Managing Expectations: What to Know When Preserving Your Wedding Flowers by Pressing
Your wedding day is one of the most special moments of your life, & preserving your bouquet as a keepsake is a beautiful way to hold onto those memories forever. Pressed flower art captures the delicate beauty of your blooms, but it’s important to understand how various factors can affect the final outcome. Here’s a helpful guide to managing expectations & getting the best results from your floral preservation journey.
Freshness Matters — Timing & Handling Are Key
The bouquet you send won’t look exactly the same as it did on your wedding day by the time it arrives with me. Most florists purchase flowers several days before the wedding - sometimes up to a week in advance - so your blooms have already started their journey before they reach me. Additionally, the way your flowers are handled after the ceremony can make a big difference.
Whenever possible, hand delivery is best to minimise transit time & reduce potential for blooms getting damaged or bruised. If posting is necessary, careful packaging is essential (see my post on sending your flowers).
Because I can only work with the flowers as they arrive, this care & timing directly impact the condition of your keepsake.
Hydration
How hydrated your flowers are when they arrive makes a big difference. Well-hydrated flowers tend to press better, retaining more of their natural texture & colour.
Having someone on hand at the wedding to place the bouquet in water whenever it’s not needed for photos or ceremonies helps keep the flowers hydrated and looking their best before preservation.
If your bouquet has been sitting out or wasn’t stored in water prior to sending, flowers can start to wilt, which can affect how they press.
Flower Types & Their Traits
Not all flowers press equally well. Some blooms, like roses, larkspur & wild flowers, are known to preserve beautifully. However, delicate, moisture-heavy flowers like peonies & dahlias tend to be challenging because they don’t travel well & can be tricky to press - they can bruise, discolour, or lose their petals easily. I’ll always let you know if any blooms may not produce ideal results.
Colour Changes Are Part of the Charm
Most flowers and foliage will change colour as they dry:
White flowers often shift to cream, slight brown, or yellow tones.
Paler colours such as light pinks may fade to very pale, creamy, or yellowish hues.
Darker colours can deepen — for example, red roses often turn burgundy.
Bright colours tend to hold up better but can also change: yellows may darken, oranges can become more brown, pinks might shift toward purple, & blues may deepen.
This natural transformation is part of the unique beauty of pressed flowers.
It’s important to know that once your flowers are pressed & fully dry, if stored correctly (in a dark, dry space) their colours will remain stable & won’t change significantly.
How the Bouquet Was Created Matters
The construction of your bouquet influences how well it presses. Bouquets with lots of wiring, or heavy reflexing (where petals are bent backwards) can affect how the flowers press. Wired flowers often require extra care to gently remove the wire before pressing to avoid damage. See my post on things I wish more florists knew for more information!
Wedding Day Weather Can Impact Your Flowers
The weather on your big day can play a surprising role in the preservation process. Hot, sunny days can cause blooms to open fully & sometimes wilt faster, while humid conditions might make flowers more prone to bruising or mold if not dried properly before shipping.
Caring for Your framed Keepsake
Keep out of direct sunlight
The natural colours in your pressed florals can be affected by sunlight. Hang your frame in a spot out of direct sunlight & your flowers will hold their natural colour for longer (flowers are not colour corrected & will change colour/fade over time). Great places to display your flowers are above your bed, a cozy corner, or in your hallway/landing (where everyone will see them!). Upgrading to Anti-reflective/UV resistant acrylic can help prolong the colour further.
Avoid excess humidity & heat
Displaying your flowers in rooms with high humidity or large temperature changes can have an impact. Avoid hanging your frame in rooms such as bathrooms & conservatories, & above heat sources.
In Summary
Pressed flower art is a labor of love that beautifully preserves your wedding day memories. While every bouquet is unique & influenced by many factors, from flower types & freshness to weather & bouquet design, my goal is always to honour the beauty of your blooms & create a lasting piece of art you’ll cherish forever.
If you have any questions about your bouquet or want advice on how best to prepare your flowers for preservation, I’m here to help every step of the way!