The wedding bouquet is a great memory of the big day. After the wedding, many couples want to preserve their bouquet and keep it as a special memento.
There are several ways to preserve your bouquet, including air-drying, pressing, using glycerin, with silica gel, encasing in resin, dipping in wax, microwave pressed, freeze-drying, and replanting or repotting your wedding flowers.
Table of Contents
1. Air-drying
Air-drying is the most common way to preserve a bouquet. Hang your bouquet upside down in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. You can use a clothesline, hanger, or even a coat rack. To speed up the drying process, you can use a hairdryer on the cool setting to gently blow air over the flowers. This method works best for hardy flowers like roses, daisies, and lilies.
2. Pressing
Pressing is a great way to preserve fragile flowers like ferns, baby’s breath, and ivy. Start by gently placing your flowers between the pages of a heavy book. Make sure the pages are acid-free so they won’t damage the flowers over time. Place a stack of heavy books on top of the book with the flowers to help flatten them out.
Leave the flowers for two to three weeks, then check on them to see if they’re dry. If they’re not, leave them for a few more days. Once they’re dry, you can frame them or use them to decorate scrapbooks and other projects.
3. Using Glycerin
Glycerin is a clear, odorless liquid that can be found at most craft stores. It’s often used to preserve flowers because it helps keep them hydrated. Start by mixing one part glycerin with two parts water in a clean vase. Cut the stems of your flowers at an angle and place them in the vase.
Make sure the flowers are completely submerged in the glycerin mixture. Leave them in the vase for two to three weeks, then remove them and enjoy your beautifully preserved bouquet.
4. Preserve Your Flowers with Silica Gel
Silica gel is a great way to preserve flowers that are already starting to wilt. You can find it at most craft stores or online. Start by placing a layer of silica gel in the bottom of a clean container. Place your flowers on top of the silica gel, then cover them with another layer of silica gel.
Make sure the flowers are completely covered so they don’t mold. Leave them in the container for two to three weeks, then remove them and enjoy your beautifully preserved bouquet.
5. Encase Your Wedding Flowers in Resin
If you want a beautiful way to display your bouquet, consider encasing it in resin. You can find resin at most craft stores or online. Start by coating the inside of a clean container with resin.
Place your bouquet in the container, then pour more resin over the top to completely encase the flowers. Leave it to harden for two to three days, then enjoy your beautiful display piece.
6. Dip Your Bouquet in Wax
Wax is another great way to preserve your bouquet. You can use paraffin wax or beeswax. If you’re using paraffin wax, you’ll need to melt it in a double boiler. If you’re using beeswax, you can melt it in a saucepan over low heat. Once the wax is melted, carefully dip your bouquet in the wax.
Make sure the flowers are completely coated. You can then remove them and let them cool. Once they’re cooled, you can enjoy your beautifully preserved bouquet.
7. Microwave Pressed
If you’re in a hurry to preserve your bouquet, you can try microwave pressing. Start by placing your flowers between two sheets of parchment paper. Place them in the microwave and heat on high for 30 seconds. Remove them from the microwave and let them cool. Once they’re cooled, you can enjoy your beautifully pressed flowers.
8. Freeze-drying
Freeze-drying is a great way to preserve bouquets with delicate flowers. Start by placing your bouquet in the freezer. Leave it for 24 hours. Once it’s frozen, remove it and place it in a vacuum-sealed bag.
Seal the bag and place it in a dehydrator. Dehydrate the flowers for 24 hours. Once they’re done, you can remove them from the dehydrator and enjoy your beautifully preserved bouquet.
9. Replant or Repot Your Wedding Flowers
If you want to keep your wedding flowers alive, you can try replanting or repotting them. Start by trimming the stems of your flowers and placing them in a clean vase filled with fresh water. Place the vase in a cool, dark place and leave it for 24 hours.
After 24 hours, remove the flowers and place them in a pot filled with fresh soil. Water the soil and place the pot in a sunny spot. Keep the soil moist and fertilize as needed. You can then enjoy your beautiful live flowers.
Final Thought
There are several ways to preserve your wedding bouquet. Choose the method that works best for you and enjoy your beautiful flowers for years to come.
