From seeing your partner at the end of the aisle, to seeing loved ones from every walk of life, your wedding will be filled with unforgettable moments that will last a lifetime. Photos and videos can keep those moments alive throughout the years but there is something extra special about physical keepsakes from the big day. Small mementos such as your written vows, the jewelry you wore, or your preserved wedding bouquet can bring those memories back to life 25 years down the road.
Wedding bouquets capture the colors and themes of your special day and preserving them can in a way, freeze that moment in time for you to look back on. There are many flower preservation techniques that can help you save your wedding bouquet and to help you get started we detailed a few of the best methods below.
Method #1: Book Press
If you have a couple of heavy books and a few coffee filters, you have everything you need to create pressed flowers. Your bouquet will be completely flattened so if you want to frame your flowers and display them this is the best method. Click here to learn more.
Materials needed:
- Flowers
- 2–3 Heavy books
- Coffee filters
- Choose the most beautiful blooms from your wedding bouquet and trim away unwanted leaves and stems.
- For roses and other thick flowers, cutting the bloom in half can aid in the pressing process.
- Place your flowers inside a folded coffee filter.
- Open one of the heavy books and place the coffee filters inside.
- Close the book, stack your additional book on top, and leave for at least three weeks.
Method #2: Silica Gel
Though pressing flowers is easy, if you want to retain the shape of your wedding day blooms, silica gel is the solution. This method quickly dries blooms that can be displayed in a vase or shadow box. Additionally, this silica gel can preserve the color in your flowers better than pressing, leaving you with a more vibrant memento from your wedding. Click here for “how-to”!
Materials needed:
- Flowers
- Airtight container
- Silica gel
- Paintbrush
- Hairspray
Instructions:
- Trim the stems of your favorite flowers to one inch.
- Cover the bottom of your airtight container with silica.
- Gently place your blooms in the container and cover flowers with additional silica.
- Seal the container and let it sit for one week.
- After one week, uncover the container and use a paintbrush to gently dust off excess silica from flowers.
- To seal out moisture, spray your flowers with hairspray.
If you have never used epoxy resin, this could be the perfect time to try it out. This method will allow you to turn your bouquet into anything you would like from jewelry to book covers. Before you get started, use the silica method or any other drying technique to ensure your blooms are dried. Click here for more information!
Materials needed:
- Dried flowers
- Epoxy resin
- Gloves
- Mixing cup (plastic, glass, or ceramic)
- Stir stick
- Tweezers
- Desired mold
Instructions:
- Stir the epoxy resin in a mixing cup thoroughly to ensure all air bubbles escape the mixture.
- Cover the bottom of your mold with resin.
- Use tweezers to arrange your dried flowers however you please.
- Cover the flowers with the rest of the epoxy resin and wait for the recommended time on the package.
- Remove resin from the mold once it is set and accessorize.
Planning a wedding is a beautiful season full of unforgettable moments. Memories such as writing your vows, excitedly assembling your wedding registry, finding the dress, and celebrating on the day will stick with you forever. Keep the magic of the day alive by preserving your wedding bouquet and remember those moments for years to come.
This article was written by staff at Zola.com.
Photos of real weddings coordinated by Events by Lexi.