What to Expect out of Floral Preservation

The Preservation Process

Floral preservation is part art, part science. Here’s a quick snapshot at what you can expect if you hire me to preserve your special occasion flowers:

You get your flowers to me after your event and decide on what package(s) you would like.
I dry the flowers using silica to preserve as much of their shape and color as possible. This takes a minimum of 4 weeks.
Once the flowers dry, I design 3-4 layout options for your main piece(s) and send you photos of those layouts so you can pick a favorite.
After your design is approved, I pour thin layers of resin to encase your flowers using silicone or HDPE molds.
After the final layer cures, I sand, topcoat, and do other finishing work on your pieces.
Finally, your piece goes home! We can arrange in-person or pickup to meet your needs.

This slow but careful process helps create keepsakes that you and your family will cherish for years to come.

Drop-Off & Shipping

If you’re getting married in or around Greenville, SC, your bouquet will need to be hand-delivered directly to me within 1-2 days of your event. Anyone — you, a member of your bridal party, a family member, or your wedding coordinator — can handle this drop-off. We’ll coordinate details when you book.

If you are getting married somewhere that drop-off isn’t an option, you will need to ship your bouquet to me via overnight or second-day air. Please budget and plan accordingly. I send detailed instructions on how to pack and ship your bouquet at booking.

I cannot accept last-minute orders by mail. Your flowers would be dead by the time they arrived; shipping is hard on bouquets.

Completion Timeline

Floral preservation is a time-consuming process, so you should be prepared for a two or three month wait at minimum. I do my best to finish most preservation projects within 8-16 weeks, but this is not a promise. I can’t guarantee a finish-by date. You are welcome to request one, and I’ll do what I can to accommodate, but I can’t make guarantees.

Here are some of the factors that affect how long preservations take:

All flowers dry for a minimum of 3-4 weeks, no exceptions.
The pieces you pick: larger orders naturally take more time.
Mold availability: I have a limited number of each type of mold, and if you (or someone else) orders multiples of the same shape, it takes more time.
Weather: While I do what I can to climate-control my studio space, temperatures and humidity levels can impact my ability to pour effectively.
Supply chain: All of my molds are handcrafted by other independent makers. If you request a specific special shape (and you’re welcome to), it takes time to get that mold made. My resin also ships from across the country.
Season: Bouquets during peak wedding season often take longer just because I’m busier. Currently, Heirloom and Blossom is my side hustle and I’m the only “employee,” so I can only handle so much in a week.

Communication

If you have questions, please contact me directly by email, text, or the contact form on my website whenever possible. Social media messages tend to get lost in the shuffle.

I try to communicate throughout the process, but you should expect periods where you don’t hear from me. In floral preservation, “no news is good news!” If I haven’t messaged you, it means I’m still busy working on your order.

I do make layout options for your main pieces, and you’ll receive photos of those layouts around Week 4 or 5. Please make your picks as quickly as possible to keep your timeline short. If I don’t hear from you, I may move onto another client’s order.