What to Do with Wedding Flowers: A Symphony of Petals and Possibilities

Wedding flowers, those delicate and vibrant symbols of love and celebration, often leave couples wondering what to do with them after the big day. The question of “what to do with wedding flowers” opens up a world of creative and meaningful possibilities, each as unique as the bouquet itself. From preserving memories to giving back to the community, the journey of wedding flowers doesn’t have to end when the last dance fades. Let’s explore a myriad of ideas that can transform your wedding flowers into lasting treasures or meaningful gestures.
1. Preserve the Memories: Drying and Pressing Flowers
One of the most popular ways to keep wedding flowers alive in spirit is by preserving them. Drying and pressing flowers can turn your bouquet into a timeless keepsake.
- Air Drying: Hang your bouquet upside down in a cool, dark place for several weeks. This method works best for flowers like roses, lavender, and baby’s breath.
- Silica Gel: For a more detailed preservation, bury your flowers in silica gel. This method retains the color and shape of the flowers more effectively.
- Pressing: Place individual flowers between the pages of a heavy book or use a flower press. Pressed flowers can be framed, used in scrapbooks, or even turned into jewelry.
2. Create a Floral Shadow Box
A shadow box is a beautiful way to display your wedding bouquet along with other mementos from your special day. Arrange the dried flowers, your wedding invitation, a piece of lace from your dress, or even a photo in a shadow box frame. This creates a three-dimensional memory that can be hung on your wall or placed on a shelf.
3. Turn Flowers into Potpourri
If you have a large number of flowers, consider turning them into potpourri. Dry the petals and mix them with essential oils and spices like cinnamon or cloves. Place the potpourri in decorative bowls around your home to keep the scent of your wedding day alive.
4. Make Floral Candles or Soaps
Infuse your wedding flowers into candles or soaps. Melt wax or soap base, add dried flower petals, and pour the mixture into molds. These handmade items can be used in your home or given as gifts to friends and family.
5. Create a Floral Wreath
A floral wreath is a beautiful way to repurpose your wedding flowers. Use a wire wreath frame and attach the flowers with floral wire or hot glue. Hang the wreath on your front door or above your fireplace as a reminder of your special day.
6. Donate to Hospitals or Nursing Homes
Spread the joy of your wedding by donating your flowers to hospitals, nursing homes, or hospices. Many organizations accept flower donations to brighten the days of patients and residents. This act of kindness can bring a smile to someone’s face and make your wedding flowers even more meaningful.
7. Compost Your Flowers
If you’re environmentally conscious, composting your wedding flowers is a great option. Flowers are biodegradable and can be turned into nutrient-rich compost for your garden. This way, your flowers continue to give back to the earth.
8. Create a Floral Bath
For a luxurious post-wedding treat, create a floral bath. Fill your bathtub with warm water and scatter fresh or dried flower petals on the surface. Add a few drops of essential oil for an extra touch of relaxation. This is a wonderful way to unwind after the excitement of your wedding day.
9. Make Floral Ice Cubes
For a unique and elegant touch, freeze small flower petals in ice cubes. These can be used in drinks at your post-wedding brunch or as a decorative element in cocktails. It’s a simple yet stunning way to incorporate your wedding flowers into your celebrations.
10. Create a Floral Journal or Scrapbook
Use your wedding flowers to embellish a journal or scrapbook. Glue pressed flowers onto the pages alongside photos, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia from your wedding. This personalized keepsake will be a cherished reminder of your special day.
11. Turn Flowers into Art
If you’re artistically inclined, consider using your wedding flowers to create a piece of art. Paint or draw your bouquet, or use the actual flowers to create a collage. This unique artwork can be displayed in your home as a constant reminder of your wedding day.
12. Make Floral Perfume
Capture the scent of your wedding flowers by making your own floral perfume. Infuse the petals in a carrier oil like jojoba or almond oil for several weeks, then strain the oil and mix it with alcohol to create a custom perfume. This personalized scent will always remind you of your wedding day.
