How it Works

The Preservation Process

Your flowers are treated with care from the moment they arrive. Every step is intentional, gentle, and designed to honour the story behind your blooms.

Arrival and Hydration

Your flowers are refreshed, trimmed, and prepared for preservation. This helps maintain colour and structure before drying begins.

Careful Drying

Each bloom is dried using methods suited to its variety. This protects shape, detail, and as much natural colour as possible.

Design and Layout

Your chosen style is mapped out thoughtfully. I consider balance, flow, and the emotional significance of each flower when creating your composition.

Layered Resin Pouring

Resin is poured slowly over several days, building depth and clarity. Multiple thin layers create the glass‑like finish Lustre and Leaf is known for.

Finishing Touches

Edges are refined, surfaces polished, and your piece is inspected carefully for clarity, balance, and quality.

Your Keepsake Is Ready

Your wedding, memorial, or story flowers are transformed into a lasting piece of art. Each keepsake is crafted with care, from my hands to yours.

How to Prepare Your Flowers

Preparing your flowers gently before delivery helps preserve as much of their natural beauty as possible. These steps keep your blooms fresh, hydrated, and ready for their journey to the studio.

Keep Them Hydrated: Place your bouquet in a vase with a small amount of clean water.

Avoid Heat and Direct Sunlight: Store your flowers indoors in a cool, shaded space.

Queensland Heat Considerations: Queensland warmth and humidity can cause rapid wilting. Keep your bouquet in the coolest room you have, refresh the water often, and avoid warm cars. Short‑term fridge storage on the bottom shelf can help overnight, but avoid chilling soft blooms such as orchids, tulips, and gardenias.

Do Not Spray Anything: Avoid hairspray, perfume, glitter spray, or sealants.

Leave the Arrangement Intact: Do not separate stems or remove ribbons.

Handle Gently: Avoid pressure, dropping, or placing items on top.

Avoid Plastic Bags: Use an open paper bag if transporting.

Courier or Post: Once booked, you’ll receive packing instructions.

What Flowers Preserve Best

Every bloom has its own personality. Some dry beautifully with rich colour and structure, while others soften or change as they age. This guide helps you understand how different flowers behave during preservation.

Flowers That Preserve Beautifully

• Roses
• Native florals such as banksia, billy buttons, paper daisies, and wax flower
• Chrysanthemums and disbuds
• Dahlias
• Sunflowers
• Lisianthus

Flowers That May Change During Preservation

• Peonies
• Hydrangeas
• Tulips
• Ranunculus
• Gerberas

Flowers That Are More Challenging

• Orchids
• Very soft or high‑moisture blooms such as gardenias and some lilies
• Succulents
• Proteas with soft centres
• Delicate wildflowers

Even flowers that change can add character, texture, and story to your final piece. I work gently with every bloom you send, preserving as much of your bouquet's natural beauty as possible.

After the Wedding

Once your celebration winds down, your bouquet still holds the heart of your day. These steps help keep your flowers looking their best before they begin their preservation journey.

Place Your Bouquet Back in Water

After the reception, place your bouquet in a vase with a small amount of clean water to rehydrate the stems.

Keep Them Cool Overnight

Store your bouquet indoors in a cool, calm space. Avoid sunny windows, warm cars, or outdoor humidity.

Do Not Take the Bouquet Apart

Leave all stems, ribbons, and florals exactly as they are. Your bouquet's natural wedding‑day form helps guide the final design.

Transporting Your Bouquet Home

Keep your bouquet upright and cushioned in the car. Avoid placing it in the boot, as it is too warm and can cause rapid wilting.

If You Have Already Booked

You will receive simple delivery instructions tailored to your chosen method.

If You Have Not Booked Yet

You can still book within forty eight hours of your wedding. Keep your flowers hydrated and cool until your booking is confirmed.

Timeline and Turnaround

Every keepsake is crafted slowly and intentionally. Floral preservation involves careful drying, thoughtful design, and multiple resin layers. Each layer is poured only when the previous one has cured. Most preservations can be completed within 6-8 weeks.

Drying and Preparation

Your flowers are hydrated, trimmed, and prepared for preservation. Drying begins immediately and continues for several weeks depending on flower type, moisture content, Queensland humidity, and bouquet size.

Design and Resin Pouring

Once fully dried, your flowers move into the creative stage. This includes selecting the strongest blooms, planning your layout, preparing your mould, and beginning resin pours. Resin is poured in multiple thin layers over several weeks.

Finishing Touches

Your piece is demoulded, edges refined, and surfaces polished. I inspect clarity, balance, and finish to ensure your keepsake meets the highest standard.

Completion

Once your piece is complete, you will receive a message with collection or delivery details. Your flowers are now preserved forever, transformed into a piece of art that carries your story.

FAQs

How soon should I book after my wedding or event?

Ideally as soon as possible. You can still book within forty eight hours. Keep your flowers hydrated and cool until your booking is confirmed.

Can you preserve flowers that have already wilted?

Yes. Many wilted blooms can still be preserved beautifully. If any flowers are too damaged, I will select the strongest blooms for your design.

Do all flowers keep their colour?

Most flowers retain their natural tones, but some may deepen or soften during drying. Soft blooms may brown or change more noticeably.

How long does the process take?

Most keepsakes are completed within eight to ten weeks depending on flower type, humidity, design complexity, and studio workload.

Can I choose my design style?

Yes. You can select from several layout styles when booking.

Do you preserve memorial flowers?

Yes. Memorial pieces are handled with extra care and sensitivity.

Can I include extra items in my piece?

Small items such as ribbon or charms can sometimes be included. Please mention this during booking.

How do I deliver my flowers to you?

Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive instructions for drop‑off, courier, or postal delivery.

What if I live outside Brisbane?

You can still send your flowers via courier or post. Packing instructions will be provided.

How do payments work?

A deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place in my preservation calendar. The remaining balance is due once your keepsake is complete and final photos have been sent to you for approval.

Gentle Legal Protection

Floral preservation is a natural process and results vary depending on flower type, age, condition, and how blooms arrive at the studio. While every effort is made to preserve colour, shape, and detail, some flowers may change during drying or resin curing. Lustre and Leaf cannot guarantee specific colour outcomes or prevent natural variations.

Flowers must arrive in good condition. I will always do my best to preserve every bloom, but I cannot take responsibility for flowers that arrive damaged, mouldy, heavily wilted, or affected by heat or transport conditions.

Resin may contain small variations such as micro bubbles or minor surface texture. These are natural characteristics of handcrafted resin work and are not considered faults.

By booking, you agree to these conditions and acknowledge that each keepsake is a unique, handcrafted piece created with care.