Artificial Flowers: Overcoming Prejudices

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Truth be told, I've always been a snob when it comes to artificial flowers. In my mind, nothing could ever replace the natural beauty and fragility of a fresh cut flower. Branches, greenery and even weeds were no exception to the rule. I could not understand why a person (apart from allergies and unfortunate weather) would choose plastic and polyester over living silk and juicy green.

Growing up in New York City, many folks were surprised to know that yes, we had both a front and a backyard with real trees and grass. After long hard northern winters, my mother and I would make our annual spring rounds to inspect what was unfurling beneath a light layer of wet snow.

First, in keeping with the new season, there were the snow drops, little delicate white flowers that pushed their way through the dark wet earth. Next came the crocuses bursting with first color of squashy yellows and purples.

Once the discovery started, the walk around our small garden continued up until the end of the fall with each ensuing week bringing new life, texture, scent and of course color to our humble little backyard.

But for many people, what was once a black and white idea becomes grayed out, so to speak, with the passing of time and a little more understanding. So too has my opinion of artificial flowers.

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I have been pleasantly surprised with the variety and quality of "natural" flowers as of late. Pods, branches and wood can be shaped to resemble real flowers because they originate from organic material. Technology has developed in such a way that lends itself to truer textures and color.

As a wedding floral designer, I realize I am limited to the season, budget and locale of my bride. Many romantic brides want keepsakes of their day and oftentimes real flowers do not keep well when dried.

Then there is the question of season. I struggled to keep my arrangements fresh and perky for several sweltering July weddings here in Savannah. Although one can choose a hardy heat resistant bloom, brides still might want a tulip over stock and this can pose a problem in heavy heat.

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Creating only live arrangements means limiting my client base to Savannah and a relatively close radius of customers. Although mailing live bouquets is doable, it's quite pricey and they run the risk of not being handled well once they are out of my care. Natural artificials relieve both the bride and the designer of that stressor.

Price and availability also prove to be uncertainties. A flower that is a dollar a stem one month might climb to five. Knowing that, designers offer substitutions when a certain bloom becomes cost prohibitive to the bride.

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With the beautiful array of choices, I'm excited to have overcome my prejudice of artificial florals and look forward to creating some lovely unique arrangements. Please have a gander at my etsy shop to check my progress.