The Day-After Guide: How to Care for Your Wedding Bouquet in the First 48 Hours
Updated: Sep 30
Your wedding day will be a beautiful blur. The day after? You'll be tired, happy, maybe hungover, and probably opening gifts or leaving for your honeymoon.
That's why the best time to read this guide is before the wedding. Share it with whoever is taking care of your bouquet at the end of the night, and you won't have to think about it at all.
Before the wedding: make a plan
Book your preservation artist in advance. Most preservation studios limit how many weddings they take on each season. Booking ahead means your date is held and the logistics are set.
Name a bouquet steward. Choose one person (your mom, maid of honor, or planner) who's responsible for your bouquet at the end of the night.
Know the drop-off plan. Where is the bouquet going, and when? For weddings on the South Shore and around Boston, ADONIA Studios offers next-day pickup from your venue or florist, and we name your bouquet steward in your contract. Getting married on the Cape, the North Shore, or somewhere else in New England? Reach out and we'll work out a plan together before the day.
Leaving for a mini-moon right away? That's exactly why the plan matters. Your bouquet can be on its way to the studio while you're on your way to the airport.
Tell your florist. Your florist can help keep flowers hydrated and may be able to hold them for pickup.
During the reception
Keep the bouquet in water whenever you're not holding it. Ask your florist or planner to set a vase with a few inches of water at the sweetheart table.
Keep it out of the sun and away from heat. Outdoor summer weddings and warm tents are hard on flowers.
Consider a toss bouquet. If you're doing a bouquet toss, use a smaller stand-in so your real bouquet stays safe.
The first 24 to 48 hours
Put it in fresh, cool water right away. If the stems are wrapped, gently loosen or remove the wrap so they can drink.
Recut the stems at an angle, about an inch from the bottom, if you can.
Store it somewhere cool and dark. Room temperature out of direct sunlight is fine. Avoid car interiors, windowsills, and hot hotel rooms.
Don't put it in a fridge next to fruit. Ripening fruit releases ethylene gas, which makes flowers wilt faster.
Handle it gently. Avoid squeezing or packing it into a tight bag. Bruised petals show up in the final piece.
Don't try to dry it yourself. Hanging it upside down or microwaving it will change the flowers in ways a preservation artist can't undo.
Get it to your preservation artist as soon as possible. Fresher flowers mean truer color and better shape. Aim for within a day or two of the wedding.
What about the rest of your florals?
Boutonnieres, bridesmaid bouquets, corsages, and a few stems from your ceremony arch can all be preserved alongside your bouquet or turned into smaller keepsakes for your wedding party and parents. Just make sure they get the same care and travel together.
What happens next
Once your bouquet arrives at the studio, the slow work begins. At ADONIA Studios, we photograph your bouquet, deconstruct it by hand, and press each bloom so it keeps more of its natural shape and depth. Then we rebuild it in a frame designed for your home. About 6 to 8 weeks later, your bouquet comes home as the first heirloom of your marriage.
You'll be glad you planned ahead.
From the studio: I'm Chelsea, the maker behind ADONIA. I'll walk your bouquet steward through every step so all you have to do is enjoy your night. Questions? DM me on Instagram @adonia_studios.
Already married and holding a bouquet right now? Follow the steps above and email chelsea@adonia-studios.com today. We'll do our best to help.
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