Franklin Dean
Hanging flowers are a beautiful addition to any wedding, but keeping them fresh throughout the ceremony and reception can be challenging. Flowers are delicate and require careful handling to maintain their freshness. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure your hanging flowers remain vibrant and beautiful on your special day. From proper hydration and trimming techniques to storage and preservation methods, we will guide you through the process of keeping your hanging flowers fresh and full.
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What You'll Learn
Store flowers in a cool, dark place away from sunlight
Hanging flowers add a whimsical touch to any wedding. To keep them looking fresh and vibrant, storing them correctly is essential. Flowers are delicate, and exposure to sunlight and heat can cause them to wither and decay faster. Therefore, storing them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight is crucial. Here are some detailed tips to ensure your hanging flowers remain in pristine condition for your special day:
Choose an Appropriate Storage Location:
Select a room that is consistently cool and away from direct sunlight. A basement, garage, or room with air conditioning can be ideal. If the room has windows, use heavy shades or curtains to block out light and heat. Alternatively, consider a portable air conditioning unit to maintain a cool temperature.
Prepare the Flowers:
When your flowers arrive, cut the stems at a 45-degree angle using sharp snips or scissors. This helps the flowers absorb water more effectively by increasing the surface area. Place the flowers in buckets or vases filled with warm water, ensuring the water level is approximately six inches up the stems. Remove any foliage that will be submerged.
Maintain Flower Health:
Keep the flowers hydrated by regularly checking the water level and adding warm water as needed. Change the water daily or every other day to prevent bacterial growth. Mist the flowers with water or a flower preservative spray like Crowning Glory to keep them moisturized and fresh, especially in warm or dry climates.
Avoid Sunlight and Heat Sources:
Direct sunlight and heat from vents or drafts can quickly dehydrate and damage your flowers. Keep the storage room well-ventilated but avoid areas with strong drafts. If possible, store your hanging flowers away from rooms with heating vents or fireplaces.
Store Until Needed:
Keep your hanging flowers in this cool, dark environment until you are ready to use them. By providing optimal storage conditions, you will slow down the wilting process and ensure your flowers remain fresh and vibrant for your wedding day.
By following these steps, you can confidently showcase beautiful and fresh hanging flowers at your wedding, creating a memorable and enchanting atmosphere.
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Cut stems diagonally and place in water
Keeping hanging flowers fresh at a wedding requires some preparation and care. One of the most important things to do is to cut the stems diagonally and place them in water. Here is a detailed guide on how to do this:
Before the Wedding
When your flowers arrive, they may appear a little droopy, but this is normal, and they will perk back up after rehydrating. It is important to unpack them immediately and place them in a clean vase or container with fresh, room-temperature water and add flower food.
Cut Stems Diagonally
For the diagonal cut, use a sharp knife or scissors to cut at a 45-degree angle, at least half an inch from the end of each stem. Cutting diagonally exposes the flowers' watering channels, allowing them to absorb more water and stay fresh for longer.
Place in Water
After cutting the stems, place the flowers in the vase or container with water. Ensure the water level is approximately six inches up the stems. It is important to remove any foliage that falls below the waterline, as leaves will rot and cause bacteria to form, shortening the life of the flowers.
During the Wedding
To keep your hanging flowers fresh throughout the wedding, you can take a few simple steps. Firstly, keep the flowers in a cool, dry, and dark place when not in use. Direct sunlight will cause them to wither, so it is best to keep them away from sunlight until you are ready for photographs or the ceremony.
After the Wedding
If you wish to preserve your hanging flowers after the wedding, there are a few options. You can hang the flowers upside down to dry in a dark, dry, and temperate area, such as a closet, for at least two weeks. Alternatively, you can use silica gel, a porous sand that absorbs moisture and helps to preserve the flowers' shape and colour.
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Use hairspray to keep flowers looking fresh
Hairspray is a great way to keep flowers looking fresh at a wedding. It works especially well with flowers that have robust blooms, such as roses, and those with smaller blooms like lavender. It is also effective on flowers that bloom in winter, such as Hellebore, Winter Jasmine, and Algerian Iris.
