How It Works — Your Floral Preservation Journey

The Preservation Process

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

1. Arrival & Hydration

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

2. Careful Drying

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

3. Design & Layout

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

4. Layered Resin Pouring

Resin is poured slowly over several days, building depth and clarity. This creates the glass-like finish Lustre & Leaf is known for.

5. Finishing Touches

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

6. Your Keepsake Is Ready

Your wedding or memorial flowers are transformed into a lasting piece of art — crafted with heart, from my hands to yours.

How to Prepare Your Flowers

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

Keep Them Hydrated

Place your bouquet or arrangement in a vase with a small amount of clean water. Just enough to keep the stems drinking — not so much that ribbons or wrapping get wet.

Avoid Heat and Direct Sunlight

Keep your flowers indoors, away from hot cars, sunny windows, or outdoor heat. Warmth is the fastest way for blooms to wilt.

Do Not Spray Anything on the Flowers

No hairspray, perfume, glitter spray, or finishing sealants. These can affect colour, texture, and how the flowers behave during drying.

Leave the Arrangement Intact

Please don’t pull stems out, remove ribbons, or separate the bouquet. I preserve your flowers in their natural wedding-day form.

Handle Them Gently

Avoid squeezing, dropping, or placing heavy items on top of the bouquet. Soft handling keeps petals and delicate blooms intact.

If You’re Using a Courier or Post

Once your booking is confirmed, I’ll send you simple packing instructions to keep your flowers upright, cushioned, and protected during travel.

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

These blooms hold their shape and colour exceptionally well:

• Roses — one of the best performers; they dry with gorgeous texture and depth.
• Native florals (banksia, billy buttons, paper daisies, wax flower) — naturally hardy and stunning in resin.
• Chrysanthemums & disbuds — full, textured, and reliable.
• Dahlias — often dry beautifully, especially larger varieties.
• Sunflowers — bold and striking, though they may deepen in colour.
• Lisianthus — delicate but dries wonderfully with soft, romantic petals.

Flowers That Can Change During Preservation

These blooms can still be preserved, but may shift in colour or shape:

• Peonies — gorgeous but can shrink or fade slightly.
• Hydrangeas — may deepen in colour or become more papery.
• Tulips — soften and curl, creating a more organic look.
• Ranunculus — delicate petals may tighten or darken.
• Gerberas — can flatten or change shape depending on moisture.

Flowers That Are More Challenging

These can still be included, but may behave unpredictably or darken during drying:

• Orchids — beautiful but prone to browning as they dry; they often shift to deeper, warmer tones.
• Very soft or high-moisture blooms (gardenias, some lilies)
• Succulents — heavy moisture content makes them difficult to dry
• Proteas with very soft centres — may darken or shift in texture
• Delicate wildflowers — can become fragile during drying

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. Here’s exactly what to do in those first hours and overnight to keep your flowers looking their best before they begin their preservation journey.

1. Place Your Bouquet Back in Water

After the reception, pop your bouquet into a vase with a small amount of clean water. This helps rehydrate stems after a long day of being carried.

2. Keep Them Cool Overnight

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

3. Queensland Tip: Short-Term Fridge Storage (Only If Needed)

If your home is very warm, you can place your bouquet in the fridge overnight — but only with care:

• Bottom shelf only
• Loosely covered to protect from cold drafts
• Paper towel underneath to absorb moisture
• Keep stems in water
• Store for short periods (overnight or up to 24 hours)

Avoid fridge storage for soft blooms like orchids, tulips, gardenias, and other delicate flowers, as they may brown in cold conditions.

4. Don’t 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.

5. Transporting Your Bouquet Home

If you’re travelling after the wedding, keep your bouquet upright and cushioned in the car. Avoid placing it in the boot — it’s too warm and can cause rapid wilting.

6. If You’ve Already Booked

You’ll receive simple delivery instructions tailored to your chosen method (drop-off, courier, or post).

