By: palettedeflores.com.au

Your wedding flowers are one of the most memorable and meaningful elements of your big day. From the bouquets and boutonnieres to the ceremony decor and reception table centrepieces, flowers add a touch of elegance and natural beauty to every corner. But once the wedding day is over, many couples wonder what to do with these stunning floral arrangements. Fortunately, there are several ways to preserve, repurpose, and enjoy your wedding flowers long after the big day, making your wedding day extra special in ways you might not have imagined.

1. Preserve Your Wedding Bouquet

One of the most common ways to keep your wedding flowers alive after the day is to preserve your bouquet. There are several options for preserving flowers, depending on how you want to remember them.

Dried Flowers: A popular and eco-friendly option is drying your bouquet. You can air-dry the flowers or use a silica gel kit to help retain their colour and shape. Dried flowers can be framed, turned into a wreath, or even preserved in a shadow box.
Pressed Flowers: Pressing flowers between sheets of parchment paper or inside a flower press is a beautiful way to preserve their delicate forms. You can later use the pressed flowers in DIY crafts like greeting cards or framed artwork.
Floral Preservation Service: Many florists and specialty shops offer preservation services where your bouquet is professionally dried and framed or turned into resin jewellery or keepsake items. Learn more about floral preservation here.

2. Repurpose Wedding Flowers for the Reception

After the ceremony, your wedding flowers can still play a role at your reception. Why not give them a second life by moving them from the ceremony space to the dining area or cocktail tables?

Centrepieces: If your ceremony featured large floral arrangements, you can repurpose these as centrepieces at your reception. This allows you to make the most of your floral investment and helps the décor flow seamlessly between the two parts of your celebration.
Bar and Buffet Decor: Use your flowers to dress up your drink or food stations. Floral arrangements can add a vibrant and romantic touch to the bar area or buffet tables, complementing your overall wedding theme.

If you're looking for ideas or inspiration for your reception flower decor, check out our wedding packages here.

Wedding flowers repurposed as reception centrepieces, creating a beautiful dining atmosphere

3. Share Your Flowers with Loved Ones

A great way to spread the joy of your wedding flowers is by gifting them to family members, friends, or anyone who has helped make your day special. You can ask your florist to create small, personal floral arrangements or bouquets for guests who were particularly close to you.

Thank You Bouquets: After the wedding, you can give out small bouquets to your parents, bridal party, or guests who played a significant role in your wedding. It’s a thoughtful way to show appreciation for their support.
Charity Donations: Some organisations collect wedding flowers and donate them to hospitals, nursing homes, or other places in need. This is a wonderful way to share the beauty and positivity of your wedding day with those who might need a little cheer.

Bride gifting a small bouquet to her mother as a thank you after the wedding

4. Create Lasting Memories with Floral Keepsakes

Wedding flowers don't have to fade away immediately after the celebration. You can use them to create lasting memories through unique, personalised keepsakes.

Floral Jewellery: Some florists and artisans specialise in turning wedding flowers into wearable art, such as resin-encased rings, necklaces, or earrings. This is a beautiful and creative way to carry a piece of your wedding day with you forever. Browse floral keepsakes and jewellery options here.
Floral Candles: Another idea is to preserve small flowers in wax to create custom wedding candles. These can be kept as a memento or used as a part of your home décor.
Floral Art: You can also use the petals or whole flowers in art projects. Frame them for a keepsake, or arrange them in a custom pattern as a piece of unique art to hang in your home. Contact us for custom floral art pieces.

Wedding flowers preserved in resin to create a unique piece of jewelry

5. Donate Your Flowers

If you’re looking for a more altruistic approach, donating your wedding flowers to a good cause can help spread joy and beauty to those who need it most. Many organisations specialise in collecting leftover wedding flowers and redistributing them to hospitals, hospices, or elderly care facilities. By donating your flowers, you can extend the happiness of your wedding day to others.

Your wedding flowers are a beautiful part of your special day, and there are many ways to make them last long after the event is over. Whether you preserve your bouquet, repurpose the flowers for your reception, or create lasting keepsakes, these floral memories can help keep the magic of your wedding day alive. As you plan how to care for your wedding flowers, remember that you’re not only creating lasting memories but also giving others the chance to experience the joy and beauty of your celebration.

We’d love to hear from you!

How did you preserve or repurpose your wedding flowers? Or if you're planning your wedding, which idea are you most excited to try? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we’d love to help you make your day even more special!