Your Guide to Saving the Beauty (and the Memories) From Afar
A destination wedding is a dream—stunning views, unforgettable moments, and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with the people you love most. But what happens when the sun sets and the party’s over? How do you bring those special details—like your bouquet—back home with you?
Good news: you absolutely can preserve flowers from your destination wedding. With the right planning, careful packing, and expert preservation, your bouquet can still be turned into a resin piece, shadow box, or pressed frame you’ll treasure forever.
Here’s everything you need to know to make it happen—even from across the country (or the world).
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1. Plan Ahead—Way Ahead
Preserving flowers from a destination wedding requires extra prep. Here’s what to do before you hop on the plane:
• Book your preservation artist early. My schedule fills up fast, especially during wedding season. Let me know it’s a destination event so I can provide custom instructions and timelines.
• Talk to your florist. Let them know you’ll be bringing your bouquet back home for preservation. They might suggest more durable blooms or create a special travel-friendly arrangement.
• Assign a trusted person. If you’re going straight to your honeymoon, make sure someone else is in charge of handling the bouquet.
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2. Choose Flowers That Travel Well
While I can work with almost any flower type, some are more durable than others—especially if they’ll be handled, packed, and traveling for several hours or days.
Better travel flowers:
• Roses
• Carnations
• Chrysanthemums
• Lisianthus
• Orchids (surprisingly strong!)
• Baby’s breath
Trickier travel blooms:
• Peonies (can bruise easily)
• Tulips
• Calla lilies
• Soft-petaled tropicals
If you’re unsure, I’m happy to chat with your florist or review your bouquet plans to recommend the best options.
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3. Keep Your Flowers Cool and Dry
After the wedding, your bouquet should be treated like it’s still alive—because it is!
Here’s how to keep it fresh until you can get it to me:
• Refrigerate, don’t freeze. Store in a hotel fridge if possible. Never put flowers in the freezer—they’ll turn to mush.
• Remove water sources before flying. If your bouquet is in a water-filled holder or vase, drain it and gently pat the stems dry.
• Wrap in paper, not plastic. Newspaper, tissue paper, or paper towels work well. Plastic traps moisture and leads to mold.
• Use a sturdy travel box. A clean shoe box or small shipping box works great. Secure the bouquet gently so it doesn’t shift during travel.
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4. Ship or Drop Off as Soon as You’re Home
Once you’re back from your destination wedding:
• Contact me immediately. I’ll guide you through next steps, including drop-off or shipping details.
• Ship using express services. If you’re not local, I’ll provide instructions for safe, fast flower shipping using priority services.
• Don’t delay. The sooner I receive your flowers, the more vibrant and detailed your preserved piece will be.
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5. Consider a Backup Plan (Just in Case)
Life happens—travel delays, lost luggage, or weather can affect your flowers. Some couples ask their florist to set aside a second bundle of similar blooms to be shipped fresh directly to me post-wedding, just in case the original bouquet doesn’t make it back in good condition.
It’s a small extra cost for big peace of mind.
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Bonus: Turn Your Destination Into the Design
Your wedding location can inspire your preservation piece:
• Add a small shell, sand, or map clipping into a resin piece
• Include a photo or handwritten vows in a shadow box
• Use colors or floral accents from your destination in a pressed frame design
These little touches turn your bouquet into a full-sensory memory of the place you said “I do.”
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Final Thoughts
Your destination bouquet doesn’t have to stay behind. With the right planning and a little extra care, you can bring your wedding flowers home and turn them into a timeless keepsake. Whether you’re headed to a tropical island, a mountaintop, or a charming European village, I’m here to help preserve the magic—one petal at a time.
Have a destination wedding coming up? Reach out now for a custom preservation plan and packing guide.
