Most couples choose fresh florals for their wedding day for a variety of reasons but with ever improving quality of faux flowers, assessing the pros and con can help you make a decision on what is right for you and juuuuuust might have you thinking a bit differently about faux flowers!
Pros:
Affordable
Durable
No care required
Reusable
All flowers available in all seasons
No allergens
Cons:
Questionable quality
No fragrance
Quality
Faux flowers are like plastic surgery: Some results look realistic and amazing, but many look unnatural and cheap. Typical craft store faux flowers are made of low-quality plastics that end up looking tacky or kitschy in floral arrangements. This gives faux flowers a bad reputation, but realistic options are out there and readily available.
Luxury faux flowers are made of silk or other high-quality materials that truly look like natural flowers. High-end faux flowers can be purchased at online retailers like Etsy, but like good plastic surgery, it will cost you.
Affordability
The cost of fresh florals for a wedding is $2,500-$10,000. Faux flowers can cost far less than this or far more depending on the quality of the florals. There’s no doubt, purchasing local craft store florals can save you up to 50% compared to fresh but the quality will be questionable and might end up looking... well...fake. Renting faux florals from places like Silk Stem Collective is also an option for budget savvy couples which can save upwards of 70% compared to fresh. (Your budget will thank us later!)
Fragrance
The sweet scent of roses is the perfect sensory touch to a perfectly planned wedding. For some, the scent of a specific bloom can even take them back to their wedding day. For others, that same sweet scent will have them congested and sneezing in minutes. Some couples love fragrance and others can’t stand it; ask yourself how you feel about fragrant florals and if this is a priority to you.
Care
There’s no question about it. Caring for fresh flowers can be challenging and stressful. Fresh flowers require moderate temperatures, appropriate amounts of water, and delicate handling to ensure they don’t get wilted or mashed. Transportation is difficult and time consuming, so we recommend paying the additional cost to have a trained florist transport and set up your floral arrangements if the fresh flowers is the route for your event.
On the other hand, faux flowers require virtually no care and transportation is much easier - especially in the cold winter months of Chicago! They can be pre-made, transported and set up with little effort.
Durability
Faux flowers can be kept forever as a memento to your special day or resold online as they are durable and will last. Fresh florals are truly fresh for only a day or two before beginning to wilt.
Faux florals are also much better suited for harsh environments like hot outdoor events or venues with no air conditioning. If durability is a high priority for your event, consider faux florals to get the look you want despite the climate or surrounding external conditions.
Seasonality
With fresh florals not all varieties of blooms will be available in all seasons. Typically, this isn’t very limiting but it’s something to consider if you have a specific floral preference. If you fall in love with a bloom that is out of season, that means you are likely paying a higher price to get them in and are likely to get a lower quality product overall.
Environmental impact
Fresh and faux flowers both have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to assessing environmental impact. Fresh florals are biodegradable so they won’t end up in a land fill like the plastics and silks that are used in the making of faux flowers. However, fresh flowers often take large amounts of water, pesticides, and energy to keep looking good for any event. They are often transported internationally via airplane which is very environmentally taxing. If you are interested in “green” options, talk to your florist or consider getting your faux flowers and re-selling them after the event is complete!
*Wedicity’s Take:
We love the fresh fragrance of real florals and the impact it can have on a space however we think quality faux flowers can be used to make impact and help decrease your bottom line spend! For example, using faux flowers and greenery in arrangements that are elevated or suspended are a great use of faux arrangements. They can be made in advance and installed with no real concern of wilting (plus they are high enough that guests will never know they aren't real!!)! Also, arrangements that are suspended above a dance floor, used as a back drop or in an elevated arrangement are typically larger for effect and can help decrease the overall floral budget spend. You’ll get all the impact but none of the price tag…. that’s what we call a win-win!!!
Post written in collaboration with Silk Stem Collective
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