How can I preserve my wedding bouquet after the wedding?

Short answer

You can preserve your wedding bouquet by air drying it, pressing the flowers, or using silica gel. Each method keeps the bouquet as a keepsake, but results vary, so choose based on the flowers and how you want to display them.

Air drying is the simplest method. Remove any elastic or ribbon, tie the stems loosely, and hang the bouquet upside down in a warm, dark, dry place for two to three weeks. This works well for sturdy flowers like roses, lavender and statice, but delicate blooms may lose colour or droop. Once dry, you can display the bouquet in a vase or frame it.

Pressing is better for individual flowers or a few stems. Place flowers between sheets of absorbent paper inside a heavy book, and leave them for a few weeks. Pressed flowers lie flat, so they suit framed pictures, cards or resin jewellery. Silica gel preserves shape and colour more faithfully: bury the flowers in the gel in an airtight container for several days, then gently brush off the crystals. This method costs a little for the gel, but you can reuse it.

Whichever method you choose, start soon after the wedding, while the flowers are still fresh. Keep the bouquet out of direct sunlight and away from heat while it dries. If you want a professional result, some companies offer freeze-drying or resin preservation, but that can be pricey. For a simple keepsake, drying or pressing at home works well.