Specializing In Memorable
Traditional & Custom Wedding Ceremonies

Choices

You chose fresh flowers and now would like to keep them as a memento from the wedding. Your two choices are to have them professionally done or to do them yourself. Your florist may be able to preserve your bouquet; ask about this when you are making the initial flower arrangements. If not, ask for recommendations for a flower preserver (link to our advertisers, if any). You may also want to ask the florist for recommendations for flowers that dry well--for example, roses, hydrangeas, and baby's breath.

Bride-Turned-Flower-Preservationist

If you choose to preserve the flowers yourself, you have several options:

Full bouquets: To air dry your bouquet, remove the leaves from the stems within 1-2 days of the wedding (the earlier the better) and tie the stems tightly with string or rubber band. For a large bouquet, you may need to divide the flowers into several smaller bunches. Hang the flowers upside down in a cool, dry, dark place (the attic?) for approximately three weeks or until dry, checking periodically to ensure the stems are still tightly tied. Once dried, you can reassemble the full bouquet and store it in a see-through box or jar, preferably away from direct light. To preserve your bouquet with an agent, coat it with a drying agent for at least one week or until the petals feel crisp but not brittle; again, this should be done as soon as possible after the wedding. Silica gel, available at florists, is the best drying agent, although Borax, cornmeal and kitty litter are also possibilities.

Petals Only: To press the petals from your bouquet, remove and place them on a thick layer of newspaper, being careful not to overlap. Cover them with a second layer of newspaper and top with a heavy book or other flat object. Press for approximately 6 weeks. When ready, mount petals in a frame with velvet, if desired. To make potpourri with your petals, remove and place them individually on cheesecloth, window screening, or in a single layer in a bowl. When the petals feel like soft leather, place them on newspaper until fully dry. Mix the petals with herbs and spices, such as fruit peel, mint, bay leaves, etc. and add 4-6 drops of rose, geranium or jasmine oil (available at drug or health stores). Store in a glass jar for 4-5 months, shaking periodically. Display final potpourri in a glass jar or sew into sachets.

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