It’s only natural that you want to hold onto the beauty and memory of your big day for years to come, so what are your options for bridal bouquet preservation?
It’s fair to say that there is no single moment at a wedding that is filled with more anticipation and emotion than when the bride first steps into view, wearing her stunning wedding gown and holding her festive and fragrant wedding bouquet.
Despite the obvious attention on the bride, wedding flowers are not just limited to the bridal bouquet.
There are also the carefully arranged bridesmaid bouquets, flower corsages for special people in attendance, buttonhole flowers for distinguished guests, and various wedding floral arrangements from table centrepieces to altar decorations - after all, there is nothing brighter and more joyous than wedding flowers.
As vibrant and glorious as flowers in full bloom are, sadly their very nature is a transient one. However, the good news is that it doesn't need to be, as there are several options for bridal bouquet preservation that capture the memory of the big day in a more long term format.
What do brides do with the bouquet after the wedding?
Let’s be honest, wedding flowers are often a highly emotive investment. As the unsung hero of the decor of many nuptials, the pop of colour and natural beauty of a bridal bouquet is designed to highlight the dress, venue and the spirit of romance.
Unfortunately, many brides are too quick to dispose of their investment under the false belief that their value has passed. In reality, there are a number of options for bridal bouquet preservation that have the ability to capture such an important moment in time forever.
How to store wedding flowers before preserving them
If you have been a bride or are about to be, then you understand the importance and emotional attachment to a bridal bouquet.
You spend so much time and attention painstakingly choosing your floral arrangements for your big day, and factor in things like the desire to compliment your colour theme and style or to make a popping statement. Either way, it’s only natural that you want to preserve the beauty of your flowers so you can enjoy them and the memory of your big day for years to come.
If you’re interested in the concept of bridal bouquet preservation, then it’s important that you keep them as fresh as possible. This isn’t always easy because weddings are typically long days and bouquets are usually handled a lot, especially during professional photo sessions.
You’ll also need to be extra vigilant if you’re in a warm climate, as flowers are greatly affected by the weather and can start to wilt quickly if left in the heat without water.
As soon as you don’t need your wedding bouquet, hand it over to a trusty helper to keep it in a cool place and dip the stems in some sugary water. This will mean that in the days that follow, you’ll have more options for preserving your wedding flowers. In fact, four of the most popular ways to do so include the following.
1. Press your wedding bouquet
A nifty and budget friendly option for bridal bouquet preservation is by simply laying your entire bouquet - or if you’d prefer, just a selection of flowers from your bouquet - between two pieces of wax paper inside the pages of a heavy book, and then weighing them down some more by adding more books on top.
Leave the flowers in place to dry for seven to ten days. Once they are flat and dry you can use them however you like. While some brides prefer to tuck them safely away for the future, for maximum nostalgic value, frame your bouquet of flowers and hang it alongside your wedding photos and the wedding photos of your parents and grandparents.
2. Preserve wedding flowers in resin
Preserving your wedding flowers in a decorative resin paperweight is a practical way to remember your blooms and the magic of the day. As a bonus, it’s a relatively easy option and materials can be sourced online through Amazon, at your local craft shop or art supply store, or even Bunnings.
All you need to do is buy a mould in the shape and size that you like and fill it halfway with epoxy resin. Once actioned, carefully arrange your flowers in the fluid before topping it up with more resin and then leaving it to dry. Once you remove the mould, you’ll be left with a practical and artistic reminder of your special day.
3. Preserve your wedding bouquet in wax
Another popular option for wedding bouquet preservation is to dip your flowers in wax. To wax-preserve your bouquet, you’ll need to melt paraffin wax over the stove in boiling water. When the fluid takes on an even and smooth consistency, turn the stove down so that the mixture slightly cools.
Next, take your freshest and most vibrant flowers and gently dip them into the solution. Pull them out again quickly and hang them upside down to dry. What you’ll find is that your flowers will have retained their colour and physical integrity. The only downside is that this preservation method isn’t permanent and won’t last beyond a period of up to six months.
4. Dry your wedding flowers
One of the easiest ways to preserve your wedding flowers is by hanging them upside down in a dry location and letting them air-dry over a week or two. Once they have dried, you can admire them in any number of ways with many different display options available depending on your personal preference.
You might choose to simply arrange them in a stylish vase or if you’re up for something a little more creative, you might instead incorporate them into a wreath. Whatever you do, remember that your once moist flowers are now dry - and that means that they are also very brittle and can easily snap and crumble, so be sure to handle them delicately.
Reinventing the art of flowers with Herbivore
Specialising in weddings, Herbivore Florals can craft stunning bridal bouquets, floral arrangements to adorn tables and wedding ceremony altar frames, and flower walls to suit your style and design theme.
Herbivore has event, corporate and wedding teams who are itching to help you create unique, stylish, and memorable floral moments that you’ll be able to savour long after your special event has passed. To find out more about our Melbourne wedding florist services, get in touch with us today.