Part 4 of the article series Alternatives to Fresh Flower Bridal Bouquets discusses silk flower bridal bouquets. Brides can view Part 1 (Why Brides Choose Alternative Bouquets and Edible Bouquet Alternatives), Part 2 (Crystal, Feather, and Porcelain Bouquet Alternatives), and Part 3 (Fabric and Ribbon, Balloon, and Seashell Alternatives) by following by following the links embedded in the article.
Silk Flower Bouquets
Many vendors are available for brides to choose from to arrange their bouquets and other wedding flowers. Florists who work with fresh-cut flowers are often willing to work with silk flowers. Crafty brides can also try their hand at making the truly personalized bouquet by arranging their own flowers with a trip to the local craft store.
Depending on the quality of the silk flowers purchased, silk flowers on the market today can be remarkably realistic looking. This makes silk flower bouquets an excellent choice for brides who want the look of fresh-cut flowers without the actual fresh flowers. Silk flower bouquets are an alternative to sneezing for brides and grooms who are highly allergic to pollen or who have a loved one in the wedding party who is allergic. Eyes should be teary from joy on the wedding day, not from allergies!
Brides can find most silk blooms available year-round for their bouquets, while some fresh-cut blooms are difficult if not impossible to secure during certain seasons of the year. Brides desiring specific flowers for their bouquets will be able to secure silk varieties for less money than paying for the same flowers when they are out-of-season. This is especially helpful for winter brides, when many flowers are out-of-season and a great alternative for brides on a budget. Similarly, some brides may desire a very specific or unusual color that a particular bloom they are partial to is unavailable or simply does not occur naturally. Some silk flowers can be dyed to match that perfect color for the bride's bouquet. If a particular desired fresh-cut flower is very delicate, a hardier silk flower look-alike may be just the thing to keep the bouquet looking perfect throughout the wedding day and beyond.
Although silk bridal bouquets can be less expensive than fresh-cut flower varieties (especially when using blooms that would be out-of-season during the wedding), brides should not assume they will be paying less for a silk bouquet than a fresh bouquet. Silk flower bouquets can be as expensive or even more expensive than fresh-cut flower bouquets depending on the quality of the materials used in the bouquet. Higher quality silk flowers made of real silk will be pricier than lower quality "silk" flowers that are typically crafted of synthetic materials. Be sure to clarify what the bride is paying for in advance of the wedding so there is a basis of comparison among different vendors and there are no surprises on the wedding day. Brides can reduce the cost of their bouquet by making their own silk bouquet, just as they have the option to make their own fresh-cut flower bouquet arrangement. One consideration in using silk flowers is the ability of some silk flowers to bleed dye when they are wet. This is usually not a problem with higher-end silk flowers, but it is a wise bride who takes precautions to test the color-fastness of her bouquet so she does not end up with blotches of dye on her wedding gown.
Busy brides will appreciate that silk flower bouquets can be prepared in advance of their wedding day. Traditional fresh-cut flowers have to be prepared and arranged just before the wedding, which does not leave much time to correct any errors the florist may make. Advance preparation can relieve the bride of one worry as it comes down to the wire for her big day. Having a bridal bouquet made of silk flowers also enables the bride to use the same bouquet for her bridal portraits if the photographs are taken in advance of her wedding day. This is the same reason many brides choose silk wedding bouquets for keepsakes from their weddings. Silk bridal bouquets can be preserved after the wedding day very easily as they will not wilt and are less susceptible to fading over time than fresh-cut flowers. There are excellent products on the market for cleaning silk flowers if they get dusty that brides can use to keep their bouquets looking beautiful for years after the honeymoon. The silk plant and flower cleaner is typically found in an aerosol can and sprayed directly onto the bouquet. The dust falls off of the bouquet without any additional effort and the flowers dry quickly from the light misting. This spray also helps to repel future dust from the bouquet.
Silk flowers may be the right alternative bridal bouquet for the wedding if the bride wants a bouquet that resembles real flowers; needs out-of-season, unusual colored, or fragile blooms in her bouquet; wants to the bouquet in advance of the wedding; wants to preserve the bouquet after the wedding; or is hoping to cut costs by using less expensive silk flowers or wants to save on labor by making her bouquet herself.
Part 5 in this article series will discuss paper flower bouquets as an alternative to fresh flower bouquets.
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