The short answer: bridal bouquet preservation take approximately 3-4 months from start to finish based on the product!
The reality: there are literally thousands of little steps that go into the process to preserve your precious bouquet and we put a lot of time and attention into making sure your keepsake turns out absolutely beautifully.
A little more about our process:
Once we have the bouquet in our hands, we process the bouquet immediately and begin the drying process using a variety of methods based on the products that the client has requested. The rest of the process widely varies based on those products:
FRAMES:
While the blooms are drying for approximately 8 weeks, we are giving daily attention to the flowers to make sure they're drying correctly and avoiding any molding!
Once the flowers are completely dehydrated, we begin the design process. During this stage, we provide our clients with a couple mock-ups and the opportunity to make tweaks so that they are completely in love with their pieces. This process often requires reconstructing flowers that were deconstructed during the drying process which means gluing every petal back together.... time consuming to say the least, but so worth it!
Next, we secure the flowers to the glass or matte background one bloom at a time.
Once the frame is dried and secured, it's time for a cleaning and the glam shots! We are not professional photographers but we are running a business and need those beautiful photos for cutie social media posts, this blog, and other website photos.
Final invoices will be sent at this stage as we package the products and get them ready to be sent back to you. Once that invoice has been paid in full, we ship your beautiful pieces back to their forever homes for you to enjoy literally forever!
RESIN PIECES:
The flowers for these products require a little less attention during the drying process but the meticulous attention will come later!
Once the flowers are completely dehydrated, we begin the design process. During this stage, we provide our clients with a couple mock-ups and the opportunity to make tweaks so that they are completely in love with their pieces.
Next, we begin the resin pours. Resin is a chemical and it has taken a LOT of trial and error to perfect the mixing time, pouring technique, and air bubble popping (yes, that's a real thing). The resin is poured in 1/4 inch layers, one at a time, and requires a 24-48 curing time between each layer. Air bubbles will escape as the resin cures and we are able to "pop" a lot of them but this is still handmade art and some bubbles will probably still exist!
Once the resin layers are complete, we pull the products out of the mold and do a final "top coat" to give the products a beautifully finished edge. This requires tape, sanding, buffing, polishing.... all the things to make sure your pieces look absolutely beautiful! \\
Next up, glam shots. We love seeing before + after photos of these products so obviously we need the photos!
Final invoices will be sent at this stage as we package the products and get them ready to be sent back to you. Once that invoice has been paid in full, we ship your beautiful pieces back to their forever homes for you to enjoy literally forever!
Unwrapping, snipping, cleaning, cutting, pouring, drying, checking, changing, designing, re-designing, emailing, tweaking, mixing, taping, buffing, sanding, pouring, polishing, pouring, popping, pouring, drying, pouring, popping, drying, photographing, invoicing, packaging, driving, shipping, good-bye (ing) .... I officially feel like those FEDEX "ing" commercials but also, so fitting.
Yes, the waiting is THE WORST PART and I totally get that but we also want your pieces to be stunning and that is absolutely worth the wait. <3
Happy Planning, Lovers!
-Jacqueline
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