In order to keep every memory of your special day alive, you hire a photographer, videographer, and you have your wedding gown specially cleaned and boxed. Your bridal bouquet should be no different. You can do more than just leave it in the refrigerator, have the flowers dry out, and later put them in a box somewhere to be forgotten. Floral preservation has come a long way making it possible to keep your floral memories as if time stood still.

What is floral preservation? It is a process used to preserve flowers by maintaining the color and shape keeping them vibrant and looking fresh for many years. Floral preservation specialists recommend upon ordering your bridal bouquet that you inform your florist that you will be having your bouquet preserved. Communication between the florist and the preservation specialist is always a good idea. The freshness and quality of the flowers used produces a better quality product. Also, keep in mind that some flowers will preserve better than others. Some of these are: orchids, lilies, calla lilies, gladiolas, gardenias, freesia and roses. Preserved flowers may deepen in hue. Red flowers generally darken and white flowers take on a creamy, antique color. In the past, the process of floral preservation sometimes involved the use of harsh chemicals, which left unpleasant odors. Today, newer methods using advanced technology are available. Not only is the preservation method important but also the method used to encase your bouquet. Other considerations to keep in mind are: make sure your encasement is properly sealed to keep out air and humidity; and be sure that it is UV protected to block UV and overhead light rays.

After your bouquet has been preserved and encased, you should receive special care instructions. Such instructions should include: keeping your flowers away from direct sunlight; not using any window cleaner or other harsh chemicals on the encasement and using only cotton cleaning cloths. By carefully following these simple instructions, your encasement will remain beautiful for years to come. When having your flowers preserved, remember to get them to the preservationist as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep your flowers in water and place in the refrigerator. In order to prevent bruising, do not allowing the petals to touch anything around them.

For a floral preservationist near you, visit www.premierbride.com