I am having an Autumn themed wedding in 10/2010. My idea for table centerpieces is hollowed out pumpkins (or maybe even those funkins ~ so I don't have to worry about rotting) and an array of Autumn flowers. At first I was thinking I could use sunflowers (which is the main flower for the wedding), maybe a few orange roses, some stalks of wheat, berry stems and cat nine tails. To cut down on costs, I will be assembling these arrangements myself. We're having a small wedding and so far, we'll probably only need 7-8 tables plus the bridal table ~ so it's not like I'll have to make a ton of centerpieces. Anyways, I was thinking there are 3 possible ways I can go about doing this. #1 - I could purchase the flowers directly from the florist (which is probably the most expensive). #2 - I can make the arrangements out of sunflowers alone and use all the different colored ones such as deep orange, white, red and the traditional yellow. But, I could grow them myself ~ which I've done a few year ago and they came out pretty good. I just didn't realize that I needed wooden rods to tie to the stems so they wouldn't fall over. This way would save me a lot of money, but do you think it's too risky? Of course I would do a couple of test runs this year and next year before deciding to take that on. #3 - I could make the arrangments out of silk sunflowers. Which is probably cheaper than buying directly from the florist but still not as cheap as growing then myself. And, I'm affraid going that route is pretty ghetto. Even though they would last forever, especially if I use the funkins instead of real pumpkins, and I could give them away to certain people after the wedding. I just don't know what I should do I'd really like to just order them from the florist, but at this point I don't know if our budget will allow that. What does everyone think?

I went to a wedding this past fall and they had pumpinks that were painted ivory/white. I later saw these same pumpins at Michael's (craft store). As for the silks, I got all the flowers and rose pettles to do my wedding for $30 (but i'm also only doing mine... but then again also got roses, not sunflowers or something of the like) they look really goregeous and they will be something that I can keep for the rest of my life (todays silks aren't the silks of our grandmothers). If you think you can grow them by all means go for it, just remember that you probably don't want to be cutting down flowers and putting them together the day before or the day of your wedding, you are going to have enough to do already.

Best of luck in whatever you decide! :-)

Of all the planning I've been doing ~ why in the hell didn't I realize that I'd have to cut the flowers if I grow them and arrange everything the day before? LOL good Lord, thank God for you ladies. Sometimes I just totally space things out. It's hard planning a wedding all by yourself! Cracks me up even more because I'm over here thinking funkins would be better because I can carve them way ahead of time and not worry about rotting. But DUR, if I grow the flowers that would have to be the day before/morning of. *sigh* lol. I'll have a look at silk suflowers ~ maybe they won't look so bad....and hopefully no one at the reception decides to feel them lol.
Thanks NKGbride

I understand your hesitation using silk flowers. I would rather have no flowers than silk. Well...my fiance is extremely allergic to almost every plant...so...I guess we'll also have to test it out. You should see if they look real though...some fake flowers even feel real. It's odd. Hope it works out, anyways.

Oh yes, I'll definatly have to shop around. I won't just settle for any ol' fake flower from the dollar store or something. I was talking to someone yesterday and they said really good silk flowers are almost just as much as real flowers nowadays. So, we'll have to see I suppose.

Silk flowers is the way to go! Saved my wedding day... always wanted to have real flowers in my wedding, but just couldn't make it on time.. especially when the tulips(my favourite ) needs to be imported and all...


Jessica,
wedding planner advices | summer wedding themes | winter wedding themes

I think growing them yourself may not be a great idea unless gardening is already a hobby that you have. That may be enough stress as it is.

I don't think having silk flowers is in anyway ghetto. Because many companies are offering high quality silk flowers, your flowers can look as good as the real think. If you go to Michael's or other craft stores, their silks are pretty good. Also, there are online wholesale flower websites that have a great reputation for deliveries beautiful flowers days before the wedding. (onlinewholesaleflowers.com) Just remember you would need to care for the flowers about two days before which is added stress. With silk flowers, you do not have that problem. The negative stigma of silk flowers are slowly fading. Go ahead and do silk flowers. There is nothing ghetto about saving money and time.


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They might be as much as real flowers but think baout it htis way: How long do real flowers last? How long will fake flowers last and stay pretty?

Though silk flowers do fade they will stay nicer longer than real flowers which wilt and die... Hope this helps.
~Elysabeth~

I agree that were are some really nice silk flowers these days. And what a great reminder of your wedding day, you will be able to keep the centerpieces (or give them away to friends and family). If you do decided to grow your own, I would have a back up plan in place incase something terrible should happen to them. Best of luck!

Don't worry about the quality of the fake flowers. I'm doing fake flowers for both my bouquet and my girls'. I was able put the bouquet together myself, and the flowers look real. Like, can't-tell-them-apart-from-actual-flowers real (honest...I held them up next to actual roses and they looked 100% real.) If you look for a kind of flower called "real touch" flowers, they're wonderful quality. They look and feel like real flowers. I don't know if they have sunflowers, but I've seen some very realistic-looking sunflowers anyway. If you have a Hobby Lobby near you, go look at their flowers. They usually have some great deals on them and the quality is great, too. Good luck!