Honestly, are silk flower centerpieces tacky?

I personally think they are tacky. Are there some non-floral options you could go with? my gf that got married this weeknd had really pretty lanterns with white candles in them...

Here's another wedding that did planets for there tables and they were set on top of stars. Here's a pic. Kinda hard to see it. But think it's such a cute original idea.

I had this dream in my head of floral centerpieces at my wedding.. of course, most of us do because it's beautiful! Then I got quotes from florists and realized that it was NOT in my budget! I did not even consider using flake flowers.. I really can't stand them, personally.. but I think it's really up to you. I chose an alternative centerpiece idea with tons of candles of varying heights.

There are tacky flowers and there are the real touch ones. I'm doing real touch flowers for my bouquets and so far no one has been able to tell the difference. They can be

pricey so I've been looking for sales (Jo Ann's coupons). For my centerpieces, I'm turning wine bottles into lanterns with candles inside. Each table will have a grouping of three and some sort of accent like flower petals.

My opinion is a fake flower is a fake flower. I have seen silk and from afar go "wow those are beautiful" and then up close of course I can tell they are fake. So to me fake is fake but if that's all you can do by all means. If you can afford $100 per table I think you could do something else as the ladies suggested which is not flowers.

I don't think they're tacky. I just don't like fake anything, including flowers.

But I also wouldn't pay almost $200 for a centerpiece unless it's really spectacular. So how about a non-floral cp?

We had silk floral centrepieces and they looked great and were quite a bit cheaper then real ones. We had them designed by our decorator. We had real flowers for bouquets, boutineers, and stuff at the church.

Silk flowers, today, look so much more realistic now, so they can be done well.

The only thing I have against them is, what will you do with them after the wedding? Yes, real flowers are tossed out, but so are many silks as no one wants them later. LOL!

I have done silks at events (this photo is an Italian inspired display for the sign in table). In fact, I had a little pansy display on the deck off my kitchen this year. My neighbor asked how I kept them looking so nice. Umm, FAKE! LOL!!!

Try to budget out real flowers because it makes such a difference!

I think the stigma of silk flowers carries back to the days when as many other said, silk flowers looked like crap. Personally nowadays I prefer them, I think they tend to have more of that petal symmetry that you end up having to pay a fortune for your florist to groom through real flowers for and they also offer more flexibility in trying to accomplish my design the way I want it. Florists can be a nice luxury but also a gamble and an unnecessary expense.

If you think my centerpieces are tacky because they're silk you have silly priorities. Lol I consider that to be an elitist viewpoint; something I'm definitely not concerned about encountering amongst my guests

I guess it just depends on the person and the type of guests you are inviting and how they will perceive it.. and more importantly... if you'll care!

@Bad Wolf - try this for lighting

http://www.koyalwholesale.com/pages-productinfo-category-285-product-13076/floralytes_and_lightssubmersible_floralyte_iii_w_on_off_button_and_three_light_settings_new_10_colors.html?zenid=13a9a3bfd826a852b26f8caead233fa2

I don't think it's a guest issue at all. I don't remember any single centerpiece from any wedding I've ever been to. Nor any other decor for that matter.

It's really just the question of what matters to you.

No. People who say they're tacky haven't seen nice silk flowers or are sitting on their high horse. I think the price you wish to spend per table is quite high for silk, and you could get real flowers for that price but if you want silk, you can do it!

While decor at a wedding, or any other event, may not be memorable, it will be a part of the experience.

When done well, it gives people a feeling of happiness (even if it is not recalled later). If it is done poorly, it will be remembered.

Silks can be done very well. Fakes (aka, poorly done silks or plastics) can be horrific. Paper flowers can be done well, paper flowers can be done wrong. Decor without flowers can be done right or wrong.

Get the theme here? ;-)

Oh, and if you ever ask if something is tacky on this forum, you WILL get someone that says that it is. It's inevitable.

I've also seen some fabulous silk floral arrangements for centerpieces. Not everyone can take real florals due to allergies. The key to taking away the "tacky" factor is to purchase quality silk florals and have a wonderful arrangement. That being said silk flowers are not necessarily an inexpensive option.

There are also single/few real flower(s) centerpieces that are spectacular when the right accents surround it. For example:

Honestly if you pick the right kind no not at all, I went to hobby lobby and looked at the real touch silk flowers and I couldn't believe how real they looked, even felt!!

@ bad wolf go check them out and make your decision but I also like the lights that was mentioned earlier. I think that would fit your theme perfectly.

Sure, it's all a part of the experience, but it carries a different level of importance to the bride and to the guests.

I'm not a fan of fake flowers, and it would not have one single thought about anyone's fake flower arrangement. I do notice if the arrangements are too tall to have a conversation. Everything else is the question of the couples' taste. So as a guest, I may like some things better than others, but it's not critical in any way for my experience as a guest.

I use to think they were tacky until i saw the quote for my centrepieces. lol. Then I said hell no!! Who really cares? And if they do care, I dare them to mention it to me on my day. I'm doing submerged orchids in a tall vase with beads, water (yes, so they can't touch them) and a floating candle on top. I have 3 small candles to go around it, and I will set everything on a mirror base. Total for everything is $8/table. Ok, so i didn't bother with real touch either. I went to the dollar store and ikea for the fake flowers. They look real to me. And again, I dare you to stick your hand in a vase of water to touch them. LOL.

#DivaOnADime

Thanks for all the great advice girls! I think I am going to go with a long stemmed trumpet vase, and stuff it with navy blue tulle and battery operated LED lights with the planets sitting on the top of the vase.

Thanks for getting me here- great idea!!!