In this complete guide to wedding bouquet preservation, we’ll explore what flower preservation is, when to book, how the process works, and how to choose the right preservation option for your bouquet.
What Is Wedding Bouquet Preservation?
Wedding bouquet preservation is the process of carefully drying and preserving your wedding flowers so they can be transformed into a lasting keepsake.
Rather than allowing your bouquet to wilt and disappear after your wedding day, professional preservation can turn your flowers into a beautiful piece of artwork that you can display in your home.
Although this guide focuses on wedding bouquet preservation, flower preservation is certainly not limited to weddings.
At True Dreams, I preserve flowers from all kinds of meaningful occasions and memories, including birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, special celebrations, memorial flowers and sentimental flowers that hold a special personal meaning.
Whether your flowers are from your wedding bouquet, a birthday, an anniversary, a memorial, a special gift or simply flowers that you cannot bear to throw away, professional flower preservation can give them a new life as a lasting keepsake.
So, while you will see the term wedding bouquet preservation throughout this guide, the information and preservation options can also apply to flowers from many other important moments in your life.
Why Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet?
Preserving your flowers allows you to keep a physical part of your wedding day. Every time you look at your preserved flowers, you can remember the atmosphere, the colours, the flowers you carefully chose, and the emotions of the day.
A preserved bouquet can also become a meaningful family keepsake — something that can be treasured for many years and eventually passed down through generations.
When Should You Book Wedding Flower Preservation?
One of the most important things to consider is booking your preservation before your wedding day.
Booking your flower preservation is simple — there are just four steps to get started. See our step-by-step guide to learn how to book your flower preservation.
At True Dreams, we recommend arranging your preservation in advance so that your flowers can be looked after as soon as possible after your wedding.
If you wait until after your wedding to start looking for a preservation artist, availability may be limited, particularly during the busy wedding season.
Our advice? Book your preservation slot well before your wedding day, even if you haven’t decided on the final design yet.
When Should You Send Your Wedding Flowers?
Once your wedding day is over, please drop off or send your flowers as soon as you possibly can, ideally within 1–2 days after your wedding.
For more detailed information, please read our guide: “When Should I Send My Wedding Flowers for Preservation?”
See our simple packaging instructions for preparing, packaging and posting your flowers
My studio is based in Cardiff, and if you are local, you are very welcome to drop off your flowers. I would be happy to meet you and discuss all the details of your preservation in person.
The freshness and condition of your flowers are directly connected to the final preservation result. The fresher and healthier the flowers are when they arrive at the studio, the better the chance of achieving a beautiful final keepsake.
Flowers naturally begin to wilt and deteriorate after being cut, and heat, moisture and delays can accelerate this process. For this reason, we strongly recommend arranging delivery or drop off immediately after your wedding whenever possible.
How to Book Your Flower Preservation
Your preservation booking is considered confirmed once the required deposit has been received.
After your deposit has been received, I will send you detailed flower packaging and delivery instructions , explaining how to prepare and safely package your flowers before sending them to the studio.
Read the Terms & Conditions
Before booking your wedding flower preservation, please take the time to read the Terms & Conditions carefully.
Flower preservation is a natural process, and every flower responds differently to drying and preservation. While every effort is made to achieve the best possible result, the final appearance can be affected by the natural condition of the flowers when they arrive, their variety, colour, freshness, and how they have been handled before preservation.
Taking the time to understand the process before your wedding will help ensure you know exactly what to expect from your flower preservation journey.
What Happens to Your Bouquet After the Wedding?
Once your flowers arrive at the studio, they are carefully assessed and prepared according to the preservation method you have chosen.
It is important to understand that pressed flower preservation and 3D flower preservation are completely different preservation techniques. The flowers need to be prepared and treated differently from the very beginning, so I need to know which preservation method you prefer before your flowers arrive at the studio.
Decide Between Pressed and 3D Preservation Before Sending Your Flowers
You don’t need to have every detail of your final design decided before your wedding.
The most important decision is choosing whether you would like your flowers preserved using the pressed or 3D preservation method. This needs to be decided before your flowers arrive at the studio because the two methods require completely different preparation.
Pressed Flower Preservation
With pressed flower preservation, flowers are carefully flattened using a specialist pressing technique. This creates a delicate, botanical-style finish that is ideal for pressed flower frames.
Because the flowers are pressed, their three-dimensional shape is intentionally removed to create a flat design.
3D Flower Preservation: Shadow Boxes & Deep Frames
3D preservation is completely different. Instead of flattening the flowers, they are carefully dried to help retain their natural three-dimensional shape.
The preserved flowers can then be arranged in a deep frame to create a more dimensional representation of your original bouquet.
Once you have chosen your preferred preservation method, you have plenty of time to decide on the finer details of your keepsake, including your preferred flower layout, design, frame style, size and other finishing options.
If you have any questions or are unsure which option would suit your flowers, please feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements.
If you’re wondering which flower preservation option is right for you, I have also prepared a detailed guide to help you choose between pressed and 3D flower preservation.
