Franklin Dean
Flowers are a beautiful part of any wedding, and pressing them is a great way to preserve your bouquet as a memento. There are several methods for pressing flowers at home, including using a book, silica gel, or the microwave. The type of flower and how you wish to display it will determine the best preservation method. For example, air drying is a good option for flowers with long, sturdy stems, while flat flowers like pansies or daisies are better suited for pressing than spherical blooms like roses. Pressing flowers is a fun and sustainable way to create artwork for your home and keep your wedding memories alive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Choosing flowers | Opt for fresh, flat, and dry flowers. Fresh flowers with flat shapes like pansies or daisies press better than spherical ones like roses. |
| Preparing flowers | Remove unnecessary parts like thorns and foliage with scissors or garden snips. Pat dry the flowers with paper like coffee filters, parchment paper, or thin cardboard to avoid extra moisture that may cause moulding. |
| Pressing methods | Pressing with a book or flower press, air drying, vase drying, silica gel, resin, or microwave. |
| Display ideas | Framed artwork, coasters, phone cases, paperweights, keychains, shelf decor, or paper flower bouquets. |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right flowers
When choosing the right flowers to press for your wedding, there are a few important factors to consider. The type of flower, its colour, and the time of year can all impact the final result. Here are some guidelines to help you select the perfect blooms:
Go for a Variety of Shapes and Sizes: Select a mix of flower types, including some with flat, open petals, and others with more intricate, layered shapes. This will add interest and texture to your pressed arrangements. Examples of flowers that press well and offer a variety of shapes include roses, daisies, pansies, and lilies. Their petals can be delicate, so handle them with care during the pressing process.
Consider Colour: Think about the colour palette you want to achieve. Some colours press better than others, so it's important to test a few flowers beforehand. Pastel shades tend to retain their colour well, whereas darker colours may fade or bleed during the pressing process, creating interesting but unpredictable results. If you want to experiment with darker hues, try wrapping the flowers in white paper before pressing to help contain the pigment.
Pick Flowers at the Right Stage: The best time to pick flowers for pressing is just before they are fully bloomed. Flowers that are too young may not have fully developed their colour, while older flowers may start to wilt and lose their petals. Aim to pick your flowers in the early morning when they are still fresh and full of moisture.
Seasonal Availability: Choose flowers that are in season as they will be at their most abundant and vibrant. This also ensures that you can source a large enough quantity for your project. If you have a specific flower in mind, research its blooming season to plan accordingly. For example, peonies are typically in season during late spring, while dahlias bloom in late summer and autumn.
Test and Experiment: Before pressing a large batch of flowers, it's important to do a small test run. Press a few flowers of different varieties and colours to see how they turn out. This will give you a better idea of the final colour, shape, and texture you can expect, allowing you to make any necessary adjustments.
By considering these factors and allowing some room for experimentation, you'll be able to choose the right flowers to create beautiful, pressed floral arrangements that capture the essence of your wedding day.
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Preparing flowers for pressing
Firstly, select the right flowers. Not all flowers press well, so opt for fresh, flat, and dry blooms. Pansies and daisies are good choices, while spherical flowers like roses may be more challenging to press. Ensure your flowers are free from any signs of fading or browning, as the fresher the petals, the better they will press.
Next, you'll want to trim and dry your flowers. Remove any unnecessary parts of the flower, such as thorns or excess foliage, with scissors or garden snips. Then, pat the flowers dry with paper like coffee filters, parchment paper, or thin cardboard. Avoid textured paper towels, as they can leave an imprint on the delicate petals. Make sure the flower heads are completely free of water droplets to prevent mould from forming during the pressing process.
If you have rounder blooms, you can cut them in half or press the individual petals. You can also hang the flowers upside down to air-dry before pressing, especially if you want to preserve the stems as well. This method adds a charming, rustic aesthetic to your display.
Finally, gather your pressing materials. You can use a book, cardboard, or wax paper to create a buffer between the flowers and the weight you'll use to press them. Layer the petals between sheets of clean paper to absorb any remaining moisture. Now, your flowers are ready for pressing!
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Using the book method
Pressing your wedding flowers is a great way to preserve your bouquet and add a unique piece of artwork to your home. The book method is a popular way to achieve this. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use the book method to press wedding flowers at home:
First, choose the right flowers. Select fresh, flat, and dry flowers for pressing. Flat flowers, such as pansies or daisies, are ideal as they press better than spherical blooms like roses. Ensure your flowers are free from water droplets to prevent moulding.
