Should you use real or artificial flowers in your wedding? This is not a question easily answered, as there are pros and cons to both.  We have outlined what we believe to be the key points to wedding flowers: real vs. artificial, so that making an informed decision is a little easier for you.

Some say there is nothing quite like the smell and appearance of real, fresh blooms at a wedding. The aromatic ambiance that a real flower creates is usually unmatched; a wonderful feast for the senses. If you are buying in season, they can also be relatively inexpensive, depending on the type of course. If you are using real flowers, it is generally assumed that you are going through a florist, so you will have the added bonus of a professional who is taking care of the nitty gritty so that you don't have to.

Believe it or not, real wedding flowers can sometimes have a few downsides. The flowers of your dreams might have to be imported, which can obviously cause the price to spike a bit, due to shipping costs. The price can also go up if you are choosing blooms that are out of season. Also, that enchanting aroma that we were talking about earlier, can also be a con. If you have guests with strong allergies, (according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, roughly 7.8% of people 18 and over in the U.S. have hay fever), then this can cause your guests to be extremely uncomfortable, which is the exact opposite effect that you are trying to achieve.

[photo by Yuri Vaysgant]

[photo by Dotmoxee Photography]

There are actually upsides to using artificial flowers in your wedding. First off, if you are more of a DIY person, then artificial might be your thing. These flowers do not usually come with a florist who is behind the wheel, so you can get your control freak on! The most popular material for these kinds of arrangements is silk, which can look quite beautiful and feel quite soft. Another advantage is that you don't have to preserve your artificial flowers until the big day, because there is no expiration date for these puppies. Some people don't realize that you can also add lotions and perfumes to silk flowers to make them smell like the real thing.

Even if you are embellishing your flowers with lotions and perfumes, chances are it's not going to smell like the real thing and that could be a deal breaker for you. Some of you may not be very creative, and therefore find it more stressful to DIY. If this is your case, then you'll probably want to opt for real flowers with a florist in charge. Also, if you are choosing silk material and lots of it, then artificial can often times be MORE expensive than real flowers.

Are you using real or artificial flowers in your wedding? Tell us about it in the comments section below!