What to Do with Your Wedding Flowers
Your wedding day goes by faster than anyone warns you it will. The flowers, though — they stay around a little longer. And for a few days after the wedding, they sit in a vase and you find yourself not quite ready to let them go.
You're not being sentimental. You're being right.
Here's what your options actually look like — and why more and more brides are choosing to preserve their bouquet rather than watch it fade.
You carry those flowers for one day. You deserve to keep them forever.
Option 1 — Let them dry naturally
The simplest approach. Hang your bouquet upside down in a warm, dry room for two to three weeks. You'll end up with dried flowers that retain their shape — though colours will shift and some petals will become fragile.
It's a lovely, low-cost option, but the results vary significantly depending on the flowers in your bouquet, and dried arrangements can deteriorate over time if not kept carefully.
Best for: brides who want a simple, natural feel and don't mind some colour change.
Option 2 — Press them
Pressing individual flowers between heavy books or in a flower press creates beautiful, flat specimens that work well framed. It suits certain flowers better than others — full, structural blooms like roses and peonies don't press as well as flatter flowers like cosmos or sweet peas.
The result is delicate and two-dimensional; meaningful, but limited in what you can do with it.
Best for: brides with simpler, flatter flowers who want a framed botanical display.
Option 3 — Donate them
Some hospitals, hospices and care homes accept fresh flowers after events. It's a generous option if you'd like your bouquet to bring joy to someone else — though it does mean letting go of the flowers entirely.
A number of charities coordinate flower donations from weddings and events. It's worth searching for local schemes in Surrey and the wider area if this feels right for you.
Best for: brides who find meaning in passing the joy on.
Option 4 — Preserve them in resin
This is the option that's grown significantly in popularity over the last few years — and for good reason. Resin preservation is different from everything above. It doesn't flatten, fade or rely on perfect drying conditions. Done well, it captures your flowers in a way that remains beautiful for decades.
Here's how it works at Everform Atelier, specifically, and why I believe it's worth doing properly.
The process
Your flowers are dried slowly in silica gel — a professional drying medium that draws moisture out of the blooms while preserving their shape and, crucially, their colour. This is a different result to air drying, which causes flowers to shrink, discolour and become brittle.
Once dried, the flowers are arranged by hand and set in layers of premium clear epoxy resin — poured carefully over days, not hours, to ensure clarity throughout. Each layer cures before the next is added. The result is a solid, glass-clear piece that lets light pass through the flowers exactly as they were.
What can you include?
The flowers themselves are the starting point — but many brides like to include other elements that made the day personal:
• Wedding bouquet flowers and stems
• Bridesmaids' flowers
• Invitation card details or paper
• Bouquet ribbon or lace
• Ring or small personal charms
Not sure what will work? Get in touch before your wedding
and I'll let you know exactly what's possible with your flowers.
What shapes are available?
Shapes range from simple display blocks and arches to spheres, hearts and cubes. Most brides choose something they can display at home — somewhere it catches the light. A few choose something more unusual. Every piece is bespoke and made to order.
A word on timing — this is important
This is the detail that catches people out: your flowers need to reach the studio within 48 to 72 hours of your wedding. After that, the stems begin to perish and even the professional drying process can't fully save them.
The good news is that posting them is simpler than it sounds. Keep them in fresh water overnight after the wedding, and the next morning have a family member or friend box them carefully and send them via a tracked next-day service. You don't need to be there — you just need someone ready to help.
I'll send you clear packing instructions well in advance so there's nothing to figure out on the day.
💡 TIP FOR BRIDES
Tell one person — a parent, a bridesmaid, your venue coordinator — that they're responsible for your flowers on the morning after.
One person, one job. That's all it takes.
What if it's too late?
If your flowers are already gone — or if you're reading this well after your wedding and wish you'd done something at the time — it's still possible in some cases. Identical or very similar flowers can sometimes be sourced and used to recreate your bouquet for preservation.
It's not the same as using your actual flowers, but it's a meaningful option for those who missed the window. Get in touch and we'll talk through what's possible.
A note on which flowers preserve well
Not every flower preserves equally well in resin, and it's worth knowing this before the wedding rather than after.
Dark-coloured blooms tend to deepen slightly through the drying process. Whites can shift towards cream. Some flowers — roses, peonies, dahlias, ranunculus — hold their colour and structure beautifully. Others are more unpredictable.
If you have specific flowers in mind and want to know how they're likely to behave, I'm always happy to advise before your wedding day. Just get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How soon after the wedding do I need to send my flowers?
A: Within 48–72 hours is ideal. Keep them in fresh water after the wedding and arrange posting first thing the next morning via a tracked next-day service. I'll give you full instructions well in advance.
Q: Can I include things other than flowers?
A: Yes — ribbon, lace, invitation details, dried foliage, small charms and more. Get in touch before your wedding and I'll advise on what works best.
Q: How long does the process take?
A: Each piece takes several weeks from receipt of flowers to completion. Resin is poured in layers over days for the best possible clarity. I'll give you a clear timeline when you enquire.
Q: Do you work with brides outside Surrey?
A: Yes — Everform Atelier serves brides across the UK. Sending your flowers is straightforward and I'll guide you through the whole process.
Q: What if I missed the window after my wedding?
A: Get in touch — in some cases we can source similar flowers for preservation. It's worth a conversation.