How to Choose Wedding Flowers That Press Beautifully

When it comes to wedding florals, it’s easy to fall in love with colour palettes and petal textures – but if you're planning to preserve your bouquet, there’s one more thing to consider: how well your flowers will press.

Some blooms dry flat and vibrant, while others may fade or lose their shape over time. Whether you're dreaming of a pressed flower shadow box, ornament, or another keepsake, choosing the right blooms can make all the difference in the final result.

Here are our best tips for selecting flowers that press beautifully so you can capture the magic of your bouquet, forever.

1. Pick Petals That Flatten Well

Not all flowers are created equal when it comes to pressing. For best results, look for blooms that naturally lay flatter or have thinner petals, which retain their colour and shape during the drying process.

Top blooms we love for pressing:

• Roses (especially spray or garden varieties)

• Ranunculus

• Lisianthus

• Hydrangeas

• Daisies

• Anemones

• Delphinium

• Sweet Peas

• Queen Anne’s Lace

• Cosmos

These blooms not only press beautifully but also create gorgeous textures and layers in your final artwork.

Blooms that don’t press well?
Succulents, lilies, and thick tropicals like orchids often bruise or lose their detail when pressed but don’t worry, we can often find creative ways to work around them or use alternative preservation methods.

2. Time It Right: Fresh Is Best

If you’re hoping to preserve your bouquet after the wedding, it’s important to keep the flowers as fresh as possible before drop-off. Blooms that are too wilted, dried, or damaged won’t press as well and can sometimes turn brown or crumble during the process.

Our tip: Designate someone (a planner, family member, or friend) to set your bouquet aside after the wedding and store it in a cool, dry place until it can be dropped off or shipped to us. The sooner we receive your bouquet, the better the preservation outcome.

Better yet? Let us know in advance that you plan to preserve your florals so we can guide you on prep and timing before the big day arrives.

3. Mix Textures, Shapes, and Filler Wisely

Your bouquet doesn’t have to be made up of just press-perfect flowers. In fact, some of the most beautiful designs happen when we press a mix of petals, greenery, and filler.

Foliage that presses well:

• Ferns

• Eucalyptus

• Italian ruscus

• Dusty miller

• Baby’s breath

These elements add softness, movement, and variation to your final design—and give us more options when styling your keepsake.

Tip for bouquet design:
Let your florist know you're planning to preserve your bouquet so they can keep pressing in mind as they select your blooms. Many florists are happy to recommend preservation-friendly flowers that still match your dream look.

4. Prepping for Pressing: Your Bouquet’s Big Moment

Once your wedding day is done, the most important thing you can do is protect your bouquet from too much sun, heat, or moisture. Keep it upright in water until you're ready to transport it, and avoid spraying with anything extra (like floral spray or perfumes) before preservation.

If you're local to Niagara or Southern Ontario, you can drop off your bouquet directly at our studio or arrange for a courier to deliver it safely. If you're shipping your bouquet, we’ll provide detailed instructions to help you send it with care.

Let’s Create Something Beautiful Together

Whether you're just starting to plan your bouquet or already have a vision in mind, we’re here to help bring your floral keepsake to life. We’ll work with you to choose the best flowers, preserve them with care, and create something meaningful that lasts far beyond your wedding day.

Planning your bouquet? Let us know you're thinking about preservation and we’ll guide you every step of the way.