For many Adirondack brides, preserving the wedding dress is a given. But have you considered preserving your wedding flowers, too? Because you can do it yourself at home, it’s far less costly than preserving your gown, and instead of sitting in the back of your closet, this pretty memento will liven up your home with memories of your big day.

Preserving flowers by drying them is one of the simplest and most elegant craft ideas. You might choose to dry not only your bridal bouquet, but also the flowers from your reception centerpieces. Once the flowers have dried, hang them upside down on a wall or arrange them in a vase where they can be admired every day. There are many different techniques for preserving flowers, but we like this one for its simplicity.

You will need:
- Thin twine
- A tack
- Hairspray or an aerosol flower sealer

Step one. Place the flowers in water as soon as possible after use on your big day. If you’re not going to be carrying your bouquet around after saying, “I do,” choose someone trustworthy ahead of time who can put them somewhere safe.
Step two. As soon as possible, remove the flowers from the water and gently dry the stems with a clean towel. Adjust any flowers or ribbons that may have come undone.
Step three. Wrap the twine around the flowers where they’re already tied with the ribbon or lace, and leave a long piece free (about 6”). Turn the end of the long piece of twine into a small hook.
Step four. With a nail or a tack, hang the flowers upside down (against a wall or from the ceiling if you don’t want one side to flatten while drying). Only hang them in a well-ventilated, dry area with no direct sunlight.
Step five. Leave until they are completely dry. Be patient; this can take up to four weeks, depending on the flowers!
Step six. Generously spray the entire bouquet with hairspray or aerosol flower sealer.

Once your flowers have dried, let the decorating begin! Hang them on the wall next to your framed wedding photograph or use a vase from your reception to create a new centerpiece for your dining room table. Drying and displaying your flowers allows them to be like your love – everlasting!

— Story by Felicia Bonanno

Editor’s note: Have you used your wedding flowers to decorate your love nest? Let us know! We are planning a story on this very topic for an upcoming issue of the print magazine. We’d love to feature your story!