How to Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet: A Timeless Keepsake for Brides
Your wedding bouquet is not just a beautiful arrangement of flowers; as a bride it holds sentimental value and memories that you want to remember forever. The delicate blooms, carefully chosen to reflect your style and personality, hold emotional connection. Preserving your wedding bouquet allows you to keep the memories of your special day, capturing its beauty and emotional significance into the future as well as to create a special keepsake that connects your family's past and future and is something that can be passed down through the generations. In this guide, we will explore the best tips and techniques for preserving your wedding bouquet, allowing you to relive those special moments for years to come.
Photo by: Thistle Creek Photography
Choosing the right preservation method for your wedding bouquet
Preserving your wedding bouquet involves carefully drying or treating the flowers to retain their shape, color, and fragrance. When deciding on the preservation method for your wedding bouquet, consider factors such as the type of flowers, your budget, and the desired outcome. There are several ways to preserve your wedding bouquet whether you choose to hire a professional or DIY perserve your wedding flowers. Each method has its pros and cons, so it's important to choose the one that best suits your preferences. If you prefer a DIY bouquet preservation approach and have sturdy flowers, air drying or pressing may be the perfect choice. On the other hand, if you have a specific desired final look or or especially sentimental flowers, it might be worth hiring a vendor to professionally preserve the bouquet. Take the time to determine the best method for preserving your unique bouquet. Now - let's explore some popular preservation techniques:
Air drying your wedding bouquet
Air drying is one of the most traditional and straightforward methods for DIY preserving your wedding bouquet. To air dry the bouquet, you will need to gather the stems together and hang them upside down in a cool, and dark area. This method works best for flowers with sturdy petals, such as roses, hydrangeas, and lavender. It's important to choose a drying location away from direct sunlight, since exposure to heat and light can cause the flowers to fade and wilt. Leave your bouquet to dry for several weeks or until the flowers feel crisp to the touch. Once they are completely dry, you can arrange them in a vase or display them in a shadow box.
Photography by: Sarah Beau Photo
Pressing your wedding bouquet
Pressing your wedding bouquet is a delicate process that involves flattening the flowers between heavy books or using a flower press. This method is ideal for preserving more delicate flowers, think, daisies, pansies, and Anemones. To press your bouquet, remove the flowers from the stems and place them between layers of parchment paper. Then, stack heavy books on top of the flowers to apply even pressure. Keep in mind you need to replace the paper regularly to keep from getting mold or discoloration. After a few weeks, your flowers should be fully pressed and ready to be displayed!
Photos from Kayla Faith
Timeless wedding florals with Resin
Resin preservation is a creative and popular method for preserving your wedding bouquet. This technique involves coating the flowers in a clear resin, creating a stunning and durable encasement that showcases the natural beauty of the blooms. Resin will help retain the shape, color, and texture of the flowers as well as provide a glossy and protective finish. With resin preservation, you have the flexibility to create various designs, and can even add in additional keepsakes like ribbons, charms, or wedding invitation snippets within the resin. It allows you to turn your bouquet into a piece of art that can be displayed in a frame, as a paperweight, or even as a decorative item on a shelf. The resin technique is a newer approach to bouquet preservation that adds a touch of artistic flair and ensures your flowers remain a focal point into the future.
Freeze drying your wedding bouquet
Freeze drying is a professional preservation method that involves removing moisture from the flowers while maintaining their natural shape and color and allows for the best preservation results. During the freeze-drying process, your bouquet is carefully frozen and placed in a vacuum chamber, where the moisture is evaporated. The result is a beautifully preserved bouquet that looks fresh and vibrant for years to come. Freeze-drying is suitable for all types of flowers and ensures minimal color fading or petal shrinkage.
Check out the freeze drying process from Floral Preservation and Designs below
Tips for Preserving Your Wedding Bouquet:
Consider hiring a professional:
If you're unsure about preserving your bouquet yourself, you might want to hire a professional preservationist who specializes in floral preservation. They have the experience to handle delicate flowers and provide you with a high-quality, long-lasting result. If you are interested in getting your bouquet preserved, just ask your wedding planner for recommendations on vendors. We are more than happy to help arrange this!
Preserve your wedding flowers as soon as possible:
To ensure the best preservation outcome, start the process as soon as you can after your wedding day. The fresher the flowers, the better chance they have of keeping their color and shape.
Talk with your florist:
If preserving your bouquet is super important to you talk to your florist before the wedding and let them know you plan to do so. They can give you advice on the best flower choices and offer guidance on how to handle and care for your bouquet on the day of the event.
Be gentle:
When using your bouquet, be gentle to keep from damaging the delicate petals. Remove any excess moisture, trim the stems, and consider using floral preservatives to extend the lifespan of the blooms if you have to wait for an extended time before preserving wedding flowers.
Photo by Connor David Photography
Preserving your wedding bouquet is a great way to hold onto the memories of your special day. By following the tips mentioned above, you can be sure that your wedding flowers stay beautiful and meaningful. Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a professional, remember to handle your bouquet with care and protect it from moisture and sunlight. Brides often tell me that their preserved bouquet brings them back to their wedding day every time they look at it!