13. Create Floral Bookmarks
For book lovers, pressed flowers can be turned into beautiful bookmarks. Laminate the flowers or place them between two pieces of clear contact paper. Add a ribbon or tassel for a finishing touch. These bookmarks make lovely gifts or personal keepsakes.
14. Host a Flower-Giving Ceremony
After your wedding, consider hosting a small ceremony where you give away your flowers to friends and family. Each person can take home a flower or a small bouquet as a token of your appreciation. This gesture can be especially meaningful if you have a large wedding party or many guests who traveled far to celebrate with you.
15. Create a Floral Time Capsule
Gather your wedding flowers, along with other mementos from your wedding, and create a time capsule. Bury it in your backyard or store it in a safe place to be opened on a future anniversary. This can be a fun and sentimental way to revisit your wedding day years later.
16. Make Floral Tea
If your wedding flowers are edible, such as roses, lavender, or chamomile, consider drying them and using them to make floral tea. This is a unique way to enjoy the flavors and memories of your wedding day.
17. Create Floral Confetti
Dry your wedding flowers and turn them into biodegradable confetti. This can be used for future celebrations or given to friends and family for their own events. It’s an eco-friendly alternative to traditional confetti.
18. Make Floral Paper
For a truly unique keepsake, turn your wedding flowers into handmade paper. Blend the dried petals with paper pulp and press the mixture into sheets. This floral paper can be used for thank-you notes, invitations, or even as a background for framed photos.
19. Create a Floral Memory Jar
Fill a glass jar with dried flower petals and add small notes or memories from your wedding day. Shake the jar to mix the petals and memories, and keep it as a decorative piece in your home. This is a simple yet meaningful way to preserve the essence of your wedding.
20. Turn Flowers into a Floral Crown
If you have enough flowers, consider creating a floral crown. This can be worn for photos, given as a gift, or even used as a decorative piece in your home. Floral crowns are a beautiful and whimsical way to repurpose your wedding flowers.
21. Create a Floral Memory Quilt
For a truly unique keepsake, consider creating a floral memory quilt. Use fabric that has been dyed with the petals of your wedding flowers, or incorporate pressed flowers into the quilt design. This quilt can be used as a decorative throw or kept as a cherished heirloom.
22. Make Floral Bath Bombs
For a luxurious and fragrant treat, make floral bath bombs using your wedding flowers. Mix baking soda, citric acid, and dried flower petals, then mold the mixture into balls. These bath bombs can be used in your own bath or given as gifts.
23. Create a Floral Memory Box
Decorate a wooden or cardboard box with pressed flowers and use it to store mementos from your wedding day. This can include photos, letters, and other small items that hold special meaning. The box itself becomes a beautiful keepsake.
24. Turn Flowers into a Floral Chandelier
For a dramatic and beautiful display, create a floral chandelier using your wedding flowers. Attach the flowers to a wire frame and hang it from the ceiling. This can be a stunning centerpiece for your home or a unique decoration for future events.
25. Create a Floral Memory Wall
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory wall in your home. Frame pressed flowers, photos, and other mementos from your wedding day. This wall can be a constant reminder of your love and the joy of your wedding day.
26. Make Floral Sachets
Dry your wedding flowers and place them in small fabric sachets. These can be used to scent drawers, closets, or even your car. Floral sachets make lovely gifts and are a practical way to enjoy the fragrance of your wedding flowers.
27. Create a Floral Memory Book
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory book. Glue pressed flowers onto the pages alongside photos, notes, and other mementos from your wedding day. This personalized book will be a cherished keepsake for years to come.
28. Turn Flowers into a Floral Centerpiece
If you have a large number of flowers, consider creating a floral centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table. Arrange the flowers in a vase or bowl and add candles or other decorative elements. This centerpiece can be a beautiful reminder of your wedding day.
