Saying goodbye to your wedding bouquet or centrepieces can be a bittersweet moment. After investing months of time and effort into selecting each flower and arrangement, many couples seek ways to preserve these cherished memories. While preserving a wedding bouquet is common, any floral arrangement from your special day can be saved for years to come with proper planning.
If the idea of keeping your wedding flowers forever appeals to you, rest assured that it's entirely possible, and there are numerous methods available to achieve this. Continue reading to discover how you can preserve your cherished wedding flowers, transforming them into a timeless keepsake to treasure from your special day onwards.
Press Your Wedding Flowers
To press your wedding flowers, you must first plan which flowers you would like to include. Place wax paper containing the flowers within the pages of a substantial book, such as a phone book or large textbook. Place an additional sheet of wax paper on top to prevent ink transfer and gently close the book.
Apply weight to the book using a heavy object, such as additional books. Alternatively, place heavy objects directly on top of the wax paper-flower arrangement if a heavy book is unavailable. Allow the flowers to dry undisturbed for a duration of seven to 10 days.
Once the wedding flowers are flattened and thoroughly dried, arrange and frame them according to your preference.
Various professionals do offer a preservation service if you don’t feel brave or crafty enough to try this yourself, and you can easily locate options through a brief online search or by browsing platforms like Instagram. Consider planning and budgeting for professional services in with your wedding budget. It's also crucial to ensure that professionals receive the flowers within a few days of the wedding to press them while they're still fresh.
Paint Them
While having your wedding bouquet painted doesn't preserve the actual flowers, it offers a delightful way to immortalise your bouquet and other arrangements. Even with other preservation options, your flowers won't retain their exact appearance from your wedding day. You can find plenty of these services on Etsy. Commission your preferred artist to capture the essence of your bouquet through painting, ensuring it becomes a timeless fixture in your home.
Freeze Dry
Although freeze-drying is among the pricier and more time-intensive preservation methods, it offers the advantage of maintaining flowers' original appearance including their vibrant colours as closely as possible. If you are choosing to go down the DIY method of freeze-drying you’ll need to purchase a freeze-dryer, which freezes flowers in full bloom. These can be expensive so unless you plan to freeze-dry a lot of your wedding flowers or do this project again in the future, opting for a professional service will be more convenient and cost-effective.
Before freeze-drying wedding flowers, you’ll need to ensure you’ve trimmed the flower stems and removed any leaves. You then submerge your chosen flowers in water for at least 12 hours before freezing. You are able to display your frozen flowers in a shadow box for a forever keepsake around your home.
Use Resin
Another creative method to preserve your wedding flowers is by encasing them in clear epoxy resin, allowing you to create various decorative items such as artwork, paperweights, coffee coasters, jewellery, or even incorporate them into a piece of furniture.
To craft a resin paperweight, start by obtaining a mould of your desired shape from a local craft store, such as a sphere or cube then follow these steps:
Fill the mould halfway with epoxy resin, ensuring a smooth and even layer.
Gently arrange the flowers in the resin, ensuring they are evenly distributed and submerged.
Top off the mould with additional epoxy resin until it reaches the brim, covering the flowers completely. Allow the resin to cure and dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Once fully cured, carefully remove the mould to unveil your stunning creation.
If tackling this project yourself seems daunting, consider entrusting your bouquet to a skilled artist who specialises in resin art for a professionally crafted keepsake.
Air Dry
An additional and quite straightforward method for preserving your wedding bouquet involves air-drying the flowers by hanging them upside down.
Carefully unwrap your bouquet and remove any tape or ties. Instead of bunching the bouquet together, individually hang each stem to maintain the optimal shape. Next, hang the flowers upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area, such as a hallway closet, ensuring they are not exposed to direct sunlight or excessive moisture. Allow the blooms to air-dry for at least a week, or longer if the environment is cooler, until they are completely dried. When handling your dried flowers do so with extra care as the petals can become flaky and the stems brittle.
Once dried, you can arrange them in a vase or create a charming wreath with your preserved flowers. And if you've kept the ribbon from your bouquet, don't forget to incorporate it into your design too.
It’s unlikely you’ll want to preserve all of the flowers used in your wedding day. As you navigate what to do with your wedding flowers, you’ll probably find yourself with leftover arrangements. For decorative flowers, consider gifting them to guests, donating them to local hospitals or nursing homes or offering them to your wedding planner or other suppliers.
If you are considering preserving any of your wedding flowers ensure that they are promptly prepared and cared for. Store bouquets and centrepieces in a cool, dim location away from direct sunlight to preserve their vibrancy until preservation or further use.
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