Preserving your bouquet

Bridal bouquets represent the loveliest expression a bride will make on her wedding day. It may be one of the few memories that is important enough to preserve and display prominently in your home throughout your marriage.

Experts say that a bride's bouquet can be a source of supply for many different interesting home accents. If choosing to keep it intact, some form of preservation is essential to keep it from crumbling; freeze-drying being the best solution. Silica preservation can also work reasonably well, although flowers will take on more of a dried floral appearance with this method.

Once preserved, these complete bouquets can be encased in glass to be further enjoyed, possibly hanging on the wall or even placed in a dust-free spot like a china cabinet. Broken apart, it can become part of a floral arrangement, suitable for a dining table, hall or anywhere else in a home.

Or, the flowers can be made into a garland or swag wall hanging, or even a wreath.