To have and to hold forever? Wedding Bouquet Preservation

No bride wants to let go of a stunning staple in their wedding.

An old fashion tradition that is still very much practiced today is the art of preserving your bridal bouquet. While it may seem very cut and dry about how to preserve your flowers, there are more options than one would think. Depending on how you want the flowers to hold up, what kind of flowers are in the arrangement, and how large it is are a few factors that could affect the process.

Worried you may ruin your bouquet if you attempt to do it yourself? Have no fear! Research some of your local florists and find out if they can do it for you.

Many places offer pressing or freeze drying to preserve your flowers. Depending on how you want them displayed, some places will allow you to opt for the Beauty and the Beast touch and will encase your bouquet in a dome!

For those brides who are looking for a DIY now that they no longer have a wedding to plan, here are some ways in which you can go about preserving your bouquet on your own! One of the simplest ways to go about drying your flowers is by hanging them upside down. Bound the stems together tightly and place them in an area that is dry, neither too warm or too cool.

This procedure can take a few weeks; a nice idea is to have your maid of honor or someone that is close to you take them and start the process while you are on your honeymoon. When you return your arrangement will be ready for display!

It is important to note that once your flowers are dried, the color will be different from when they are fresh, and they will not hold their beautiful scent. For some people, they don’t like the finished product. An option to preserve the fresh look for a period of time, however not forever, is to dip them in wax.

You take each individual bloom, dip them in paraffin wax, and then let them harden; at this point you then can rearrange the flowers into your bouquet. Another popular option is pressing your flowers. To do so, spread out the flowers you would like the preserve onto parchment paper. Put another layer of parchment paper atop of the spread flowers. Then either place them inside or underneath a heavy book.

Depending on the thickness and how many blooms you have chosen to press, you may need to add more books or heavier objects. They must stay in this position for at least a week. Once they are dried and flattened, you can arrange the flowers and display them however you please.

Silica gel, which in actuality is more of a sand then a gel, can be used to preserve your flowers. Grab a container large enough to submerge all of your blooms and bury them in the gel. The gel will absorb the water and dry the flowers within a few days. Once they have been submerged for a sufficient amount of time, remove the flowers and shake off any excess powder.

The colors of the flowers will continue to darken over time but if you have sturdy blooms, this option is a great way to preserve your bridal bouquet. If you are ok with transforming your bouquet into a useful and beautiful object, then choosing to preserve your blooms with epoxy resin is the option best for you! Using the resin, you have the ability to create decorative shapes.

Consider making paperweights to display on a desk by buying molds at your local craft store. Fill the mold half way with resin, place your flowers how you would like, fill it to the top, and let it dry. Once you remove the mold, it will appear as if your flowers are encased in glass, a timeless preservation that will capture the beauty of your flowers forever.

No matter which route your chose to go to preserve your flowers, it’s important that you identify which way you want it done as soon as possible. The sooner you preserve them, the better the will look. You want your colors to be as vibrant as possible and your flowers to be as flawless as they can be after your special day!