Silk vs. fresh??? - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

ohiobride · #1 09-13-2006, 06:51 PM

Help! DF and I are getting married 2/10/07, and I really want to carry red roses, but the thought of buying fresh red roses around Valentine's Day has my wallet in a panic...
I love well-done silk and feel that I would be happy with that, but my MOH (my sister) thinks that's "settling for something cheap". In her defense, we've seen some really poorly put-together silk bouquets, but on the other hand, I'd love to have something I could keep forever.
Please give me your opinions!
Thanks...

DavidsWife · #2 09-13-2006, 06:56 PM

If u want it for forever, Silk it is!

Personally I feel the same way as your MOH! (No offence to anyone) I just like real better! I think it's the smell that gets me!

Let us know what u decide!

ljeagle · #3 09-13-2006, 06:58 PM

It's really up to you! Yes Silk will be cheaper at that time of year. If you really want silk start looking for someone now that knows how to fix it.

DavidsWife · #4 09-13-2006, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljeagle

It's really up to you! Yes Silk will be cheaper at that time of year. If you really want silk start looking for someone now that knows how to fix it.

Agreed!

justnmary · #5 09-13-2006, 07:03 PM

If you decide to go with real, look into places in your area that preserve fresh flowers. We were going to do that but my bouquet was fairly large and the container that I wanted it preserved in cust a couple of bucks, so we decided against it but it is possible to have your flowers preserved and they will last a lifetime. It just depends if you're willing to spend the money to do it. We were told it could cost between $90 and $500 to have it done. If I can find the site I'll post it!

Julz518 · #6 09-13-2006, 07:10 PM

I'm a fan of fresh myself... there are some really good silks out there, but the good ones cost almost as much as fresh.

I would think the contrary would be likely around V-day - florists would have Valentine's specials going on. Maybe you could talk to a florist now and lock in a price that won't vary with the season. With my wedding being in 2008, that's what I have to do with almost all of my vendors if I want to stay w/in budget.

As for preservation - there are definitely places out there that preserve fresh flowers, like Justnmary said. Preserved fresh flowers I think will actually keep their color and shape longer than silk. Remember - just b/c your flowers are silk doens't mean you can throw them in a drawer and expect them to look the same when you dig them out years later - your silk flowers will need to be "preserved" in some way as well.

DavidsWife · #7 09-13-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julz518

I'm a fan of fresh myself... there are some really good silks out there, but the good ones cost almost as much as fresh.

This is VERY true!

labeadel · #8 09-13-2006, 07:18 PM

I personally went with fresh. I just really wanted fresh flowers on my wedding day. As for the bouquet, do you really want to keep it? I thought I did, but then as it was hanging there drying after the wedding, I thought, why?? It will never be as beautiful in person as it is in pics. I just felt no need to keep it, personally. I thought I did before the wedding though. Just some food for thought.

justnmary · #9 09-13-2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by labeadel

I personally went with fresh. I just really wanted fresh flowers on my wedding day. As for the bouquet, do you really want to keep it? I thought I did, but then as it was hanging there drying after the wedding, I thought, why?? It will never be as beautiful in person as it is in pics. I just felt no need to keep it, personally. I thought I did before the wedding though. Just some food for thought.

I felt the same way (hence preservation) but when I saw them wilt and turn brown I thought....NOPE! I kept the roses and threw them in a freezer bag and into the freezer and the rest into the garbage. I've got my pics and my man, that's all I need!

TheaterDiva1 · #10 09-13-2006, 07:22 PM

I had silk flowers, for several reasons:

To save money, I made all the bouquets myself. If I had used fresh flowers, I would have had to do everything the night before (of the morning of) - and with everything else going on, there's now way I was making bouquets at the last minute. At least with silk flowers I could put everything together months in advance and not worry, and maybe make some last-minute adjustments. Plus, the store I wet to had a huge selection of silk flowers, so I could have whatever I wanted regardless of season. Finally, I wanted everyone to be able to keep their bouquets afterwards as a souvenier (I made a seprate toss bouquet).

FYI: craft stores sell scented oils you can spray onto the silk flowers to make them smell real. It lasts - mine still has a faint scent (you have to really lean in close to smell), but I never replenished the scent - and it's two years later!

emmasbridal · #11 09-13-2006, 07:44 PM

Personally I'm a fan of fresh flowers too. My sister just got married and for her wedding we did all the flowers through a European style flower shop. There's one here called 'Andicotts'. You can check to see if there are any places like that where you live. The way it works is you can buy flowers by the stem from them and then do the flowers yourself! They offer inexpensive classes on hand-tied bouquets and corsages. Then a couple days before your wedding you go into the shop and do your own flowers along with your friends. They keep the finished bouquets there for you in their coolers. It's a fun experience! We kindof made a party out of it. She save a ton of money over going with a regular florist. Everyone at the wedding was amazed we had done the flowers ourselves! They thought she had spent a lot of money on the flowers.
I saved my wedding bouquet too but finally threw it out. It was just collecting dust and taking up space. It looks so much better in the wedding pictures. I enjoy looking at them and remembering back!

