Carte Blanche Eternal

Is it worth the risk?

The short answer? Yes!

If you’re considering having your wedding flowers pressed in order to create a one of a kind keepsake from your wedding, I am sure you are aware of the cost.

The price is well worth it- the time and attention that artisans put into meticulously pressing, drying, and arranging your bouquet into a one of a kind masterpiece is more than enough to justify the cost.

However- a lot of brides are feeling the strain, especially after the wedding is over and cost of the wedding itself begins to feel overwhelming.

With some time and patience, and maybe some extra hands, you can also press your wedding flowers and create beautiful and unique keepsakes.

The process is fairly simple. By pressing the flowers between weights, the moisture is released from the flowers. Blotter paper (parchment paper and non-textured paper towels or napkins) wick away the moisture, and over the course of a few weeks, you have pressed, dried flowers; perfectly preserved for your artwork.

There are a few ways to speed the process. Good dehydrators do a fantastic job of speeding the drying process to about 24-48 hours, depending on the flower.

By first pressing the florals between plywood sheets for a full 24 hours, we were able to achieve the flat, pressed effect; switching them to the dehydrator for the complete drying.

We loved this option because it eliminated opportunities for mold; our biggest concern when it comes to preserving florals.

Mistakes and What to Avoid

We used a dehydrator, because mold was our biggest concern and the only thing that could truly ruin the florals.

However, if you don’t have access to a dehydrator, as long as you use plenty of blotter paper and ensure your florals are in a cool, dry, area- you can avoid any chance of mold as well.

Microwave method: We experimented with this method, using tea towels and parchment paper, with the flowers pressed between two large bowls and weighed down.

While effective, the microwave method is time consuming for large amounts of flowers. To be efficient, you have to have several bowls rotating at once, and it is essential to wait for each flower to cool completely in between the short 15 second microwave bursts. Otherwise, it is very easy to burn your florals.

The process itself was very therapeutic. Using a glass sheet, we experimented with the most beautiful way to arrange each floral to emphasize the beauty of each individual flower.

All in all- if you price out floral pressing and drying services and it’s too expensive- it’s worth trying to achieve the look you want for yourself! You may surprise yourself with the beauty you can achieve.