If you’ve recently got married or received flowers from a funeral, you may be wondering how quickly your flowers can be turned into a lasting keepsake.
One of the most important things to know about flower preservation is that it isn’t a quick process.
Unlike simply pressing a flower between the pages of a book or drying a bouquet at home, professional flower preservation involves carefully preparing and drying the flowers before they can be used to create your finished piece.
So, how long does flower preservation take?
At Nogard Creations, the complete preservation process can take up to 12 months, with the flowers generally spending around 5–6 months in the drying process before they are ready to be used.
While that may sound like a long time, there is a reason flower preservation requires patience.
Why does flower preservation take so long?
The biggest part of the process is allowing the flowers to dry properly.
Flowers contain a considerable amount of natural moisture. Before they can be safely incorporated into resin or used in a finished preservation design, that moisture needs to be removed.
Trying to rush the drying process can affect the condition of the flowers and the quality of the finished piece.
Professional flower preservation therefore isn’t simply a case of putting your bouquet somewhere dry and waiting a few weeks.
The flowers need to be prepared, monitored and given sufficient time to dry before the next stage can begin.
How long does it take for flowers to dry?
At Nogard Creations, flowers generally spend around 5–6 months in the drying process.
This is a significant part of the overall preservation journey.
Different flowers can behave differently while drying, so giving them enough time is important.
Some flowers may retain their shape well, while others can change in colour, shape or size.
Natural flowers are unpredictable, which is one of the reasons we don’t try to rush this stage.
Once the flowers have completed the drying process, they can be assessed and prepared for their final design.
Why can’t flowers just be dried faster?
It’s understandable to wonder why flowers can’t simply be dried in a few days or weeks.
The answer is that removing moisture from a flower isn’t necessarily as simple as making the outside feel dry.
A flower can appear dry on the outside while still containing moisture inside.
The flowers need to be properly prepared and dried before they are suitable for their final preservation.
Taking the time to allow the flowers to dry thoroughly helps ensure they are ready for the next stage.
How long does resin flower preservation take?
Resin flower preservation has several stages.
First, your flowers need to be received and prepared.
They then go through the drying process before being selected and arranged for the finished piece.
Once the flowers are ready, the resin piece itself still needs to be created and finished.
Resin needs sufficient time to cure properly between stages, and larger or more complex pieces can require additional time.
There can also be finishing work involved after the resin has cured, depending on the type of piece being created.
This is why the resin itself isn’t the only factor that determines how long your flower preservation takes.
How long does wedding flower preservation take?
Wedding flower preservation can take up to 12 months from receiving your flowers to completing the finished keepsake.
This can be surprising if you’re expecting your preserved bouquet to be ready shortly after your wedding.
However, the flowers need to go through the full drying and preparation process before the final piece can be made.
Your wedding day may be over, but the preservation process continues for many months afterwards.
This is why we recommend thinking of your preservation as a long-term process rather than expecting a finished keepsake within a few weeks.
How long does funeral flower preservation take?
The same general process applies to funeral flower preservation.
Flowers need to be prepared and dried before they can be incorporated into a resin or framed memorial.
At a difficult time, waiting several months for a memorial keepsake may feel like a long time.
However, careful preservation is important when the flowers themselves cannot be replaced.
Taking the necessary time to prepare the flowers properly means you aren’t rushing one of the most important stages of the process.
What happens while I’m waiting for my flowers?
You aren’t simply waiting for nothing to happen.
There are several stages involved in turning your flowers into a finished keepsake.
Your flowers arrive
Your flowers are received and assessed before being prepared for drying.
The flowers are prepared
The flowers are carefully prepared according to the preservation method and the type of finished pieces being considered.
The drying process begins
The flowers spend several months in the drying process.
At Nogard Creations, this is generally around 5–6 months.
The dried flowers are assessed
Once the flowers have dried, they can be looked at again to determine what is suitable for your chosen designs.