29. Create a Floral Memory Jar
Fill a glass jar with dried flower petals and add small notes or memories from your wedding day. Shake the jar to mix the petals and memories, and keep it as a decorative piece in your home. This is a simple yet meaningful way to preserve the essence of your wedding.
30. Turn Flowers into a Floral Crown
If you have enough flowers, consider creating a floral crown. This can be worn for photos, given as a gift, or even used as a decorative piece in your home. Floral crowns are a beautiful and whimsical way to repurpose your wedding flowers.
31. Create a Floral Memory Quilt
For a truly unique keepsake, consider creating a floral memory quilt. Use fabric that has been dyed with the petals of your wedding flowers, or incorporate pressed flowers into the quilt design. This quilt can be used as a decorative throw or kept as a cherished heirloom.
32. Make Floral Bath Bombs
For a luxurious and fragrant treat, make floral bath bombs using your wedding flowers. Mix baking soda, citric acid, and dried flower petals, then mold the mixture into balls. These bath bombs can be used in your own bath or given as gifts.
33. Create a Floral Memory Box
Decorate a wooden or cardboard box with pressed flowers and use it to store mementos from your wedding day. This can include photos, letters, and other small items that hold special meaning. The box itself becomes a beautiful keepsake.
34. Turn Flowers into a Floral Chandelier
For a dramatic and beautiful display, create a floral chandelier using your wedding flowers. Attach the flowers to a wire frame and hang it from the ceiling. This can be a stunning centerpiece for your home or a unique decoration for future events.
35. Create a Floral Memory Wall
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory wall in your home. Frame pressed flowers, photos, and other mementos from your wedding day. This wall can be a constant reminder of your love and the joy of your wedding day.
36. Make Floral Sachets
Dry your wedding flowers and place them in small fabric sachets. These can be used to scent drawers, closets, or even your car. Floral sachets make lovely gifts and are a practical way to enjoy the fragrance of your wedding flowers.
37. Create a Floral Memory Book
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory book. Glue pressed flowers onto the pages alongside photos, notes, and other mementos from your wedding day. This personalized book will be a cherished keepsake for years to come.
38. Turn Flowers into a Floral Centerpiece
If you have a large number of flowers, consider creating a floral centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table. Arrange the flowers in a vase or bowl and add candles or other decorative elements. This centerpiece can be a beautiful reminder of your wedding day.
39. Create a Floral Memory Jar
Fill a glass jar with dried flower petals and add small notes or memories from your wedding day. Shake the jar to mix the petals and memories, and keep it as a decorative piece in your home. This is a simple yet meaningful way to preserve the essence of your wedding.
40. Turn Flowers into a Floral Crown
If you have enough flowers, consider creating a floral crown. This can be worn for photos, given as a gift, or even used as a decorative piece in your home. Floral crowns are a beautiful and whimsical way to repurpose your wedding flowers.
41. Create a Floral Memory Quilt
For a truly unique keepsake, consider creating a floral memory quilt. Use fabric that has been dyed with the petals of your wedding flowers, or incorporate pressed flowers into the quilt design. This quilt can be used as a decorative throw or kept as a cherished heirloom.
42. Make Floral Bath Bombs
For a luxurious and fragrant treat, make floral bath bombs using your wedding flowers. Mix baking soda, citric acid, and dried flower petals, then mold the mixture into balls. These bath bombs can be used in your own bath or given as gifts.
43. Create a Floral Memory Box
Decorate a wooden or cardboard box with pressed flowers and use it to store mementos from your wedding day. This can include photos, letters, and other small items that hold special meaning. The box itself becomes a beautiful keepsake.
44. Turn Flowers into a Floral Chandelier
For a dramatic and beautiful display, create a floral chandelier using your wedding flowers. Attach the flowers to a wire frame and hang it from the ceiling. This can be a stunning centerpiece for your home or a unique decoration for future events.
