Revivalist is a reader-supported endeavor and our posts may contain affiliate links. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Your wedding flowers are some of the best keepsakes from the day. Since they’re a reminder of the beautiful commitment you and your spouse made to one another, creating dry flowers out of them is a great way to preserve their charm.

From flower petals to whole bouquets, there are many things you can do to keep these petals a part of your marriage. 

After paying the cost of wedding flowers, keeping them forever just makes sense. You can take your flowers to a florist, but if you want to save money, you can dry out your petals with one of these five methods. 

1. Microwave

One of the fastest ways to fry out flowers is using the microwave. This method is best for keeping the color and structure of individual flowers and works best for small plants and flower heads. 

To microwave them, you’ll need to place your flowers in a bowl with a desiccant substance, like cat litter or silica gel which helps them dry without shriveling. Warm them in the microwave for a few minutes, frequently checking on the petals to ensure they dry nicely. 

The heat from the microwave helps accelerate the drying process, which can take weeks in the substance. This method works best for smaller, thinner blooms.  

2. Air Dry

This method is best for keeping your bouquet together since you aren’t pressing it into anything. It normally takes a few weeks to dry completely. 

Hang the flowers upside down at room temperature in a dark, dry environment. Hanging them this way helps them to stay in a natural position without the petals splitting or wilting. 

Ensure the process isn’t disturbed by excess humidity, and you’re good to go. Roses, lavender and hydrangeas are some of the best flowers for this method. 

3. Pressing

Pressing is a great way to keep your flowers in a shadowbox or other artwork for your special day. 

You can use this preservation technique by placing your flowers between smooth surfaces and squeezing them by placing heavy objects on top. Many people use large books to achieve these effects. 

The pressure draws the moisture out of your flowers, flattening and preserving them. The method works best for small flowers, like daisies, violas and pansies. 

Ideas for Your Dried Flowers

There are many things you can do with your mementos. Tie a ribbon around them and get a vase to make your bouquet into a centerpiece or permanent decor item. You can place them with other wedding memories, like an invitation, veil or tie. 

You can also use them in stationary or mementos for other life events, such as the birth of a child, special anniversaries or another monumental occasion. Adding them into a craft that you and your spouse do together is also a great option, such as wall art, a vase or another creative project. 

Saving Your Wedding Blooms As Dry Flowers

Your wedding flowers are a beautiful reminder of the day you said, “I do.” Using one of these methods to preserve them, you can utilize these blooms as a decorative memento for as long as you love each other.