10 Pretty Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet & Flowers

10 Pretty Ways to Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet & Flowers


Is there anything sadder than saying goodbye to wilting wedding florals just days after you held them on the happiest day of your life? All the thought and research that goes into choosing your perfect blooms, not to mention your florist’s creativity to make your vision a reality. But your spectacular wedding bouquet can wow for more than one day, as it can be turned into an heirloom or keepsake that will have you feeling all the love every time you look at it for years to come.

Here, we’re sharing easy DIYs for how to preserve your wedding bouquet as well as pretty ideas (with the help of clever professional creatives) that can make your wedding flowers last for life. Let us help you choose how to preserve your wedding bouquet.

Preparation is Key

When it comes to preserving your wedding bouquet, the good news is that the majority of flower types can be preserved. However, this is truly down to the quality and condition that they’re in when you begin. Preserving flowers requires a gentle touch and a lot of patience, as the process can take anything from two weeks to three months depending on your chosen method, but more on that below.

If you’re not opting for DIY, contact your preservation supplier before your wedding day to ask their advice on how to ensure your florals will be in the best condition for what they intend to do. Also, mention to your florist that you will be preserving the flowers, as they may skip spraying any preservatives on your bouquet. Make sure you have someone on hand on the wedding day to keep the florals out of direct sunlight and well hydrated. And we hate to say it, but it may be best to skip the bouquet toss, in which case here are great alternatives to the toss!

How to Preserve your Wedding Bouquet

1. Pressed Flowers

  1. Firstly, prepare your flowers. Trim away unwanted parts such as the stem, leaves, or any parts that are discoloured.
  2. Place your flowers as flat as possible on parchment paper inside the pages of a weighted hardback and let time work its magic.
  3. About seven to 10 days should do the trick, however keep an eye.
  4. Once the flowers are dry, you’ll be able to display them as you wish!

You can also buy a flower press from The Flower Press Company.

2. Air-Dried Flowers

  1. Ensure your flowers are kept cool and well hydrated. Fresh is best!
  2. For best results, tie each individual stem with a piece of string and hang upside down.
  3. This can take up to three weeks, so ensure the location is a dry, warm place.
  4. Once completely dried, display them in a vase or create something artistic like a wreath.
  5. Alternatively store in a glass box or a wicker basket as a talking point in your home, or try the resin DIY project below.

3. A Gallery Wall

After you’ve dried or pressed your flowers, why not place a selection of them on a good quality parchment paper and place them in double glass frames of varying sizes to create a gallery wall effect.

4. Resin Flowers

  1. Follow the drying flower method above first.
  2. Once the flowers are fully dried, find a suitable container, fill it halfway with the epoxy resin liquid and arrange the flowers in the fluid.
  3. Fill the container to the top and leave to dry.
  4. Once the process is complete, you’ll have a unique piece. The options are coasters, a paper weight, book ends, stand up letters – whatever you wish!

NB. Remember to wear a mask and gloves when doing this DIY. If you would like to get a professional to do it, check out Florist on the Hill here.

5. A Piece of Jewellery

If you’ve mastered the preserving method using resin above, then jewellery is another pretty way to display this. However, if you’re not already proficient in jewellery making, this might be one to leave to the professionals on the list below.

6. Dry with Silica Gel

  1. Silica gel crystals (just like the sachets you get with new shoes) absorbs the moisture around it, so form a base of crystals in an airtight container like a lunchbox and place your flowers in the crystals.
  2. Pour the silica gel around the petals, making sure they get into all the nooks and crannies.
  3. Fill the container to the top and seal it with a lid.
  4. Once the process is complete, give it over a week, then remove and spray with hairspray to set.

NB. Remember to wear a mask and gloves when doing this DIY.

7. Dipped in Wax Flowers

  1. Please be aware that this technique is not a permanent form of preservation, but it is very pretty.
  2. Firstly, melt paraffin wax in a pot.
  3. Once the wax is liquified and slightly cooled down, pour the wax into a heat-resistant container.
  4. Dip each flower into the container of wax, making sure you avoid dipping any wilting flowers.
  5. Immediately hang your dipped flowers upside down to dry, using the string method mentioned above for air-drying.
  6. Once dry, you have perfectly preserved flowers to display for several months!

Remember to wear a mask and gloves when doing this DIY.

8. Bathsalts

  1. Combine 1 cup of epsom salt with 1 cup of sea salt and ½ cup of baking soda in a large bowl.
  2. Choose your favourite essential oil – our favourite is lavender, lemon and eucalyptus – and pour in about 20 drops.
  3. Toss together and add your dried florals.
  4. Once all mixed, add to your jars and enjoy!

9. Potpourri

  1. Prepare your flowers, remove stems and place on sheet of parchment paper. Ensure the flowers are facing up.
  2. Bake the flowers at 200F degrees for 1-2 hours until they are fully dehydrated.
  3. To enhance the scent, add a few drops of your preferred essential oil and gently toss and allow to soak for a couple of weeks.
  4. For an extra luxurious feel, add some dried orange peel, cloves, cinnamon sticks and dried lavender.
  5. Ensure you keep you potpourri in an airtight container so you can preserve every bit of that gorgeous scent!

10. Display Your Wedding Invite

Don’t just leave it stuck in a drawer or your memory box. Using dried flowers in a blank frame is a gorgeous way to frame and display your wedding invite for all to see. Especially if it was something really, special and unique.

Where can I get my Wedding Bouquet Professionally Preserved?

While some people might relish the idea of a DIY project, if you would prefer to leave it in the hands of the professionals, especially for the trickier techniques then we’ve made a list of some great preservation suppliers that can help you out.

Did you enjoy this wedding flower post? We have many more similar posts to inspire you below!

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