Next, prepare the flowers. Use scissors or garden snips to remove unnecessary parts like thorns and foliage. You can also cut round blooms in half to make them easier to press.
Now, you are ready to begin the pressing process. Gather your chosen book, parchment paper, and some heavy objects. Start by placing a piece of parchment paper on the page of the book. Then, arrange your flowers or petals on the paper, ensuring they do not overlap. Cover the flowers with another sheet of parchment paper and close the book. Place heavy objects on top of the book to apply pressure.
The amount of time needed for pressing varies. Some sources suggest that flowers can be adequately dried in a microwave in one afternoon, while others recommend leaving flowers to sit for a few weeks. One source suggests changing the paper at least twice in the first week to avoid moulding.
Once your flowers are dry, you can display them in a variety of ways, such as in a glass frame, or even incorporate them into items like coasters, phone cases, or paperweights.
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Using the microwave method
To begin, select the flowers you wish to press and trim any unnecessary parts like thorns or foliage with scissors or garden snips. Ensure the flower heads are free from water droplets to prevent excess moisture, which may cause moulding. Then, pat the flowers dry with paper such as coffee filters, parchment paper, or thin cardboard.
Next, layer the flowers between absorbent paper and a buffer material. The buffer creates a layer between the absorbent paper and the weight. You can use various materials for this step, such as coffee filters, parchment paper, printer paper, thin cardboard, or untreated facial tissue. Avoid textured paper towels as they can leave imprints on the flowers.
Once your flowers are prepared, place them in the microwave and follow the recommended settings for flower pressing. Microwaves vary, so refer to a guide specific to your model for the best results. It is important to note that the microwave method may result in overly moist flowers that are prone to moulding, or they may become too dry and brittle. Therefore, it is crucial to exercise caution and monitor the flowers closely during the process.
After removing the flowers from the microwave, allow them to cool before handling. You may then wish to place your pressed flowers in a glass frame or display them in unique ways, such as simple coasters, phone cases, or even resin moulds like paperweights and keychains.
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Displaying pressed flowers
Once your wedding flowers are pressed and dried, you can display them in a variety of ways. Here are some ideas for displaying your pressed flowers:
Framing
Pressed flowers can be arranged and displayed in a glass frame. You can also add a wedding photograph to the frame to create a unique piece of art. Floating frames or frames with a hinge are a good option for this.
Wall Art
Pressed flowers can be used to create beautiful wall art for your home. You can use a spray painting technique or arrange the flowers to form a monogram or a letter of your choice. Another idea is to have an artist paint a picture of your wedding flowers and hang it on your wall.
Home Decor
Pressed flowers can be used to create various home decor items, such as coasters, phone cases, candles, or even jewellery. You can also add pressed flowers to simple white tapers to create colourful and meaningful decorations for romantic dinners.
Book Pressing
If you want to preserve your wedding flowers in a book, choose a heavy book such as a phone book or a textbook. Place the flowers between two pieces of parchment or wax paper to protect them from ink and place the book in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight.
Microwave Pressing
Microwave pressing is a quick method to preserve your wedding flowers if you don't want to wait for weeks. However, it may give your flowers more texture and height, making them less suitable for displaying in a pressed frame. It can also make your house smell for a while.
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Frequently asked questions
Fresher flowers are better for pressing, so it's best to press them before they start to fade or brown. Flat flowers, such as pansies or daisies, press better than spherical ones, like roses.
You will need paper, such as coffee filters, parchment paper, printer paper, thin cardboard, or untreated facial tissue, to absorb water from the flowers as they dry. You will also need a buffer, which creates a layer between the absorbent paper and the weight.
First, remove any unnecessary parts of the flower, such as thorns and foliage, with scissors or garden snips. Then, pat the flowers dry with paper to remove any excess moisture. Next, layer the flowers between paper and a heavy book. Alternatively, you can use an iron to speed up the process.
The pressing process itself is pretty hands-off and can take a few weeks. However, it's important to dry the flowers as soon as possible after receiving them, as they will start to decay and turn brown.
Other methods for preserving wedding flowers include air drying, silica gel, and resin molds. Air drying is the most traditional method, but it may not work well for flowers with a lot of pollen, such as lilies, daisies, or tulips. Silica gel can be used to "dry out" flowers, and dried flowers can be placed in resin molds to create paperweights, keychains, and other decor.
