General Questions
My bouquet is already dry. Can you still work with it?
Yes! Although we can’t press your flowers, we can use the dried petals in your original bouquet to create petal confetti style resin pieces. We can turn your bouquet into a custom set of coasters, a resin display tray or a resin ring dish. Please contact us using this link. Alternatively we can recreate your bouquet using fresh flowers!
Event already happened? My wedding has already passed, can I still preserve my bouquet?
The ability to preserve your flowers depends on how they were treated after the event, but in most cases, we can still help. Send us a photo of how your flowers are looking and we will let you know if they are fresh enough, we recommend overnight shipping to us! In addition, we offer bouquet recreation services. We'll curate the same flowers used in your wedding and press them, so you can still have a beautiful keepsake even if the original bouquet isn't available.
How does the Bouquet Preservation process work?
Step 1: Place Your Order
After placing your order, we’ll send you a guide so you know exactly how to send us your bouquet or drop off your bouquet after your event.
Step 2:
- If You Want to Ship Us Your Bouquet
Notify us when your bouquet has shipped and provide the tracking details. We’ll contact you as soon as your bouquet arrives. - If You Want to Drop Off Your Bouquet: If you’re in San Francisco, or the Bay Area, you can have your flowers dropped off at our convenient financial district studio (450 Folsom street)
Step 3: Floral Preservation
Once we receive your bouquet, we’ll start the preservation and pressing process, which can take up to 4 weeks.
Step 4: Design
After preserving your flowers, we’ll begin designing your frame. You’ll receive proofs of the design before we finalize it, giving you the chance to request any changes.
Step 5: Shipping Your Frame
Once your design is approved and your frame is complete, we’ll ship it to you with tracking information.
I'm worried some of my favorite flowers won't make it in shipping, is all hope lost?
No worries! We understand that blooms can be fragile during transit, so we offer a bouquet replication service. Once your flowers arrive, we'll carefully assess them, send you pictures, and let you know if any of your flowers need to be replaced. We've got you covered!
How long until I receive my floral keepsake?
Our turnaround time is 4-8 weeks, offering a quick yet high-quality preservation process. This is 40% faster than the industry average, so you can enjoy your beautiful floral keepsake even sooner!
What's your refund policy?
Since each product is custom-made with care, we’re unable to accept returns.
However, if there’s any issue with your order, such as a defective or damaged frame, please let us know right away so we can take care of it. You can easily reach out to us through our Contact page.
Please note that we’re unable to accept returns on sale items or gift cards. Thank you for understanding!
Bouquet Shipping and Drop-off
Can I ship my flowers to you?
We accept bouquets from anywhere in the US. Your flowers will need to be overnighted & we will send you detailed recipient mailing instructions. Please follow the instructions here to package your flowers. Alternatively, we offer a bouquet replication service.
Discount for Unusable Shipped Flowers: A lot can happen during the flower shipping process, and if the flowers rot or mold during transit, they may become unusable. In such cases, the usual industry protocol is either a refund or opting for our bouquet replication service. We know that shipping can already be costly, and it’s frustrating when flowers become unusable due to factors like climate or courier issues that are beyond your control. To help with this, we offer a 10% discount on our bouquet replication service for customers whose shipped flowers are unusable, so you don’t have to bear the full risk.
How do I take care of the bouquet before sending it to you?
- Keep Them Hydrated: Place your bouquet in fresh water as soon as possible after the event. Trim the stems at an angle to allow better water absorption.
- Store in a Cool Place: Keep your flowers in a cool, shaded area, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and drafts.
- Avoid placing them near fruits, which release ethylene gas that can speed up the aging process of flowers.
- Avoid Plastic Wrapping: If you need to store or transport the flowers, avoid wrapping them in plastic, as it can cause the flowers to suffocate and develop mold. Instead, use paper or a breathable material.
- Handle with Care: Be gentle when handling your bouquet to avoid bruising the petals or stems.
- Ship Promptly: When you're ready to send your bouquet, follow our detailed shipping guide and send it as soon as possible to prevent wilting. If you’re shipping, make sure to provide us with tracking details so we can be ready to start the preservation process as soon as it arrives.
How much can I expect to pay for shipping the flowers in?
