Deborah Chan
Your wedding bouquet is a key part of your wedding day, but what happens to it after the celebrations are over? Many brides choose to preserve their bouquet as a memento, either by drying or pressing the flowers, displaying them in a shadow box or frame, or even wearing them as jewellery. Others may opt to donate their bouquet to a local hospital or hospice, or to a non-profit organisation that repurposes the flowers into smaller arrangements for those in need. Some brides choose to give their bouquet to a loved one or take it to the burial site of someone who has passed away, sharing a piece of their special day.
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What You'll Learn
Drying flowers with silica gel
To dry your flowers with silica gel, start by pouring a layer of crystals about 1.5 inches thick into your container. Place your flowers face up in the container and add more crystals in and around the petals until they are fully covered but not submerged. Seal the container and set it aside in a dry place for one week to a couple of weeks. You can also place the flowers face down in the container, but this may cause the petals to bend or deform.
After the flowers have dried, remove them from the container and brush off any excess silica gel with a soft brush. You can leave a little gel inside the petals to protect them from humidity. Blooms with thicker centres, like rosebuds, may need closer to a week to dry.
You can find silica gel at craft stores or online. It is also possible to use silica crystal cat litter, which can be purchased at Walmart or Amazon.
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Pressing flowers
Preparing the Flowers:
Start by disassembling your bouquet and separating the flowers and foliage. Remove any damaged petals or leaves. It is best to press flowers when they are fresh, so try to begin the process within a few days of your wedding. Keep your bouquet in a cool, dark place before pressing to maintain its freshness.
Pressing Techniques:
There are several methods for pressing flowers, including book pressing, microwave pressing, and using a flower press. Book pressing involves placing the flowers between clean sheets of paper and then within the pages of a heavy book. Microwave pressing can be risky as it may result in overly moist flowers that are prone to mould or excessive brittleness. A flower press is a specialised tool designed for pressing flowers and can be a good option if you plan to press a lot of flowers or want a faster method.
Drying and Changing Paper:
Flowers need to be dried completely before they can be used in crafts or displays. Depending on the pressing method, it may take several days or weeks for the flowers to fully dry. If using the book press method, change the paper at least twice during the first week to help absorb moisture and prevent mould.
Creating Displays:
Once your flowers are fully pressed and dried, you can create a variety of displays. You can frame your flowers or create a collage with pressed flowers and a photograph from your wedding. Another option is to place your flowers in a shadow box, which can be easily displayed on a wall or shelf. Pressed flowers can also be used to create functional home decor, such as coasters, jewellery dishes, or artwork.
Gifts and Sentimental Value:
Pressed flowers from your wedding bouquet can make thoughtful gifts for your wedding party or family members. Transforming your flowers into useful items or artwork can extend their sentimental value and provide a lasting reminder of your wedding day.
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Displaying in a shadow box
Displaying your wedding bouquet in a shadow box is an excellent way to preserve your bridal bouquet intact. This option is especially suitable if your bouquet is made with flowers that don't fade or wilt, such as artificial flowers or those from Ling's Moment.
To create a display, you can simply place your bouquet inside a glass case or frame and showcase it in your home. You can also include other mementos from your wedding, such as the groom's boutonniere, to create a more artistic arrangement.
If you want to get creative, you can turn your bouquet into a work of art by pressing and drying the flowers. This process typically involves placing the flowers between the pages of a heavy book for about a week. Once they are dry, you can glue them onto a backing board or fabric and frame them. You can also add photographs or other decorative elements to create a unique piece of art that matches your style.
Another option is to transform your bouquet into functional decor items, such as trays, coasters, paperweights, or jewellery. You can work with a professional company to create these items, or you can try DIY methods to incorporate pressed flowers into resin creations.
Preserving your wedding bouquet in a shadow box or through other methods allows you to cherish the memories of your special day and enjoy your flowers for years to come.
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Painting the bouquet
Painting your wedding bouquet is a fun way to preserve your special day and get in touch with your artistic side. You can grab a canvas and create a piece that fits your individual style using any medium, like charcoal, watercolour or acrylic. You can even outsource the job to a professional wedding painter or other artists if you're not confident in your painting skills.
If you want to take on the task yourself, start by studying as many photos of the bouquet as you can. Viewing it from different angles will help you understand the textures and the overall look and feel of the bouquet. You can then discuss different options and any special requests with the painter if you are outsourcing the job, or get to work on mapping out the bouquet yourself.
When painting the bouquet, you can use any medium you like, such as charcoal, watercolour or acrylic. You might want to dip your flowers in wax first to preserve them, but note that this is not a permanent preservation method and your flowers will only last for around six months. If you want to preserve your flowers permanently, you can try submerging them in silica gel or pressing them.
Once you're happy with your painting, find a lovely frame to match and showcase it in your home for your loved ones to see.
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Using flowers as home decor
Flowers are an integral part of your wedding decor and outfits, as they are an extension of your unique style. Here are some ways to use your wedding bouquet as home decor:
Pressing and Framing
You can press the flowers from your bouquet and create a beautiful piece of art to display in your home. To press the flowers, lay them out on clean wax paper in a heavy book. After about a week, remove the pressed flowers and arrange them within a glass frame. You can also use epoxy resin to create a unique paperweight or display your flowers in a shadow box.
Drying
A time-honoured way to preserve your bouquet is to hang it upside down in a well-ventilated spot and let the flowers dry out. You can then reassemble the bouquet and display it in a vase. This method may cause some loss of colour, and you will need to keep an eye on the bouquet as the stems shrink and the original bindings loosen.
Silica Gel
Another way to preserve your flowers is by using silica gel. Place your bouquet upside down in a large container and slowly pour in enough silica gel to submerge it. After a couple of weeks, remove the flowers and arrange them in a vase. This method can be quite effective in maintaining the vibrancy of colours and preserving the shape of the flowers.
Wax Dipping
You can also preserve your flowers by dipping them in wax. Melt paraffin wax in a pot and pour it into a heat-resistant container. Dip each flower into the container, allowing any excess wax to fall back into the pot. You can then hang the flowers upside down to dry or place them upright in a vase.
Painting
If you're feeling creative, you can paint your bouquet onto a canvas or hire a professional artist to do so. This is a fun way to preserve the memory of your wedding flowers and create a permanent reminder of your special day.
There are many ways to preserve and display your wedding bouquet in your home, allowing you to relive the beauty and joy of your wedding day.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to preserve your wedding bouquet, including drying, pressing, framing, and preserving in resin. You can also repurpose your bouquet into candles, paperweights, coasters, or even jewellery.
To dry your wedding bouquet, carefully hang fresh blooms upside down in a dry, temperate area. Leave them to air-dry for at least a week or longer if it's cool. Once dried, you can arrange them in a vase or create a wreath.
To press your wedding bouquet, select the flowers you want to press and spread them out on clean wax paper. Arrange them in a way you are happy with, as once they're dried and pressed, they can't be manipulated. Place the wax paper with the flowers inside the pages of a heavy book and weigh it down. Leave it to dry for about a week to ten days. Once dry, you can frame your flowers or create custom artwork.
