Is there anything sadder than saying goodbye to wilting wedding florals mere days after you held them on the happiest day of your life? All the thought and research that goes into choosing your perfect blooms, not to mention your florist's creativity to make your vision a reality. But your spectacular wedding bouquet can wow for more than one day, as it can be turned into an heirloom or keepsake that will have you feeling all the love every time you look at it for years to come.

Here, we're sharing easy DIYs for how to preserve your wedding bouquet as well as pretty ideas (with the help of clever professional creatives) that can make your wedding flowers last for life. Let us help you choose how to preserve your wedding bouquet.

How to Preserve your Wedding Bouquet

Image by Made Co.

DIY Versus Professional: Should You Preserve Your Wedding Flowers Yourself or Hire a Professional?

If you're hoping to turn your bouquet into a lasting keepsake, you'll need to decide whether to preserve it yourself or trust it to a professional. The right choice depends on your budget, how crafty you are, and how much time you'll have after the wedding.

If you're heading off on honeymoon or simply don't want to take any chances with your precious blooms, hiring a professional is well worth considering. They'll be able to preserve your flowers while they're still at their freshest and use specialist techniques that help maintain their colour and beauty far better than most DIY methods. The result is a beautifully finished keepsake that's made to last.

While simple methods like pressing or air-drying flowers are easy enough to try at home, more advanced techniques, such as resin preservation, require practice and precision. After all, you only get one wedding bouquet, so if you'd rather leave it in expert hands, you'll have the reassurance of knowing your flowers are being cared for by someone who does it every day.

Image by Pressed Floral

Preparation is Key

When it comes to preserving your wedding bouquet, the good news is that the majority of flower types can be preserved. However, this is truly down to the quality and condition that they're in when you begin. Preserving flowers requires a gentle touch and a lot of patience, as the process can take anything from two weeks to three months depending on your chosen method, but more on that below.

If you're not opting for DIY, contact your preservation supplier before your wedding day to ask their advice on how to ensure your florals will be in the best condition for what they intend to do. Also, mention to your florist that you will be preserving the flowers, as they may skip spraying any preservatives on your bouquet.

Make sure you have someone on hand on the wedding day to keep the florals out of direct sunlight and well hydrated. And we hate to say it, but it may be best to skip the bouquet toss, in which case here are great alternatives to the toss!

Image by The Flower Press Company

1. Pressed Flowers

1. Firstly, prepare your flowers. Trim away unwanted parts such as the stem, leaves, or any parts that are discoloured.
2. Place your flowers as flat as possible on parchment paper inside the pages of a weighted hardback and let time work its magic.
3. About seven to 10 days should do the trick, however keep an eye.
4. Once the flowers are dry, you'll be able to display them as you wish!

You can get your flowers professionally pressed and beautifully framed by Sióg Botanicals. You can also buy a flower press from The Flower Press Company.

2. Air-Dried Flowers

1. Ensure your flowers are kept cool and well hydrated. Fresh is best!
2. For best results, tie each individual stem with a piece of string and hang upside down.
3. This can take up to three weeks, so ensure the location is a dry, warm place.
4. Once completely dried, display them in a vase or create something artistic like a wreath.
5. Alternatively store in a glass box or a wicker basket as a talking point in your home, or try the resin DIY project below.

3. A Gallery Wall

After you've dried or pressed your flowers, why not place a selection of them on a good quality parchment paper and place them in double glass frames of varying sizes to create a gallery wall effect.

4. Resin Flowers

1. Follow the drying flower method above first.
2. Once the flowers are fully dried, find a suitable container, fill it halfway with the epoxy resin liquid and arrange the flowers in the fluid.
3. Fill the container to the top and leave to dry.
4. Once the process is complete, you'll have a unique piece. The options are coasters, a paper weight, book ends, stand up letters, a christmas decoration - whatever you wish!

NB. Remember to wear a mask and gloves when doing this DIY. If you would like to get a professional to do it, check out Florist on the Hill, The Flower Bandits or Heirloom Botanicals

Image by Pressed in Time

5. A Piece of Jewellery

If you've mastered the preserving method using resin above, then jewellery is another pretty way to display this. However, if you're not already proficient in jewellery making, this might be one to leave to the professionals on the list below.

Image by Tina Crespo

6. Dry with Silica Gel

1. Silica gel crystals (just like the sachets you get with new shoes) absorbs the moisture around it, so form a base of crystals in an airtight container like a lunchbox and place your flowers in the crystals.
2. Pour the silica gel around the petals, making sure they get into all the nooks and crannies.
3. Fill the container to the top and seal it with a lid.
4. Once the process is complete, give it over a week, then remove and spray with hairspray to set.

NB. Remember to wear a mask and gloves when doing this DIY.

7. Bathsalts

1. Combine 1 cup of epsom salt with 1 cup of sea salt and ½ cup of baking soda in a large bowl.
2. Choose your favourite essential oil - our favourite is lavender, lemon and eucalyptus - and pour in about 20 drops.
3. Toss together and add your dried florals.
4. Once all mixed, add to your jars and enjoy!

DIY by The Spruce

8. Potpourri

1. Prepare your flowers, remove stems and place on sheet of parchment paper. Ensure the flowers are facing up.
2. Bake the flowers at 200F degrees for 1-2 hours until they are fully dehydrated.
3. To enhance the scent, add a few drops of your preferred essential oil and gently toss and allow to soak for a couple of weeks.
4. For an extra luxurious feel, add some dried orange peel, cloves, cinnamon sticks and dried lavender.
5. Ensure you keep you potpourri in an airtight container so you can preserve every bit of that gorgeous scent!

Image by  LonelyPine

9. Display Your Wedding Invite

Don't just leave it stuck in a drawer or your memory box. Using dried flowers in a blank frame is a gorgeous way to frame and display your wedding invite for all to see. Especially if it was something really, special and unique.

Image by The Floral Artist

10. Paint Them (or Hire an Artist To)

If you're artistic yourself, this can be a lovely project to sit down with after the wedding, allowing you to relive the beauty of your bouquet as you paint. Better still, it's an option that doesn't rely on having the bouquet itself, you can work from your wedding photos, making it perfect if your flowers are long gone.

If painting isn't your forte, commission an artist to create a bespoke illustration instead. Whether you love soft watercolours, bold acrylics or contemporary line drawings, there's a style to suit every home and every couple. The finished artwork becomes a meaningful reminder of your wedding day that's every bit as personal as the bouquet itself.

Bouquet Preservation by The Flower Bandits

Bouquet Preservation by SIÓG Botanicals

Bouquet Preservation by Heirloom Botanicals

Where can I get my Wedding Bouquet Professionally Preserved?

While some people might relish the idea of a DIY project, if you would prefer to leave it in the hands of the professionals, especially for the trickier techniques then we've made a list of some great preservation suppliers that can help you out.

• Heirloom Botanicals
• Siog Botanicals
• The Flower Bandits
• Florist on the Hill
• The Flower Artist (Painted bouquet preservation)
• Flower Beauty
• Alchemist Designs 
• Pressed Flowers by Nell
• Lost Forest
• Rubina Press
• Flower Cast
• Etsy

We have a great list of The Best Places to Get Your Wedding Bouquet Professionally Preserved in Ireland here too.

Bouquet Preservation by SIÓG Botanicals

Did you enjoy this wedding flower post? We have many more similar posts to inspire you below!

• 15 Wedding Bouquet Flowers and Their Special Meaning
• 15 Dreamy Dried Flower Bouquets 
• The Best Wedding Florists in Ireland
• 8 Ways to Repurpose Décor & Flowers On Your Wedding Day