Artificial flowers on your wedding day

Artificial flower wedding bouquets are worth considering for your special day because they're always fresh (looking) and beautiful, not to mention non-allergenic.

• Consider the costs, though, of real flowers for the bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids (a separate bouquet, of course for the bride to throw); buttonholes for the groom, groomsmen, and ring bearer; corsages for the mothers and grandmothers; decorations for the pew and reception; gifts for those who helped with the wedding preparations; and the list goes on.
• Yes, cost alone is a good reason to see your florist about artificial wedding bouquets and floral arrangements. But there are others as well, including the fact that artificial flowers can look really nice.

Timing is everything

Fresh flowers are lovely. But there is the stomach-churning anxiety of getting them to the wedding on time. Too early and they may start to wilt by the end of the day.

With artificial flowers you get rid of one wedding day fear by being able to order or create wedding flower arrangements days, if not weeks or months, ahead of time.

Other benefits

With today’s quality and selection of artificial flowers, you don’t have to settle for second best on your special day. You can get just about any gorgeous blooms you want, with the added bonuses that they are:

• Always in season;
• Easily transported;
• Durable;
• Never going to wilt;
• Non-allergenic;
• Enduring keepsakes.

Florist vs. DIY

Many online and local flower shops have a full selection of artificial flower arrangements for weddings. If you want to save more money, or would like to do it yourself, you can, well, do it yourself. Just order the artificial flowers you want and then make your own bouquets.

You’ll need

Besides the flowers (including greenery and decorative flourishes, such as seeded grasses and poppy pods) you’ll need these items, available at local craft stores:

• Flower wire
• Flower tape
• Wire cutters
• Glue gun
• Decorative wrap
• Straight pins with pearl tips, or decorative brooches

Start arranging

Use wire cutters to trim flower stems to desired lengths, and to trim off excess leaves. You can use flower wire with tape wrapped around it to extend stems as needed.

Choose three to five flowers as a base, hold them in one hand, start to turn the arrangement around, and add other flowers and decorative flourishes, guided by your own good taste and imagination.

The finishing touches

Once you have achieved the size and look of bouquet that you desire, bind it together with flower tape, starting at the top and working down the stem bunch. Do any further trimming of flower stems as needed.

Then bind the stems with decorative wrap, like coated silk paper or birch bark, using the glue gun to adhere the stems and wrapper. Then secure the pin or brooch with the glue gun, and presto! You’ve got a bouquet.

Stop to admire your work for a moment and then go on to the next one.