~Laura

feb-bride · #12 09-13-2006, 07:46 PM

I used silk flowers (or "forever flowers" as my grandma calls them). My grandma and one of my aunts made all of our bouquets and other floral arrangements. With silks, they were able to start months in advance and they bouquets turned out beautifully. We stored them by cutting two holes in a box, putting the wrapped stems in the holes (to keep the bouquets upright and avoid crushing), and put a layer of plastic wrap over the bouquets to keep them from getting dusty.

The other reason we used silks is because my mom has strong allergies and I didn't want her to be uncomfortable on my wedding day.

In my pictures, you cannot even tell that my flowers weren't fresh.

fallbride · #13 09-13-2006, 07:46 PM

I went with silk for many reason but the big reason was I did not want to break the bank. Here is my flowers:

I did my whole wedding party plus fathers and mothers for under $100.00.

It is YOUR wedding, do what ever is best for you.

emmasbridal · #14 09-13-2006, 08:05 PM

Fallbride I LOVE your bouquet! Fall is my favorite time of the year. You make me wish I had a fall wedding!

gymrat · #15 09-13-2006, 08:26 PM

I remember awhile ago there was a vendor that did silk in the Classified section. I thought they looked pretty nice. Anyone remember for sure?

Where in OH are you? I am between Toledo and Cleveland. There are a couple of us OH brides on here that have been married awhile now.

Julz518 · #16 09-13-2006, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheaterDiva1

FYI: craft stores sell scented oils you can spray onto the silk flowers to make them smell real. It lasts - mine still has a faint scent (you have to really lean in close to smell), but I never replenished the scent - and it's two years later!

I've only had one experience with the scented oils, but it was BAD. I don't recommend them if you have anyone in your bridal party or who will be attending your wedding who is sensitive to strong odors... or if you DO use them, spray them on a few days before and let the flowers air out. The wedding I was in that used them just had a little scented oil pot in the middle of the flower, and we opened them up right before we walked down the aisle - I almost passed out! I love the small of roses, but too much is overwhelming and not enjoyable.

sparklesweetie · #17 09-13-2006, 11:24 PM

I used silk as well, mostly for budget reasons. They turned out great, and I've gotten many compliments on them. (I'll dig up a pic if you'd like.) I do like fresh flowers, but I couldn't see paying that much for something that's going to die.

Next time tho, I'll have fresh ones. And it'll be roses, callas and carnations.

Heather · #18 09-13-2006, 11:24 PM

I used silk white roses and they were beautiful - definitely didn't look cheap. The key though, is to have someone who knows what they're doing create them for you. Don't try doing it yourself if you don't know how because then they may very well look cheap. (I paid $345 to have all of them created, and I used real white roses for the men's bouts. I think with bouts you can really tell they're fake.)

Here's a pic of all of us holding them. I wish I had a close up of the flowers for you.

Crystal and Tommy · #19 09-14-2006, 12:08 AM

These are my bouquets! This is just two of 8 (not including the bouts and corsages)! but I love them and they are all silk! Everyone that have seen them love them and can't believe that they look so real!

Girls I couldn't remember how to post the pictures directly!!! (It has been a really long day!

deputysgurl · #20 09-14-2006, 12:30 AM

Heather, here is a pic of the bouquet that you sent me that I used at my reception.

Heather · #21 09-14-2006, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deputysgurl

Heather, here is a pic of the bouquet that you sent me that I used at my reception.

I swear that makes me want to cry.

deputysgurl · #22 09-14-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

I swear that makes me want to cry.

y does it make you wanna cry.

Heather · #23 09-14-2006, 12:42 AM

Because its so sweet. I can't tell you how happy I am that you were able to use it in someway. I know that's silly, but it makes me feel very happy that it's not collecting dust in MY garage, lol. It can be in yours, but at least it's not in mine.

Maybe we should pass it around to those who are getting married and challenge them to use the "traveling Pash bouquet" in some way!

deputysgurl · #24 09-14-2006, 12:49 AM

my friend who caught it (my real bouquet fell apart before the reception) said it was pretty and she was giong to try to use it at her wedding.

PlanetClaire · #25 09-14-2006, 03:32 AM

I'm quite torn actually. I think you have a valid fear of roses being expensive around Valentine's Day where I am more used to seeing the price skyrocket rather than drop.

I love real flowers but I'm not a huge fan of dried or preserved flowers. Besides dried plants/flowers are supposed to be bad feng shui! LOL

There is so much online...you have some time to research .

As you have seen by some of the pix it IS possible to have reasonably priced silk flowers that are really gorgeous.

Let us know what you decide!