How to Preserve Wedding Flowers
Your Bouquet, Your Memories
Your wedding day is a blur of love, laughter, and magical moments but your bouquet doesn’t have to fade with the memories. Most flowers wilt within days if left untreated, yet your cherished moments can last a lifetime with the right preservation method. This post covers everything you need to know to make the best choice.
I know that preserving flowers can sound tricky or intimidating, but it can be easier than you think. By preserving your bouquet, you can:
Turn a fleeting moment into lasting art: framed pieces, resin keepsakes, or floral jewelry.
Create a future heirloom to pass down to children or enjoy as an anniversary gift.
Keep your love story alive in a beautiful, tangible form.
Of course, if you have any questions, we are here to help. Feel free to schedule a consultation or browse our flower preservation methods to learn more about how we can help you preserve your bouquet, or continue reading for more DIY tips!
Which Method Is Right for You?
Pressed & Framed: This classic method transforms your flowers into a beautiful, flat work of art. The final product has high durability, though color retention is a bit more moderate compared to other professional options. Costs typically range from $200 to $750, with a turnaround time of 4-8 weeks. This method is best for creating elegant wall art to hang in your home.
Resin Block: If you're looking for a stunning, three-dimensional keepsake, a resin block is an excellent choice. It offers very high durability and excellent color retention, preserving your blooms as if they were frozen in time. The cost for this service is between $250 and $900, with a timeline of 6-10 weeks. It's the perfect option for creating a sculptural keepsake for a shelf or mantelpiece.
Jewelry Casting: For a wearable, personal memento, consider having your flowers cast into jewelry. This method offers high durability and excellent color retention, allowing you to carry a piece of your wedding day with you. The cost ranges from $50 to $450, with a delivery time of 3-8 weeks, making it a wonderful choice for necklaces, rings, and other wearable keepsakes.
Silica Gel: This is a popular DIY method for preserving the 3D shape of your flowers. The final product is medium in durability and has good color retention. As a DIY option, the cost is low, typically between $60 and $200 for materials, and it works quickly, with results in just 3-7 days. It's best suited for DIY enthusiasts looking to preserve small blooms.
Air Drying: The most traditional method, air drying results in a rustic, low-durability product with poor color retention, as flowers will naturally fade and become brittle over time. This method is the most affordable, with costs ranging from free to $50 for simple materials, and takes 1-4 weeks. It's best for those who prefer a rustic look or are preserving a casual bouquet.
5 Preservation Methods: DIY and Professional Guide
1. Pressed & Framed Flowers
DIY: Carefully deconstruct and treat each petal. Place petals between acid-free blotting paper, press in heavy books or in a flower press for 2–4 weeks. For best results, use dehumidifiers and replace blotting paper regularly. It’s also a good idea to space out the petals in the press so they don’t stick together or create folds.
Pros: Affordable, charming rustic look.
Cons: Flat design, potential browning or mold if not careful with moisture control.
Pro Advantage: Higher quality preservation of flower color and texture, less risk of flower decoloration, mold, or damage. Skilled and precise arrangement for long-lasting color.
2. Epoxy Resin Preservation
DIY : Proper resin preservation can be tricky and is very risky if you are not familiar with resin preservation techniques. It usually takes a few tries to get the hang of bubble removal techniques and temperature control, but it is possible! Be patient and be sure your flowers are completely dry before starting. Take pouring in stages and use tested curing and bubble prevention techniques. Safety precautions required for your health!
Pros: If done correctly, resin designs can be both beautiful and functional. They also feature a crystal-clear finish and are UV-stable with excellent color preservation.
Cons: Resin preservation is the most permanent of all the methods and cannot be undone if something goes wrong in the process. Pressed or dried flowers can be repurposed into jewelry, journals, and other art forms but flowers set in resin are there for good!
Best for: bookends, blocks, trays, tables, and jewelry.
