Preserved wedding flowers.

How to Preserve Fresh Flowers

One of the things I loved most about my wedding was the flowers, especially my bouquet. I had gone through two consultations with my florist prior to the wedding but, admittedly, was having a difficult time imagining what the finished product would look like. (It didn’t help that I have very little knowledge of flowers, or plant-life in general for that matter.)

I had brought several inspiration photos to the first meeting and was dismayed to learn that most of my desired florals weren’t in season. My florist assured me that her suggested alternatives would be just as a beautiful and, leaving it to the professional, I trusted all of her suggestions.

I remember getting ready the morning of the wedding, somewhat frantically running around doing eight million things but stopped dead when the flowers were delivered. They were gorgeous – more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Emilee Janitz holds her wedding bouquet.

And my bouquet? Breathtaking. Leading up to the wedding, I definitely questioned my own vision from time to time (totally normal for brides) but felt so happy with all of my decisions when I saw that bouquet. It was the proverbial icing on top. Holding that bouquet made me feel like a bride.

Janitz bridal portraits-10.jpg

After the wedding, Andy and I immediately started getting ready for our honeymoon to Maui and Kauai. I was incredibly excited for our trip, but kept thinking how sad it was that all of my flowers would die while we were away.

I was on a mission to preserve some of these pieces and made a special trip to my florist’s shop before embarking on our honeymoon. After talking it through with her, she provided me with a simple solution to preserve my flowers for many years to come. She even showed me her own preserved flowers from her son’s wedding – over 20 years ago!

Following her advice, this is what I did to preserve my wedding bouquet & Andy’s boutonniere (and spare boutonniere – which, by the way, is an excellent low-budget add that is totally worth having in your floral proposal should anything go awry).

Step 1

If preserving multiple flowers, tie the stems together tightly with string.

Step 2

Spray flowers lightly with hairspray.

Step 3

Hang flowers upside down in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Closets are perfect!

Step 4

Allow them to dry for a week or two.

Step 5

Once dried, feel free to give them another dose of hairspray.

Step 6

Take them down and enjoy them forever!

I’ll admit, I’m super excited about how our florals turned out and have been enjoying displaying them in our home. They are a great every-day reminder of how perfect our wedding was and how exciting our life together is bound to be.

Wedding photography: Blushwood Studios
Floral designer: The Floral Fantasy
Wedding gown: Circa Bridal Boutique
Hair & makeup: Dayna Rae Beauty

Comments

10 responses to “How to Preserve Fresh Flowers”

  1. […] your creativity. Draw, paint, write, make floral arrangements, knit, make music, design, sew. Do whatever gets your creative juices flowing. To feel […]

    Like

  2. […] to someone – Whether it be your spouse, friend or family member, remember that we are all in this together and are probably all […]

    Like

  3. […] was flat out, working tirelessly to balance my career, a home, two dogs, a fiancé and our upcoming wedding. Not to mention all of the hobbies that are very important to me and that I’m going to spend […]

    Like

  4. […] it. Tie the lavender in bunches and hang it in a cool, dry place (I dry mine in our front closet). Drying the lavender allows for the oils in the plant to seep down into the buds. Once dried, you can keep […]

    Like

  5. […] a party or looking to add a touch of homemade whimsy to your spring or summer decor, tissue paper flowers are a fun, affordable decorative […]

    Like

  6. […] I love supporting local business and it was really special (and a total coincidence) that I had my bridal shower at the Bullthistle Brewery almost exactly two years […]

    Like

  7. […] be a little bit fall obsessed. My husband is also a fan of autumn which is why we chose to have our wedding in October almost two years ago (wow, time flies). Even though we were hit with an unexpected bout […]

    Like

  8. […] fun with this one! You can scavenge eco-friendly decorations outside (dried flowers, pumpkins), pick up some seasonal pieces from your favorite retailers or even have fun making some […]

    Like

  9. […] there are pumpkin patches and apple orchards literally everywhere. Local farmers are eager to sell dried cornstalks for your front porch decor and gallons of freshly-pressed local cider line every grocery […]

    Like

  10. […] Valentine’s Day. Then again – who can turn their nose away at a holiday dedicated to flowers and chocolate? Every year, Andy and I look forward to an elegant evening out at our favorite […]

    Like

Leave a reply to What is Hygge? – Hygge Inspired Cancel reply