How long after a wedding can I preserve flowers?

You can preserve your wedding flowers at any point, but timing makes a real difference. Start within a day or two of the wedding, while the blooms are still firm and colourful. Flowers left for a week or more will wilt, lose petals and fade, so the preserved result will be less lively.

There are several ways to preserve flowers. Air drying is simple: tie small bunches and hang them upside down in a dark, dry, airy place for a few weeks. Pressing works well for flat flowers like pansies or gypsophila, and you can frame the results. Silica gel or a flower press gives a more lifelike finish, but you need to act quickly and follow the product instructions.

If you want a professional finish, a florist or preservation specialist can freeze-dry or resin-cast your bouquet. Book them before the wedding so they know to expect your flowers. Keep a few spare blooms from the bouquet in water until the specialist collects them.

Remember that some flowers preserve better than others. Roses, lavender, statice and hydrangeas hold their shape well, while delicate blooms like lilies may not survive the process. Whatever method you choose, keep preserved flowers out of direct sunlight to stop colours fading.