How to Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet
To many brides, the bouquet is as essential to their wedding look as the gown, hair and makeup, and something blue. Once the reception is over, though, it can be pretty depressing to watch the blooms start to wilt. Luckily, there are tried-and-true ways to preserve your gorgeous flowers.
Keep them fresh
Flowers can wilt very quickly—within a few days (or even hours!) of your wedding. Remember that bouquets aren’t usually made with 100 percent fresh flowers, which lowers their life expectancy post-wedding since they’re already at least a couple of days old. Roses last the longest, giving you some wiggle room between your wedding day and the preservation technique of choice. No matter which preservation process you choose, it’s important to keep the flowers as fresh as possible in the interim. Remove the ribbon or other wrap that ties the stems together and then recut the stems to help them take in water. Place the flowers in fresh water and change it daily. Some brides put their main bouquet in fresh water right after the ceremony and use a different bouquet during the reception. If you plan on preserving your bouquet, you’ll definitely want to nix the bouquet toss or use a less expensive one in its place (if you have a ribbon and wrapping paper bouquet from your bridal shower, you can use it to toss).
Drying
Some brides simply let their bouquet dry out, keeping it somewhere safe where it won’t topple or get knocked into. Hang it upside down and be patient – it could take weeks or even a few months for it to dry out completely. Once dried, you can store it in a preservation box. Note that while air drying is the simplest and least costly option, it won’t retain the original colors.
Pressing
This option is relatively easy if you’re okay with saving a few flowers as opposed to the entire bouquet. Choose a thick, heavy book that will put enough weight on the flowers to press them flat and then close the petals in the center pages. Once pressed, display the flowers in a frame. There are professional services that will press your bouquet for you, too.
Silica Gel
This sandy material is available at most craft stores, but the crystals may need to be ground into a fine powder. Use a paintbrush to cover the flowers with the powder. Place the bouquet in a container, fill any empty space with the powder, and seal. Place the container somewhere warm for a week and a half. Remove the bouquet and dust off any remaining powder. At this point, you can spray the bouquet with fixative spray, but make sure to let it dry out completely before placing it in your display box. The silica gel process works best for flowers that can hold up to a bit of pressure, like roses, orchids or peonies.
Freeze-Dry
While freeze-drying is the priciest option on the list, the bouquet will look remarkably close to how it did on your wedding day. This option will need to be handled by a pro. First, the flowers will be sprayed with starch, then the bouquet will be placed in a freeze-dryer to remove moisture. The process takes up to three months.
Hiring a pro
When hiring a preservation company, you have two options: a local provider (ideally one with great reviews) or a nationwide service with a long history and great track record. Ask your florist if they have in-house preservation services or if they can recommend a vendor. Make reservations a minimum of one month in advance to ensure they’ll have available space. You’ll need to have the bouquet delivered in a cool container to help the flowers retain their freshness; sometimes the company will provide a box or cooler for you.
Alternative bouquets
If flowers aren’t your thing, opt for an alternative bouquet that’ll look gorgeous on your wedding day while requiring zero preservation. For example, you can create a bouquet from paper, balsa wood, or antique brooches. There are a ton of great alternatives to a traditional bouquet if you’re on a budget or allergic to blooms.
by Lindsay Pietroluongo