Traditionally brides had genuine flowers for their bridal bouquets, but these days it is becoming more popular to have artificial flower bouquets for weddings.In years gone by, fake flowers were not the good quality, synthetic replicas that you find today.   Yes, some places still stock the cheap and nasty, plastic looking flowers, however there have been many advances in flower replication, so you couldn't tell the difference unless you look very closely!  I choose to have synthetic flowers at my wedding.  I used them for both by wedding bouquet and table decorations. (Post on table decorations coming soon!)There are also many types of handmade artificial flower alternatives, depending on what you like.  Flowers made from silk, paper and even wool!  As someone who like to crochet I am pleased to see that crochet flower bouquets are starting to make an appearance!  Here are some roses I whipped up as an example :)

Advantages of artificial flower bouquets

So what are the main advantages for having an artificial flower arrangement rather than real flowers?  Well for a start you can keep them long after your wedding day is over.  You can have an artificial flower bouquet on display in your home that will serve as a lovely reminder of your special day.It can work out cheaper to have synthetic flowers.  You can of course go with the DIY option, if you are confident with flower arranging.  Also some brides pay to have their wedding bouquets freeze dried, so going with synthetic cuts out that cost straight away.Artificial flower bouquets give you the option to check long before the wedding that they are just as you want them, giving chance to make small adjustments to the shape if necessary.  Getting the right colour is also very helpful.  I've had a few brides who did get exactly the match of colour they were hoping for.  The florist is limited to the flowers that are available at the market that week.One of the most important positives for me, was that they flowers are far more durable, they won't start to wither or look tired by the end of the day. You don't need to keep them in water and risk getting wet marks or, even worse, green stains on your dress!  They can also be much lighter to carry, especially for larger bouquets.

Ask the Expert!

I spoke to Tracey Jaeckisch, from fife-based floral company The Diamond Bouquet, to get a little more information on her artificial flower arrangements.What are your synthetic bouquets made of?I use quality synthetic materials for floral artificial bouquets that have a real feel and visual aspect. For my Pearl & Crystal bouquets, I use Swarovski Crystal & Fresh Water Pearls, for heirloom bridal bouquets, I use the finest diamante broaches, and for paper heirloom bouquets I use a variety of quality papers and diamante jewels.How long does each one take to make?Construction for artificial florals approximately 30-60 minutes, diamond or crystal bouquets 6 hours amd paper bouquets 30 hours.What is the most popular shape for artificial flower bouquets? Most popular is hand-tied, but I have spent the last 10 years introducing client to the traditional teardrop, shower and waterfall bridal bouquets.What is the most popular colour for synthetic wedding flowers?Colour palette is personal choice and depends on bridal trends each year. For 2016 coral is trending.How far in advance of the wedding should a bride order her bouquet?Brides should book a minimum of 9 months in advance to allow time to source and product their bridal choices.How much do you charge for an artificial flower bouquet?Synthetic bridal bouquets range from £65-£130Crystal bridal bouquets from £65-£300Diamante Heirloom bridal bouquets from £150-£500Paper heirloom bouquets from £150-£350 Many thanks to Tracey for contributing to this post.  Click the link to find out more about The Diamond Bouquet.

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