The Great Flower Dilemma: Real vs. Artificial By Jennifer Stauffer,
SilkWed.com
Many brides today are
struggling over the great floral dilemma: Should she choose fresh or artificial
flowers. The deciding factors in this dilemma usually boil down to cost,
appearance, durability, and convenience.
Most brides will notice a
considerable cost savings when choosing silk. It is not unusual for a fresh
bridal bouquet to cost more than an entire wedding party’s silk flowers. Keep
in mind, some stems can still be very expensive, even in silk. Those that tend
to be expensive are large, high-quality roses, calla lilies, and orchids. As a
less expensive alternative to roses, try cabbage roses or ranunculus.
Many brides worry that the
artificial flowers will look fake. This, again, depends on the choice of
flowers. Some flowers, such as calla lilies, are very difficult to replicate
with a natural look. Even so, most fresh callas will run about $5.00 per stem,
compared to $3.00 per stem for artificial callas. Other silk flowers, such as
roses, can appear every bit as realistic as fresh flowers. A good, realistic,
silk rose should run from $1.50-$3.00 per stem.
Should you choose silk flowers
and wish to have a hand-tied bouquet, be sure to request a stem holder when
talking to your florist. These holders allow the handle to appear to be a large
bunch of stems, instead of a thin, wire handle.
A wonderful alternative to
silk flowers are latex stems. These flowers are moldable and will mimic the
natural texture of the flower much better than silk. Latex flowers also hold
their shape very well and can be arranged more precisely. Although these stems
may cost slightly more than silk, they are well worth the added expense.
Other brides will choose fresh
flowers because they want their flowers to smell good. The important question
to ask yourself would be, “Is the smell worth the price escalation?”
As stated before, durability
is something you will need to consider when choosing your flowers. Artificial
flowers will not wilt, they will not discolor, and broken stems do not usually
occur. And, when the wedding is over, you will have a wonderful keepsake
without the additional preservation expenses.
Perhaps one of the best things
about silk flowers is the convenience they afford. They can be ordered long
before the wedding and stored until the big day. This also leaves time for
corrections, should your florist make a mistake.
For the bride who can let go
of the pretty smell of fresh flowers and the touch of a rose petal, silk flowers
are a very affordable and convenient alternative to fresh flowers.
Officiant - Officiate - Reverend -
Reverand - Minister - Celebrant
-
Pastor - New Jersey Wedding Officiant - Presiding over New Jersey
Wedding Ceremonies
*Please note that New Jersey
no longer has a "Justice of the Peace" position. The position was
eliminated many years ago.
