What to do with the bride's bouquet after the wedding

The bride's bouquet is an indispensable attribute of the wedding celebration, as is the groom's boutonniere. Many brides wonder about the fate of their bouquet after the wedding. There are many signs associated with this wedding day attribute. the man should buy the bouquet , but not necessarily the groom himself (he has a lot of worries before the ceremony, so his father or brother can perform this function); any flowers are selected, except for red carnations, which carry political or tragic, mourning overtones (it is better to give preference to buds of delicate shades, matching the bride’s snow-white dress). Non-superstitious brides do not think about signs and customs, but still want to keep their bouquet, unless, of course, they gave it to an unmarried guest at the wedding. Below we will tell you about all the possible options for the wedding bouquet.

The bride's bouquet

Signs and traditions about the bride's bouquet

The tradition of throwing a bouquet to friends after the end of the celebration, symbolizing the end of a girl’s life and the beginning of a married life, does not imply the use of the exact flower arrangement that adorned the bride’s outfit during the ceremony. You can prepare a duplicate in advance, similar to the original or made from artificial materials. And the one that the groom gives to his beloved before the start of the holiday is too precious to be easily parted with. Any girl would prefer to keep it as a keepsake.

To the questions of what to do with the bride’s bouquet after the wedding, where to put the wedding bouquet, there are many answers, sometimes mutually exclusive. Some people think that they should be thrown away so as not to see how beautiful fresh flowers fade.

According to Feng Shui, keeping dry plants in your home is a bad omen.

Others believe that it is wrong to throw away anything related to a family’s birthday or give it to someone else. There are several possible options:

Save the wedding bouquet after the wedding as a keepsake. It will, of course, dry out, but placed in a vase it will decorate the interior in an original way and will remind you of a wonderful day.

A properly dried bouquet will decorate the interior

Dry individual flowers and leaves under pressure as for a herbarium, for example in a thick book. After a few weeks, stick the dried elements onto a piece of paper or fabric, forming a colorful composition. Frame it in a beautiful frame and hang it on the wall.

Panel from a wedding bouquet

Must be stored in a canvas bag. And when your children grow up and walk down the aisle, you need to shower them with flower petals from the bouquet from your parents’ wedding.
Burn ritually on your wedding anniversary, thus getting rid of quarrels and misunderstandings during the first year of marriage.
Give to the river. Water is the source of life, a symbol of femininity, fluidity, purity. Throw flowers into the river , tell her about your desires, ask for women's happiness.

Place the petals from the wedding bouquet under the mattress. They say that in this case the husband will be faithful and will never leave his family.
Dry the flowers and then make a decorative candle. It will decorate your home. And you can light it at family celebrations.

Decorative flower candle

An interesting way to preserve a bouquet for many years is preservation with glycerin . It is suitable for flowers with dense leaves. One part of glycerin is mixed with two parts of hot water, the stems from below are split and placed in the mixture for 2-3 weeks. Every day they are trimmed one centimeter. After a week, the glycerin mixture is refreshed. The flowers are ready when they are saturated and glossy. If the bouquet is small, then it is possible to preserve the whole bouquet in a beautiful glass container.

Preserving a bouquet in a glycerin mixture

How to keep a bouquet fresh depending on the type of flowers

The wedding day starts early in the morning and ends late in the evening. During this period of time, the bouquet constantly accompanies the bride, emphasizing her gentle and reverent image. Wind, rain, frost, cold or scorching sun can damage flowers, accelerating their withering. In order for the wedding bouquet to retain its original appearance by the end of the evening, you need to know the rules for selecting flowers and handling them. Long-term freshness of the wedding bunch will be ensured by following these tips:

Coordinate with the florists the time of delivery of the bouquet. It is recommended to receive the flower bunch early in the morning, which will increase its freshness until the end of the wedding.
Throughout the day, try not to touch the cut with your hands.
Protect flowers from drafts and strong winds.
Ask your florist to create a wedding bouquet on a porta bouquet. Such an oasis, saturated with moisture, will ensure the freshness of flowers for a long time.
Before the start of the banquet, ask the administrator to place a vase of water for the bouquet on the newlyweds’ table. Additional moisture will prolong the freshness of the flowers.
It is prohibited to use ice to add to the vase. This method will speed up the withering of the flower arrangement, since ice cubes have a detrimental effect, stopping the circulation of water along the stem.
Avoid unnecessary shaking, throwing and pressing of the bouquet.

