Preservation FAQs
Choose the product you would love to have your flowers preserved in and get your design ready if you have one in mind. Enquire to check that there is availability for your preservation. Once you receive the green light, an invoice will be sent detailing the scope of your order and the overall cost including 10% GST to bring it to life.
Secure your date with a $150 non-refundable booking fee.
Please note that full payment is due 7 days prior to APR receiving your flowers and not when the order is completed.
Closer to your wedding date you will receive instructions on flower care during and after your wedding, including how to carefully pack them for safe arrival if posting. APR will also check in to confirm your order—once flowers are pressed or preserved whole, they cannot be reversed. Arrange for your bouquet arrival 1-2 days after your wedding date.
A progress report will be made if there is concern for their suitability and continuation of your order. If all is well, your piece/s will be ready in 8-10 week's time (2-3 months) during off season and 4-6 months during peak season—this is an estimation and could be earlier or later.
Please note that pieces are made in the order all flower orders are received. I can't answer every email asking for an update, especially if it's within the 10 weeks. You will be contacted if there is any concern or when your piece/s are ready.
An email will be sent to inform you when your piece/s are ready for collection or delivery, yay!
If you have the right amount of flowers for it, absolutely! Please advise at booking to receive additional costs. If you would like half preserved in a shadow box and half as a pressed frame, please be advised that once the preserving has started, it cannot be reversed.
It is imperative that APR receives your flowers as fresh as possible and as soon as possible. We are dealing with the uncertainties of nature, quality of the flowers on arrival including water damage or marks and a sometimes unpredictable art form. As such, whilst rare, some flowers may not take and/or be suitable to continue with the order. Many reasons include the condition in which they arrive.
The $150 deposit locks in your order, offsets any loss of business and accounts for any fair market value for all service/products already provided by APR including committed time, labour and resources.
Please note that payment is due 7 days prior to APR receiving your fresh bouquet.
A fee is taken at booking and full payment is due 7 days prior to your wedding date. Last minute orders within 7 days or after your wedding require immediate payment to preserve your florals. Orders must be paid in full BEFORE delivery/pick up of your flowers for preserving. APR cannot take flowers that have not been paid for in full.
The $150 booking fee locks in your order, your date and offsets any loss of business and accounts for any fair market value for all service/products already provided by APR including committed time, labour and resources.
As we only take a limited amount of bookings each month, your date has been locked in and secured for preservation. Unfortunately this may mean we have to turn other bookings away and therefore cannot offer refunds.
Once your flowers have been received, the flower drying process has begun or your frame has been completed, no refunds or cancellations can be made.
Please allow for 8-10 weeks or 2-3 months in off-season and 4-6 months in peak seasons. It may be sooner than that and this is an estimate, not a guarantee. The process is finicky and slow and it needs to be given time to ensure the best possible outcome. Throughout the drying process, the flowers and foliage will be assessed for their suitability to be preserved. Please note that some flowers may not make the final cut due to mould or mildew, which is a normal part of the pressing process.
Unfortunately no. This type of art needs time to dry/cure properly before it is even ready to be designed. Collections are made in the order the flowers are received.
Yes, any event! Anything from anniversaries, baby showers, memorials or even ‘just because’ custom pieces.
Yes. Shipping instructions will be provided once you’re booked in to ensure they arrive safely.
It's extremely vital that the flowers are kept in as excellent condition as possible. It is advisable to have the flowers sit in a little water throughout your wedding day. Selecting a bridal party or family member to be in charge of this can be really helpful.
Once the wedding is over, cut about 1cm off the stems at a 45 degree angle and pop them in fresh water. Pull off/out any bruised, browning or dead petals or flowers as they can disrupt the freshness of the other flowers. Then keep them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight or heat until you can get them to APR. The flowers must reach APR within 48 hours for best results. The next day is best.
Anemone, Babies Breath, Bougainvillea, Bunny tail, Cosmos, Dahlia (some, not all), Daisy, Delphinium, Ferns, Flannel Flower, Freesia, Gladioli, Hellebore, Hydrangea, Misty, Lavender, Orchid, Pansy, Paper Daisy, Peony, Poppy, Queen Anne’s Lace, Ranunculus, Roses, Spray Rose, Statice, Sunflower petals, Waxflower, Zinnia. Thin greenery such a ferns and Eucalyptus. Flowers with a lot of water such as or thick centres such as may not press well. Please be aware that colours may change initially and over time. Throughout the drying process, the flowers and foliage will be assessed for their suitability. Any thick/woody/juicy flowers such as chrysanthemums, proteas, billy buttons, lilies and some tropical flowers can’t be pressed.
Please see the “What are the best flowers for pressing?” section for more information.
Succulents, Anthuriums and Berries are too juicy to preserve.
Typically your bridal bouquet should be enough but more flowers means more chance of fullness especially if you're having a minimalist bouquet. It also depends on how many frames you'd like.
Once the non-refundable fee has been paid, you will have time to decide up until the flowers arrive. It is recommended to provide as much as possible, including flowers from your table arrangements (if you're happy to use them) as they should be in better condition.
APR cannot return left over flowers, so please only give what you're happy to be used. The more, the better. If you would like to use more of your left over flowers, you are more than welcome to add-on products or pay the extra charge for APR to air dry or press left over flowers and foliage. This must be organised beforehand so that the flowers and foliage can be allocated and prepared accordingly.
APR will try to accommodate your request, however, due to the nature of this art form, it’s hard to say what flowers will work best until preserving time. You may be able to choose which flowers you want pressed and which you want preserved whole, however, the suitability will be assessed against your selected items. For example, if you choose a resin block, you may be able to decide if you want pressed, whole flower heads or a mixture. When choosing a pressed frame as a main product, all suitable flowers will be pressed.
