The vibe check with bridal bouquet preservation is becoming trendier and more desirable. It is not “are you going to get your flowers pressed,” it’s “have you booked your bridal bouquet preservation yet?”
To learn why booking your bridal bouquet preservation early is essential I have pulled together key reasons for you.
Fact! Most brides do not book their floral preservation early and as a result many miss out! Last year I turned away more than one hundred brides. That is a lot!
HIGH DEMAND FOR FLORAL PRESERVATION
Floral preservation artists book up months in advance, especially during peak wedding season.
The spots become limited due to the time sensitive nature of the preservation.
Most preservation artists have a limited number of bouquets they can take per week, especially during peak wedding season. Typically, that number is anywhere from 2-8. The bigger studios have the infrastructure to take more than fifty bouquets per week, but most preservation artists work out of their homes and have another job. Last year, we had one weekend where there were fifty-six preservations requested, we were only able to take twenty.
ENSURING THE BEST QUALITY RESULTS
Freshness matters! When you book early your preservation artist will talk to you about flower care. They might even use a “mom” voice to get the point across. Taking care of your flowers is one of the most important things you can do for your floral preservation.
It is common for the preservation artist to request a couple of extra stems of your anchor flowers from your florist. Many flowers are more delicate than others and start looking wilted and sad quickly. Or, you have a bouquet of roses that are reflexed. That means the outer petals are curved outward to reveal more of the inner petals. This technique creates a more dramatic version of the flower. However, when reflexed roses are pressed, they create geometric edges to your flower petals, not rounded. Two extra roses from your florists would be extremely helpful in this situation.
Some things to consider.
1. Remember that your florist buys your flowers for the wedding a week before hand.
2. The bouquet is made the night before (or two days before) and delivered day of the wedding.
3. The wedding often does not take place for hours. During this time photographs are typically taken. One thing I always tell my brides is “if your flowers aren’t in your hands, they should in water.” Best advice I can give.
4. The day of the wedding is extremely hot and/or the ceremony takes place in direct sunlight.
All these factors lead to wounded flowers, which means additional money, flower care, and time are required. An example of this are dahlias. They look great for about 24 hours, then start wilting. It is so beneficial to have 1-2 extra stems tucked away. This also prevents your preservation artist from having to buy replacement petals due to wilted blooms. Another example are hydrangeas. They can become limp quickly; however they can also be rehydrated. While new blooms are not required, it does add the total time it takes to start pressing your flowers. Your flowers should be pressed immediately after the wedding. Remember, the fresher the petals, the better they press.
Fresh flowers press better. The petals hold their color better, their shape presses more evenly, and freshness helps prevent advanced browning during the pressing process. Booking your bridal bouquet preservation early means your flowers are effectively managed by you or a member of your bridal party until they reach your preservationist.
FLORAL PRESERVATION CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS & DESIGN CHOICES
Deciding early on about what type of preservation method you want is imperative. There are not limited preservationists in the United States. Many states do not have preservation artists that can do resin or other states that do not do shadow boxes. Know what you want, do your homework. Remember you can use Instagram or TikTok as a search engine.
This is also a suitable time to talk your artist about any customization or special requests you might have. Special framing or adornments are important topics. These special requests can be answered ahead of time and helps prepare you for next steps.
AVOIDING LAST MINUTE WEDDING STRESS
Weddings are always hectic, booking ahead ensures one last thing to worry about. I reach out a week before the wedding and give the bride pointers on how keep their flowers fresh and any important tips for a perfect bridal bouquet preservation.
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND PAYMENT PLANS FOR YOUR FLORAL PRESERVATION
Some preservation artists offer early booking discounts or flexible payment options. We are one of the studios that provides this service to our brides. However, this option becomes obsolete when booking a late. Many studios will charge late bookings. Sometimes, these fees can be waived, it is best to ask. Be aware that your preservation artist is already booked, so they might have to hire additional help to press your bouquet. As a rule of thumb, I add on a late booking fee. Those fees can range from $100 - $300. It is not cheap.
Booking ahead allows you to budget for floral reservation as part of your wedding expenses and provides the opportunity to cash in on limited-time deals!
PROTECTING YOUR FLORAL INVESTMENT
Bridal bouquets can be expensive, preservation ensures that they do not go to waste. You spend thousands of dollars on your wedding, why not spend a little extra and have a piece of your wedding with your forever. Flowers are very sentimental and hold much meaning. Bridal bouquet preservation is one to capture this feeling.
HOW TO BOOK YOUR FLORAL PRESERVATON IN ADVANCE
Research and choose a floral preservation artist early.
Inquire about their process, pricing, and availability.
Secure your booking with a deposit, if required.
Now is the time to book with us. We are currently offering 15% off bridal bouquet preservation pieces 11 x 14” or larger and a resin ornament is included. This sale has more than $750 in savings.