"Is It O.K. to Use Silk Flowers for My Wedding?"

   My quick answer is: Only if guests won't touch the flowers.  Some silk flowers look very real, fooling me sometimes, but they are often more expensive than fresh - definitely not a 'cheap' alternative. Currently, I'm working with five brides that have decided to go with silk flowers for different reasons.

Silk magnolia

 
The first bride, Nancy, is getting married at Prince of Peace Catholic Church with a reception following at The Gainesville Civic Center and she wanted magnolia flowers.  Magnolia trees are common in the South, and the blossoms from the tree can be huge and very fragrant, but the blossoms are not available from growers and I can't be assured any trees in the area will be blooming when we need them, not to mention that they don't hold up well in arrangements. So, we suggested taking high quality, very realistic looking silk magnolia flowers and working them in with fresh flowers for two large church altar arrangements at the ceremony.  She'll carry a silk cascade arrangement and for her reception decor, we're using silk flower clusters on bird cages for half of her table centerpieces, and fresh rose petals around candelabras for the other centerpieces.  A silk flower garland with large magnolia flowers will line the stair railing leading up to her reception room and silk magnolia wreaths on the reception room doors will welcome guests to a beautiful garden party look - Southern style.

Silk hydrangea

   The second bride, Shirley, is getting married at the Buford Community Center and wants hydrangea in her bouquet but her wedding ceremony is outdoors, in the heat, and we were concerned that the hydrangeas might wilt.  Hydrangeas need a constant water source and can wilt quickly if they are out of water, so we had the option of using water tubes on fresh hydrangea stems, using an oasis bridal bouquet holder to give a constant water source or go with silk. Shirley quickly decided to go with a beautiful silk bouquet of hydrangeas, roses and orchids. Even if the temperatures are in the upper 80's, her bouquet will stay looking beautiful throughout the ceremony.  She decided however to have fresh flower centerpieces on her reception tables, which will be inside in the ballroom.

Cascade w/ peacock feathers

   The third bride, Lesleigh, is having a barn wedding out of town and wants to transport her own bouquet to the location. Her cascade bouquet will be very long with delicate white roses, blue orchids, green hydrangea, greenery and peacock feathers.  A really beautiful bouquet, but much easier to transport in the back of a car, in the heat, if it's all silk. A very wise choice and she's excited to be able to keep this beautiful and unusual design to display for years to come.

 
   The fourth bride, Debbie, requested a yellow rose bouquet with a very specific purple accent. It's a beautiful combination and easy to do with fresh, if the bride is flexible on the shading of the color of the flowers. We can't guarantee the exact color of fresh flowers when they arrive from the growers, because of the natural variances that can occur.  Sometimes the label says 'purple' but the flower has blue undertone or is lighter than expected. If the color is too far from the desired shade, there are floral additive sprays that can help correct the issues, but in general I like to say 'shades of a color' when talking about how a bouquet will look, rather than the exact color. But Debbie was very specific about the shade of purple, so she decided to go with silk where the color could be controlled.  Her bouquet was beautiful.

Silk navy roses with bling

   The fifth bride, Chervonne, is getting married at Chateau Elan in the atrium and she knew from the beginning that she wanted an all silk, deep blue rose and cream white bouquet, blinged out with jewel inserts.  She also wants all silk for her attendants, groom and groomsmen, but has decided to go with fresh flower centerpieces on her reception tables in the ballroom.

   I love fresh flowers, but I also appreciate high quality silk flowers under certain circumstances. As for whether the finished bouquet is less expensive than fresh, the answer is 'No'. The high quality silk flowers aren't cheap and there's just as much time and effort put into creating the design as when the flowers are fresh. But they can be a wonderful alternative to fresh and I'm glad these brides are proud to go there.

     Even if you're considering silk for your bouquet as these brides did, I suggest using fresh flowers for table arrangements and anywhere else that guests may encounter arrangements up close.  Silk just doesn't compare with fresh flowers imo.  :-)