Your wedding day is one of life’s most cherished occasions, filled with moments and
details you’ll want to treasure forever. Among these, your wedding flowers hold a special place, symbolizing love, joy, and the beauty of your celebration. Preserving your wedding flowers allows you to transform them into timeless keepsakes, ensuring that their beauty endures long after the big day has passed. With simple pressing or preservation
techniques, you can capture the vibrant colors and delicate appearance of your blooms in a way that feels personal and meaningful.
For DIY brides, Wholesale Flowers and Bulk Flowers from Whole Blossoms provide affordable and high-quality options to create lasting memories. Popular varieties such as Roses, Hydrangeas, Sunflowers, Eucalyptus, and Baby’s Breath are not only stunning but also ideal for pressing and preservation. These flowers retain their shape and color well, making them perfect choices for crafting keepsakes that will remind you of your big day for years to come. By taking the time to preserve your wedding flowers, you can keep these tangible memories of your love story blooming forever.
The Sentimental Value of Blooms
Every flower from a wedding bouquet tells a unique part of a couple's love story, each chosen with care and meaning. Roses, one of the most popular picks, are timeless symbols of romance and passion. Peonies, with their lush, full blooms, symbolize prosperity and a happy marriage, making them an excellent choice for weddings. For
bouquets that offer a touch of earthy elegance, Eucalyptus provides texture and serenity, enhancing the overall arrangement. Each bloom contributes to the narrative of the special day, turning the bouquet into more than just a decoration—it becomes a meaningful
keepsake encapsulating the emotions and memories of the celebration.
Sustainable Keepsake Alternatives
Opting to preserve wedding flowers is a wonderful way to reduce waste while creating eco- friendly décor options. With a little creativity, these preserved blooms can transform into stunning mementos. Flowers can be pressed and framed, turning them into unique wall art that preserves their beauty for years to come. For a more modern touch, blooms can be preserved in resin, creating customized coasters, jewelry, or ornaments. Another popular choice is placing dried flowers under a glass dome, a timeless and elegant display option.
These sustainable keepsakes not only honor the special day but also reflect an environmentally conscious approach to cherishing memories.
Cost-Effective DIY Options
Brides seeking budget-friendly ways to preserve their wedding flowers can explore DIY
options using bulk or wholesale flowers. Purchasing fresh flowers in bulk ensures there are plenty of blooms to experiment with while keeping costs manageable. Wholesale suppliers like Whole Blossoms deliver fresh, high-quality flowers directly from the farm to your door, making them ideal for pressing, drying, and long-term preservation. By taking a DIY
approach, brides can craft personalized keepsakes without incurring the high costs of professional floral preservation services, all while enjoying a rewarding and creative activity post-wedding.
Choosing the Right Flowers to Press and Preserve
When selecting flowers to press and preserve, choosing the right varieties is essential to achieving the best results. Different flowers lend themselves to different preservation methods, so it’s important to understand what works best for pressing versus air drying. Additionally, a mix of fresh and preserved flowers can create stunning, long-lasting arrangements that keep your wedding memories alive.
Best Flowers for Pressing
Flat-faced blooms are ideal for pressing as they retain their shape and color beautifully when flattened. Flowers like roses, hydrangeas, tulips, baby’s breath, and ranunculus are some of the best options for pressing. Their vibrant shades and delicate petals ensure a visually appealing result. For a more rustic touch, even larger blooms like sunflowers can be pressed in sections, adding a charming, natural effect to your preserved floral pieces.
Be sure to work with fresh, high-quality blooms, as this will impact the final appearance of your pressed flowers.
Best Flowers for Air Drying or Hanging
Certain flowers and greenery excel when dried through air drying or hanging methods, as these techniques help them maintain their natural shapes and colors. Eucalyptus leaves are a popular choice, with their muted green tones providing an elegant backdrop for any preserved arrangement. Pampas grass adds texture and a touch of whimsy, perfect for modern or boho-inspired displays. Flowers like carnations and dahlias also dry well, holding their vibrant hues and full-bodied structures to create stunning, long-lasting
decorations.
Mixing Fresh and Preserved Flowers
One creative way to extend the life of your wedding bouquet is by combining preserved flowers with fresh blooms. Using dried flowers alongside fresh wedding flowers can result in artful, multidimensional arrangements that celebrate your special day. This mix not only enhances the visual appeal of your designs but also helps preserve the sentimental value of your flowers for years to come. Experimenting with different combinations can open up endless possibilities for home décor, framed art, or thoughtful gifts to commemorate your wedding day.
Step-by-Step Guide to Pressing Wedding Flowers
Preserving your wedding flowers is a beautiful way to hold onto the memories of your
special day. Pressing flowers is one of the most timeless and accessible methods to create lasting keepsakes. Follow this simple guide to preserve your wedding blooms and transform them into cherished mementos.
Step 1 – Preparation
Start by removing any excess stems and greenery from your wedding flowers, as these can interfere with the pressing process. Focus on the individual blooms or small portions of the arrangements. Carefully blot the petals dry with a soft absorbent cloth or parchment paper to remove moisture, which helps prevent discoloration or mold. Flatten out the blooms gently using parchment or absorbent paper to ensure they press evenly and retain their shape.
