Our wedding day had a lot of set backs, but damn if I didn’t absolutely love our flowers. Flowers are absolutely one of my favorite things in life, but they unfortunately don’t last forever.
The day after the wedding, I got to work preserving the flowers so that I could enjoy them a little longer and have them for years to come. And while I didn’t preserve my entire wedding bouquet, I did find a fun and easy way to weave the flowers into the photo memories of the day (no resin involved).
Here’s how I preserved my wedding flowers:
You can view this project over on my YouTube Channel or keep reading for the photo tutorial!
What You’ll Need to Preserve Wedding Flowers
– Flowers (obviously)
– Blotting paper or wax paper
– Heavy book
– Microwave
– Heavy microwaveable container
The Preservation Process
There are a few different methods you can use for preserving flowers and bouquet preservation. Since these flowers were very special, I decided to try two methods just in case.
The first way is my go-to: pressing flowers in a book. I’ve been pressing flowers this way for years and they always turn out great! If you want to hear all of my tips and tricks, I wrote a post about it in 2014 and I still follow it.
The other method I tried that was new to me: pressing flowers in the microwave. I love this technique if you don’t have weeks to wait or you’re looking for brighter colors in your flowers.
There are pros and cons to each method:
Microwave Pressed Flowers vs Book Pressed Flowers
Aside from different wait periods, there’s definitely an aesthetic difference between the two methods of pressing flowers. To give you context, I pressed these flowers May 2021 (so this is almost a year later).
The flowers that were pressed in the microwave had a bit more color, but also a bit more texture. They have more height, which might not always work if you want to showcase them in a pressed frame. They didn’t lay as flat as the flowers that were pressed in a book.
A few other difference that I saw in my flowers:
– Pressing in the microwave takes way more active crafting time. They also kinda make your house stink. Not forever, but enough to notice while you’re in the process.
– Flowers pressed in a book tend to be much larger and flatter. They also don’t have as bright of coloring. They will take on the texture of what you press them in, so blotting paper is best.
I was in a rush because of our move and used a paper towel to press my flowers (you can tell from the texture). It doesn’t bother me, but if you want your flowers to be as smooth as possible, don’t use paper towels!
To Make A Wedding Bouquet Frame
Now that you know how to preserve your wedding flowers, here’s a quick craft you can make with them! You’ll need:
– Floating frame (or a frame with a hinge)
– Wedding photograph
– Double sided tape
If your floating frame is 11″x13″, and you want space around the sides, print your photo as an 8″x10″. If you have a bigger photo and frame, you could definitely use more of the book pressed flowers. For my size print, the poppies that were pressed in the microwave laid over the image much better.
The first step is securing your photo in place. I used double sided tape to make sure the photo wouldn’t budge. You won’t have to tape your flowers in place, just your photo. Use a level if you are having issues getting the print to lay straight across.
After that, it’s really just a matter of playing with flowers. Dried flowers are extremely delicate so be careful when handling. I found it easier to hover the flower over the photo before I knew for sure that I wanted it in that placement (less picking up and putting down involved).
Once your flowers are where you’d like them to be, wipe down the glass one more time, and then slowly close the frame. The frame should be tight enough to secure the flowers in place once it’s sealed closed. I would suggest only closing the frame once, so be sure your flowers are where you want them before you finish.
Display and enjoy!
So that’s how I preserved my wedding flowers! It’s definitely more than a photograph now, it’s a piece of art! The flowers really are such a subtle, but special addition to the photograph. I would also love to see a black and white photograph with the colorful dried flowers on top.
To extend the life and color of your flowers, hang your piece out of direct sunlight. If you have any extra flowers, this would also be a great idea to recreate with your bridesmaid bouquets as personalized gifts for after the wedding.
Let me know if you have any questions! I’d also love to know how you preserved your wedding bouquet!