3. Jewelry Casting in Resin
DIY: Most floral jewelry is a form of resin flower preservation that takes small components of your bouquet and preserves them inside a wearable keepsake. DIY jewelry projects can be far more accessible than larger resin designs but also require careful planning t0 ensure the flowers are not damaged. Start with a jewelry bezel style you like and use the same resign preservation techniques above to create a piece you love.
Tips: Medium 10–12mm cores preserve details a bit better than smaller ones, use plated or solid metals for chains as the resin process may damage plastics.
Pro advantage: Professional guidance ensures color retention and durability for your design and achieves a higher quality keepsake.
4. Air Drying / Hanging
DIY: Simple! Hang small bundles upside down in a dark, dry, ventilated area for 2–4 weeks. Keep away from sunlight or physical disruptions like fans, children or pets.
Pros: Inexpensive, rustic charm. Can be preserved in resin later if done correctly.
Cons: Colors fade, flowers become brittle and often stick together.
Best for: wildflowers, simple bouquets.
5. Silica Gel Drying
DIY: Submerge flowers in silica gel for 3–7 days to retain shape and color.
Pros: Good color and structure retention.
Cons: Messy, careful handling required.
Pro Advantage: Industrial silica, controlled environment, vibrant results.
Preparing Your Bouquet for Preservation
How to Prepare Your Bouquet for Preservation
The first few days after your wedding are the most critical for your flowers. To ensure the best possible result, follow these simple steps before you begin the preservation process:
Cut stems immediately. Re-cut the stems at an angle under running water to help them absorb as much moisture as possible.
Store in fresh water, cool, and away from sunlight. Keep your bouquet in a vase with fresh water in a cool room, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, or drafts. This keeps the petals from wilting and browning prematurely.
Ship to a professional within 1–3 days. If you're using a professional service, this quick turnaround is essential for preserving the flowers at their peak freshness.
Crucial Mistakes to Avoid
The preservation process is delicate, and a single mistake can ruin your keepsake. Be sure to avoid these common errors:
Waiting too long. Flowers begin to degrade almost immediately after being cut. Waiting too long is the biggest mistake you can make.
Using plastic bags or tightly sealed containers. These trap moisture and create a breeding ground for mold, which will quickly destroy your flowers.
Refrigerating them. While this seems like a good idea, a home fridge's temperature and humidity fluctuations can actually damage delicate petals.
Attempting complex DIY without experience. Methods like resin or silica gel require practice. If you're not an experienced DIYer, you risk ruining your one-and-only bouquet.
Which Flowers Preserve Best?
Costs, Timelines & Expectations
When budgeting for your flower preservation, it's helpful to consider both the cost and the timeline for each method.
Pressed & Framed is a professional option with a cost range of $200–$750, typically delivered within 4-8 weeks.
Resin Blocks are a high-end service, with a cost between $250–$900 and a timeline of 6–10 weeks.
For Jewelry Casting, you can expect to pay from $50–$450, with a turnaround of 3–8 weeks.
Silica Gel is a low-cost DIY method, requiring materials that run from $60–$200, and the process is quick, taking only 3–7 days.
Finally, Air Drying is the most affordable DIY method, with costs between Free–$50 and a timeline of 1–4 weeks.
These figures are a general guide, as final costs are influenced by factors like bouquet size, design complexity, and any rush order requests.
Choosing the Right Method
Deciding how to preserve your wedding flowers is a personal choice, driven by your budget, desired aesthetic, and how you envision enjoying your keepsake for years to come. To help you navigate the options, consider what kind of memory you want to create:
If you dream of beautiful wall art that beautifully tells your story: Consider Pressed & Framed flowers. This classic method transforms your bouquet into a stunning, two-dimensional display, perfectly preserved behind glass. Professionals ensure archival quality and meticulous artistry for a timeless piece.
