What to expect during the flower preservation process

1. Reserving your date

Once you have made the decision to preserve your beautiful wedding flowers or memorial flowers I suggest contacting us (HERE) so we can reserve a spot especially for you! We can only accommodate a certain number of events per week, don’t miss out!
2. Choose your favorite items

Browse our store and choose what items you would like us to create using your flowers. Once your decision has been made continue to checkout. You can choose to pay in full or a custom payment plan for an accessible, stress-free option.
3. Drop off or Shipping Flowers

If you are local and want to drop off your flowers please contact us to schedule a time to drop off your flowers. When shipping your flowers please follow the Shipping Instructions to ensure your flowers arrive to us in their best condition. It is important we receive your flowers within 24-48 hours for best results! All flowers will be photographed once we receive them to document the condition upon arrival.
4. The Drying Process

Once your flowers have been received, the drying process begins immediately ensuring your flowers will look as fresh as possible. We allow our flowers to dry for 4 weeks to ensure your flowers are completely dry. Once your flowers are dried the design process will begin. We will be in contact with you during this process.
5. The Design Process

Please note we only do design approvals on the larger pieces you have ordered. Add-ons are all smaller items such as ring holders, coasters, and ornaments, there is no design approvals for these options. However you may request certain colors or flowers to be used if applicable (some flowers are to large for smaller items).
6. The Approval Process

Once your design has been completed, we will email you a photo for approval. If there are any small changes you would like us to make this is the time to do so. Keep in mind the dried flowers are now fragile so multiple design options are not offered.
7. The Casting/Pouring Process

After your design is approved, the casting process will begin. This process takes time, we can only pour in ¼” layers every 24hrs. This process can take up to 16 days depending on how deep your design is. When the pouring process is completed, if needed, your piece will be sanded, top coated or flood coated. Once fully cured it will be polished. Once all this is completed your beautiful piece will be ready to be returned to you. This process can take up to 3-5 months from the time we receive your flowers.
8. Delivery/ Pick up

Once your pieces are fully cured, they will all be photographed and packaged. We will reach out to you via email to confirm your address for shipping or we will contact you to schedule a pick up time if you are local!! You will have 60 days to pick up all your items.

Step by Step process of Bridal Bouquet Preservation

Once we receive your flowers the drying process begins immediately ensuring your flowers will look as fresh as possible. We carefully disassemble your wedding bouquet or memorial flowers and prepare them to be placed in silica gel. This process can take 30-40 min. depending the size of bouquet or memorial flowers being preserved.

After we have all the flowers and greenery separated we place them into silica gel can take another 30-40 min. again depending on how many flowers are being preserved. The will be in silica for the next 4 weeks to assure all flowers are completely dry.

After 4 weeks it is time to remove flowers from silica. As we remove the flowers we gently shake them trying to remove as much silica gel as we can, this can be time consuming. Some flowers like roses hold so much silica it can be difficult to get it all out. This part of the process can take 30-40 min. depending on amount of flowers. Please remember some flowers dry better than others, while some do not survive the drying process at all. Keep this in mind and it is always better to send extra flowers if possible.

Let Forever florals make a custom resin block with your wedding flowers or memorial flowers

wedding flower preservation in Indianapolis area

Once your flowers are ready, we will put together a design in your chosen mold shape. We will send you a picture for approval. At this time you will either approve the design or let us know small changes you would like to see made. This would include featuring a certain flower more or removing a flower you are not happy with. Since the flowers are very delicate at this stage we will not do multiple design options to assure the flowers do not get handled to much. This process can take 1-3 hrs over several days while having back and forth communication.

Once the design has been approved it will move into the resin room and the resin process will begin. This process can take up to 16 days depending on how deep your piece is. We pour in 1/4” layers every 24 hours, it is a slow process and it’s imperative to assure a quality product. After a layer is poured we allow it to sit for 10-15 min. and then we check for any trapped bubbles and try our best to remove as many as we can.

This video shows clips over 12 days, pouring 1/4” daily. Majority of our molds are 3” deep. Some are 4” deep and them we do have some 1-2” deep.

We spend between 30-40 min. every day from preparing the resin by making sure the temperature is correct before mixing, placing in vacuum chamber, pouring, and then watching for and caring for bubbles that occur in the resin after pouring. This video represents at least 10-12hrs of work.

After removing your custom piece from their molds we sand to assure a nice smooth edge and fix any imperfections or bubbles that found their way on the edge of the mold. Once it is sanded and cleaned we will do a final flood coat or top coat. Both of these steps together will take to 1-2 hours depending what each piece needs.

After the final flood coat or top coat is complete we allow it to sit for 7 days to fully cure. Then it is ready to be polished and packed up for shipping or pick up!

I hope this gives some insight as to why floral preservation seems expensive. Over the course of several months your custom keepsakes are created and cn be cared for 15-20+ hours. I have not even mentioned the cost of supplies like high quality UV resistant resin, high quality molds, silica gel, ect.

We invest time and care into each sentimental piece. Thank you for trusting Forever Florals with your special flowers; we hope you cherish it for years to come.

Expectations of the preservation process

Flower Drying

For our keepsakes, it's essential that the flowers are fully dry before adding resin. Moisture can lead to rotting and spoil the look of the piece. Resin also doesn't bond well with wet flowers. By drying your flowers completely, we can ensure a beautiful and durable keepsake that will last for years.

At Forever Florals Flower Preservation, we utilize silica gel as an effective method for drying our clients' flowers, ensuring that their original shape and color are preserved as much as possible. However, it is essential to understand that not all flowers dry uniformly, and some may undergo color changes during the process. For example, red roses are likely to transition to a burgundy hue, while white roses can develop a cream or yellow tone. Similarly, blush roses may lose their pink vibrancy and dry to a yellow shade. Additionally, many tropical flowers face challenges in the drying process; for instance, white anthuriums can turn brown and become fragile. It's also important to note that succulents do not dry effectively and should be avoided in resin pieces, as any remaining moisture can lead to decay. Understanding these nuances can help in selecting the right flowers for preservation.

Bruising on Flowers

Floral bruising is a common issue when preserving flowers in resin. These clear spots can show up on flowers after the resin is applied, especially on roses, tropical flowers, and lighter colored blooms. While some may find bruising undesirable, it's a normal part of the preservation process.

Resin Ambering

Resin art can create stunning pieces, but it has its challenges. Sometimes, resin items may have flaws like small dust particles or bubbles. We do everything we can to prevent these from happening but it is not possible to avoid it. Over time, resin can turn a slight yellow color or amber, especially with exposure to sunlight or heat. This color change usually happens evenly but can sometimes affect just one layer, especially if too much heat is generated during curing, which is beyond our control.