Why do brides think fake flowers cost less than real flowers?

Putting together all flower arrangements the night before the wedding SUCKS. I have done this for one of my cousins weddings, and we were all up until about 4 in the morning. There were about 6 of us working. So, it is very time consuming. And, I would like to keep my bouquet after the wedding. My mother is great at arranging flowers, she just has always been good at doing crafty things. So, why would I pay for a florist who could charge me 100 for a bouquet when my mother and I could make one that will look just as good for less than half the price?

In my case I have allergies and I didn't want to spend the night before the wedding arranging the flowers. I looked around and found roses on sale at michaels and I had everything including the flower girl basket for under 55 dollars. I made them months before the wedding and on the day of all I had to make was the toss bouquet with two dozen roses I picked up at the grocery store that day.In my case silk was wayyy cheaper for the style of arrangements I wanted and I was okay with using sillk. I know alot of ladies don't like fake flower but for bouquets I think they're fine. Im not crazy about them for centerpieces but if it saves money I'm all for it!

Carmen, I don't understand why you feel it necessary to respond in such a rude way. Everyone has different priorities and ideas about their own wedding and I respect that. Yes, I know whats clutter to me is gold to another but that is why i asked what is it that people do with the flowers. I only know of one family member who used fakes and they were all DIY. She didn't keep them either. I also know women who made their own real flower bouquets and they turned out beautiful and very professional. Some people are naturally gifted when it comes to craft projects and don't hurt themselves in the process.

I am doing silk flowers because I get them for free as long as I give them back to me corrdinator. I don't plan on keeping them so silk is the best option.

@Amy - as someone "in the business" could you give us ladies some tips and advice on how we can save money and still use or get beautiful real flowers? Many girls DIY with fake to save money but if we had insiders knowledge, that could be priceless.

I just got all my flowers yesterday (roses and hydrangeas). I got my bouquet and MOH and flowers for 7 centerpieces for $120. (Michael's had all silk flowers 50% off.) They are totally arranged and ready to go and one thing crossed off the to do list. I don't have to worry about them wilting during my outside ceremony and I know all my older female relatives will take them home after. I just want to keep my bouquet.

I think it is personal preference but having something completely done and finished for the wedding is priceless for me.

Using silk/flake flowers could be cheaper if you DIY and it depends on where you get it. I am buying my flowers from either fiftyflowers.com or samsclub.com and doing them myself. I am going with simple flowers like carnations or gerbers. I will only be spending around $300 for the flowers.

I want to keep my bouquet because my bouquet has centimental meaning to it, I have a strand of pearls as my "handle" on my bouqet and a pendant that I attached to the pearls that belonged to my grandmother who passed away almsot a year ago now and becasue I never thought I could make my own bouquet and it turn out as good as it did, I am VERY proud of it. What my friend did was she did all of her flowers silk, and she kept a few of the centerpieces to use as decoration in their house, and they also have a "wedding corner" in there house, they have a small 4 shelf bookcase that they have their photo album and some pictures from their honeymoon on, as well as their unity candle and her bouquet and its very special to them. She let some of the guests take home centerpieces if they wanted too to get rid of them.

I got silk because I want to keep my flowers forever and not have them die in a couple of days.

Okay well I guess I am the only one who really doesn't want to DIY anything. I too have allergies and they are severe, but I'm only allergic to certain flowers, so I'm staying away from them. I'm getting married outside in a garden like setting, and I don't think it would be appropriate to use fake flowers. I personally prefer real flowers. I know some people may think it's a waste of money, but I don't. I think it adds a different element. As far as silk flowers being cheaper, I guess it depends on the quality and the size of the arrangement. I haven't seen a silk centerpiece that is as full as a real one, so that could be another reason why it may be cheaper. If you use about 20-30 silk flowers per centerpiece, it can get expensive.

I thought that silk would always be cheaper than real because.....well, they aren't real lol. I looked into it and boy was I wrong lol

Real flowers really make a difference on the day. I do know some party decor people who use both (they have all the set ups for flowers) and do mix the two because they already have the stock and then add fresh flowers. This saves the couple money. I think there is this concept that fake flowers don't die and a better value. I never remember weddings with fake flowers. However, when I go to a wedding or coordinate a wedding with lots of real flowers, I remember the scent. It is heavenly! Kudos to florists for making wedding days extra special!

I'm using silk flowers and I love them. To me, and this is different for every bride, flowers were not high on my priority list. Don't get me wrong I love flowers, but I am a sentimental person and I love to keep things from special occasions so things that I can keep, I wanted to spend the majority of our money on. Like our engravable signature frame, sand ceremony, ect. I did price real flowers and each florist wanted about $400-800 for 3 centerpieces, 3 bouquets, and two bouts. I found a great deal on afloral.com and bought half of my flowers there, and the rest I found on ebay. I spent about $100 for flowers and materials and I LOVE the result. I'm happy that I will be able to keep my bouquet, but I'm happier that I got to do it myself and save money. However, for another bride flowers may be at the top of their lists and that's cool, to each their own.

My aunt is a florist and she did all of our flowers with fake flowers because to her it was cheaper and she wanted something I could keep. They turned out beautiful. I don't know what her price comparisons were though. I was happy with the outcome