My mom has recently insisted that my silk flowers are a total no-no and I have to get real flowers. She says they won’t photograph well. She also thinks they may be tacky.
Sigh, this would have been useful when my friend helped me buy them months ago.
But I wanted silk flowers because I could make the bouquets in advance and they won’t wither in the gross August sun (our wedding pictures will span 10 hours – 9 am – 7 pm including the whole reception and before and after shots).
The colors admittedly are very fall like in keeping with the original wedding. But I think the dahlias are pretty cool still and I loved the amaryllis when I bought them at Michael’s. My girls are wearing dark red dresses, some come with a poppy (red orange) sash. So I like red or yellow tones for the flowers.
I’m wondering whether to keep them at all and then if I can mix silk and real flowers.
Dahlias and tiger lilies
Amaryllis, dahlias, and tiger lilies
What do you think? Brutal honesty appreciated.
I love that silk flowers are so affordable and convenient and I think you picked the best looking ones out there, but i kinda agree with your mom. :/ I think silk flowers are trying to look too much like real flowers. I am planning to use fabric flowers that are still pretty but not trying to look like real flowers. Does that make sense?
i think it would be okay to mix some silk flowers with real flowers into your bouquet. that could create the illusion of an all real bouquet.
Real flowers are a must. Even if you have to have less. Silk flowers remind me of. . . well not a young couple getting married thats for sure.
I’ve been thinking of using silk flowers too, to save money but had not told my mom yet because I knew she would say exactly what your mom said…hmm now I re thinking my decision.
Ok I’m being brutally honest… I say go for real flowers. I don’t mind silk flowers in the house for decor but I don’t think they will photograph well for a wedding. I don’t know what your budget is but I went to my florist with my budget and was like make it work and he totally did I have a lot of greenery in my arrangements but it looks great. One of my friends recently used baby’s breath for her bridesmaid bouquets and as fillers in a lot of her arrangements and it looked great and was super cheap!! So that may be an idea for you! Sorry it’s so long!
girl, we’re such kindred spirits. i posted something similar, what, like two days ago?
as far as photographing well, these photos look awesome. i can only imagine what a wedding photographer would do (especially if you let them know you’re afraid they’ll look fake… they’ll let you know if they’ll be photogenic or not)
i settled on the fakes because of the cost, yes, but because i found THE perfect colors, and i’m not convinced i’ll be able to find them in real flowers in the fall.
silk flowers aren’t as tacky, stodgy or granny as they once were. and, if you’re only using them for bouquets (not centerpieces) you and your bridal party are the only ones who’ll know. 😉
i’m mixing in a few real just so they smell floral.
I hate silk flowers. Abhor them. You must go for the real thing… honestly. I insist.
I don’t think there’a anything wrong with silk flowers! When I began planning my wedding I was disgusted by them, but when reality set in and I saw the cost I gave them a second chance.
My florist was charging me around $2000 for bouquets for my 10 bridesmaids, 6 grooms men and centerpieces – I went to a wholesaler and for about $500 (or less) I got everything done. My bouquet and my fiances boutenierre will be real flowers, but everything else is silk. The bouquets he was going to do for the girls were these little things, while they’re now going to have something more full and lush – and better looking in my opinion.
Another good thing is that with silk flowers you can do everything in advance. Although my wedding is in November, my centerpieces are done and stored away, and we’re working on bouquets today.
I say go for it! If you can mix some real ones in as well, even better! At the end of the day, you’ll be married – I’m sure everyones memory will be of that and not on whether or not your flowers are real.
I don’t normally like synthetic flowers but I have to say in your photos I could not tell that those were silk, I re-read your post like 3 times making sure that those weren’t actually pics of real flowers. Just my two cents 🙂
You could do both, but you still need to throw in some real flowers, esp. for the fresh floral smells!
Hm. True dilemma. I’m doing real. I thought about fake. I didn’t think about mixing, which is a good idea. I REALLY like the idea of all one flower – baby’s breath like a poster mentioned. If it was part of my color story, I’d totally carry a bouquet of lavender. I love lavender. Hm. Maybe I need to rethink my bouquet.
Hmm. I have to be honest I’m not entirely into silk flowers but that maybe because of the hideous ones, my otherwise stylish, mother has at home.
My only advice would be to shop around. Also I’ve seen some pretty amazing things done with 3 flowers deconstructed and then reconstructed back into one flower. They look amazing! Any help?!