Please note, once your flowers have been received and sorted, you cannot make any changes. Once flowers have been pressed they cannot be preserved whole and vice versa. Please ensure that you are happy with your selected items to avoid being disappointed.
By booking with APR, you agree to give full trust and creative liberty. It’s advisable to come with fresh eyes and whilst inspiration images are welcome, it’s impossible to recreate exact replicas.
Ultimately, the idea is to preserve the flowers/foliage from your bouquet and there are many factors, including flower types, colours, flower condition and so on that might influence the overall end result. This is not a bouquet recreation but rather preservation in a different art form. Draft approvals are not provided and the next time you see your artwork will be when it's been completed.
Flower care during and after your wedding is vital. If you’re unsure, send a photo via email so you can be given the best recommendation. A bouquet replica may be possible in which the same or similar fresh flowers are sourced for you and then used in place. Please note that extra charges apply. Keep in mind that you are preserving the flowers' shape and texture and not the colour. This preservation process will prolong the enjoyment of your bouquet as it was on your wedding day (with its variations of course!) however, being a natural product it will transition to a more vintage look. We love witnessing this transition and if you do too, then this is for you :)
APR does not offer bouquet preservation as one whole piece. It will be disassembled and recreated as a new form. As with nature, all flowers are different. The condition the flowers arrive in, flower freshness and any chemicals or pesticides used on the flowers by the growers are factors in the quality of each flower/foliage. Throughout the drying process, the flowers and foliage will be assessed for their suitability.
Whites usually discolour and tend to show up anywhere from creams to browns. Greens are typically fine. Vibrant colours may turn a slightly deeper shade. Dark coloured flowers may dry a much deeper colour. Flowers with a lot of water such as Lilies and Orchids are taken as a case-by-case basis. They are dried and then assessed for their suitability before being used. Please note that you aren't preserving your bouquet for their colour but rather the flowers/foliage and its shape and textures from your wedding or event as a keepsake. Colours will fade over time.
Yes! This is the nature of working with natural materials and as they lose their moisture it causes their cell structure to change entirely. All flowers are different in the way they preserve and some flowers produce a much better finished result than others. It is important to handle your bouquet carefully at every stage as it can often show up once the resin is curing or flowers are pressed dry. If you have reflexed roses in your bouquet, ask your florist to use a few in their natural form.
Some flowers may darken/deepen, whilst others remain similar and others can change to a completely new colour. White flowers very rarely stay white and will range from creams to browns. Unfortunately, this isn't something that can be easily predicted when working with nature. Please be aware of this if you have an all-white bouquet. You're preserving the flowers from your special day in a vintage style, rather than the colour.
Yes! Your flowers needs to be received within 2 days of the event but APR can remake your bouquet or your florist (extra charges apply). Air drying the flowers may also be an option depending on the flower types in your bouquet.
Depending on their condition, yes. APR does not offer bouquet preservation as one piece, but if you’re happy for the bouquet to be pulled apart and redesigned, then by all means send it to APR. Please note, flowers will be preserved as is.
Keep your pieces out of direct sunlight and heat—anything that could potentially melt or disfigure. The best way to clean them is to wipe down with a microfibre cloth and a touch of vegetable oil or a mild glass cleaner.
Please note that our frames are out sourced and a commercial frame. Although we take care to ensure that we pick out the best of the frames, unfortunately there may be some marks or imperfections including at the joins that we cannot control. APR does its best to quality check each frame and ensure that it is in good working order.
Also, please note that your flowers are a natural product. Whilst the preservation process does prolong the enjoyment of your flowers as they were on your wedding day (with variations of course!), they will fade over time and there is no telling when this will happen. Keep in mind that you're preserving your flowers/foliage and their shape and texture; not the colour.
Like all natural artwork, your piece/s may change over time due to natural, environmental elements. There are many factors that will determine its lifespan and durability.
Please follow the care instructions provided to get the most out of your frame. You will also receive a care card on delivery. Keep them out of any direct sunlight, such as bright windows or display units, away from heat such as fireplace, heater, candles and display in a cool, dry place. Avoid any locations that are humid.
Please handle your frame/s with care to ensure they stay in great condition.
Carefully unwrap your frame and hang on the wall or an a picture frame easel to enjoy.
Always handle with care.
Remove dust by carefully wiping clean with a microfibre cloth.
Ensure that your piece/s is kept in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight, moisture, heating and humidity.
As this is a natural product, colour will fade over time and this is completely unpredictable and uncontrollable but completely up to nature.
APR puts a lot of heart and soul into the pieces created, however, it’s possible to not get it right 100% of the time. Because of the finicky nature of this art form, it’s best to not have your heart set on a particular look or replica but to come with fresh eyes. Ultimately, the idea is to preserve the flowers/foliage from your bouquet and there are many factors, including flower types, colour and flower condition, that might influence the overall end result. Whilst APR will do everything to ensure a quality and beautiful end product is provided, oftentimes APR is limited to what can be ultimately achieved. Before reaching out, please take a day or more to “sit on it” and to sit with the emotions. If you are still not in love with the end product, please respectfully and kindly contact APR directly via email so a solution can be found.
Please note:
APR is in no way responsible for the condition your flowers arrive in. It is imperative that you carefully follow all care/delivery steps to ensure it reaches APR in the best condition possible. Sending a clear image of your flowers beforehand is recommended if you’re unsure of their suitability. Your flowers will be assessed on arrival and if they are deemed unusable, unfortunately a replica may need to be made (extra charges apply) or proceeding further will be halted. Please note that the $150 deposit is non-refundable.