Getting Real About Flowers: Its Time to Give Silk Its Due

The multi-million dollar silk floral industry has come a long way from plastic flowers in dime stores. Today, expensive, life-like flowers made of composite materials, are stained, dyed, formed and created to mimic fresh flowers, exactly in some cases. Silk and composite stems can range in price from $3 each to more than $12 each.

These costly permanent botanicals require the skills of a designer to create bouquets and arrangements to rival the most beautiful fresh flower creations, and surpass them in some cases.

Yet, I continue to read articles, which although touting the benefits of silk and composites, refer to these materials as "less expensive alternatives to fresh flowers", or "cost-saving, do-it-yourself flowers" for brides on a budget. The conclusion seems to be that silk is an inferior alternative to fresh flowers for brides who can't, for whatever reason, have the real thing.

In reality it is no easier to create beautiful do-it-yourself silk arrangements than it would be to create beautiful do-it-yourself fresh flower arrangements. And if the main virtue of silk is to provide a cost-saving alternative for brides on a budget, than who is purchasing these $12 stems and why does the silk floral industry continue to thrive and expand?

The answer is that just as fresh blooms have their place in weddings, decorating and events so do silk and composite flowers. These permanent botanicals have their own distinct purpose and advantages for brides, interior decorators and designers.

Silk vs. Fresh.

There really is no silk vs. fresh dilemma as is often stated. There is no parade of disappointed brides-to-be, conceding defeat after glancing at their checkbook balance, and opting for the lesser product. There is no war between the delicate beauty of a live magnolia and a stunning, vibrant silk rose. Designers of fresh flower bouquets are not plotting against designers of silk flower bouquets and vice versa. No dilemma, no war, no controversy.

What there is, is a decision to be made...a decision best made by knowing all the facts and weighing all the choices.

In truth these two distinct types of botanicals have more in common than they do in differences. They both serve their purpose and they both fill a need.

The Common Bond.

Both fresh flowers and silk flowers are, after all, flowers. They can both be formed into whatever we've decided we want them to be: a bouquet, a centerpiece, a corsage.

Quality fresh flowers and quality silk flowers are beautiful. Wilted fresh flowers and inexpensive, poorly constructed silk flowers are not. To achieve a stunning creation, both require the skills of a floral designer. Florists sell fresh flowers, they are not necessarily designers. However, both fresh and silk flowers can be bunched together and tied with a pretty ribbon for a do-it-yourself bouquet. The more expensive silk flowers are made with realistic stems which can be used in bouquets and arrangements that require stems to show.

Fresh flowers are real flowers. Silk flowers are real silk (or composite) flowers, not fake flowers. Just as a statue of a dog is not a fake dog but a statue of a dog, a silk flower is not a fake flower it is a silk flower.

The Big Differences.

Fresh flowers smell nice, so if smell is really, really important to you than fresh flowers should be your choice. Quality silk flowers look like and can even feel like, fresh flowers, but they don't really smell like anything. Here is a tip, please don't spray them with perfume: overpowering is not attractive. I use mildly scented crystals which give a subtle hint of floral odor.

What will they look like on my big day?

Fresh flowers die and wilt. Silk flowers take a long, long time to die and wilt, probably years, unless left out in the rain and even then, some will survive. I once lived next-door to a woman who used silk flowers in hanging baskets and placed them on her outdoor trees. She even left them out during a hurricane and they honestly looked no worse for the experience.

Fresh flowers not only die and wilt but pretty much resent being handled, cut, bent or bothered. They put up a fuss if it gets too hot, too cold, or too windy. They are in a word, "snooty". Therefore, fresh floral bouquets and arrangements must be created the day before or the day of the wedding or event.

There are several disadvantages to last minute arranging. First, you can't see them until the day of. If they don't look the way you envisioned, or the way they looked in an expensive bridal magazine photo taken by a highly-paid expert photographer with a $3,000 camera and high-tech lighting equipment, you are out of luck.

Second, all of those flowers must be ordered well in advance and shipped to the florist...last minute means less selection. Third ,one or two people cannot possibly assemble all of the florals for a large wedding in one day, and much of it must be assembled at the venue. More people mean more money. More time spent at the venue for set-up, means more coordination and more that can go wrong.

Silk steps in because for one thing, we know what it will look like.

We know what it, (our bouquet, or arrangement) will look like because it can be created well in advance and we can see it, change it, add to it, subtract from it. Pieces can be created over time, but some can be created in a matter of days if need, because it isn't necessary to fly the supplies in from Holland, France, Africa or Australia.

Here's the do-it-yourself part.

Silk arrangements can be shipped by mail or delivered. They can also be created for easy do-it-yourself set-up. Silk and composite flowers are much less likely to break than fresh flowers and unlike fresh flowers, they are heavily glued and wired in place. Swags can be easily attached and centerpieces can be placed on pedestals and candelabras without too much fear of something going wrong. Something bends in the wrong direction?...bend it back the other way. Something falls down?...pick it up and put it back.

Another weighty advantage.

Silkcomposite material bouquets and arrangements are considerably lighter than fresh flower creations. One reason for this is that they don't need a water source. Bouquets are lighter to carry and arrangements are easily moved from ceremony to reception. Lighter also means that bouquets and small arrangements can be boxed and carried on a plane for small destination weddings, or shipped to the venue for larger weddings.

The "are they real?" test.

Although your quests are unlikely to fondle the arrangements for a reality test, would it really be so terrible if they were not quite sure if these beautiful flowers are the "real thing" or a clever and stunning, but not living, creation? And isn't a work-of-art alive anyway?

Why choose at all?...when you can have both.

Silk or fresh doesn't have to be an either/or decision. Both can have a place in your wedding or event. Silk can be used in those aspects where its advantages make sense, and fresh can be used in those arrangements where you just want fresh flowers. And just like a great work-of-art, the two can be mixed to form something unique. It's simple enough to add some last-minute fresh ferns to an arrangement or a few fresh flowers to a silk bouquet for the scent.

Giving silk its day in the sun.

Silk and composites have their place and deserve the same dignity and respect given to hothouse blooms. One is a little tougher and one is a little more traditional but both can be worn in our hair, carried in our hands or treasured at our weddings.