Bouquet of roses and chrysanthemums

A floral bunch of roses or chrysanthemums will help to emphasize the irresistibility and tenderness of the bride. These flowers are considered hardy and will last the entire wedding day. But if it’s winter outside, it’s better to immediately immerse the cut of the bouquet in hot water for a minute. Then the flower arrangement should be placed in a vase with water at room temperature. This method will give roses and chrysanthemums a fresh look for a long time.

From orchids and lilies

Lilies and orchids go perfectly with the fragile and romantic image of the bride. These flowers are considered to fade quickly. If you do not take a number of measures to care for them, by the end of the wedding the newlywed will end up with an unaesthetic flower arrangement in her hands. In order for orchids and lilies to delight the bride for a long time, you need to ask the florist to place each flower in a special flask with water.

Nuances of caring for gerberas and irises

Wedding bouquets made from gerberas and irises, with proper care, will delight the bride all day long. During the banquet, place a bouquet of gerberas in a vase half filled with water. With prolonged contact with liquid, flower stems may secrete mucus, so periodically wipe the stem with a clean cloth. If the bouquet is made of irises, adding a tablespoon of sugar to a vase of water will help increase their freshness.

How to dry a bride's bouquet after the wedding

Have you ever opened an old book and suddenly discovered a dried leaf or flower between the pages? Maybe it's a modest gift from a loved one, or maybe it was snatched during your first date. It lay between the pages for many years and still retains tender memories and even the smells of that day.

If you decide to keep a wedding bouquet as a souvenir so that after many years it will refresh the memory of an unforgettable day, then you need to dry it properly so that the leaves and petals do not lose their shape and color. Drying can be volumetric or flat; there are many technologies:

Proper drying of flowers

The easiest way to dry roses is to hang them upside down and leave them in that position until they dry completely.
For decorative panels and paintings, flowers are dried by being placed in a thick book between sheets of clean paper or napkins.
For delicate inflorescences, drying in sand or semolina is suitable. After placing the plant in a container, you must carefully cover all the petals with sand or grain and do not dig them up for a month. Instead of sand, you can use silica gel - moisture-absorbing granules.

Dried flowers are covered with hairspray. They look more original if the varnish is with glitter.

How did the tradition begin?

The custom of throwing a bridal bouquet at a wedding has been around for a long time. True, it arose completely spontaneously, and no one could even imagine that this tradition would survive to this day. In the Middle Ages, weddings took place magnificently and solemnly. They prepared for it in advance, inviting a huge number of guests. At the end of the festive dinner, they necessarily accompanied the spouses to the marriage bed. At the same time, it was considered a good omen to tear off at least a tiny piece from the bride’s outfit, who, of course, was offended to spoil a beautiful and expensive thing. No one noticed how, instead of dresses, the girls began to throw flowers to the guests, and they, in turn, tried to catch and not miss a single bud.

Kievan Rus had its own tradition. All unmarried and lonely girls gathered in one room and held a farewell round dance. At this time, the hero of the occasion stood in the center, closed her eyes and, in gratitude for the congratulations, distributed to the participants the plants that had been with her all day. At the same time, giving away everything to the last piece of paper and leaving nothing for yourself.

Is it possible to throw away a wedding bouquet?

There is no clear opinion. Some people think that it is necessary to get rid of the bouquet. But under no circumstances should you simply throw it in the trash. The following options are considered acceptable: traditionally throw it to your friends after the wedding, give it to the river or burn it. However, most brides do not want to part with a luxurious attribute, which is not cheap and valuable as a memory, and they make attempts to dry it and store it for as long as possible.

