Real vs Fake Flowers for Wedding {The Great Debate}

When it comes to choosing flowers to use in your wedding, the first thing you’ll need to decide is if you want real or fake flowers. There are pros and cons to both types of flowers.

So, what are the pros and cons of real vs fake flowers for wedding? The pros and cons of real vs fake flowers are different for everyone. If you want a specific type of flower that will be out of season on your wedding day, you’ll want to get fake flowers. If you want flowers that look fresh and are fragrant, you want real flowers.

In this article..

Use this guide to help you determine which will be better for your wedding, real or fake flowers. You need to keep in mind all the different areas where you’ll be decorating with flowers and which ones will hold up the best. You’ll also want to consider things like cost, availability, how long they will last, etc.

Table of ContentsToggle

Real or Fake Flowers for Wedding Centerpieces

Using fresh flowers as centerpieces in your wedding looks gorgeous. However, if you are already buying flowers bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres the cost adds up quickly.

Keep in mind that if you decide to purchase fake flowers for your wedding centerpieces, you could end up spending just as much for the fake flowers as you would for real. This is especially true if you purchase real touch flowers (fake flowers that look and feel like real flowers).

The best cost-saving solution is to place empty vases on various tables and have your bridesmaids put their bouquets in the vases when they get to the reception. You could also place bud vases on each table and order a single flower to go in them.

Being that your guests will be seeing your centerpieces up close (which means cheap fake flowers will stand out like a sore thumb), you may want to go with real flowers. You’ll need to weigh the cost to see which is most cost-effective.

Real or Fake Flowers for Wedding Bouquet

As stated before, using real or fake flowers for your wedding bouquet comes down to personal preferences. Here are a few reasons why you might decide to choose real flowers vs fake flowers and so forth.

Cost. The cost can vary between real and fake flowers. Sometimes fake flowers can be cheaper and other times they will be just as expensive. If you’re preferred flower is out of season, you may have to pay extra to have the flowers imported which will greatly increase the price. It may be cheaper at this point to order artificial flowers so that you can still get what you want but at a cheaper cost. However, for fake flowers that look and feel like the real thing are often going to cost just as much as fresh flowers.

Longevity. You’ll also need to decide if you want to keep your wedding bouquet for years to come. If you get fresh flowers, there are ways to dry them and preserve the bouquet, but there is always a chance that something will happen and you’ll lose them. Obviously, with fake flowers, you don’t have to worry about how long they will last.

Logistics. There is another level of complexity when it comes to having real flowers at your wedding. You will need to coordinate with your florist to make sure the bouquets can be arranged, stored, and delivered to your venue in a timely manner without any of the bouquets wilting. If you have fake flowers, you can arrange your bouquets weeks, even months, ahead of time.

Real or Fake Flowers for Wedding Cake

One thing that some people might not think about with putting flowers on their wedding cake is that some flowers are toxic, both real and fake.

You could easily ask your florist for extra flowers that your baker can put on the cake. However, make sure they are non-toxic and that your baker ensures they are food safe for the cake. Your baker may need to put some sort of barrier between the cake and the flowers. This is something you’ll want to discuss with your baker at your cake tasting.

Here is a list of some real flowers that are safe to use on your wedding cake:

Carnations
Chrysanthemums
Cornflower
Day Lilies
English Daisy
Hibiscus
Honeysuckle
Impatiens
Lilac
Marigold
Pansy
Queen Anne’s Lace
Roses
Geraniums
Snap Dragon
Sunflower
Tulip Petals
Violets

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure the real flowers you choose are organically grown and are not treated with pesticides or chemicals.

If you decide to go with fake flowers, ensure that they are also non-toxic and food safe.

If all else fails, your baker can easily make sugar flowers to put on the cake that will be completely edible without any fear of toxins. This is also a great option for people with allergies.

Real or Fake Flowers for Wedding Hair

When it comes to putting flowers in your hair, especially flower crowns, it can be a little more tricky.

First, determine what, and how many, flowers you want in your hair? Do you want a full flower crown, just some small Queen Anne’s Lace, just one flower on the side, etc?

Second, you need to decide how long you plan on keeping the flowers in your hair. If you want a flower crown, will you wear it for the ceremony only?

Once you’ve decided on the things above, you’ll have a better idea of what will be the best option for you. Fake flowers will wilt and look dreary as the day goes on whereas fake flowers will look the same all day long.

If you’re having an outdoor wedding, real flowers might wilt in heat and sunlight. You also need to keep in mind what your hair flowers will look like in pictures. Will they look sad and droopy?

Perhaps it would be better to get a simple flower clip to hold your hair back and that will stay secure all day long.

Mixing Real and Fake Flowers for Wedding

Another great option is to mix real flowers and fake flowers for your wedding. If you want to have the best of both worlds. Many brides have chosen real flowers for their bridal bouquet and fake flowers for everything else. This is a way you could potentially save money too.

As you add up the costs of all the centerpieces, bouquets, corsages, and boutonnieres, flowers get pretty awful expensive.

Make sure to do your research and check out all the prices for real and fake flowers to find out what is the most cost-effective way. Also, it is worth the extra money to do a test run to see some of your favorite fresh flowers next to their artificial counterparts. This way you can see what they look like together.

What do you think?

What is your opinion on real or fake flowers for wedding? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!