Step 2 – Pressing Methods
There are two primary pressing methods to choose from, depending on your available tools and desired outcome:
· Traditional Book Method
Place your flowers between sheets of absorbent paper, such as parchment paper or blotting paper, and then sandwich them inside a heavy book. Add extra weight, such as other books or a small object, on top to ensure sufficient pressure. While simple and cost-effective, this method requires patience, as it takes about 2–3 weeks for
the flowers to press completely.
· Flower Press Tool
A flower press tool offers a quicker and more consistent result. These devices provide even pressure and are designed specifically for pressing flowers. Place the
blooms between absorbent layers and tighten the press securely. Store the tool in a cool, dry location for about 2–3 weeks, similar to the book method.
Step 3 – Framing and Displaying
Once the flowers are fully pressed and dry, arrange them creatively on a piece of cardstock or a canvas. Popular flowers for framing include roses, eucalyptus, or baby's breath due to their delicate and visually striking appearance. Use tweezers to handle the flowers
delicately, as they can become brittle. Once arranged, seal your design with glass or a protective resin coating to keep the flowers safe from moisture and damage. The result is a stunning and personal piece of art that preserves the beauty of your bouquet.
Optional Resin Method
For a unique 3D keepsake, preserved flowers can also be encased in clear resin. This
method is perfect for creating resin blocks, ornaments, or even custom jewelry. Use molds to pour the resin around your preserved blooms, ensuring they are fully encased. Once the resin cures, you’ll have a tangible and elegant memento that can last a lifetime.
Air-Drying and Alternative Preservation Techniques
Preserving flowers using air-drying and other alternative techniques is a practical and creative way to cherish their beauty. These methods are accessible and versatile, suiting different flower types and personal preferences. Below are a few popular techniques for preserving flowers effectively.
Hanging Method
One of the simplest ways to preserve flowers is by hanging them upside down in a dry, dark place. This technique works best with sturdy flowers such as eucalyptus, dahlias, and carnations. To begin, tie the stems together with twine or a rubber band and hang the
bouquet in a closet, attic, or unused room for 2–3 weeks. The darkness helps the flowers retain their color, while the dry environment ensures successful preservation. The resulting dried flowers are rustic and charming, perfect for home décor or keepsakes.
Silica Gel Method
For flowers like roses or orchids, the silica gel method is an excellent choice to preserve their vibrant colors and intricate shapes. Start by placing the flowers in an airtight container filled with silica gel, ensuring each bloom is fully surrounded by the gel to prevent warping. Leave them undisturbed for a few days to allow the silica gel to gradually absorb the moisture from the petals. This technique is particularly suited for wedding flowers and
ensures a lifelike appearance that can be displayed in shadow boxes or glass cases.
Freeze-Drying (Professional Option)
Freeze-drying is a professional preservation technique ideal for intricate and delicate wedding flowers. This method involves freezing the flowers at an extremely low
temperature and removing the moisture through sublimation, retaining the flowers' structure and vibrant color. While this process requires specialized equipment, it is a premium option for preserving sentimental bouquets. Before attempting freeze-drying on your wedding flowers, it’s a good idea to practice with bulk flowers to gain confidence and refine your skills. This guarantees stunning results for your cherished blooms.
Displaying Your Preserved Wedding Flowers
Once your wedding flowers are beautifully preserved, the next step is to showcase them creatively for a lasting impact. One popular option is to create framed art or wall décor. Pressed flowers like Roses, Hydrangeas, or Eucalyptus can be arranged in aesthetically pleasing designs and secured in frames to adorn your home. Adding labels with your
wedding date, vows, or a meaningful quote can further personalize these displays, turning them into cherished mementos.
Shadow boxes are another excellent way to preserve the essence of your wedding day.
These deep frames allow you to combine preserved blooms with other keepsakes, such as your wedding invitation, photos, or a piece of fabric from your dress. The three-dimensional aspect of shadow boxes makes them both visually striking and deeply sentimental.
For those who love unique accessories, preserved flowers can be embedded in resin to create stunning jewelry or keepsake ornaments. These pieces can be customized into pendants, earrings, or decorative ornaments, making them thoughtful gifts or wearable tokens of your special day.
Preserving your flowers gives you the chance to relive the beauty and joy of your wedding day for years to come. Order wholesale flowers from Whole Blossoms to design and preserve lifelong floral memories.
FAQs
Which wedding flowers press best?
Roses, Hydrangeas, Tulips, and Baby’s Breath retain color and texture well, making them ideal choices for pressing.
Can I press flowers from any bouquet?
Yes—just ensure the blooms are fresh and dry before beginning the pressing process for optimal results.
How long do pressed flowers last?
When properly framed or sealed, pressed flowers can last for decades, preserving precious memories beautifully.
What’s the best way to preserve thick flowers?
For flowers like Peonies, Dahlias, and Orchids, the silica gel method works best to retain their intricate shapes and vibrant colors.
Where should I buy flowers to preserve?
Only from Whole Blossoms, the trusted source for Bulk Flowers and Wedding Flowers. Ensure quality blooms for lasting floral preservation.
Preserve the Love That Blossomed
Preserving your wedding flowers is a beautiful way to keep the magic of your special day alive for years to come. Whether you choose to press and frame your blooms or turn them into timeless art, your bouquet can become a treasured heirloom that reminds you of the
love and joy you celebrated. By investing in quality flowers and thoughtful preservation, you create a lasting memento that captures the essence of those cherished moments.
Shop Wholesale Flowers and Bulk Flowers from Whole Blossoms today—start creating memories that never fade.