Discover meaningful ways to preserve funeral flowers and honor your loved one’s memory. From pressing and drying to resin casting, wax dipping, and custom keepsakes, we’ll guide you through the best techniques to create a lasting tribute.
Preserving Funeral Flowers
Preserving funeral flowers is a heartfelt way to honor a loved one’s memory, creating a lasting keepsake that offers comfort and remembrance. This tradition has been cherished for centuries, symbolizing love, respect, and the enduring connection we share with those who have passed.
There are many ways to preserve funeral flowers, each offering a unique way to hold onto those cherished moments. Pressing flowers between layers of paper under a heavy book can keep their delicate beauty intact, perfect for creating framed keepsakes or bookmarks. Drying, resin casting, and wax dipping are also great methods to transform blooms into treasured mementos.
Preserving funeral flowers is more than just a craft—it’s a therapeutic and meaningful process. Taking the time to preserve these blooms allows you to reflect, remember, and create something tangible that keeps your loved one close. Whether displayed in a frame, encased in resin, or simply saved in a memory book, these flowers become a timeless tribute to a life well-lived.
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Quick Tips for Preparing Your Flowers
Start Fresh – Choose the freshest flowers from the arrangement for the best results.
Inspect Carefully – Pick blooms that are in their best condition to enhance longevity.
Store Properly – Keep flowers in a cool, dry place before preservation to maintain their color and shape. The fridge is a good spot, but not the back of the fridge where they could freeze.
Pressing: A Simple & Meaningful Method
Pressing funeral flowers is a gentle and timeless way to preserve their beauty and meaning. The process involves carefully flattening the blooms between layers of paper and applying weight to let them dry gradually. To prevent mold, change the paper daily for the first few days, then once a week until fully dried—typically 4-5 weeks.
Using a proper flower press is ideal, but heavy books and parchment paper work as well. Once crisp and preserved, they can be framed alongside a poem, quote, or cherished photo, creating a deeply personal tribute.
This method not only preserves the flowers themselves but also the emotions and memories they hold, turning them into a keepsake that brings comfort for years to come.
Tips for Drying Funeral Flowers
Drying is the best way to begin the preservation process, with different methods suited for different purposes. While silica sand drying is the best option for maintaining shape and color, some color changes are inevitable regardless of the method used. Here’s a breakdown of common drying techniques:
Silica Gel Drying (Best for Shape & Color) – Flowers are buried in silica gel to remove moisture while keeping their delicate form as intact as possible. Dry for 5-6 weeks.
Air-Drying – Hang flowers upside down in a dark, dry place away from moisture for several weeks. While a traditional method, flowers may shrink and darken. Dry for about 5 weeks.
Microwave Drying – Works best with a specialized press like Microfleur, where flowers are placed between wet paper towels and microwaved briefly to soften and flatten them.
Oven Drying – Another option, though temperatures and times vary—it’s best to research specific instructions before trying. Generally you can try 50°F to 200°F for 1.5 to 2.5 hours, checking every 30 minutes.
Hairspray (Not Ideal but Helpful) – While not an ideal method, a light coat of hairspray can help prevent crumbling and slow down fading.
Once dried, flowers can be used in pressed flower art, resin keepsakes, memorial candles, and more—a beautiful way to honor memories.
Preserving Funeral Flowers in Resin
Preserving funeral flowers in resin is a beautiful way to create a lasting keepsake, but proper technique and materials are key to achieving the best results.
Preparing the Flowers
Before embedding flowers in resin, they must be fully dried to prevent discoloration, wilting, or decay. Silica gel drying is the best method for maintaining their shape and color.
Choosing the Right Resin & Materials
Using the right type of resin ensures a clear, durable, and long-lasting preservation. We recommend:
Other high-quality casting resins designed for deep pours
For best results, purchase silicone molds from reputable brands to ensure a smooth, professional finish.
