What to Expect When Preserving White Flowers
Elegant and timeless: the evolution of your all-white bouquet
Photo by Chelsea White Photography
With or without the influence of Pantone’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Cloud Dancer, white and near-white flowers are never out of fashion in wedding bouquets.
At Madeeco, we’ve preserved and reimagined many shades and forms of white blooms over the years. When thoughtfully composed, variations on white can create artwork that feels calm, considered, and quietly impactful. We do, however, always remind clients that preserved flowers, whether pressed or preserved in three dimensions, will not remain exactly the same shade as they were in their fresh bouquet. This applies to flowers of all colours, but is often more noticeable when the original arrangement is entirely white.
White flowers naturally change during the preservation process, often developing warmer, softer tones of yellow, beige, or pale parchment over time. This transformation is a natural response to air, light, and the breakdown of plant cells, similar to the way fresh fruit gently darkens once exposed. These subtle shifts are not flaws, but part of the organic journey of preserved flowers, reflecting their natural makeup rather than artificial intervention.
The way a flower is preserved also plays a role in how it holds colour. The techniques we use to preserved flowers three dimensionally, particularly roses, often retain a brighter, more luminous white initially, as their structure and depth are maintained. Pressed flowers, flattened, tend to soften more quickly into warmer tones. That said, even three-dimensionally preserved blooms will continue to evolve slowly, mellowing with age as all organic materials do.
Not all white flowers behave in the same way. Some varieties retain their vibrancy remarkably well through preservation. Rice flower is a long-standing favourite in our studio; its dense, pearl-like blooms often remain consistently white. Certain white hydrangeas, astrantias, statice can also age with beautiful stability, while others gently deepen into softer, antique-like shades. This variation is part of what gives preserved floral artwork its depth and character.
Traditional botanical preservation methods have been used for centuries and, when paired with thoughtful modern framing, allow flowers to be enjoyed for decades. If you’re choosing white for your wedding flowers and considering preservation, here are a few guidelines for you and your florist to bear in mind:
1. Handle with care on the day: White flowers bruise easily. If you’d like to keep your bouquet pristine, you may want to forgo the traditional bouquet toss or have a separate bouquet for that moment.
2. Include a variety of foliage: Foliage introduces contrast and depth, both in the fresh arrangement and in the preserved artwork.
3. Build in variety: If you're drawn to the signature Madeeco style, characterised by layers, depth, and a sense of movement in the composition, we recommend including a variety of flowers and foliage. This can extend beyond the bouquet itself, and may include selected blooms or foliage from venue arrangements or tablescapes, which can be carefully incorporated into the final composition to enrich the artwork and reflect the wider setting of the day.
4. Embrace evolution: Preserved flowers are organic, not static. Over time, colours will continue to soften and mellow, creating a muted antique-like palette that many clients find beautiful and emotive.
With years of experience behind us, we have developed an approach that allows us to thoughtfully work with a wide range of flowers, adapting our methods to suit each individual bouquet.
All-white arrangements can be transformed into timeless, understated artworks that age with elegance, reflecting the passing of time, the deepening of memories, and the continuation of your story.