Choosing your wedding flowers is such a fun and exciting part of the planning process, but with so many options out there, how do you decide between dried and fresh flowers? The good news is you don’t have to pick just one. Both have their own unique beauty and benefits, and sometimes the perfect answer is a thoughtful mix of the two.
The Benefits of Dried and Preserved Flowers
There’s something undeniably special about dried and preserved blooms. Not only are they beautifully textured and full of character, but they’re also made to last. Here’s why more couples are choosing dried flowers for their wedding day:
- Keepsakes That Last: Dried bouquets, flower crowns, and accessories become cherished keepsakes, you can display your bouquet in a vase, frame your flower crown as a gorgeous way to decorate your home, past brides have even repurposed their florals for maternity photoshoots or reworn accessories at other special occasions.
- Allergy-Friendly: Dried flowers are a dream for anyone with pollen sensitivities so you don't have to worry about sneezing fits during the vows!
- Seasonal availability: If you love a specific flower that’s out of season on your wedding date, dried flowers let you include favourites regardless of the time of year, without having to import (which is gentler on the planet and your budget).
- Sustainable Choice: Dried florals are naturally long-lasting, create less waste, and can be sourced and packaged sustainably, something close to my heart here at Luna and Wild.
- Versatility: Smaller dried pieces like flower crowns, hair pins, and buttonholes can be easily incorporated into your look, ideal for if your planning a destination wedding, dried flowers are great for travelling with.
- Looks like fresh!: Preserved flowers are unique in that they look, feel and with some varieties even hold the scent of fresh flowers, but they have been treated with preservatives to last long after your big day so are an excellent choice for couples who love the look of fresh flowers but crave the longevity of dried flowers.
The Benefits of Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers bring their own magic, lush, fragrant, and bursting with life. They’re perfect for making a statement in those larger, show-stopping arrangements that set the mood for your venue:
- Larger Installations: Think sweeping arches, dramatic table runners, or suspended floral clouds. These big, beautiful displays are often impractical to keep after the wedding, so fresh flowers are ideal here.
- Fragrance and Vibrancy: Some couples love the scent and feel of fresh blooms, especially for ceremony spaces or reception entrances.
- Local and Seasonal: If you’re passionate about local, seasonal flowers and your wedding date lines up with your favourites, fresh can be a beautiful, sustainable choice.
The Best of Both Worlds: Mixing Dried and Fresh
Here’s my honest advice after years of designing for modern bohemian couples: you don’t have to choose. In fact, combining fresh and dried florals can give you the best of both worlds.
- Use fresh flowers for larger venue installations - The dramatic pieces that set the stage but aren’t practical to keep. (Top tip: These can be broken down after the wedding and gifted to your guests to reduce waste and spread the love!)
- Opt for dried flowers for your personal pieces - Think bouquets, flower crowns, hair accessories, and buttonholes that you’ll want to treasure or repurpose after your wedding.
This approach is not only practical, but it’s also sustainable and deeply personal. You get the wow-factor of fresh blooms where it matters, and the lasting beauty of dried flowers for the pieces closest to your heart.
Final Thoughts
Whether you lean dreamy and dried, lush and fresh, or a little bit of both, your wedding florals should feel like you. If you’re dreaming of a bouquet you can revisit for years to come, or want to include a favourite flower no matter the season, dried blooms are a wonderful option. And if you want to make a statement with big, bold arrangements, fresh flowers will always have their place.
If you’re not sure where to start, I’m always here to help you find the perfect balance.