreso. Chosing simple arrangements with common or in season flowers lowers the cost dramatically.

We DIYed our flowers for the wedding for less than $300 - and that was with splurging to get certain flowers. Pics and DIY flower hints in bio.

WildRumpus · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_fake-flowers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e37c3a4f-3592-47dc-86c8-fa82056cd406Post:a3ebfe94-c8e2-487e-a9b1-88a234784718">Re: Fake Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't like them but the only weddings I have been to that used them did so very poorly and it was very obvious. I might feel differently if they were arranged well!
Posted by brilibby4[/QUOTE]

That's been my experience too, but if I didn't know something like this <a href="http://www.afloral.com/Silk-Wedding-Flowers/Silk-Bridal-Bouquets/11-5-Rose-and-Lisianthus-Bouquet-in-Blue-Purple" target="_blank" title="(clicky)">(clicky)</a> was fake, I'd have to at least get really close or touch it to be sure.

WildRumpus · June 2010

The reason I ask this is b/c there was a girl @ Michael's who was picking up fakes for her wedding, and if she put them together well, I think they would've looked really good. And I just bought a bunch of fakes for a few vases around the apartment

future-mrs · June 2010

I'm actually going to DIY with Real Touch flowers...I think they don't look as nice as the real thing but are still beautiful nonetheless. I was set on keeping my bouquet also.

WildRumpus · June 2010

And Tide, your flowers were beautiful. I'm trying to convince Rick to let me put ours together, but he's worried about something catastrophic happening, and us being without flowers, and me having a nervous breakdown

Jodipi314 · June 2010

in small amounts in a wedding (accents), I think fakes are great. But as full flower centerpieces or bouquets, I don't think you're saving any money and it doesn't look as nice as real. However, I have a bunch of fake bouquets around my house...since they're not front and center in front of people, no one notices and it's way cheaper than buying fresh every week:)

tidetravel · June 2010

Thank you!

I understand the concern, but as long as you're mentally prepared for something catastropic happening, have a backup plan, you shouldn't stress. what's the worst that can happen? The flowers die, and you have to pick up grocery store bouquets in the morning or go without flowers completely? I mean, they're just flowers.

Also - hiring a professional doesn't guarantee that something won't happen. Florists can (and do) screw up.

abbiewebster · June 2010

im doing silk flowers but only because my florist/moh is in canada therefor cant bring real ones into the states...and it is definately not cheaper, but the advantage is i and my weddingparty can take them home, or u can sell them on afterwards to get some of ur money bak....the silks and real touch are really nicein my opinion but i went to a wedding where they used the better homes and garden ones from walmart....and they looked awful.

WildRumpus · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_fake-flowers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e37c3a4f-3592-47dc-86c8-fa82056cd406Post:8af07aa3-0920-4e5d-8b5e-424cac776322">Re: Fake Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]Thank you! I understand the concern, but as long as you're mentally prepared for something catastropic happening, have a backup plan, you shouldn't stress. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? The flowers die, and you have to pick up grocery store bouquets in the morning or go without flowers completely? I mean, they're just flowers. <strong>Also - hiring a professional doesn't guarantee that something won't happen. Florists can (and do) screw up.</strong>
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]

This. Exactly. My bouquet for prom got screwed up two years in a row-one year, the used the wrong color, the second year, they ordered the totally wrong flower, and the ones that they got were rotten. I've reminded him of that.

tidetravel · June 2010

Personally, the flower-arranging was a really fun part for me. We had a girls GTG the night before, and everyone helped with the arranging. It only took a couple of hours and it helped me relax.

As far as something going wrong: at my friend's wedding, she had ordered purple wildflower bouquets online. There was a huge storm that moved through South America a couple of days before. The company called her and asked her if it would be OK to substitute purple roses for the bouquets. It wasn't necessarily what she wanted, but it still worked. She appreciated the communication and still had beautiful flowers on her wedding.

pooh8402 · June 2010

I didn't personally like them for my wedding, but I think good quality fakes are fine in general if they're well done. I do like good quality fakes for a house though.

Cantia · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_fake-flowers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e37c3a4f-3592-47dc-86c8-fa82056cd406Post:bfd3ed3e-639e-41e1-abbb-72746f1e5436">Re: Fake Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]I didn't personally like them for my wedding, but I think good quality fakes are fine in general if they're well done. I do like good quality fakes for a house though.
Posted by pooh8402[/QUOTE]<div>
I agree with all of this. I also think they can look great as home decor, but for parties I prefer fresh flowers.</div>

ms.n.0906 · June 2010

I'm doing fake for my DW wedding (just bouquets and corsages, not centerpieces). I agree with those above who said when they are 'real touch' and done by a professional, they can be gorgeous. I used www.angelsaccents.com for mine, and I love them (there are pics in my bio). I do agree, however, that when done on the cheap, they can be tacky.

