Most bouquets are only at their best for a day or two, so the decision about keeping yours has to be made on the wedding weekend, not the following month. The good news is that the home methods are simple and cheap, and one of them will suit nearly any bouquet.
Start by choosing who is in charge. You will be tired and traveling, so give the job to a bridesmaid, a parent or your florist before the wedding.
The first 48 hours
Take the bouquet out of any ribbon wrap, trim the stems and stand it in a vase of cool water in the coolest room you have. Keep it away from heat vents, sunny windows and fruit bowls. If you are leaving for a honeymoon the next morning, ask a family member to take it home and start one of the methods below. Extension specialists advise gathering flowers while they are near their prime and free of moisture from dew or rain, so a bouquet that is still fresh will dry far better than one that has sat for a week.
Choose a method
| Method | Time | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air drying | Often 2 to 3 weeks | Sturdy flowers, grasses, seed heads | Colors can fade and shapes loosen |
| Pressing | About a week or more | Small, flat flowers and foliage | Results are flat, so they suit framing |
| Silica gel | Often 3 to 7 days | Roses, peonies and other full flowers | Costs more up front, but the gel is reusable |
Air drying
Strip the leaves, tie the stems in small bunches and hang them upside down in a warm, dry, dark and well-ventilated spot such as a closet or attic. Large flowers like peonies are better hung one at a time than in bunches. Plan for a couple of weeks.
Pressing
Layer petals and leaves between plain, non-glossy paper such as newspaper, with a tissue on each side. Change the paper and tissues after the first week, weigh the stack down with boards and keep it somewhere warm and dry. Once pressed, the flowers can go into a frame, a bookmark or a card for your thank-you notes.
Silica gel
Bury each flower in silica gel inside an airtight container, such as a shallow plastic box with a tight lid. If the lid is loose the gel absorbs moisture from the room and the drying slows. Blue crystals mean the gel is dry, and pink ones mean it has absorbed water; dry the gel in a warm oven before using it again.
When to hire a professional
If you want a bouquet kept whole and in a shadow box, a professional preservation service can handle it, and some florists will arrange it for you. Ask about turnaround time, what the price includes and whether you need to ship the flowers or hand them over within a set number of days. Compare that cost with the rest of your wedding flowers plan before you book.
Make a plan before the wedding
Sources
General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Confirm details with your vendors, venue, officiant and local authorities.
Questions people ask
How long can you keep a wedding bouquet before preserving it?
Ideally start within a day or two. Flowers that have started to brown or wilt will not dry well, so the sooner the better.
What is the easiest way to preserve a wedding bouquet at home?
Air drying is the simplest: hang small bunches upside down somewhere dark, dry and ventilated for a couple of weeks. Silica gel keeps shape and color better.
Can you press roses and peonies?
Their thick heads do not flatten well. Many people use silica gel for full flowers and save pressing for small, flat blooms and leaves.