7. If You Haven’t Booked Yet

You can still book within 48 hours of your wedding. Just keep your flowers hydrated and cool until your booking is confirmed.

Flower Care Guide

Whether your flowers are from a wedding, memorial, or special occasion, these gentle care steps help keep them fresh before they arrive at my studio.

Keep Your Flowers Hydrated

Place your bouquet or arrangement in a vase with a small amount of clean water. Just enough to keep stems drinking without soaking ribbons or wrapping.

Store Them Somewhere Cool

Heat is the fastest way for flowers to wilt. Keep your blooms indoors, away from sunlight, warm cars, or outdoor humidity.

Avoid Sprays or Treatments

Please don’t use hairspray, perfume, glitter spray, or finishing sealants. These can affect colour, texture, and how the flowers behave during drying.

Leave the Arrangement Intact

Don’t pull stems out, remove ribbons, or separate the bouquet. Keeping the natural structure helps preserve the story behind your flowers.

Handle Them Gently

Avoid squeezing, dropping, or placing heavy items on top of the bouquet. Soft handling keeps petals and delicate blooms intact.

If You’re Sending Your Flowers

Once your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive simple packing instructions tailored to your delivery method — drop-off, courier, or post. These help keep your flowers upright, cushioned, and protected during travel.

Timeline / Turnaround

Every keepsake is crafted slowly and intentionally. Floral preservation involves careful drying, thoughtful design, and multiple resin layers — each one poured only when the previous layer has cured. Here’s a clear guide to what you can expect once your flowers arrive at my studio.

Weeks 1–4 — Drying & Preparation

Your flowers are hydrated, trimmed, and prepared for preservation. Drying begins immediately and continues for 3–4 weeks, depending on flower type, moisture content, Queensland humidity, and bouquet size. This stage is essential — slow, controlled drying protects colour, shape, and detail.

Weeks 4–8 — Design & Resin Pouring

Once fully dried, your flowers move into the creative stage: selecting the strongest blooms, planning your layout, preparing your mould, and beginning resin pours. Resin is poured in multiple thin layers over 3–4 weeks. Each layer must cure fully before the next is added, creating the depth and clarity Lustre & Leaf is known for.

Week 8+ — 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 — Your Keepsake Is Ready

Once your piece is complete, you’ll 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, but you can still book within 48 hours. Just 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. Drying often reshapes petals, and resin adds clarity and structure. If any flowers are too damaged, I’ll select the strongest blooms for your design.

Do all flowers keep their colour?

Most flowers retain their natural tones, but some may deepen, soften, or shift slightly during drying. Soft blooms like orchids, tulips, gardenias, and high-moisture flowers may brown or change more noticeably.

How long does the process take?

Most keepsakes are completed within 8–10 weeks, depending on flower type, humidity, design complexity, and studio workload.

Can I choose my design style?

Absolutely — you can select from several layout styles when booking. I’ll work with your bouquet’s natural shape, colours, and textures to create a balanced, meaningful composition.

Do you preserve memorial flowers?

Yes — memorial pieces are handled with extra care and sensitivity. These bookings are prioritised wherever possible.

Can I include extra items in my piece?

Small items like ribbon, charms, or written notes can sometimes be included. Just let me know during booking so I can confirm suitability.

How do I deliver my flowers to you?

Once your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive simple instructions for drop-off, courier, or postal delivery. Each method includes guidance to keep your flowers safe during travel.

What if I live outside Brisbane?

You can still send your flowers via courier or post. I’ll provide packing instructions to keep your blooms protected and upright.

How do payments work?

A $100 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 the final photos have been sent to you for approval. This ensures you’re completely happy with your piece before final payment is made.

Still have questions?

I’m always here to help. If there’s anything you’re unsure about — flowers, delivery, design options, or the preservation process — you’re welcome to reach out anytime. Your keepsake is a once-in-a-lifetime piece, and I want you to feel completely supported from the moment you book to the moment your artwork is ready.