FAQ

Our Frequently Asked Questions

• How long is the turnaround time?

Approximately 8 – 16 weeks. Flower preservation is a lengthy and detailed process. Each step takes time and cannot be rushed. It also depends on how many other orders I am working on, how many items are in your order and the time of year. Peak wedding months (May to October) may take longer. I preserve each bouquet in the order that it is received and give my utmost attention and care to every piece that I create. Your patience is very much appreciated!!

• Which botanicals are best for preservation?

Most botanicals preserve very well. A few exceptions are lilies and orchids. They dry paper thin and sometimes will show transparent spots. Very fleshy botanicals such as succulents cannot be preserved. Most Proteas are too large for the molds. Sunflowers, Daisies, Chrysanthemums and Dahlias can be tricky as the petals tend to fall off in the drying process unless the flowers are very fresh.

• Do you preserve bouquets from the United States?

Yes, absolutely! I am happy to preserve your bouquet that has FIRST been dried in silica or air-dried. Complete drying information is available once your date and deposit has been confirmed.

• Will the colors of my flowers look exactly the same in the preservation?

Generally, your colors will look fairly similar to your fresh bouquet. However, it is not possible to have guarantees. Some color and texture changes are normal and expected. It is important to note that anytime an organic is dried there is always the possibility of a variety of outcomes depending on the type of botanical that it is. Blue and lilac keep their color very well. White tends to turn cream, tan or yellow. Red, orange and purple will darken. Pink will loose vibrancy. Calla lilies will turn a bright yellow. Please keep in mind that pressed flowers do not retain their colors like flowers dried in silica. For the coasters and ornament the botanicals are pressed and white and pink tends to turn a muted, vintage tan color and reds turn very dark.

• Why are there transparent spots on my flowers?

Transparent spots are most evident on orchids, lilies, and roses. These botanicals in particular can dry very thin and spots are caused by wedding day wear, handling and bruising to the delicate petals before the bouquet arrives to be preserved. Once I receive your bouquet, the flowers have passed through many hands before you walk down the aisle. The spots are not noticeable until the resin is poured and then they become visible. Transparent spots are not flaws, they are a completely normal and expected part of the lifecycle of your flowers and in no way detract from the overall beauty and sentimental value of your preserved floral keepsake!

• Can you preserve my air-dried bouquet?

Yes, I have preserved many previously dried bouquets. Some as old as 15 years! Air-dried flowers have a lovely vintage appearance and pleasing, muted colors.

• I would have loved to preserve my wedding flowers. Can you preserve a re-creation of my bouquet?

Yes, you can order a few of the same botanicals that were in your bouquet from your florist and I will dry and preserve them in resin. Complete information is available once your deposit is confirmed.

• Do you accept orders from all parts of Canada?

Yes, I preserve bouquets Canada-wide. Complete packing and shipping instructions are available once your deposit and date are confirmed.

• Why is it important that I bring my bouquet as soon after the wedding as possible?

In order for me to create the most beautiful keepsake for you, it is important that I preserve the freshest flowers possible. As a general rule, the better condition your flowers are in, the better they will preserve! Flowers that are wilted or discolored are challenging to preserve. They tend to fall apart in the drying process, leaving me with very few choices for the design. If there is a lot of trimming to remove the discolored parts, the flower can start to look miss-shapen. When roses are spent they start to rot and discolor in their inner core, resulting in dark, brown/black centers inside the rose that is not always noticeable before the resin is poured. If your wedding is on a rainy or damp day, please be careful not to get the bouquet wet. Wet flowers are hard to dry and rot very quickly.

• Will resin amber over time?

Yes, all resin will amber or yellow over time. This is because UV light and heat is resin’s enemy. It breaks down the chemical molecules in cured resin and causes the resin to yellow. Always keep your resin art out of sunlight and away from heat. Even fluorescent lights can have an effect on resin’s ability to resist yellowing. Please treat your Resin Bouquet as you would any original art, oil painting or watercolor. Ambering in no way hurts the botanicals or detracts from the overall beauty of your preserved floral keepsake!

• Why are there bubbles in my resin?

Resin is a very bubbly and challenging medium. It is normal for bubbles to occur when botanicals are submerged under resin. Flower petals can trap air and give off bubbles – this is especially noticeable on any flowers with deep cupped petals such as roses (red roses in particular are very susceptible to bubbles). I take the utmost care in creating your beautiful preservation, however, Resin Bouquet is original handmade art combining resin and fragile botanical ingredients and some bubbles and imperfections are unavoidable.  It is important to have realistic expectations. Bubbles are a natural and expected part of the resin process and in no way detract from the overall beauty and sentimental value of your preserved floral keepsake!

• Will my Resin Bouquet look exactly the same as the design?

The design is approximate only. I do try and stay as close to the original design as much as I possibly can, however, once your botanicals are in the resin, I may need to make adjustments, move, add or delete in order to make everything fit in as beautifully as possible.

• Why are there lines on the sides of my Resin Bouquet?

Resin is a very hot medium. In order for the hot resin to not burn and damage your botanicals it needs to be poured in small layers. The resin can over-heat and cause warping and damage to the expensive mold and destroy the resin itself. (I have had first hand experience with this and its pretty awful!) Each of the layers creates a “line” where the layers end and a new layer is poured. The lines are a completely normal part of floral preservation in Resin.