According to Slavic tradition, dry plants retain strength and can serve as a talisman. Since ancient times, bunches of dried herbs and flowers were hung in certain places throughout the hut, protecting the home from evil spirits and diseases. True, not just flowers were used, but magical amulets, they were collected at a certain time, dried in the air and changed every year.

The practice of organizing space, Feng Shui, which came from Asia, prohibits keeping dry plants in the house. It is believed that they concentrate the negative energy of dying and disrupt the free flow of energy in the house. However, Feng Shui makes an exception for bouquets that preserve the memory of some important event, such as a wedding. But the location of such a bouquet should not be a bedroom or living room. It is best to place it in the kitchen or bathroom.

Don't be upset if you couldn't keep the bouquet in its original form. It is already captured in its original form in photographs in the family album and in a video filmed at the ceremony. Don't be sad that the flowers have withered. The main thing is that your feelings for each other remain bright and fresh.

How to extend the life of flowers?

do not pick it up in advance : it is optimal to agree with the florist and pick it up the day before or in the morning of the wedding day;
do not leave flowers in the sun, without water , and in winter bring them into a warm room as quickly as possible;
for an accessory on a porta bouquet, it is enough to wet the sponge with water from time to time ;
flowers on their stems need to be cut along an oblique line , split and placed in water, removing excess leaves;
use special means (chrysal);
Make sure that the water remains cold and clean , periodically change and spray with a spray bottle.

Reference . A bouquet holder is a plastic base for a bride’s bouquet, usually in the form of a handle, on which a special foam is attached (flowers and decor are placed on it, and thanks to its porous structure, it retains moisture for a long time.

Fresh flowers throughout the day

A wedding bouquet is a very important accessory for the bride. They choose colors responsibly, paying attention to various details. Such as color durability, the ability to do without water for some time, frost resistance. But first of all, of course, beauty, a harmonious addition to the bride’s image - and here there is no time for practicality. But the main requirement for a bouquet remains one: to maintain freshness throughout the day. So as not to spoil the mood and photographs of the hero of the occasion. Often a bouquet is made up of different types of flowers, and they also require different care. The bouquet is usually ordered in advance, about a week or a week and a half in advance. A few tips to help keep flowers fresh longer: 1. The salon can offer you different bouquet options. This includes placing the flowers in a special holder, in the handle of which a solution or mass will be placed to nourish the plants throughout the day. 2. You can purchase special products - Chrysal Clear, “Bud”, “Bouquet” or “Living Rose” feed for cut flowers. They must be used according to the instructions on the package. You can start at home while the final preparations and photography are underway. Take some with you. In a restaurant, ask the staff to place a small vase on your table. Add it to this vase. Do not experiment with sugar, salt, aspirin or other methods of preserving flowers. If you make a mistake, you risk being left without a bouquet at all.

The most popular customs

What other signs associated with a wedding bouquet should you definitely follow?

To your future wife - with a gift. It is important that the flowers arrive at the bride’s house immediately before the wedding ceremony. The groom passes them from hand to hand as a symbol of his love. Other people should not touch them.
Bride's property. The bouquet should be next to the girl all day. Before painting, you should not give it to anyone. Otherwise, you can give away part of your family’s well-being along with it. And even after the wedding, it should be next to the newlyweds as a decoration for the festive table. To do this, it must be placed in water.
Throwing a bouquet. According to tradition, all unmarried girls present at the celebration stand in a semicircle, and the bride turns her back to them and throws flowers. Whoever caught them, and who was lucky in the form of a fallen gift, must definitely save it. In this case, according to popular belief, the girl will soon meet her love and get married. The main thing is that during the throw the flowers do not fall on the floor.

Summary

Preparing for a wedding involves many worries. And the pleasure comes not so much from the celebration itself as from the preparations for it. It's not just the bride who has to do the preparations. The groom must also be included in the process. Choosing a bouquet may be the first important task for your future spouse.