If you envision a unique, sculptural keepsake for a shelf, desk, or mantelpiece: A Resin Block is likely your ideal choice. Your flowers are encased in crystal-clear resin, preserving their three-dimensional shape and vibrant colors in a durable, contemporary art piece. This method is best handled by professionals for a flawless, bubble-free finish.
If you want to wear your flowers forever as a personal, cherished memento: Resin Jewelry allows you to carry a piece of your wedding day with you every day. Individual petals or small blooms are cast into beautiful, wearable pieces like necklaces, rings, or earrings. Professional craftsmanship ensures durability and stunning detail.
If you love a rustic, vintage charm and prefer a hands-on, low-cost approach: Air Drying might be the method for you. While colors will soften and fade, and flowers will become delicate, this DIY technique creates a charming, natural-looking keepsake perfect for casual bouquets or a nostalgic aesthetic.
If you're a DIY enthusiast who prioritizes maintaining original shape and vibrant color: Silica Gel Drying is your go-to DIY method. This technique uses special beads to carefully draw out moisture, helping flowers retain their original form and much of their vibrancy. It's more involved than air drying but yields beautiful 3D results for careful DIYers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How long do preserved flowers last? A: With professional preservation, your flowers can last for decades, becoming a true family heirloom. The longevity depends on the preservation method and how the keepsake is cared for. For example, professionally framed pressed flowers and resin pieces are designed with archival materials and UV-resistant coatings to prevent fading and damage, ensuring they last a lifetime. DIY methods, while charming, generally offer a much shorter lifespan due to natural decay and less durable materials.
Q: Can all flowers be preserved? A: Almost all flowers can be preserved to some degree! The success of preservation depends on the flower's type, its condition, and the method used. Hardier flowers like roses, peonies, and hydrangeas are excellent candidates for most preservation methods, including professional resin and pressing. More delicate or water-heavy flowers, such as certain types of lilies and succulents, are best handled by professional services, as they require specialized techniques like freeze-drying to prevent browning or wilting.
Q: How soon must I act after my wedding? A: Time is critical. For the best results, you should act as soon as possible after your wedding—ideally within 1-3 days. The fresher the flowers are when they begin the preservation process, the more vibrant their color and shape will be. We recommend re-cutting the stems and placing your bouquet in fresh water immediately after your wedding to keep them as hydrated and healthy as possible until they are delivered to your preservation artist.
Q: Does resin yellow over time? A: High-quality, professional-grade epoxy resin is formulated with UV stabilizers and inhibitors to prevent yellowing over time. This is a key difference between professional services and most DIY kits. At Eternal Bouquet, we only use the highest-quality, UV-resistant resins to ensure your beautiful keepsake remains crystal-clear for a lifetime.
Q: Can I preserve just petals or the entire bouquet? A: Absolutely! The beauty of professional preservation is the flexibility it offers. You can choose to preserve a few symbolic flowers or petals, or you can have the entire bouquet meticulously taken apart and preserved as a cohesive piece of art. Many clients opt to preserve just a few special blooms from the main bouquet to create smaller keepsakes or jewelry.
Q: Do you offer rush orders? A: Yes, we understand that life gets busy and the window for preservation is short. We do offer a limited number of rush orders for a special fee, depending on our current availability. If you are in a time crunch, please contact us immediately to discuss your options and to ensure we can accommodate your request.
Eternal Bouquet Difference
Your wedding flowers are a one-of-a-kind keepsake, and they deserve a preservation method that reflects their value. While DIY options can be a fun project, professional preservation offers a level of quality, durability, and artistry that you simply can't achieve at home.
At Eternal Bouquet, we use luxury-quality archival methods to ensure your memories last a lifetime. We don't just dry flowers—we transform them into enduring art. Our process involves using UV-stable resins that won't yellow over time, museum-grade framing for a flawless display, and bespoke artistic jewelry designs tailored to your unique style.
We don't just preserve flowers—we preserve your love story. Every piece we create is a custom work of art, meticulously crafted to honor the memories of your most important day.
