How to preserve your wedding bouquet? The complete guide

There is something particularly poignant about watching a wedding bouquet begin to fade. The petals curl, the colours dull, and those flowers that were so fresh and beautiful just days before become unrecognisable. This is exactly what Hadjar, founder of Les Joyaux Purs, experienced after her own wedding in 2017. Her bouquet was still physically there, but she could no longer find anything of what it had been. Not the colours, not the light, not the presence it had in her hands on the Big Day.

It is from that regret that Les Joyaux Purs was born.

Most brides realise they wanted to preserve their bouquet in the days following the ceremony, when it is already too late - or almost. This guide exists so you are not in that situation.

Why preserve your wedding bouquet quickly?

A wedding bouquet is made of cut flowers that have already undergone several manipulations before the ceremony. As soon as the day ends, deterioration accelerates. Heat, handling, lack of water: flowers lose their structure and pigments within just a few hours. Some varieties, like peonies or ranunculus, are particularly fragile.

Methods to preserve your wedding bouquet

Air drying

Hanging your bouquet upside down in a dry place is the solution many try first. It is accessible, but the result quickly reveals its limits: colours fade, flowers shrink, and the bouquet loses all resemblance to what it once was. It is a memento, not a preservation.

Resin

Resin completely encases the flowers - they do not degrade inside. But it is a toxic material, not recommended for home use without proper equipment. The result is very sensitive to humidity and temperature, which can create bubbles or distortions. And resin inevitably yellows over time under the effect of light. It is a decorative option, not a museum-quality conservation solution.

Professional conservation in an atelier

This is the only method that truly preserves: the vibrancy, the volume, the presence. Each flower is treated individually, restored from your wedding photographs to recover the exact radiance of the Big Day, then framed under anti-UV museum glass. The result is a creation designed to last for decades and be passed down.

This is the method practised by Les Joyaux Purs from their Alsatian ateliers, across more than 1,000 creations.

Each creation is a unique artwork, personalised from your wedding photos, worked on for several weeks in our ateliers.

Drying your wedding bouquet yourself: a good idea?

Many brides first look for a DIY solution. That is understandable. But drying your flowers yourself, even with care, does not allow you to control pigment degradation or maintain the structure of fragile flowers. The final result rarely resembles the original bouquet. And once the flowers are damaged, there is nothing left to do.

When should you think about preserving your wedding bouquet?

As early as possible - ideally before the wedding. After 48 to 72 hours following the ceremony, some flowers are already too fragile. We recommend booking your preservation 4 to 6 months before the ceremony to secure your slot.

Your bouquet is precious. It is one of the rare objects during your wedding that you held in your own hands.

Our collections

Les Joyaux Purs offers three collections based on your budget and preferences:

• L'Origine - artisanal conservation in its essential form, from €650, you manage the sending.
• L'Écrin - 3D volume preservation with bouquet collection in Europe from the day after the wedding, from €1,550 to €2,450.
• Le Florilège - your bouquet reinterpreted as a pressed floral artwork, from €2,150 to €3,450.

Your bouquet was chosen with care. It deserves not to disappear.

Discover our collections

FAQ

How long can you wait before having your bouquet preserved? 48 to 72 hours maximum after the ceremony. Beyond that, some flowers are too fragile.

Can all types of bouquets be preserved? Yes, whatever the composition. Peonies and ranunculus are more fragile but our artisans know how to treat them.

What budget should I plan for wedding bouquet preservation? From €650 at Les Joyaux Purs for professional artisanal preservation.