Your flowers are arranged
The suitable flowers, petals and other elements can then be arranged for your finished pieces.
The resin or frame is created
Your chosen preservation pieces are then handcrafted using your dried flowers.
Finishing and quality checks
The completed pieces are finished and checked before being prepared for collection or delivery.
The exact stages can vary depending on what you have chosen.
Can I speed up my flower preservation?
There are ways to reduce waiting at certain stages of the process, but the flowers still need to be properly dried before they can be used.
At Nogard Creations, we offer a Rush My Order option for clients who want their flowers moved into the next stage as soon as they are ready to leave the drying materials.
This doesn’t mean the flowers skip the drying process.
Instead, it helps reduce unnecessary waiting once the flowers are ready to move forward.
The confirmation information provided with the order explains how the process works.
Do I have to book my preservation before my wedding?
No.
This is particularly useful if you’ve only recently discovered flower preservation.
At Nogard Creations, there is no requirement to pre-book your flower preservation.
You can arrange preservation after your wedding rather than having to make the decision months beforehand.
We also accept last-minute preservation requests, subject to the condition of the flowers.
So if your wedding has already happened and you’ve suddenly realised you’d love to keep your bouquet, don’t assume you’ve missed your opportunity.
What if my flowers are already a few days old?
Again, don’t automatically assume it’s too late.
Flowers naturally change after they are cut, and some will wilt faster than others.
If you’re planning to preserve your flowers, sending them as soon as reasonably possible is recommended.
However, if your wedding or funeral has already happened and the flowers aren’t perfectly fresh, they may still be suitable.
Their condition will determine what can be created, so it’s always better to have them assessed rather than throwing them away without finding out.
Why patience matters with flower preservation
It can be tempting to look for a flower preservation service that promises a very quick turnaround.
However, when you’re preserving flowers from one of the most important days or moments of your life, the process shouldn’t simply be about getting the finished piece as quickly as possible.
Your flowers can’t be replaced.
Once they have gone through the wedding or funeral, there is only one opportunity to preserve the original flowers.
Taking the time to dry them properly and carefully create your finished piece is therefore an important part of the process.
What if I don’t know which piece I want yet?
You don’t necessarily need to decide on your final preservation pieces before sending your flowers.
This can be helpful if you’re unsure whether you’d prefer a small keepsake, a larger resin piece or a framed display.
Once your flowers have been dried, you’ll have a better idea of what you have available to work with.
You can then choose the pieces that are most suitable for your flowers and what you would like to preserve.
How long will my preserved flowers last?
The whole purpose of professional flower preservation is to create something that can be kept long after your original flowers would naturally have faded.
However, preserved flowers are still natural materials.
They can change over time, particularly if exposed to direct sunlight, excessive heat, moisture or unsuitable conditions.
Looking after your finished piece correctly can help you enjoy your preserved flowers for many years.
Why does flower preservation take up to 12 months?
The simple answer is that good flower preservation takes time.
From the initial preparation and drying of your flowers through to arranging, casting, finishing and quality checking the completed piece, there are multiple stages involved.
At Nogard Creations, flowers generally spend around 5–6 months drying, while the complete preservation journey can take up to 12 months.
It isn’t a process that should be rushed.
Your wedding bouquet or funeral flowers represent something that cannot be recreated, so allowing the necessary time to carefully transform them into a keepsake is an important part of preserving their meaning.
A keepsake worth waiting for
When you hand over your wedding bouquet or meaningful funeral flowers for preservation, you’re trusting someone with something that can’t simply be replaced.
Although waiting several months may feel difficult, the finished piece is designed to give those flowers a life beyond their natural lifespan.
At Nogard Creations, we carefully transform meaningful flowers into bespoke resin and framed keepsakes for clients across the UK.
Whether you’re preserving wedding flowers, funeral flowers or flowers from another important moment in your life, the process begins with giving those flowers the time they need.
Explore our flower preservation collection to see the different resin and framed keepsakes available.