Floral Preservation Information
What is the Floral Preservation Process & how long does it take?
What is the Floral Preservation Process & how long does it take?
Floral preservation is the art of casting real flowers in resin. The flowers are either dried using silica gel or pressed, depending on the pieces being created. While flowers and greenery dried in silica remain structurally the same, there can be some changes to colour depending on the original colour. For example, deep red can dry to be almost black. I provide more information on this in the guide I provide clients.
The floral preservation process, from receiving your blooms to shipping a finished piece, can range from 4 to 8 months. This is mostly driven by the time of year and the orders I have on the go! You can see a full outline of the process here.
Can you preserve dried or artificial flowers?
In short, yes! If you have flowers that are previously dried you can send them to me and I can preserve them for you. Depending on the bloom, I may dry them in silica to ensure they are 100% dry before beginning production.
Risks in using already dried flowers are brittleness, color changes, trapped moisture, and bubbles. I would dry the flowers in silica to ensure they are fully dried and do my best to alleviate breakage and bubbles. Unfortunately, I can't control colour changes as I don't provide colour correction.
How will my flowers be affected by the preservation process?
You never fully know how a flower will be affected by preserving in resin. Flowers dry differently; some remain the same but others can either fade or even darken in colour. For example, red flowers darken, whites become creams, oranges turn bronze, etc. You may also see some bruising on petals, wear in leaves and some damage, these show as either translucent or dark spots in your final piece. These changes are normal and part of the beauty of working with real flowers. We take great care to preserve your flowers so their beauty is captured and cherished for years to come. Your flowers are perfectly imperfect!
Can I customize any elements of my design?
You’re welcome to include meaningful items such as fabric, hairpins, beads, photos, invitations, hair, ashes, or even insects in your piece. As long as the item is free of moisture, it can be preserved in resin!
We also offer the option to add a black or white background, along with touches of gold or silver leaf for extra elegance. The only additional cost applies to laminating paper products; all other options are included at no charge.
What can I expect in my final preservation pieces?
Looking at your finished piece, this is what you may see:
- Crystal-clear resin.
- Layer lines: these are only visible from the side.
- Expect 6-12 layers, depending on the thickness of your flowers.
- A thoughtful design.
- Bruising (transparent spots on petals).
- A few pieces of runaway silica gel: the drying medium.
- It sticks to petals but gets brushed off before casting. I try to get most of it, but a few pieces will inevitably make it into the final piece(looks like salt). - Dust, fibre, lint: I try to minimize anything from falling into each piece, but I'm only human.
- A piece of art that is intended to be displayed from the front.
- Large blocks can weigh up to 10-15 lbs.
Are there any special care guidelines you recommend for my bouquet to make sure it arrives intact and as fresh as possible?
There are some things you can do that will help to keep your blooms from being damaged during and post event.
- Avoid touching your flowers anywhere but the stems
- Keep them in a vase of water whenever they're not being held
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Consider storing in A/C if it's a hot, sunny day
- Avoid the bouquet toss. Consider an alternate/artificial bouquet for this
- Ensure anyone who is responsible for your bouquet is fully aware of these care instructions
- Store in the coolest room of your house. If you don't have any fruit sor veg in your fridge, store in the fridge. Fruits/veg emit ethylene gas, which shortens the life expectancy of cut flowers.
How should I package and send my flowers?
Once the deposit is received and your date confirmed, you will receive detailed instructions on how to package your flowers.
Fresh blooms must remain hydrated and must be packaged right before shipping/hand-delivering. With regard to already dried flowers, they must be packaged very delicately to avoid breakage.
Once the deposit is received and your date confirmed, you will receive detailed instructions on the best way to package your flowers.
It is imperative that fresh blooms stay hydrated and are packaged right before shipping/hand-delivering. As far as dried flowers, ensuring they are delicately packaged to avoid breakage is the most important.
Working with me
How do I reserve my date?
How do I reserve my date?
Simply email me your event date at lisagriffinfloraldesigns@gmail.com. At this point, a $300 is required to secure your spot.
How long before my event do I need to book with you?
I recommend booking as soon as you know your event date! Wedding season and holidays fill up quickly, and reservations are taken on a first-come basis. Securing your spot early ensures I can preserve your flowers at their best. If you aren't 100% sure date, reach out and we can discuss further. If it's a slow time, I may be able to take last-minute requests, but can't promise that.
What is your payment, cancellation, and refund policy?
A $300 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation date, and this amount is applied to your final order total. The remaining balance is due once I receive your bouquets and begin the preservation process.
Cancellations are accepted up to one month before your reservation date, but deposits cannot be refunded. Because each piece is custom-made, I do not offer refunds or returns once work has begun. However, I will gladly replace or correct any item that arrives damaged or if an error occurs on my part.
Do I need to have my wedding bouquet ordered before booking with you?
Not at all! If you're still in the process of deciding which flowers to include in your bouquet that doesn't impact us working together. I am always happy to work with brides to help them select flowers that preserve well.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is calculated based on your location and the items in your order. You will always know the shipping price before you purchase.