Artificial flowers are a great way to save money, but they’ll also last forever and allow your creativity to shine. This complete guide covers the various types of artificial flowers, the pros and cons of using them, how people typically use them in weddings, typical costs, and more, so you can create a beautiful wedding setup with confidence.

Artificial Flowers vs. Non-Floral Wedding Decor

Artificial Flowers: These are made out of materials like silk, latex, and foam, but are made to look like real flowers. They’re perfect for wedding bouquets, table arrangements, and any other traditional floral elements you see used as decor.

Non-Floral Decor: These elements include things like seashells, feathers, leaves, and other accessories to provide a creative feel. Some examples include feather bouquets, bouquets made out of gemstones or brooches, and green plants that add dimension. Non-floral décor is a great way to save money, especially if your wedding has a personalized theme.

• Pros and Cons of Using Artificial Flowers
• Benefits of Artificial Flowers
• Budget Friendly: They are usually less expensive than fresh flowers, especially if you need to buy a large quantity for something like a display.
• Available Year-Round in Any Color: While fresh flowers are limited by their growing seasons, artificial flowers are not. There are seemingly endless options to match any theme or color.
• Low Maintenance and Last a Long Time: You don’t need to hydrate or refrigerate artificial flowers, making them perfect for any environment, including outdoor weddings or destination weddings.
• Easy to DIY: With artificial flowers, you can easily prepare your pieces in advance of the wedding, so there’s no last-minute panic trying to make everything look perfect.
• No Allergies: If someone is allergic to pollen, you don’t have to worry! Nobody will sneeze from your flowers, including you.
• Disadvantages
• No Natural Scent: While they do look real, they don’t smell like fresh flowers.
• High-End Artificial Flowers Can Be Expensive: Certain materials, like wax-coated flowers or latex flowers at the higher end of the market can be pricey, but they do add an air of elegance and realism.
• Varying Texture: There are some truly awful-looking flowers out there! Understand what different types of materials are made from (and their prices) to help choose the right kind (ie. the ones that look real) for your wedding.

Common Types of Artificial Flowers Used for Weddings

Here are some of the different types of artificial flowers made from various materials. The material typically will dictate the look, feel, and price of the flowers.

Silk Flowers
What you should know: These are the tried and true artificial flowers most people think of when they think about wedding flowers. They’re made from polyester or nylon with a higher quality silk used to make the flowers. They come in beautiful colors and are manufactured to look fabulous.
Pros: Price point is good and easy to blend with real flowers. They also work with most wedding themes.
Cons: The edges can fray and the texture is not realistic.

Foam Flowers
What you should know: Usually made in roses, these are lightweight, inexpensive flowers made of foam. They can also be found in a few other types of flowers. (Filler roses that look good for bouquets made up of real flowers, but might be used instead of filler flowers.)
Pros: Cheap way to go. These are affordable enough to use as filler flowers or bulk for large needs.

Cons: Not very realistic-looking or detailed, so you probably wouldn’t use them as the main flower anywhere.

Wax-Coated Flowers
What you should know: These are silk flowers that have a very thin coating of wax to give them a more realistic appearance and feel.
Pros: Great quality and very realistic-looking. These are good to use for bouquets or main table decoration.
Cons: They are pricier than regular silk flowers.

Latex Flowers
What you should know: These flowers are made of latex with a soft and flexible feel to them. They also look very realistic and hold up well.
Pros: Very durable with a real touch quality so they’re good to use for areas up close where you see them.
Cons: More expensive than silk flowers.

Fresh Touch Flowers (Polymer)
What you should know: These are premium artificial flowers made from a composite of latex and foam. They look virtually identical to real flowers.
Pros: Extremely realistic-looking and feeling with a slight variance in each flower to make it look more natural.
Cons: Most expensive option. Good for focal areas such as bridal bouquets.

Paper Flowers
What you should know: Handmade out of specialty paper, paper flowers give you endless possibilities for décor.
Pros: Cheap option and great for large displays such as backdrops or photo areas.
Cons: Not very sturdy, so you wouldn’t want to use them to create a detailed bouquet.

Fabric Flowers
What you should know: These can be made from a variety of materials such as cotton, burlap, and lace. Fabric flowers are a great way to add a handmade or rustic feel.
Pros: Great for small details like boutonnieres or hair flowers.
Cons: Difficult to shape, so generally not used for large displays.

Cost of Artificial Flowers
The price of artificial flowers can vary significantly and depends on the type of flower as well as the quality, which dictates the price. Here’s some general pricing information to help your budgeting.

Bridal Bouquets: Silk 20−20−100; high-end fresh-touch flowers start around 300.

TableCenterpieces:Silk300.

TableCenterpieces:Silk20-100each,depending on the flowers used and the size of the arrangement.

FloralWallsorArches:Approximately100each,depending on the flowers used and the size of the arrangement.Floral Walls or Arches:Approximately 200-500 depending on the size and complexity.

ShippingCosts:If you order online,expect to pay the shipping cost,which is generally 500 dependingonthesizeandcomplexity.ShippingCosts:Ifyouorderonline,expecttopaytheshippingcost,whichisgenerally10-$30.
If you stick to high-quality, reasonably priced artificial flowers, you can use them with confidence to create a beautiful, elegant wedding look!

Tips for Creating Your Bouquet with Artificial Flowers

Making an artificial flower bouquet is similar to creating a fresh flower bouquet, just with a couple extra tips to help you get the desired shape.

Use Wire Cutters to Cut Stems: Since the stems are thicker than cut flowers, you’ll need wire cutters to trim the stems.
Adjust Until Perfect: With fresh flowers, you only get one chance to get it right. You can adjust artificial flowers completely until you get the arrangement exactly how you envisioned.
Make it Ahead of Time: You can make your artificial bouquet days or even weeks ahead of time which will relieve some of the pressure off of you on your wedding day.

Decorating Tips for Using Artificial Flowers at Your Wedding
Smart Use of Artificial Flowers: Use them in places where people won’t notice as much. For example, ceiling décor or aisle runners are places you can cut corners and save money but still get the look of fresh flowers.
Mix With Real Flowers: Blend the two to add texture and realism. Especially important for arrangements that will be close to guests’ eye level.
Use Statement Flowers: Use paper, foam, or fabric flowers for photo backdrops, arches or floral walls, and let people take pictures with these bold statements.

Using artificial flowers can bring incredible beauty to your wedding day. They let you keep the budget realistic while providing beautiful visuals. Enjoy the versatility and timelessness as you set the tone for the day with flowers that will amaze your guests!