A wedding is a pivotal moment in a couple’s life together, and many brides want to preserve as many memories from it as possible. That includes preserving wedding flowers as keepsakes. Below, the team at Lexington Florist in South Carolina shares a few tips for preparing wedding bouquets and other blooms for preservation. 

How to Preserve Wedding Flowers

Flower Pressing

Flower pressing is a simple technique that involves flattening flowers for framing or storage. You’ll need a sharp pair of scissors, backing material such as vellum paper or cardboard, two matching ½-inch thick, 8- by 10-inch pieces of plywood, and clamps.

Trim unwanted leaves from the stem and carefully split thick flowers in half. Place the flowers between two pieces of backing. Flatten them between both pieces of wood, using clamps to tightly secure them together. Set the press aside in a warm environment for two weeks. Be careful not to remove flowers before they’re dry, or you’ll risk causing them to shrink or pucker. When dry, your wedding flowers will be flat and can be framed for display or stored in an album.

Air-Drying

Air-drying means allowing flowers to completely dry in open air. You’ll need a dark, warm, and undisturbed storage area with good ventilation, such as a closet or attic.

Grab a rubber band, string or dental floss, and hairspray. Bunch and then secure the stems together with a rubber band. Tie string or floss securely around the stems and hang the bouquet upside down away from direct sunlight for approximately three to four weeks. Avoid using a shed or garage since outside moisture can cause mildew growth. Exposure to sunlight can also cause colors to fade. Spritz the flowers with hairspray when they’re dry to prevent crumbling. Store them in a vase or frame them in a shadow box.

Silica Preservation

If you don’t want to wait weeks for your flowers to dry, use silica gel, sometimes referred to as silica gel powder. You can purchase silica gel at most crafts stores or online. You’ll also need an airtight container, scissors, a cup, and hairspray.

Layer silica gel on the bottom of the container until it is at least half an inch deep. Place as many flowers as you can fit in a single layer. Using a cup, gently pour another layer of gel on top of the flowers until they’re covered. Seal the container. After waiting between two to six days for it to dry, pour off enough of the silica gel to expose the flowers. Carefully remove each flower, shaking off the powder. Spray with hairspray to put them on display.

If you need help choosing wedding flowers that are worth preserving, get in touch with Lexington Florist. With more than 40 years’ experience, this family-owned and -operated business specializes in premium blooms at affordable prices. In addition to Lexington, they also deliver to Columbia, Irmo, and the surrounding areas. Call (803) 359-6097 or visit them online to view some arrangements.