Silk flowers for a wedding: what to know before you order

A bridal piece is the one order where the details matter more than the price. It is photographed from every angle, worn for ten hours, and kept afterwards. Here is what we have learned from making them.

Order earlier than feels necessary

A crown takes four to five weeks, and a comb three to four. That is studio time, not shipping time. If your wedding is in another country, add two to three weeks for delivery and customs. We recommend ordering three months before the date, and no later than eight weeks.

Send the dress, not a colour name

Ivory is not one colour. Neither is blush. If you can send a photo of the dress in daylight, we can dye the silk against it. If you cannot, send the fabric swatch that came with the dress. Matching to a photograph on a phone screen is the most common reason a piece looks wrong on the day.

Weight matters more than size

A crown that is too heavy will slide, and you will spend the day adjusting it. Ours are built on a padded band with the weight distributed across the crown rather than at one point. If you have fine hair, tell us: we can build a lighter frame, at the cost of a little volume.

Weather and travel

Silk handles heat better than fresh flowers and worse than plastic. In humid weather the petals can soften slightly; in air conditioning they hold. If you are travelling with the piece, keep it in its box in hand luggage. Do not check it, and do not leave it in a car.

After the wedding

Most brides keep the piece in its box and wear it again for anniversaries or pass it on. If a petal is crushed, we can usually reshape it. If the silk has been stained by hairspray or perfume, it cannot always be cleaned, which is why we suggest applying both before the piece goes in.

The piece is made to be kept, not just photographed.