Can Every Flower Be Preserved?
Not every flower will preserve in exactly the same way.
The final result depends on several factors, including:
- The type and variety of flower
- How fresh the flowers are
- The condition of the bouquet
- How the flowers have been handled after the wedding
- The drying and preservation method
- The natural characteristics of each flower
It is important to remember that flower preservation is an art, not an exact copy of a fresh bouquet.
Flowers naturally change as they are preserved, and some colour variation is part of the preservation process. Professional preservation can help enhance and restore colours, but the final flowers will still have their own unique character.
What Should You Do With Your Bouquet Before Sending It?
If you are having your bouquet professionally preserved, handle it as little as possible during and after the wedding.
During the wedding day, whenever you are not carrying or displaying your bouquet, place it in water if possible to help keep the flowers fresh. After the wedding, keep the flowers somewhere cool and away from direct sunlight and heat.
Continue to keep your bouquet in water until you are ready to bring or send it to me, following the packaging instructions provided
Don’t toss your bouquet if you are planning to preserve it. Tossing can damage the flowers, break stems and cause petals to fall.
My tip: if you would like to follow the traditional bouquet-tossing tradition, consider preparing a separate, smaller bouquet specifically for throwing.
Can You Preserve Flowers If You Didn’t Book in Advance?
Sometimes, yes.
If you have already had your wedding and have only just decided that you would like to preserve your flowers, don’t automatically assume it is too late.
I may occasionally have availability for last-minute preservation orders, although this cannot always be guaranteed.
Please feel free to contact me to check whether I have availability.
The condition of the flowers is one of the most important factors.
You can send me images of your bouquet so I can assess its current condition and advise whether preservation may still be possible.
How Long Does Flower Preservation Take?
Professional flower preservation is not an overnight process.
Flowers need to be carefully preserved and, depending on the variety and method used, the preservation stage can take two months or more.
Once the flowers are fully preserved and ready, they can be arranged and transformed into your chosen keepsake.
The overall process may take six months and more depending on the flowers, preservation method, design, frame option, seasonal workload, weather conditions, and how quickly design decisions and communication are completed.
How Much Does Wedding Bouquet Preservation Cost?
At True Dreams, I believe flower preservation pricing should be simple, transparent and straightforward.
No Hidden Extras
When you preserve your flowers with True Dreams, you won’t have to worry about unexpected price increases at the end.
On my website, you can see the prices for the different preservation options and designs. The price shown for your chosen option is one fixed price covering the complete preservation process.
I have deliberately chosen not to increase the price for every small decision, such as the frame colour, frame size or individual design choices. I want the process to be as simple and stress-free as possible, without complicated pricing or unexpected costs appearing later.
One Clear Price From the Start
You don’t need to work through complicated questionnaires or price lists, or worry that every little decision will increase the cost
You simply need to have an idea of which flower preservation option is right for you — pressed or 3D preservation.
From there, we can discuss your preferred layout and design, and you will receive one clear, fixed price for your chosen keepsake.
At True Dreams, I also include some personal touches at no additional cost.
Personalisation such as names and wedding dates is completely free.
My aim is to make your flower preservation experience straightforward from the beginning, so you know exactly what you are paying for and can focus on creating a beautiful keepsake from your wedding flowers.
After all, you are entrusting me with flowers that cannot be replaced — and I believe the pricing should be just as carefully considered as the preservation itself.
How to Choose a Flower Preservation Artist
Choosing the right preservation artist is an important decision.
Before booking, look at their portfolio and check whether they have experience preserving flowers similar to yours.
Consider:
- Their previous wedding bouquet preservation work
- The preservation techniques they use
- Their frame and display options
- Customer reviews
- Their booking process
- Whether they specialise in the type of keepsake you want
A good preservation artist should also be honest about what can and cannot be achieved with your particular flowers.
You can explore my Instagram page to see more of my work, the preservation process and recent projects.
If you don’t have Instagram, you can also visit my Facebook page.
Why Professional Preservation Is Worth It
There are many DIY flower preservation methods available online, but wedding bouquets can be challenging to preserve successfully.
Your wedding flowers are irreplaceable. Once they have been damaged, overheated or incorrectly dried, they cannot simply be replaced.
Professional flower preservation combines specialist techniques with careful handling and artistic design.
The result isn’t simply dried flowers — it is a personalised keepsake created around the memories of your wedding day.
Your Wedding Bouquet Deserves a Second Life
Whether you choose a delicate pressed flower frame, a three-dimensional shadow box or another beautiful preservation option, your preserved flowers can become a meaningful piece of art for your home.
At True Dreams, I specialise in creating beautiful, personalised flower preservation keepsakes for couples across the UK, with a particular focus on wedding bouquet preservation.
If you are planning your wedding and would like to preserve your bouquet, I recommend booking your preservation slot in advance.
You can browse my shop to see all the preservation designs and options available, and choose the one that best suits your preferences.
Your flowers won’t last forever — but the memories they represent can.
