Looking After Your Flowers: The First Step in Preservation
To achieve the best possible preservation results, a little care in the first 24–48 hours makes all the difference.
First things first: flowers need water. I know this won’t be at the top of your mind on such a special day, so it can really help to nominate a trusted “bouquet babysitter” to look after them for you. Here’s what they’ll need to know.
Please Do 💐
-
Keep your flowers in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat.
-
Stand your bouquet in a small amount of clean water, just enough to cover the bottom few centimetres of the stems. A vase like this works well Cube vase 15cm just consider the height of your stems.
-
Remove the bouquet from water around an hour before the ceremony, then return it to water as soon as possible afterwards.
-
After the celebration, your bouquet can double as décor — a short, wide vase on your top table or cake table works beautifully and keeps stems supported.
-
When the day is over, re-cut each stem individually using clean, sharp scissors or a knife, cutting diagonally to help the flowers absorb water.
-
Always use a spotless vase and fresh water.
-
Remove any corsages or buttonholes you wish to preserve as soon as possible to prevent wilting.
-
Move flowers out of warm reception rooms as soon as you can.
Please Never ❌
-
Do not mist, spray, or soak flowers or foliage — stems only.
-
Do not place flowers in a fridge, freezer, or very cold storage
-
Avoid hot, humid or damp environments.
-
And please don’t throw your bouquet! If you’d like to keep the tradition, use a bridesmaid’s bouquet instead (I promise your future self will thank you).