Wedding Flowers: Real vs Fake

One of the most common questions I get is, “As a photographer, can you tell the difference between real and fake florals in photos?”

In short, yes. However, there are ways to still incorporate real florals into your day while still saving some money in the long run.

If you’re set on using some synthetic florals for your wedding, I highly recommend using them in decorative places like your reception table tops or along your ceremony aisles. However, if anyone is going to be holding or wearing flowers (like in a bouquet or boutonniere), splurge and get the real thing! The reason being: these things will be photographed more! Since you’ll end up with more photos of your wedding party, or you plus your significant other, than your decor, those florals will be front and center. 

If you’ve chosen to prioritize other expenses, you can DIY your florals. However, it does become one more thing you have to keep track of during one of the busiest weeks of your life! Trader Joe’s always has some really fresh flowers that they ship in every morning, but if you go this route, definitely designate someone from your wedding party to be in charge of it! You don’t want to be making bouquets the morning of your wedding when you’re supposed to be relaxing and getting ready.

Another option is Sola wood flowers. You can either purchase these and create your floral arrangements, or you can actually find florists that specialize in working with these wood flowers! This is a great way to have florals that you get to keep forever because they (obviously) don’t wilt, and they’re 100% biodegradable so they’re eco-friendly!

So if you’re able to have real flowers, I highly recommend it! They’ll keep your photos bright and vibrant, and you’ll always be transported back to your wedding day whenever you smell the same florals in the future.

Need more help with your wedding planning? Get in touch and let’s see what we can come up with!