When it comes to wedding flowers, many couples  are torn between the timeless beauty of fresh blooms and the practicality of faux arrangements. But why choose one over the other when you can enjoy the best of both worlds? Combining fresh and faux flowers allows couples to craft stunning, long-lasting arrangements that capture the vibrant colours, textures, and fragrances of nature without worrying about wilting or seasonal limitations. While faux flowers might still carry some stigma, modern high-quality varieties are incredibly lifelike, offering endless possibilities for creating show-stopping floral designs that stand the test of time. Today on Polka Dot Wisdom, we have the wonderful Courtney of One Fine Daisy discussing how to mix faux and fresh flowers in wedding arrangements.

Photography by Chamore Creations 

Combining faux and fresh flowers is a fantastic way to get the best of both worlds; the everlasting option of faux with the incredible colours and smells of fresh.

There is a lot of upturned noses when faux flowers are mentioned. But faux flowers have come a very long way. High-quality faux flowers look and feel just like the real, fresh thing! If you haven’t seen them in person, you’ll definitely be amazed!

Photography by T-One Image 

Why Choose Faux?

There are many different reasons to choose faux flowers for your wedding. With faux, there is no limit on seasonal availability. If you have your heart set on a certain flower or colour, it doesn’t matter if the fresh option isn’t in season, faux is available all year round!

If you’re getting married in the warmer months, faux flowers wont wilt or discolour in the heat. We often have photographers tell us that they prefer shooting weddings with faux flowers, as they have to do less touch ups!

If you or anyone in your bridal party have allergies, faux will be your best friend on your wedding day.

One of the main reasons couples choose faux flowers for their wedding is that they are everlasting. You can keep your bouquet as a keepsake for decades, rather than days! No need to pay for your bouquet to get preserved, we’ve done all that work for you!

As a florist, we are also able to offer hire options for ceremony and reception flowers, keeping your budget in check.

Photography by Country Mile Photography 

Why mix the two types?

The simple answer is that not all faux flowers are of a high enough standard to look real enough for our liking. Flowers like roses, dahlias, poppies, lilies and lots of others are available in incredibly high quality, which look (and feel) just like it’s fresh counterpart! The amount of people who come to our consults and say “I can’t believe they’re not real!!” still blows our minds.

Some flowers like baby’s breath, for example, aren’t quite at the quality that we would use for a wedding bouquet, so we choose to use either fresh or preserved to keep with our standards.

High-quality faux flowers are actually more expensive than fresh (which a lot of people don’t realise!), so using fresh flowers and greenery that dry nicely is a more affordable option for a lot of couples.

Mixing in fresh flowers and greenery can create an overall appearance that looks incredible.

Photography by Daniel Turner Weddings 

Which fresh flowers and foliage should I choose?

Make sure you choose flowers and foliage that will dry well. There is nothing worse than having wilted and browning flowers on your wedding day! Natives like gum, billy buttons and banksia and grasses such as pampas and bunny tails dry incredibly well on their own and last for years. We recommend our couples pop their bouquet in an empty (no water please!) vase and pop their bouquet in to enjoy for years to come!

A special thank you to Courtney from One Fine Daisy for sharing her expert insights on how to beautifully combine faux and fresh flowers in wedding arrangements. Her tips offer couples a creative and practical approach to designing florals that are not only stunning but long-lasting. If you’re looking for a unique way to bring your floral vision to life, mixing the best of both worlds is the way to go! Thank you, Courtney, for inspiring us with your knowledge and passion for wedding florals.

About the Author: Founded by Jess in 2020, One Fine Daisy started with the desire to create dreamy, graceful arrangements that could truly bring serenity to their surroundings. By 2022, Courtney came on board as a co-owner to help with the significant growth in business. We believe that wedding flowers should last a lifetime, without compromising on quality. Ensuring that our couples feel supported, their vision is realised to perfection, and the entire experience is fun and vibrant is the centre of the business ethos. We absolutely love talking about all things wedding flowers!