How to Pack and Ship Your Wedding Flowers for Preservation

You just had the most beautiful day of your life, and now you need to get your wedding bouquet safely to us for preservation. Do not panic — shipping flowers is easier than it sounds, and we have helped thousands of brides do it successfully. Here is exactly what to do, step by step.

The Golden Rule: Ship Fast

The single most important thing is speed. Fresh flowers deteriorate quickly. Ideally, you should ship your bouquet within 3 to 5 days of your wedding. The sooner the better — we have received beautiful flowers 7 days after a wedding, but we have also received flowers that were too far gone after just 4 days because they were left in a warm car or near a heater.

If you cannot ship right away, keep your flowers in fresh water in a cool, dark room. Change the water daily. Do not store them in the refrigerator near produce — ethylene gas from fruits and vegetables accelerates wilting.

What You Will Need

• A sturdy cardboard box (bigger than you think — flowers need room)
• Tissue paper or newspaper for padding (never bubble wrap directly on blooms)
• A small plastic bag or damp paper towel for the stem ends
• Packing tape
• A note with your name and order number

Step-by-Step Packing Instructions

Step 1: Let the stems drain

Take your bouquet out of water about 1 hour before packing. Let the stems drain so the box does not get soaked. Do not let them sit out longer than 2 hours — you want them to arrive hydrated, not dried out.

Step 2: Protect the stem ends

Lightly dampen a paper towel and wrap it around the bottom of the stems. Then wrap that in a small plastic bag and secure with a rubber band. This keeps the stems from drying out completely during transit without soaking the box.

Step 3: Wrap the blooms

Loosely wrap the flower heads in a layer or two of tissue paper or newspaper. The key word is loosely — you want to protect them from bumping around, not crush them. Do not use plastic wrap or a plastic bag around the blooms as this traps moisture and causes mold.

Step 4: Box it up

Place the wrapped bouquet in your box. Add crumpled tissue paper or newspaper around the sides to keep it from shifting. The bouquet should be snug but not squeezed. Include a piece of paper with your full name and order number inside the box.

Step 5: Ship with a reliable carrier

We recommend shipping via UPS or FedEx overnight or 2-day. USPS Priority Mail 2-day also works well. Avoid ground shipping — 5 to 7 days in a box is too long for most flowers.

We offer a discounted UPS overnight shipping label you can purchase through us, which saves you money compared to buying at the counter.

What NOT to Do

• Do not freeze your flowers — freezing damages cell structure and ruins preservation
• Do not dry them yourself before shipping — we need to handle the drying process
• Do not use silica gel without consulting us first
• Do not wait more than a week to ship
• Do not ship on a Friday if it means the flowers will sit in a warehouse over the weekend

What About Houston-Area Brides?

If you are local to Houston, Texas, you can drop off your flowers in person at our studio. Local drop-offs are by appointment only — contact us here to schedule a time. This is the fastest and easiest option if you are in the area.

What Happens After You Ship?

Once your flowers arrive at our studio, we will email you to confirm receipt. Then we begin the careful process of drying, pressing, and crafting your piece — which takes 6 to 12 months. We know that sounds like a long time, but doing it right means your piece will last a lifetime.