Real flowers or fake flowers??

Fake flowers tend to look fake and really good quality fake flowers can be more expensive than real flowers. You'll also be the one who needs to arrange the fakes. Do you have experience doing that? Making fakes look good is not easy as some pics seen here attest. How did you work with the florist? Did you tell them these are the flowers I want and then got the estimate or did you say, "this is my budget and these are my inspiration pictures. Am I being realistic? If not, please show me what my budget can get me." You'll be amazed at what a florist can do if you let them do a lot of the selecting.

I used artificial flowers but it was hard to find some that looked good in pictures and we're affordable. I went with real touch calla lilies and some dahlias. I had 4 bridesmaids and 4 groomsmen and a bunch of parents/grandparents. Here's a picture of the bouquets (pay no attention to the Boutonierres at the bottom... I redid those because they looked too fake)

These were for the parents and grandparents. I ended up spending about $250 on flowers, and A LOT of time making them. I was pleased with them, but if I had to do it again, I'd probably hire a florist and come up with the extra money.

I just ordered my entire bridal party flowers online today & I went fake & I only spent $230

Then went to Micheal's & bought my centerpieces for about $65. And I AM IN LOVE!!!

My bouquet

Cheap fakes are really terrible looking .. makes me cringe there are nice fakes but they are $$$ search alot for a good florist who can work on reasonable budget

Have you looked into succulents/cactus? I didn't even consider it until my FH sent me this pic and I love the look. I think they are not expensive. For example I am buyiing the glasses at the dollar store and each plant will be about $3. So it's about $15 per table. I will still buy some flowers for added color but not too much.

I had real flowers for just $300 but, it was a lot of work. However, I would still recommend considering it. I ordered from fiftyflowers.com but, Costco and Sam's club have wholesale flowers, as well. If you go this route, watch tons of tutorials, have help for the day before and practice with grocery store flowers!

Have you looked into succulents/cactus? I didn't even consider it until my FH sent me this pic and I love the look. I think they are not expensive. For example I am buyiing the glasses at the dollar store and each plant will be about $3. So it's about $15 per table. I will still buy some flowers for added color but not too much.

Usually buying fake is just as expensive or if they're not they look terrible

I had fake ones, a friend from work arranged them for me as my gift. DH and his son both have bad allergies so real was out of the question. I got nice ones from Hobby Lobby and Old Time Pottery.

Here is the chapel arrangements, They are now on display in our home.

Neither. Look into sola wood flowers. They look beautiful without looking cheap like fake flowers can and they are much more affordable than real flowers. Google search them or look on Etsy, there seem to be some vendors who will create your bouquets for you if you don't want to or aren't crafty enough to do it yourself.

I might be biased though as I'm using sola for my flowers.

BOTH! My friend used a fake base of leaves and some fake flowers and then put real flowers in. I honestly would have had no clue they were fake unless she told me. I think that fake flowers look...fake.

I second sola wood flowers. I attended a wedding in September and only found out yesterday the flowers were fake. Granted I didn't look super closely, but I would think myself the average guest. I'm considering going this route because we're planning to hold the ceremony in a historical building where fresh aren't allowed.