From fresh to faux: finding beauty in both
For years, everything I’ve made at Bulb to Bunch has been fresh - grown here, gathered from the field and arranged by hand. But winter has a way of slowing everything down, and this year I found myself wondering if there might be another way to keep creating once the flowers fade. That’s how I began experimenting with something I never thought I’d do: faux wreaths and arrangements.
The pressures of the festive season
The fields might be quiet now, but behind the scenes there’s still plenty going on. The flowers are finished for a while, and my focus has turned to winter wreaths, festive arrangements and, of course, workshops.
It’s a busy season - and not without its challenges.
For a start, everything I use for wreaths and arrangements has to be bought in, which means anything that doesn’t sell is a hard-hitting loss. People are also feeling the pinch this year. When essentials are expensive enough, a wreath understandably isn’t at the top of everyone’s list. And with such a short window for sales - really just from the start of December until Christmas - it’s always a bit of a race against time.
Because my wreaths are made fresh to order, they’re not something I can produce in advance and store away. It’s full-on, hands-on work, often right up to the last collection before Christmas Eve.
Why I decided to try faux
And then there’s the question of longevity. Not everyone wants a fresh wreath that lasts just one season. Some people live in apartments or places where they can’t hang a fresh one outside.
That’s why this year, for the first time, I’ve also introduced a small range of faux wreaths and arrangements.
When I first mentioned this idea to Roger, he was horrified - convinced I’d undermine everything I’ve built by selling something artificial. I can understand why. For a long time, ‘faux’ meant shiny, plasticky and unconvincing. But artificial stems have come a long way in recent years, and I’m extremely picky about which ones make the cut.
Getting it right
I’ve ordered my fair share of shockers that looked fine online but turned out to be dreadful in real life - those went straight in the bin. But the good ones, the really good ones, have a softness and naturalness that’s surprisingly close to the real thing.
Of course, faux wreaths are everywhere now. The big retailers sell them by the thousand - and some are decent, especially for the price. But when you’ve spent all year surrounded by real foliage, it’s hard not to notice the difference. Many are too uniform, too flat, too shiny.
Handmade, not mass-produced
That’s why I approach my faux designs in the same way I do my fresh ones. Each stem is chosen for its texture, shape and tone - natural greens, muted berries, and the sort of details you’d find out in the hedgerow. Every wreath and arrangement is full and layered, never sparse or identical. They take time to make, and that’s reflected in the result: pieces that feel generous, tactile and lasting.
And although the materials aren’t grown here, the craftsmanship still is. Each one is made by hand in Wiltshire - no machines, no production lines, just the same care and attention I give to my fresh work.
Practical and sustainable
They’re practical too. No watering, no wilting, no sweeping up pine needles. And they can be brought out year after year, which makes them a more sustainable choice in their own way.
When I took a few along to the Gastro Nicks Christmas showcase in early November, people genuinely thought they were real – even up close.
So we’ll see. Maybe these faux wreaths will find their place alongside the fresh ones. I like to think there’s room for both – something for every home, every budget, and every kind of Christmas.
Shop our Christmas wreaths and arrangements
Grounded | A space for slowing down and embracing life’s simple pleasures | www.bulbtobunch.com/blog