9 Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Flowers

You spend much time, money, and energy bringing your floral vision to life. From researching potential florists to scouring the internet for inspiration, a lot goes into planning wedding decorations and flowers. But seeing your dream come alive on your big day is truly priceless. It’s a shame you only enjoy those stunning florals for one day. Well, that is, unless you’re considering wedding flowers preservation.

For those wondering about their flower preservation options, here are nine ways to ensure your wedding florals will live long beyond your wedding day.

How To Prepare Ahead of Time for Wedding Flower Preservation

Couples typically juggle a million different tasks during the wedding planning process. With what seems like an endless to-do list, many of those post-wedding details fall through the cracks. One of them is: What should you do with your wedding flowers after the celebration?

Well, this isn’t something someone can sort out at the last minute. Having a plan of action for your floral preservation before walking down the aisle is essential. Sorting out this minor detail ahead of time will save couples from unnecessary stress. So, before the big day, here are a few things to consider regarding your preserved flower arrangements.

• Discussing preservation options with florists is essential from the beginning. Being transparent about post-wedding plans will allow the professionals to recommend companies to work with or flower alternatives that preserve best.

• Designate a helper for the wedding day. The last thing you want to worry about before your grand exit is rounding up all the floral pieces getting preserved. Whether it be your wedding planner or a member of the wedding party, enlist the help of a trustworthy guest to collect all desired pieces at the end of your celebration.

• Research floral preservation companies well in advance. Remember, flowers don’t last forever. So, depending on your preservation choice, you must act fast after the big day. Having the company secured ahead of time will give you the best quality.

• To save time on the aftercare involved, search the internet for wedding bouquet preservation near me and wedding flower preservation near me. Hiring a local company will prevent you from having to ship your bouquet, giving your flowers more of a chance to be preserved in their original form.

9 Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Flowers

1. Pressed Flowers Preservation

Pressed flower preservation is the perfect option for preserving wedding flowers just as they were on your special day. This makes it a popular choice for those considering bridal bouquet preservation. It’s one of the most popular options overall for preserved floral arrangements. After investing significant time collaborating with your florist on the overall design, including specific blooms and colors, it's natural to want them preserved in the same condition.

While you can do it yourself, it’s always recommended that you recruit the help of professionals. Losing these irreplaceable, once-in-a-lifetime arrangements would be devastating. So, if you’re not confident about your floral pressing skills, research companies that offer professional preservation services before your wedding day.

2. Resin Flower Preservation

Preserving your wedding flowers in resin will capture their original beauty and color. This preservation choice offers couples the most durability and customization, allowing them to turn their flower arrangements into paperweights, bookends, coasters, or ring holders. You can display these everlasting keepsakes around your home for a little reminder of your big day.

You’ll have to start by drying your wedding flowers. Once thoroughly dries your flowers, fill a container or mold partway with epoxy resin and arrange them. When the flowers are in place, cover them with more resin. Depending on the size of florals you’re preserving, this drying process can take one to three weeks. 

Download the pricing guide on wedding flowers and decoration

3. Create Sentimental Jewelry Pieces

Looking to preserve your wedding flowers uniquely? Consider designing jewelry pieces that are indeed unlike any other. It’s a sentimental way to honor your wedding, carrying a piece of your special day wherever you go. These pieces are not only memorable keepsakes but also make timeless family heirlooms.

If you’re crafty, you can create your bracelets, rings, or necklaces. Many companies specialize in turning your flowers into wearable mementos for those who need extra assistance. You can collaborate with these professionals to create a custom piece or pieces that reflect your style, from the color to the specific piece.

4. Air Dried Wedding Flowers

Opting for air-dried wedding flowers is a budget-friendly option for those who want to preserve flowers without breaking the bank. This option is simple, affordable, and requires minimal equipment you’ll likely already have around your home. You’ll need delicate string to tie each stem upside down for two to three weeks. Making for the perfect DIY project, there's no need to make room in your wedding budget for professional preservation services.

5. Silica Gel Preservation

Silica gel is a crystal sand-like substance that absorbs moisture from your wedding flowers. This is a fast, inexpensive, and DIY-friendly option for couples to consider after their wedding day. You’ll start by pouring the silica gel into a seal-tight bowl. Simply nestle each stem into the sand and wait for it to work magic. This option is ideal for delicate blooms like peonies that you want to frame in a shadow bock or display in a decorative vase.

6. Wax Dip Bridal Bouquet Preservation

Wax-dipped bouquet preservation will maintain the flower's natural shape and color. While this is an inexpensive and DIY-friendly option, it’s not ideal for those wanting a long-lasting keepsake requiring minimal maintenance. Wax-dipped florals aren’t a permanent option, but they will extend the life of your flowers for weeks or even months.

You’ll need to liquefy paraffin wax to try this out at home. You’ll pour the wax into a heat-resistant container and dip each flower into the wax. Hang it upside down to dry. It’s that easy.

7. Create Relaxing Bath Salts

After months of planning, many seek the ultimate self-care after their big day. Picture relaxing in a warm bath with rose petal bath salts. This can be a reality for those who repurpose their preserved flower bouquet into bath salts. To make this at home, combine equal parts sea salt and Epsom salts. Add your dried wedding flower petals to the mixture. And for an extra special touch, incorporate your wedding scent to create the ultimate relaxing keepsake.

8. Freeze Dry Wedding Flowers

Freeze-drying wedding flowers requires more time and energy, making this preservation method a more expensive route. Despite being a costly option, it has significant advantages. One of the benefits is the ability to freeze florals during peek bloom, making it a time-sensitive process, especially for those outsourcing the process.

You must act promptly unless you own your own freeze dryer. For those without one, entrusting a reputable company to freeze dry your flowers can save you time and money.

9. Custom Wedding Flower Painting

Turn your wedding flowers into stunning art for your home. Consider hiring a live painter to provide guests with a unique entertainment experience. Another option is to contact artists after your wedding, providing them with photos of your bouquet. This option is also ideal for those who have waited until the last minute and seeking a way to preserve their bouquet after the celebration has ended and the flowers have wilted.

Let Wedding Florists Flowers Valley to Work Their Magic

Your wedding flower decorators are essential in bringing your wedding vision to life. The florist you choose is vital to effortlessly turning your dream into a reality worth preserving, and Flowers Valley can do just that. This team of reliable and trusted wedding florists in the San Francisco Bay area offers stunning wedding decoration and flowers that add personality to any occasion. These experts create personalized proposals tailored to your desired wedding theme using their expertise and your vision.

The best part? This award-winning company also preserves bridal bouquets. Just think of Flowers Valley as the one-stop shop for all your floral needs before, on, and after your wedding day.

For a quote, contact Flowers Valley by filling out the form.