To preserve flowers with hairspray, start by choosing flowers in full bloom to preserve the rich colour of the petals. Pick your flowers in the morning and move them out of direct sunlight as soon as possible. Avoid flowers with brown spots or uneven sections, as they will not look as nice once preserved.
Next, trim the stems of your flowers as you usually would, and hang them upside down in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated location to dry. It usually takes about two to three weeks for the flowers to dry completely, but you can speed up the process by using a hairdryer on a low setting. Once the flowers are dry, tie a piece of dental floss to the stems and place them on a hanger. Spray the flowers with a light coat of hairspray, keeping the nozzle about a foot away to avoid damaging delicate petals. Allow the first coat to dry for about 10 minutes, and then apply another coat. Repeat this process until you have applied at least two coats of hairspray.
Once the hairspray is completely dry, cut the flowers off the hanger and remove the dental floss. Now, your preserved flowers are ready to be displayed! You can put them in a vase, on a wreath, or anywhere you like. Just be sure to keep them out of direct sunlight, as it can cause the hairspray to break down and the flowers to wilt.
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Air-dry flowers by hanging them upside down
Air-dried flowers can be used in home decor, craft projects, or as keepsakes. This preservation method is best for entire bouquets or robust flowers such as roses, lavender, strawflower, baby's breath, and thistle.
To air-dry flowers by hanging them upside down, start by stripping away any excess foliage, browning parts, torn petals, and extra leaves from the flowers. Cut the stems to the desired length, but be sure to leave at least 6 inches. Then, use a rubber band or twine to tie the stems together. If you have individual flowers, hang them separately to preserve their shape.
Hang the flowers upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area that is out of direct sunlight. A closet or another infrequently used space is ideal. The drying process will take about two to three weeks, depending on the temperature. Once dried, you can take down the flowers and spray them with unscented hairspray for protection.
While air-drying is a simple preservation method, it is important to note that the color of the flowers will gradually fade. If you wish to preserve the original appearance of your flowers, you may want to consider other methods such as freeze-drying or using silica gel. These methods can be more costly and time-consuming, but they will better retain the shape and color of the flowers.
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Preserve flowers by freeze-drying or pressing
If you want to preserve your wedding flowers, freeze-drying is a great option. It is a fast and effective method of preserving flowers and can keep them looking as close as possible to their original appearance. The process involves freezing flowers in full bloom, preserving their original brightness and colour. To prepare your flowers for freeze-drying, you should recut the stems, remove any leaves, and place the flowers in water at least 12 hours prior to freezing. You can either buy a freeze-drying machine and do it yourself or get them professionally done.
Another option for preserving flowers is to press them. The book press, DIY wooden press, and microwave method are all popular techniques for pressing flowers. If you're looking for something quick, you can use a household iron to press your flowers. Simply sandwich the flowers between two pieces of parchment paper and iron them for 15-30 seconds at a time on low heat. Once the petals have partially dried out, you can finish drying them using the book or wooden press method. Pressed flowers can be glued to card and labelled with information such as when and where the flowers were collected. With appropriate care, pressed flowers can last for hundreds of years.
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Frequently asked questions
Keep the flowers in a cool, dry, and dark place away from direct sunlight. You can also place the stems in water, cutting them diagonally to expose their watering channels.
Keep the flowers in vases of water to prevent them from wilting. Avoid direct sunlight as this will cause them to decay faster.
There are several ways to preserve your flowers, including air-drying, wax-dipping, silica gel, and freeze-drying. Air-drying involves hanging the flowers upside down in a dry, dark area for at least a week. Wax-dipping involves dipping the flowers in melted wax to preserve their shape and colour. Silica gel is a porous sand that absorbs moisture from the flowers. Freeze-drying is a costly but effective method that preserves the original appearance of the flowers.
Remove any browning parts, torn petals, and extra leaves. Tie a string to each stem and hang them individually in a dry, dark area with good airflow. Leave them to dry for at least a week.
It is best to start the preservation process as soon as possible when the petals are still vibrant and unstained. The fresher the blooms, the better they are for preserving.
