Preserved flowers are real flowers whose sap has been replaced with a solution that keeps them soft and coloured for a long time, with no water. They are not the same as dried flowers, which lose their moisture and turn stiff. They cost more per stem, but they do not wilt.
They earn their place where fresh flowers struggle: flower crowns and hairpieces, buttonholes, the seating plan, a flower wall and installations hung up high. Because they are chemically treated, they cannot go on the compost. The guide to dried and preserved flowers explains the differences, costs and lifespan; the one on bridal hair flowers shows their most common use; the one on the floral seating plan suggests them for pieces that sit outside all day.
What to ask: which pieces are worth preserving, how the cost compares with fresh, how to look after them afterwards.