If you’re in the Bay Area, you can use local courier services like Modern Express or Metrobi for overnight shipping, with costs ranging from $60 to $150. If you’re shipping your bouquet from other parts of the USA, you can estimate the cost of your shipment by using UPS's shipping calculator tool. The average weight of a single bouquet is around 5 lbs.
If I send a glass vase (or other object) with my box, will it be returned?
We don’t ship back glass vases or other items used to hold or decorate your bouquet stems. If you’d like to include charms, pins, or other special items in your design, please reach out to us to see if it’s possible. If there are items you’d like to keep that can’t be included in the design, please remove them before shipping.
How soon should I drop off or send my bouquet?
We need your bouquet within 72 hours of your event to ensure the best preservation. It’s a great idea to book your drop-off or plan your shipment ahead of time. We recommend using overnight shipping for the quickest and safest delivery to us.
Shipping my flowers is so expensive, is there anything I can do?
We know that shipping your blooms can be expensive and a bit risky, but here are some tips to help:
1. Consider our full bouquet replication service! We can source the same flowers from our wholesaler and press them in-house.
2. Choosing a different carrier can affect costs—USPS is cheaper but has basic tracking, while UPS offers good tracking at a reasonable price.
3. For those on a budget, we offer smaller frames, which only need a single bloom and a few leaves. These can be shipped in a small envelope, saving you a lot on shipping costs!
Caring for Your Frame
How to take care of my framed art afterwards?
To ensure your pressed flower art stays beautiful for years to come, it’s important to follow a few simple care tips. Keep your preservation away from direct sunlight, as prolonged exposure can cause the colors to fade over time. It’s best to display your framed art in a cool, dry place, avoiding areas with high humidity, like bathrooms or kitchens. Dust the frame gently with a soft, dry cloth, and avoid using any harsh chemicals or cleaners on the surface. By following these steps, you’ll help maintain the vibrant beauty of your pressed flowers for years to come!
How long will my pressed bouquet last?
Due to the fact that we are working with real florals, the pigmentation in your bouquet will naturally fade overtime. In order to keep it looking as close to the original as possible for as long as possible, please review our care instructions above.
What are the differences between glass panels and acrylic panels?
When choosing between glass and acrylic panels for your pressed flower framed art, it’s important to consider a few key differences.
- Glass panels are heavier and offer a classic, crystal-clear finish that is more resistant to scratches. This durability helps keep your floral art looking pristine over time. However, due to their weight and fragility, we currently don’t offer real glass for larger frame sizes, as it can be a safety hazard if a large glass frame were to fall from a wall.
- Acrylic panels, on the other hand, are much lighter, making them a safer and more practical option for larger frames. While acrylic is slightly more prone to scratches compared to glass, it’s still a popular choice for its lightweight and shatter-resistant properties, ensuring your artwork stays securely displayed.
Realistic Expectations
At Plantbox, we use natural preservation methods without any toxic chemicals, you may notice some color changes or fading in your final piece. This is because natural pigments like chlorophyll, carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and betacyanins can fade over time as they oxidize. Simply put, naturally dried flowers may lose some of their original vibrancy, but they’ll still retain their unique beauty!
All White Bouquets
At PlantBox, we’re happy to work with all-white blooms, even though many floral preservationists avoid them due to their tendency to brown during the preservation process. While we understand this choice from a design perspective (since all-white bouquets can be a bit challenging due to the lack of dimension and variety), we believe that every bloom deserves to be cherished forever.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when placing an order for your all-white flowers:
Browning begins at a molecular level the moment your flowers are cut from their stems. This is a natural part of a flower's life cycle, and while we do our best to minimize browning in every bloom we work with, white flowers will brown 95% of the time. Even the freshest, brightest white flowers may develop some browning during the preservation process, though it will be less noticeable than in flowers that have already started browning. Over time, flowers will naturally fade, even after being securely sealed in a frame. Flowers are delicate vessels of life, and we embrace the beauty of allowing nature to retain its natural essence. It’s important to note that pressed flowers may not keep the same vibrancy they had when fresh, but they will still hold a unique and lasting beauty.
Design tip: Include greenery and filler flowers in your all-white bouquet to create contrast and depth in your final frame.