If you’re Googling how to preserve flowers after a wedding, you’re in the right place. The hours after your reception matter more than most people realize. A few simple steps can keep your bouquet in great shape, whether you’re planning wedding bouquet preservation with us or you’re still deciding what you want to do.
This guide is focused on the practical stuff. What to do right after the wedding, what to do overnight, and what to do if you’re shipping your bouquet for pressed flower preservation.
Step 1: Right after the wedding, get your bouquet drinking water again
Your bouquet has had a long day. Heat, photos, hugging people, dancing, and being out of water for stretches can wear it out.
As soon as you can, do these three things:
Give the stems a fresh trim
Trim a small amount off the bottom of the stems so they can drink easily again. If you have floral snips, use them. If not, clean scissors work in a pinch.
Put the bouquet in water
Place the stems in a vase, pitcher, or container with water. If your bouquet is tightly wrapped, you can keep the wrap on for support as long as the stems can sit in water.
Keep it cool and out of bright light
A cool, shaded spot helps a lot. Avoid leaving your bouquet in a hot car, direct sun, or near a heater vent.
If your event is on a Saturday or Sunday and you cannot ship until Monday, that’s totally fine. Just keep the stems in water until you’re ready to send them.
Step 2: Overnight storage, keep it cool, and avoid produce
If you’re preserving your bouquet, the goal overnight is simple: slow everything down.
Yes, you can use a fridge
A fridge can help keep flowers cool until you’re able to ship them. Just make sure it’s not so cold that petals freeze.
Keep flowers away from fruits and vegetables
Many fruits and veggies give off ethylene gas, which can speed up aging in cut flowers. If your fridge is packed with produce, move the bouquet away from it or use a separate shelf.
If you can’t use a fridge, a cool, dark room works too.
Step 3: Decide your plan for the bouquet
Here are the three most common paths we see after the wedding.
Option A: Preserve your bouquet as pressed flowers
This is the option for a flat, airy, framed look. Pressed flowers become wall art.
If you already know you want a frame, go ahead and start your order so we can get you the next steps right away:
pressed flower preservation
Option B: Let the bouquet dry, then preserve it in a shadow box
If your bouquet is already dry, or if you want a fuller, dimensional look, dried shadow boxes are a great fit.
You can browse that option here:
dried flower shadow boxes
Option C: Keep a few blooms and let the rest go
Some couples keep one or two meaningful blooms, press them at home in a book, or save a ribbon from the bouquet wrap. If you’re feeling overwhelmed right after the wedding, it’s okay to keep it simple.
Step 4: If you’re shipping your bouquet to us, timing matters
For fresh pressing, we need your bouquet to arrive in the freshest condition possible.
Here’s the most important timing guideline: fresh flowers must arrive at our studio no more than 5 business days after your event.
If you’re local to Utah, you can also drop off your flowers instead of shipping them.
Step 5: Don’t package your bouquet too early
This is one of the biggest mistakes we see.
Flowers do not do well sealed up for long periods. If you package them too early, moisture builds up and your flowers can deteriorate faster.
Our best tip is: keep your bouquet in water until you are on your way to ship it. Then package it right before drop-off.
Step 6: Ship with next-day or two-day delivery
When you ship fresh flowers, speed matters.
We ask that you ship with next-day or two-day delivery with our pre-paid label and kit. You can use UPS, FedEx, or USPS, and we tend to prefer UPS based on how packages are handled.
A few shipping tips that make life easier:
- Do not pay extra for an early morning delivery time, it’s not necessary
- Do not require a signature on the delivery
- Avoid weekend delivery since we are closed Saturday and Sunday
- If your bouquet is shipping around a weekend, plan for Monday delivery
Our full step-by-step instructions live here: shipping your flowers
Step 7: Keep plastic away from the blooms
When packaging, avoid putting plastic near your blooms. A little protection around the stems is okay, but petals need airflow. Paper materials are usually safer for the flower heads than plastic.
If you ordered a shipping kit, open it a few days before your wedding so you can freeze the ice pack ahead of time.
Step 8: What happens after your bouquet arrives
Once your flowers arrive at our studio, we’ll confirm we received them and let you know what happens next.
Throughout the process, we send updates so you’re not left wondering where your bouquet is in the timeline. When it’s time to design, you’ll receive a mockup of the arrangement and you can request up to three tweaks before we finalize the piece.
If you want the full overview of the process and what to expect, our FAQ is the best place to start: flower preservation FAQ
A simple “day after the wedding” checklist
If you want the short version, here’s exactly what to do:
- Trim the stems and place your bouquet in water
- Keep it cool and out of direct sunlight
- If possible, store it in a fridge away from fruits and vegetables
- Place your order so you get the next steps right away
- Package only when you are ready to ship
- Ship next-day or two-day delivery so it arrives within 5 business days of the event
Want help with sizing and add-ons before you order?
Order Now
If you’re ready to preserve your bouquet, you can start here:
Order Now: wedding bouquet preservation
If you have a quick timing question, reach out and we’ll help you make a plan:
contact us
FAQ
How soon should I put my bouquet in water after the wedding?
As soon as you can. A fresh trim and water right after the event helps your bouquet stay in better condition while you decide your next step.
Can I ship my flowers on Monday if my wedding was on the weekend?
Yes. If your event is on a Saturday or Sunday, shipping on Monday is ideal. Keep the stems in water until you can send them, and package right before shipping.
Do I really need next-day shipping?
For fresh flower preservation, yes. Faster shipping helps your bouquet arrive in the best condition. We provide a pre-paid label.
How long do I have to get my bouquet to you?
Fresh flowers must arrive at our studio no more than 5 business days after your event.
What if my bouquet is already dried?
If your flowers are already dried, a shadow box is usually the better fit. You can start here: dried flower shadow boxes
