One of the most asked questions on the wedding blogs and the wedding forums is whether the bride should use fake silk flowers or real flowers. On those forums there is a wide range of answers. Some people say there is no way they would ever use "fake wedding flowers" because they are tacky and cheap looking. Others say that silk wedding flowers are just the answer they were looking for. Let's explore the pros and cons of silk flowers.

The first advantage of using silk flowers for your wedding is the cost. Even quality silk flowers are generally less expensive than real flowers from a florist. This is especially true if you are planning to use some the more expensive flowers like roses, orchids, or some of the more truly exotic flowers.

But cost is not the only advantage. Let's start by listing all of the flowers that you might need to decorate your wedding and reception. You might use flowers at the alter in arrangements, to decorate the alter, the centerpieces, the ends of the seating aisles and of course, the bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids. You also have the boutonnieres for the groom, fathers, grandfathers, and groomsmen and the corsages for the mothers and grandmothers. There are other places you might use flowers in your wedding and you might not use anywhere near all of these listed, but this is a general list. The point is, this is a lot of flowers to keep fresh looking for a long time, especially if it is hot. Silk flowers do not wilt.

If you use silk flowers you can do your own arrangements, bouquets and decorations ahead of time, have them all ready when the wedding comes and put them up as far in advance as you wish without worry. With real flowers, they have to be arranged right before the wedding, kept cool and well hydrated until the last minute. And still, some flowers will start to wilt before the festivities are over, especially in summer heat.

There is a hot trend these days to use exotic submerged flowers in pretty glass containers for centerpieces. Silk flowers are perfect for this. The flowers will be under water and no one will know they are not real flowers.

One thing you might consider if you just have to have real flowers is to use a combination of real and fake flowers. You might have your bouquets done in real flowers, but arrangements and alter flowers silk flowers. You could even use part of your bouquets in real flowers and use some of the more expensive, delicate accent flowers in silk, especially if you are using certain flowers that you know are going to wilt. You will still have that great smell, but won't end up with brown wilted flowers.