How to Keep Your Wedding Flowers Fresh Before Preservation

If you've decided to preserve your wedding bouquet, the first few days after your wedding are the most important. How you care for your flowers in this window has a direct impact on how vibrant and beautiful the final preserved piece will look. Here's everything you need to know.

Ship Within 3–5 Days of Your Wedding

The golden rule of flower preservation is speed. Fresh flowers preserve best — colors are more vibrant, petals are more intact, and the overall result is more stunning. We recommend shipping your flowers to us within 3–5 days of your wedding. The sooner, the better.

Keep Them Hydrated

Until you're ready to pack and ship, treat your flowers like you would any cut flower arrangement:

• Trim the stems at an angle (about 1–2 inches from the bottom)
• Place them in a clean vase with fresh, cool water
• Change the water daily
• Keep them in a cool room away from direct sunlight, heat vents, and drafts
• Remove any leaves below the waterline to prevent bacterial growth

Keep Them Cool

Heat is the enemy of fresh flowers. Keep your bouquet in the coolest room in your house — or even in the refrigerator if you're not packing them for a day or two. Avoid placing them near appliances, sunny windows, or anywhere the temperature fluctuates.

Handle Gently

Wedding flowers can bruise if handled roughly, and bruising shows up in the preservation process. Try to minimize how often you touch the petals — especially on roses, garden roses, and ranunculus, which are more delicate.

How to Pack Your Flowers for Shipping

When you're ready to ship, wrap your flowers in damp paper towels (just moist, not soaking wet) and place them in a sealed zip-lock bag. Nest them carefully in a box with padding around the sides. We recommend using an expedited shipping service — 2-day or overnight — to minimize transit time.

Need a discounted shipping label? Contact us and we'll point you in the right direction. You can also visit our FAQ page for more shipping tips.

What If It's Been Longer Than a Week?

Don't panic. If more than a week has passed since your wedding, reach out to us before doing anything else. Depending on the condition of your flowers, we may still be able to work with them. Contact our team and we'll let you know what's possible.

Ready to Get Started?

Browse our keepsakes and place your order — then ship us your flowers. We'll take it from there.