Simply Fated · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_fake-flowers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e37c3a4f-3592-47dc-86c8-fa82056cd406Post:4dc8ebe7-513d-4108-bde3-7c317c1defc3">Re: Fake Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Fake Flowers : I agree with all of this. I also think they can look great as home decor, but for parties I prefer fresh flowers.
Posted by Cantia[/QUOTE]
This is my preference, as well.

Goldlie11 · June 2010

These are fake and displayed in my home. They look pretty realistic to me.

I was going to do fake due to allergies. I may just take an allergy pill and suck it up.

SparrowSong · June 2010

I don't like them. At all.

tidetravel · June 2010

I'm sorry Goldie, but while those flowers are pretty, it's easy to tell that they are fake, even from a picture. It's fine in the house, but for a wedding? eh...

mwhitson14 · June 2010

I tried really hard to like fake flowers, even bought a ton for my own wedding, put them together, and still wasn't happy with them. The only fake flowers I've ever seen that I liked were annaoskar's, and I don't know where they came from or how much she spent.

In the end, we tossed all the fake flowers to the yard sale pile, and just went to the florist with what we wanted to spend, and she worked within our budget. Small town, TN, I ended up with 3 bouquets, 6 corsages and 6 bouts for under $200.

katiewhompus · June 2010

I like, and used, fake flowers. My bouquet and my moh's were real, the other two fake. I also have fake arrangements in my house but then real on my dining room table. I don't think they really fool anyone into thinking they are real, but I don't think they are as bad as many people make them out to be.

brookelynpaisley · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_fake-flowers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:e37c3a4f-3592-47dc-86c8-fa82056cd406Post:6fe0eda2-9d68-454a-acaa-4f6df208925d">Re: Fake Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm sorry Goldie, but while those flowers are pretty, it's easy to tell that they are fake, even from a picture. It's fine in the house, but for a wedding? eh...
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]

Agreed. Those are quite obviously fake.

eastunder1 · June 2010

Fake flowers are fake flowers. They will always look fake, always. If you're ok with that, sweet. If not, get real ones.

I think fake flowers always look cheap. And often they can cost just as much as real ones. Sometimes more.

I won't even use fakes in my house. I find them that ugly. It's just so obvious.

squirrly · June 2010

I do not like fakes. I took a floral design class with a friend, because we thought it was going to be real flowers. Nope, fakes. I spent a ton on stuff for that class, and I can balance arrangements, but they still look fake.

I've never seen fake wedding flowers that didn't look fake. And, every single time, I've heard somebody in the crowd comment about how they must not have been able to afford something nicer. People notice.

Either find a florist who can live within a budget you set, or do what Tide did.

anna.oskar · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_fake-flowers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e37c3a4f-3592-47dc-86c8-fa82056cd406Post:844c8766-e2e5-4b52-9a23-925a0576b899">Re: Fake Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]The only fake flowers I've ever seen that I liked were annaoskar's, and I don't know where they came from or how much she spent.
Posted by mwhitson14[/QUOTE]

Aww. thanks Whit.

They cost just as much as live flowers. I would have done real flowers but H's allergies are so bad that I didn't want to make him miserable just because I wanted pretty bouquets. They did turn out pretty well, but on close inspection you did suspect they were fake.

mwhitson14 · June 2010

Aw hi anna!

jajph1974 · June 2010

I used fakes because the flowers weren't high on my list of priorities. It was only two bouquets and two bouts.

I think they turned out pretty nice, but you could tell they were fake and I really didn't care. I held the bouquet for all of ten minutes and then it sat on the table all night.

If I had used flowers as centerpieces I probably would've gone with real.

angel2210 · June 2010

I've seen them horribly done, but I think it's pretty much impossible for silks to not look fake. They smell awful and they fray like crazy.

That being said, I'm using real touch flowers for our bouquets because I have terrible allergies and asthma and real flowers set it off something fierce. I'm already gonna be a puffy, teary mess, I don't want to have to add the inability to breathe.

mstar284 · June 2010

not really a fan. I've never seen it done well, maybe? Usually they look too silky and you can see the threading. I guess it could be pulled off, but I'd just go for the real thing.

Goldlie11 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_fake-flowers-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e37c3a4f-3592-47dc-86c8-fa82056cd406Post:6fe0eda2-9d68-454a-acaa-4f6df208925d">Re: Fake Flowers</a>:
[QUOTE]I'm sorry Goldie, but while those flowers are pretty, it's easy to tell that they are fake, even from a picture. It's fine in the house, but for a wedding? eh...
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]
Which is why I'm taking an allergy pill and getting real flowers. I'm happy with the flowers in my home. <div>
</div><div>Actually, a trip to Michaels is what turned me off to fake flowers. I thought they looked terrible. </div>

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