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Original poster

Flowers. Real or artificial?

31 replies

stopthenoise · 22/04/2014 21:30

I can't decide. Of all the wedding planning, flowers is what excites me the least, and to be honest we don't have a huge budget so if we can have flowers for cheaper it's a bonus For me, flowers aren't a big important part of the day. Is it worth paying so much to have real flowers? We go away the day after the wedding so having artificial appeals to me more at the moment, it's not like I will get to take my flowers home with me and enjoy them for a few days. And I thought it would be nice if my bridesmaids could keep their bouquets as keepsakes. I know real ones look so much better and smell beautiful but is it really worth it?

OP posts:

Dizzywhore · 22/04/2014 21:31

Real! You can't beat it x

sittingatmydeskagain · 22/04/2014 21:32

Real!

PrincessOfChina · 22/04/2014 21:32

I also wasn't too bothered by flowers but I did go real. I had really simple white/ivory bouquets and button holes and then for the tables we had milk bottles with sprays of gypsophila which cost around £2.50 each.

A friend made her flowers - not too tricky if you have a sewing machine.

Littlefish · 22/04/2014 21:33

Real flowers every time. Would your bridesmaids really want to keep a bunch of artificial flowers? I know that I would much rather have a bunch of real flowers that lasted a week.

Could you give your flowers to your mum or MIL for them to enjoy afterwards?

CMOTDibbler · 22/04/2014 21:35

I did artificial - loads cheaper, and with plenty of time I was able to arrange my own bouquet/ cake arrangements etc etc.

No way would I spend £100s on something that was dead by the end of the day.

A friend used silk calla lillies for her bouquet, and then ran fairy lights up them in a big vase and had them in the sitting room

Smartiepants79 · 22/04/2014 21:36

Real, real, real.
Most fake flowers look tacky.
Good ones are probably not cheaper.

LackaDAISYcal · 22/04/2014 21:40

I did real (but they were a gift from a guest who was also a flortist), then had them preserved and made into pictures for me, my maid of honour and both mums...

but since I've seen knitted, felt, paper, artificial. I think these days, anything goes! I love knitted ones! Maybe the Woolly Hugs would rose to the challenge

My friend carried a single artificial calla lily with some co-ordinating ribbon and glitter; her dress was elegant and simple and it looked just right.

Original poster

stopthenoise · 22/04/2014 21:41

So real is winning! My bridesmaids are only young, 7 and 9, so thought it might be nice for them to keep theirs. OH wants real. I didn't think I would umm and aah about flowers so much! My mum would happily have my flowers afterwards. I think it's the cost that is making me so indecisive, keep wondering if it's really worth it.

OP posts:

LackaDAISYcal · 22/04/2014 21:43

or just a buch of gypsophila, hand tied with co-ordinating ribbon; smaller ones for the bridesmaids and sprigs or crowns for flower girl. simple and cheap.

Original poster

stopthenoise · 22/04/2014 21:43

lackadaisy love the picture idea! Very cute keepsake idea. Thanks for all your views ladies

OP posts:

noblegiraffe · 22/04/2014 21:45

I went for artificial, there are shops on eBay that sell wedding arrangements.

So much cheaper, and it really doesn't make that much difference. Some artificial flowers these days are so good that people can't even tell.

whattoWHO · 22/04/2014 21:46

I had real except for an artificial hairband for my flower girl (a) so that she could keep it and dress up in it afterwards (she was 5) and (b) because they are lighter and therefore more comfortable to wear.

LackaDAISYcal · 22/04/2014 21:46

you could also grow your own table decorations depending on the date of your wedding? sweet peas and freesia are easy to grow and look gorgeous in little vases/jugs/jars and are highly scented.

ParkingFred · 22/04/2014 21:47

Real - the more the better!

Mind you, my friend had a brooch bouquet much like this one and it was stunning.

She had masses of fresh flowers too in the church and reception venue.

LackaDAISYcal · 22/04/2014 21:48

the pic idea wasn't cheap though stopthenoise but as I hadn't paid initially, we had the budget, iyswim.

the lady that was preserving them came and collected them in person from the reception as well, so I hardly saw them on the day!

JollyGolightly · 22/04/2014 21:49

People have artificial.flowers at weddings?

Im surprised.

me55monster · 22/04/2014 21:50

Real all the way. Friend of mine has just paid a lot of money for an artificial bouquet and whilst the flowers are very realistic individually, the overall effect isn't nearly so nice as real imho.

As others have said, real needn't be expensive, just a hand-tied bunch for you and mini versions for the little bridesmaids perhaps? Friend of mine bought ultra cheap vases from Ikea and then had a few gerberas, another friend did the same but with peonie. It really doesn't have to cost hundreds especially if you don't tell the florist it's for a wedding

Have a lovely wedding

somedizzywhore1804 · 22/04/2014 21:52

I had fake but I think if you go fake they have to be really fake if you know what I mean- not imitating real flowers unless they're amazing and silk and flawless. With this in mind we had flowers made from pages from dictionaries and bits of map (I'm an English teacher and he's a geography teacher). They looked amazing and we got loads of compliments. My bouquet is in our livingroom now.

EugenesAxe · 22/04/2014 22:03

Well there are some lovely artificial flowers out there that I would certainly be happy to keep... but the decent ones cost about sodding £10 a stem. You can get lovely cheaper, real flowers. I could PM you details of a florist friend of mine who is amazing and talented enough to produce something that looks beautiful on a budget, but depends on your location - she's in Kent.

DangerousMouse · 23/04/2014 19:50

This lady is doing my wedding flowers - they haven't arrived yet but should do soon, it's similar to what dizzywhore means I think.
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/DanasPaperFlowers

HelloDoris · 23/04/2014 21:40

I wanted fake but couldn't find quite what I wanted. My local college runs a floristry department and I have got 3 bouquets, 10 buttonholes and 2 flower wands for £200. I'm doing vases on the tables with supermarket flowers so no more then £50.

s88 · 24/04/2014 14:46

foam flowers are beautiful , that's what I'm having

overmydeadbody · 24/04/2014 19:47

I don't see how artificial flowers can possibly be cheaper, unless you make your on paper ones or knitted ones or something.

Flowers don't have to be expensive either, you could spend £50 at a flower market and have plenty of flowers. I doubt artificial ones would be cheaper without looking awful.

Smartiepants79 · 24/04/2014 19:49

I pressed my bouquet flowers and they were made into a picture.

Original poster

stopthenoise · 24/04/2014 20:09

Thank you for all your views I have seen a bridal package on The Brides Bouquet UK for artificial flowers - Brides bouquet, 2 bridesmaids bouquets, buttonholes for groom and best man, corsages for both sets of parents and (I think) 5 guest corsages for £65. Which is enough for what we need. It's only a very small wedding and we don't need any flowers for the tables etc. I am planning on visiting some florists next week to get some prices for real flowers too so I know what my options are.

OP posts:

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