Resin Pouring Techniques
Pour One Fine Layer at a Time – After arranging your flowers in the mold, pour a thin layer of resin and allow it to cure for about 24 hours before adding the next layer.
Avoid Pouring Too Much at Once – Thick resin layers can generate heat, burn flowers, or create squiggly lines in the resin that may not be visually appealing.
Use a Hot Air Gun to Remove Bubbles – After each pour, gently run a hot air gun over the surface (not too close or too long) to pop bubbles. Repeat a few minutes later as more bubbles rise.
Finishing Touches
Sanding & Top Coat – Once fully cured, sand the resin faces for a smooth finish, then pour a final top coat to perfect the surface.
Filling Small Holes – Use UV epoxy and a UV light to quickly fill in imperfections for a flawless final piece.
By following these techniques, you can create stunning, bubble-free resin keepsakes that preserve the beauty and sentiment of funeral flowers for a lifetime.
Wax Dipping Flowers
Preserving funeral flowers through wax dipping is a traditional method that maintains their shape and color, creating lasting keepsakes. Here's how to do it:
Materials Needed:
Candy thermometer
Narrow-necked bottles or vases for cooling
Protective covering for your workspace
Steps:
Prepare the Flowers: Trim stems to 8-10 inches for easier handling.
Melt the Wax: Using a double boiler, melt the wax and heat it to 120-130°F (48-54°C).
Dip the Flowers: Hold each flower by the stem and gently immerse it in the wax, ensuring full coverage.
Cool and Set: Place the dipped flowers upright in a bottle or vase to cool and harden, preserving their shape.
This method not only preserves the flowers but also adds a subtle sheen, enhancing their natural beauty. Wax-dipped flowers can last for weeks, serving as enduring tributes to loved ones.
Creating Art and Keepsakes from Funeral Flowers
Preserving funeral flowers offers beautiful ways to honor a loved one’s memory. Pressed flowers can be used in shadow boxes, photo albums, or memorial candles, creating meaningful keepsakes.
At Bouquet Casting Co., we offer unique preservation options like floral jewelry, free-standing resin spheres, and bouquet blocks, turning funeral flowers into wearable art and decorative keepsakes.
These handcrafted pieces are more than keepsakes—they're lasting tributes that preserve cherished memories in a deeply personal and artistic way.
Professional Preservation Services
For stunning, long-lasting keepsakes, professional preservation ensures expert care and precision. At Bouquet Casting Co., we specialize in resin preservation, transforming delicate funeral flowers into beautiful memorial pieces that honor your loved one’s memory.
Our experienced preservationists handle each bloom with skill and craftsmanship, using thorough drying techniques and precise resin casting to create flawless keepsakes.
We also provide personalized guidance, from safe flower shipping to choosing the perfect preservation style—ensuring a seamless and meaningful experience every step of the way.
Caring for Preserved Flowers
Proper care of preserved funeral flowers ensures their longevity and beauty, allowing you to cherish these sentimental keepsakes for years. Here are some essential tips:
1. Display Location
Avoid Direct Sunlight: Place preserved flowers away from direct sunlight to prevent fading and color distortion.
Control Temperature and Humidity: Keep them in cool, dry areas, avoiding proximity to heat sources or high humidity, which can cause deterioration.
2. Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular Dusting: Gently dust flowers with a soft brush or use compressed air to remove debris without causing damage.
3. Handling and Placement
Minimize Handling: Limit touching preserved flowers, as oils from skin can affect their appearance.
Stable Positioning: Ensure they are securely placed to prevent falls or physical damage.
4. Protective Measures
Use Display Cases: Enclose preserved flowers in glass domes or shadow boxes to shield them from dust and environmental factors.
Avoid Moisture Exposure: Keep them away from areas prone to moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens, to prevent mold growth.
By following these guidelines, you can maintain the beauty and integrity of your preserved funeral flowers, keeping the memories of your loved ones vibrant and enduring.
Carry your cherished flowers with you everywhere
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