45. Create a Floral Memory Wall
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory wall in your home. Frame pressed flowers, photos, and other mementos from your wedding day. This wall can be a constant reminder of your love and the joy of your wedding day.
46. Make Floral Sachets
Dry your wedding flowers and place them in small fabric sachets. These can be used to scent drawers, closets, or even your car. Floral sachets make lovely gifts and are a practical way to enjoy the fragrance of your wedding flowers.
47. Create a Floral Memory Book
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory book. Glue pressed flowers onto the pages alongside photos, notes, and other mementos from your wedding day. This personalized book will be a cherished keepsake for years to come.
48. Turn Flowers into a Floral Centerpiece
If you have a large number of flowers, consider creating a floral centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table. Arrange the flowers in a vase or bowl and add candles or other decorative elements. This centerpiece can be a beautiful reminder of your wedding day.
49. Create a Floral Memory Jar
Fill a glass jar with dried flower petals and add small notes or memories from your wedding day. Shake the jar to mix the petals and memories, and keep it as a decorative piece in your home. This is a simple yet meaningful way to preserve the essence of your wedding.
50. Turn Flowers into a Floral Crown
If you have enough flowers, consider creating a floral crown. This can be worn for photos, given as a gift, or even used as a decorative piece in your home. Floral crowns are a beautiful and whimsical way to repurpose your wedding flowers.
51. Create a Floral Memory Quilt
For a truly unique keepsake, consider creating a floral memory quilt. Use fabric that has been dyed with the petals of your wedding flowers, or incorporate pressed flowers into the quilt design. This quilt can be used as a decorative throw or kept as a cherished heirloom.
52. Make Floral Bath Bombs
For a luxurious and fragrant treat, make floral bath bombs using your wedding flowers. Mix baking soda, citric acid, and dried flower petals, then mold the mixture into balls. These bath bombs can be used in your own bath or given as gifts.
53. Create a Floral Memory Box
Decorate a wooden or cardboard box with pressed flowers and use it to store mementos from your wedding day. This can include photos, letters, and other small items that hold special meaning. The box itself becomes a beautiful keepsake.
54. Turn Flowers into a Floral Chandelier
For a dramatic and beautiful display, create a floral chandelier using your wedding flowers. Attach the flowers to a wire frame and hang it from the ceiling. This can be a stunning centerpiece for your home or a unique decoration for future events.
55. Create a Floral Memory Wall
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory wall in your home. Frame pressed flowers, photos, and other mementos from your wedding day. This wall can be a constant reminder of your love and the joy of your wedding day.
56. Make Floral Sachets
Dry your wedding flowers and place them in small fabric sachets. These can be used to scent drawers, closets, or even your car. Floral sachets make lovely gifts and are a practical way to enjoy the fragrance of your wedding flowers.
57. Create a Floral Memory Book
Use your wedding flowers to create a memory book. Glue pressed flowers onto the pages alongside photos, notes, and other mementos from your wedding day. This personalized book will be a cherished keepsake for years to come.
58. Turn Flowers into a Floral Centerpiece
If you have a large number of flowers, consider creating a floral centerpiece for your dining table or coffee table. Arrange the flowers in a vase or bowl and add candles or other decorative elements. This centerpiece can be a beautiful reminder of your wedding day.
59. Create a Floral Memory Jar
Fill a glass jar with dried flower petals and add small notes or memories from your wedding day. Shake the jar to mix the petals and memories, and keep it as a decorative piece in your home. This is a simple yet meaningful way to preserve the essence of your wedding.
60. Turn Flowers into a Floral Crown
If you have enough flowers, consider creating a floral crown. This can be worn for photos, given as a gift, or even used as a decorative piece in your home. Floral crowns are a beautiful and whimsical way to repurpose your wedding flowers.
61. Create a Floral Memory Quilt
For a truly unique keepsake, consider