The Best Flower Preservation Methods for Your Wedding Bouquet
Your wedding bouquet isn't just a collection of beautiful flowers — it's a symbol of your love story. But after the big day, many brides are left wondering: What should I do with my flowers now?
Whether you're sentimental, creative, or just want a way to hold onto the moment, preserving your bouquet is a meaningful way to turn your flowers into a lasting keepsake. In this post, we'll compare the most popular flower preservation methods and help you choose the right one for your style, budget, and timeline.
The 5 Most Popular Flower Preservation Methods
1. Air Drying
Best for: DIYers on a budgetThe most traditional method — simply hang your bouquet upside down in a dry, dark place for several weeks. While it's simple and free, results can vary significantly. Flowers often shrink, brown, or become fragile over time.
- Free and easy
- No special supplies needed
- Rustic, vintage aesthetic
- Significant color loss
- Flowers become very fragile
- Can look wilted or brown
2. Silica Gel Drying
Best for: DIYers who want better resultsSilica gel absorbs moisture quickly and helps preserve flower shape better than air drying. You bury the blooms in the gel and wait several days. It's a great option if you want to retain more vibrant color without professional help.
- Retains color better
- Maintains shape well
- Relatively affordable
- Can be messy
- Requires supplies and patience
- Flowers still fragile afterward
3. Pressed Flowers
Best for: Minimalists and framed art loversPressing your bouquet between heavy books or in a flower press flattens the blooms into delicate, two-dimensional pieces. Perfect for framing, scrapbooking, or creating flat artwork.
- Great for framed displays
- Easy to DIY
- Clean, minimalist look
- Loses all 3D depth and texture
- Not suitable for large blooms
- Colors can fade over time
4. Professional Freeze Drying
Best for: Those with large budgets and patienceFreeze drying uses vacuum technology to preserve flowers with minimal shrinkage. The bouquet is treated, frozen, and slowly dried over several months. Results can be excellent but come with a high price tag and long wait.
- High-quality results
- Maintains original shape
- Can preserve entire bouquet
- Very expensive ($500–$1,500+)
- Takes 3–9 months
- Still requires display case
5. Resin Preservation ⭐ Our Recommendation
Best for: Brides who want a beautiful, lasting keepsakePreserving your flowers in clear epoxy resin captures their natural beauty in stunning 3D form. Whether it's a floral block, bookend, heart, or ring holder, this method creates custom, display-worthy art from your bouquet that's protected and built to last.
At Everlasting Bloom Co., we specialize in resin preservation using our proprietary PetalSafe™ resin, designed specifically for flowers. We offer a 10–12 week turnaround, multiple design options, and more affordable pricing than freeze drying — without sacrificing quality.
- Modern, stunning appearance
- Extremely durable
- Fully customizable designs
- Protected from dust and damage
- Requires professional service
- Not all flowers fit all molds
Comparison: Which Method Is Right for You?
| Method | Cost | DIY? | Result | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Drying | Free | ✅ | Rustic, fragile | 2–4 weeks |
| Silica Gel | $20–50 | ✅ | Better color, still fragile | 1–2 weeks |
| Pressed Flowers | $10–30 | ✅ | Flat, framed art | 1–3 weeks |
| Freeze Drying | $500–1,500+ | ❌ | Full bouquet display | 3–9 months |
| Resin Keepsakes | $150–600 | ❌ | Durable, modern 3D art | 10–12 weeks |
Why We Recommend Resin Preservation
At Everlasting Bloom Co., we've seen firsthand how resin keepsakes bring joy to brides long after their wedding day. Unlike methods that leave flowers fragile or require additional framing, a resin keepsake is:
- A finished piece of art — Ready to display the moment it arrives
- Protected forever — No dust, no fading, no crumbling
- Completely customizable — Choose from dozens of shapes and sizes
- More affordable than freeze drying — With faster turnaround
Our Process: We dry your flowers using professional silica methods, then hand-cast them in our PetalSafe™ resin. The result is a crystal-clear keepsake that captures your bouquet's beauty forever. Learn how it works →
Ready to Preserve Your Bouquet?
Explore our collection of resin keepsakes or order a Bloom Box™ to safely ship your flowers to our studio.
Browse KeepsakesPreserving your wedding flowers is more than just saving petals — it's about holding onto a piece of your love story. Whatever method you choose, we hope you find a way to cherish those meaningful blooms for years to come.