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Summer mood - raspberry bridal bouquet: choosing flowers

Other Use and Disposal Ideas

If you are confused whether to keep the bride's bouquet, listen to your inner voice. How important is it to you, does it have a symbolic meaning, or is it just a decoration that complemented the image, and will soon simply lose its appearance. If you choose the second, then the question arises whether it is possible to throw away the wedding bouquet. To begin with, you can officially throw it away at the end of the holiday: over your shoulder into a crowd of unmarried girls - this is the most natural way to get rid of it. But if for some reason it was not possible to do this, then let it stand for several days in a beautiful vase, please you with pleasant and exciting memories, and when it begins to fade, throw it in the trash, discarding all prejudices. Don't think about bad things - they won't happen!

Girls are also interested in whether it is possible to store the bride’s bouquet at home with their mother or mother-in-law. There are no bad signs or prerequisites in this regard. Only if its presence does not interfere with the owner of the home, make sure that no one is allergic to pollen.

Types of drying flowers.

Let's consider the main types of drying flowers in bouquets and individual flowers, without touching on the topic of flat drying under a press.

Air drying

A method accessible to most, characterized by its simplicity, but at the same time quite effective. Drying time can reach 40 days.

For air drying, a dark, dry room with good air circulation is best. This will prevent mold from appearing.
Stretch the string (fishing line, twine) and hang the flowers with the buds down. Do not forget that large bouquets must be separated and dried flowers individually or in small bunches.
Hang the flowers at some distance from each other to allow free air circulation. 10-15 centimeters will be enough.
Periodically check how dry the flowers are. This can be done with a toothpick. Dried flower petals are fragile and hard.
When dried by hanging, the leaves retain their natural direction and the flowers look great in a vase.
When drying, you can lightly spray the bouquet with varnish to protect it from dust.
Plants with small inflorescences can be air dried without hanging. To do this, carefully wrap the flowers in paper and place them in cardboard boxes.

Drying flowers in the microwave.

Quite an unusual use of a microwave oven. This method is very effective and you can dry flowers very quickly - from 2 to 10 minutes. But be prepared that this operation may not work properly on the first try.

Take a microwave-safe container and cover the bottom with silica gel.
Trim the stems, retreating 3-4 centimeters from the bud.
Place the plants inside the container and carefully cover with silica gel.
Dry on medium power for 1-2 minutes and check every half minute until the desired result.
After drying, leave the container with flowers to cool for about a day.
After completely cooling and drying, carefully remove the flowers and brush off any remaining silica gel with a soft brush.
To consolidate the result, you can use acrylic varnish in a bottle and sprinkle it on the dried plant.

This method allows you to preserve the color and is therefore suitable for flowers of bright shades. For delicate inflorescences, you can use the low-power defrost mode, but for very small inflorescences, microwave drying may not be suitable.

Drying flowers in a convection oven

Let us immediately note that a conventional oven most likely will not work. The main condition is the ability to set a low temperature of 38-40 degrees.

Place the flowers on a baking sheet lined with paper. You can use a fine mesh to place flowers vertically.
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. The time required for drying is 6-8 hours, depending on the size and density of the plants.

Volumetric drying in desiccants

Drying with desiccant or desiccant is suitable for flowers with large and medium buds. Silica gel, salt, semolina, borax, sand, and talc are used as moisture-absorbing fillers.

Silica gel dries the fastest - from two to seven days, depending on the size and density of the plant. You can buy it at a pet store (cat litter). With salt, this process will take up to 35 days.

How to carry out volumetric drying in desiccants?

Pour your chosen filler into the bottom of the container.
Place the flowers and cover with a layer of desiccant.
Close the container tightly to prevent moisture from entering from outside. When using borax, do not close the container.
When using sand, you need to wash it, bake it in the oven and sift through a sieve.
Silica gel can be reused. To do this, you need to dry it in the oven.
When salt is used as a filler, it is better to choose “Extra” fine salt.