What is the difference between pressing and drying flowers?

Drying flowers entails either hanging the flowers upside down, letting nature take its course, or using freeze drying equipment. In either case, the result is totally different than pressing the flowers flat. Drying flowers retains the original shape of the flowers, and if drying naturally, the flowers are more likely to create mold if dried in large bundles.

Pressing flowers on the other hand requires more physical labor and attention. When pressing flowers, we are extracting water by applying pressure in a wooden press. The water ultimately leaves the petals of the flowers and the paper layered around the flower absorbs the water. Here at preservation press, we prefer the overall look and design that can be created with a pressed flower.

How long does it take to press flowers?

Flower pressing is a very slow art form. The timeline typically takes about 2-3 weeks; however, being that our studio is in Louisiana with extreme humidity levels, we let our flowers press for 4-6 weeks.

How soon should I book with you guys to preserve my wedding bouquet? 

It is important that you book us in advance, 6-8 months to play it safe. We only have 5 wooden press's to hold custom orders, and in the busy wedding seasons our press's do reach capacity. Therefore, if you wait until the last minute, there is a possibility that we will not have room to take in your order. 

How do I book a date to have my flowers dropped off?

Fill out our contact form under custom orders >  "weddings" or the contact page and we will email you within 24-48 hours. In our initial email, we send over our pricing list, our package price list, and client agreement form. You can find more detailed steps on how to book us, and our process,  under the custom order "wedding" tab.  

If my wedding is cancelled or if the flowers are not delivered to you on the scheduled date, do I get my deposit back?

Under no circumstance are deposits refunded. 

How soon after the event should I have my flowers dropped off?

As soon as possible! The best results for pressing are when flower are at their freshest. We schedule all wedding flower drops the following Monday after weekend weddings. The flowers need to be brought to us at our Lafayette studio address: 912 W. Congress St. Lafayette, LA 70501.

Because funerals are unpredictable, we keep our schedule open for flower drops from services.

How do I keep my flowers fresh until I can get them to you?

 Cold air works magic on drooping flowers and does wonders to help bring them back to life. After an event, the best place to store the flowers is in a vase of water (emerged in just 2-3 inches, do not drown the stems), in a refrigerator.  If a refrigerator is not available, flowers can be kept in a vase of water, away from direct sunlight and in a well air-conditioned house. Change out the water daily to avoid creating rot from stagnant water.

How do I transport the flowers to the studio?

If traveling for more than 30+ minutes with the flowers, you can wet a paper napkin or fill a plastic ziplock of water and tie securely around the stems to keep them watered on the ride to us. Store the flowers in the back seat away from any direct sunlight. Any direct sunlight for 10+ minutes will start to wilt flowers.  

My wedding is out of town. How can I ship the flowers to you?

For wedding flowers that cannot be physically delivered by the bride or a relative, we have prepared care packages to overnight the flowers Monday afternoon so that the flowers are delivered to us Tuesday morning. Our care packages include detailed instructions and all the materials needed to overnight us the flowers. We mail out the care package 4 weeks prior to the wedding. 

What is the timeline for custom orders?

After the six week pressing timeline, we transfer the flowers into our “pending order press.” When we are ready to fill the order, we contact the client to begin the design process. Based of off the clients paperwork, we create 3 different proofs for them to choose from. We will not finish any order until the total payment is paid.

Why can it take up to 3 months to complete a custom order?

Creating custom art with pressed flowers is an extremely timely process. We cannot speed up the pressing process of flowers. Artwork should never be rushed. In our customer agreement, we allow ourselves 2 months after the flowers are pressed to create your custom order pieces. On top of custom orders, we have inventory orders that come in weekly. These orders require our time and attention to ship out as well.

I have a custom order in a pending press. When it is time to design, can I be more hands on with the creative process and come into the studio?

Of course! If clients want to schedule a time with one of our designers to be present in the design process, we can schedule an hour block to have the flowers pulled and canvas ready to map out a design. Our hourly rate with designers is $65 an hr. 

How long will my flowers last?

If framed professionally, and treated with gentle care, your press will last for generations to come! Eventually, the flower color will fade, this is inevitable with any organic substance. However, being that the flower itself is pressed and not dried, the flowers will outlive you! We spray our pressed flowers with UV protectant and highly recommend keeping them away from direct sunlight, moist environments and areas where air condition would directly blow on the artwork.

When set behind glass, away from dust and all things nature, pressed specimens can outlive you and your children!

Should I frame my preserved flowers?

Absolutely. We recommend having a professional framer frame your pieces with acid free backing board and paper and UV glass protectant. If you want your flowers to last, they absolutely need to be set behind glass, away from the environmental elements- dust, bugs, children etc. 

Can I buy my leftover pressed flowers?

We do not give or sell back any or all donated flowers for custom orders.