Silk flowers are ideal for the allergy sufferers, hay fever and asthma can dramatically affect which flowers you choose. In some cases all flowers trigger an adverse reaction, sometimes only particular blooms. But if lilies are a no no, but they happen to be your favourite flower, by choosing silk you don't have to compromise.

There is no worry about wilting in hot weather, a point to consider especially if you are having a marquee for your reception. Flowers have a very short life span in hot and humid conditions such as a marquee presents.

Last but not least, the cost, although silk flowers are more expensive to purchase than fresh, by hiring your flowers for the church, reception and bridal, you will save pounds. Normally hiring everything will save you between 50% and 75%, depending on your requirements.

Nowadays, silk flowers are so like the 'real thing', that very few people ever realise that the flowers surrounding them are anything other than fresh. Hire in an atomiser that automatically sprays floral perfume at set intervals, and you'll fool them all!

All the normal points that you would consider when choosing fresh flowers apply to silk. Always choose someone who you feel comfortable with, make an appointment to visit the shop or showroom, they should have a plentiful selection of flowers for every aspect of your wedding on display.

Ask to see photos of their work. Ask them about their ideas. Take swatches of fabric to match colours.

Always book as early as possible, often florists who work in silk, take on a number of weddings for one day, as all the flowers are prepared in advance. But, they are governed by time for delivering to churches and reception venues, and will have a limit to how many weddings they will take on for any one day.

Silk flowers don't just have to be for weddings. They are an ideal present for birthdays, anniversaries etc. They become an everlasting gift, always reminding them of your love or kind thoughts.

In this day of environmentally friendly alternatives, silk flowers are becoming popular for funeral tributes. There is nothing worse for the bereaved to visit the grave of their loved one in the days after the funeral to face a grave covered in dying flowers. By sending silk tributes they act as an ongoing reminder of the love and affection for their departed loved one. These days, people lead such busy lives, that sometimes taking fresh flowers to the cemetery isn't done as often as it should, if there are silk flowers, there is always a bright floral arrangement at the grave, which is uplifting for those visiting to pay their respects. Many churches now welcome quality silk flowers in the graveyard. It keeps the place looking cared for, and helps eliminate the piles of decomposing flowers that always seem to appear around the edge of the graveyard.

You may want to use silk flowers after the funeral to keep the grave looking tidy and cared for. Flowers can be simple, a bunch in an urn, or a pot of flowers planted into the soil, as if they are growing.