How to Air-Dry Your Wedding Bouquet for Pressed Flower Art
Your wedding bouquet is more than just a bunch of blooms - it’s a symbol of one of the most meaningful days of your life. While I love working with fresh flowers to preserve that memory, I know my calendar fills up quickly during peak wedding seasons. If I’m fully booked for fresh flower pressing, there's still a beautiful alternative: sending me an air-dried bouquet.
Yes, even if your flowers are no longer fresh, I can still create a unique, textural keepsake that captures the spirit of your wedding day. Here’s how to dry your bouquet properly so it’s ready for pressing later.
Hanging Your Bouquet to Dry
As soon as possible after your wedding, remove any ribbons, pins, or non-botanical decorations. Then:
Separate your bouquet into smaller bunches of stems.
Tie the stems together tightly with twine/string or use an elastic band.
Hang the bunches of flowers upside down in a dry, well-ventilated space (you can also put them upright in a dry vase but hanging keeps the stems straight and can help with airflow).
Avoid direct sunlight as this can cause colours to fade.
💡 The quicker your bouquet dries, the better the colour will be, & the less chance there is of mould developing. Good air circulation is key!
💡 If you have a dehumidifier you can leave you flowers by thats an extra bonus & will help dry your flowers quicker.
Give them about 3 - 5 weeks to fully dry. You'll know they’re ready when the petals feel papery & the stems snap rather than bend.
What to Expect from Air-Dried Flowers
Air-drying is a gentle, natural process that allows me to preserve your bouquet even if I didn’t receive it fresh. That said, some changes in the flowers appearance are totally normal:
Colors may darken or shift - whites may become ivory or a little tan, pinks may deepen to mauves or burgundies or if pale can change to cream.
Petals may curl or crinkle, adding texture and movement to the final piece (though some of these crinkles will be removed when pressed).
Flowers like roses, statice, delphiniums/larkspur, & eucalyptus dry beautifully, while others may become more fragile - but I always work carefully when pressing to showcase the flowers best.
Some flowers will need to be deconstructed to be pressed to ensure they are flat enough for the frames - roses & lisianthus are 2 examples.
The result? A one-of-a-kind, layered & textural piece of art that reflects your bouquet in a more rustic, timeworn way. It’s different from fresh pressing, but just as meaningful.
When You’re Ready to Send It
Once your bouquet is fully dry, you can carefully pack it up and send it my way for pressing. I’ll guide you through the shipping steps to make sure your flowers arrive safely. From there, I’ll work my magic to turn them into a bespoke artwork you can treasure for years to come.
If you're unsure whether your bouquet is a good fit for air-drying and pressing, feel free to reach out, I’m always happy to give advice. Even when my fresh flower slots are full, I want you to have the opportunity to preserve those beautiful blooms.
A dried bouquet still tells your story, just in a softer, more timeless voice.