Haleigh Eustis
Floral Intern
It’s wedding season, which means it’s time for unforgettable memories and an endless supply of pictures, videos and . . . flowers! Without fail, most weddings utilize flowers in center pieces, bouquets, and floral arrangements. Though these beautiful floral pieces are stunning in the moment, they tend to wither away after a few days. Well, what if I told you that you can preserve your wedding flowers for years on end! Though this task may sound labor intensive, truly it’s so simple and easy that anyone can do it.
Let’s begin:
- Though it may seem silly, for the best results of your pressed flowers, you’ll have to condition them. Conditioning is simple; cut your flower stems at a 45-degree angle and place them in water for 24 hours. This way they will be fresh and ready for you to press the next day!
- Once they have been conditioned, you’re going to cut your flowers, so you’re only left with the tops. You can utilize any part of the flower as well; Use the leaves from the flower’s stems! Add greenery to create dimension to your pressed bouquet as well. Have fun with this part as these are your wedding flowers and you want to remember the best aspects of your bouquet! (Remember, the larger the flower the harder it is to press. If you have a large focal flower you want to press, try using individual petals instead.)
- Once you’ve chosen and cut your flowers, you will want a heavy stack of books at the ready! Laying a piece of parchment paper down on the inside of your book, you will place your various flowers on the parchment. The order doesn’t matter as you’re going to move these after they’ve been pressed. Once you’ve arranged the flowers to your liking, place parchment on top of the flowers as well. You will have two pieces of parchment in total, sandwiching your flowers.
- This is the hard part! Close your book and layer two or three heavier books on top (if you don’t have books at the ready, you can use glass pans, bricks, or heavy rocks!) Now, leave your flowers in a dry and dark space for two to three weeks.
- After two to three weeks, carefully open your book and look at your beautiful, pressed creation. These flowers should be flat and dried out completely. If they’re not yet, close your book and keep pressing!
Now, this is where the real fun happens! Use your flowers to create a dried floral piece that can be used for decoration to remind you of your special day. Arrange your flowers in a design that you like and if you’re feeling extra crafty, add a beautiful photo from your special day. Nestle the design into a picture frame. There you have it, a beautiful, pressed creation to decorate your home with for years and years!
Shop all your wedding floral needs at Price Chopper/Market 32 Floral Department!