Save Money With Silk Wedding Flowers

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Silk Wedding Flowers Are NOT Always Less Expensive Than Fresh but They Can Be


Many advice columns and well-meaning people give brides the idea that artificial flowers, also known as silk flowers, are always less expensive than fresh flowers for their weddings. This leads to many brides going to florists to order silk wedding flowers and then being gravely disappointed when they see no savings at all.

There are instances when decorating with fabric flowers can be more budget friendly but it's not always cheaper. It has a lot to do with the type of silk flowers used, their quality, and whether or not the flowers are arranged professionally. I think if brides were to learn about the differences this would save them a lot of money, hassle, and unnecessary stress.

You can save money by using silk flowers for your wedding but you have to keep a few things in mind to guide your choices. Read on and learn whether or not silk wedding flowers can help you meet your wedding budget.

You Can Save Big by Arranging Your Own Wedding Flowers

And artificial wedding flowers are easier and more forgiving for beginners to arrange.

White silk gerbera daisies, photo by Kylyssa Shay

One of the biggest ways to save money by using silk flowers for your wedding is to arrange them yourself. This is for two reasons - most florists won't arrange the budget flowers you bought somewhere else, at least not without a hefty fee, and the silk flowers available to most florists are not inexpensive. They also charge to arrange them. The way to take advantage of your cheaply bought silk flowers is to arrange them yourself or with the help of volunteer labor.

Common Flower Types Are Often Cheaper and More Realistic than Other Silk Wedding Flowers

A lovely artificial pink rose, photo by Kylyssa Shay

Common silk wedding flowers like fabric roses are less expensive usually because so many are made. Mass produced items are often less expensive. Their other advantage is that fabric roses and other common artificial wedding flower types have been made for many years so their producers have more or less perfected the design of such blooms. Beautiful silk peonies, gerbera daisies, sunflowers, tulips, carnations and roses can all be found at low prices.

Bush Style Fabric Wedding Flowers are Usually the Least Expensive

Artificial white rosebuds on a bush, photo by Kylyssa Shay

Flowers that come in a garden bush style are often much less expensive. Some garden bush style flowers include several types of coordinating fabric flowers attached to a bush-like artificial plant. Others have only one type of flower on a natural looking bush and include several stages of bloom including buds and wide open blossoms. I've seen great deals on garden bush style fabric roses that look very, very realistic.

Where You Can Use Inexpensive Silk Flowers to Save Money on Your Wedding Without Looking Cheap

Silk lily and artificial hydrangeas, photo by Kylyssa Shay

Inexpensive silk wedding flowers can be bought at craft and discount stores. They can also be found online at craft websites and import websites. They are generally not of high quality but can serve well in budget arrangements meant to be seen from a distance in churches and at the reception. Save the higher quality, more expensive blooms for arrangements that will be seen close up such as bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres, and table centerpieces.

Pre-Made Silk Wedding Bouquets Can Be a Bargain

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Silk Wedding Flowers Have Seasons - Seasonal Clearance Sales Can Save You Money

Silk tulips are often on sale at the end of spring, photo by Kylyssa Shay


Silk wedding flowers actually have seasons, just like real flowers. The demand is greater just before the real version of a silk flower comes into season. Likewise, the demand drops dramatically once the real version of an artificial flower falls out of season. This means you can really save money buying silk wedding flowers just after their real counterparts' season ends.

Silk Roses on Clearance

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But How Can Silk Wedding Flowers Be More Expensive?

Silk orchids, photo by Kylyssa Shay

Now let's talk about how silk wedding flowers can be more expensive. High quality silk flowers, often called permanent botanicals cost more than fresh flowers. They are often more complicated in structure and made by hand rather than by machines and they use more expensive raw materials. These artificial flowers are usually what florists carry. So don't expect a silk arrangement made in a floral shop to cost less than a fresh arrangement. They often cost one and a half to three times as much as fresh flower arrangements!

I hope this guide will help you to make informed choices about the use of silk flowers to save money on your wedding decorations and arrangements.

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Share Your Silk Wedding Flower Tips

  • Sylvestermouse Mar 29, 2010 @ 1:39 pm | delete
    This is a really wonderful lens with a lot of information and excellent tips! Angel Blessed and added to my Squid Angel Mouse Tracks lens.
  • naturegirl7 Mar 24, 2010 @ 3:55 pm | delete
    This lens has some great ideas. I really liked it. If I was planning a wedding, I would definitely use some of your suggestions.
  • KarenTBTEN Mar 22, 2010 @ 4:44 pm | delete
    You sound very knowledgeable about both floral arrangements and budgeting.
  • flapper Mar 15, 2010 @ 6:08 pm | delete
    I found this a fascinating topic not because I intend to be a bride in the near future, (divorced once, next time it is drive thru chapel in Vegas if ever,) but because it shows there are no set rules for weddings. The fact that brides are receiving this suggestion surprises me more (not because the silk arrangements won't be nice) but because it shows that someone is connecting dots that these young couples or 2nd or 3rd or 4th time around are starting to see that the stress of post wedding bills can actually hinder the new union. My feeling is that there is still little acceptance that big weddings over 40 people will become luxuries that many will not or should not go into debt for and there may be a return to these classy wedding of 30 people who really care. just a thought. excellent lens, the variety of topics is amazing, yes I am a newbie.

Bargain Silk Flowers

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Kylyssa

I am a "retired" florist turned freelance writer. I enjoy cooking, keeping saltwater fish, and baking fun cakes. I have had some unusual life-experien... more »

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