|
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-$6.00 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. |
