If you need help brainstorming fun ways to recycle your wedding flowers, I am totally here to help! I recently sat down for a coffee date with a florist friend of mine and we came to the realization that way too many couples end up throwing out their wedding flowers at the end of the night. And surprisingly so, because I recycled my own florals in so many different ways! This post is all about the many ways you can get your money's worth out of those gorgeous flowers.

Colorful centerpiece for a vineyard wedding in Asheville, NC.

Fun Ways To Recycle Your Wedding Flowers


Okay, here is the deal. Chances are, you and your partner have spent an incredible amount of your budget on your wedding florals. And I must say that I highly recommend doing so! Aside from wedding photography, they are the most important detail of the day and they can really pull together your entire scheme and keep a cohesive vibe throughout the event.

At the end of the night, the majority of couples don't ever think twice about them, and the venue or florist clean-up team throws them into the trash. It breaks my heart to know all of that money is going right into the trash can. Just break my heart! So today I'm laying out some of my favorite ways to make sure you save those amazing florals or put them to good use.


Here are a few ideas, but these are not limited! There are so many different options to choose from and these are just a handful.

Donating Them To Hospice


I was a bride myself back in October of 2019 (where has the time gone?!). This was one of the ways that I chose to recycle my own leftover flowers. The day after our wedding, my mother and I broke down all of the arrangements and centerpieces and made around 100 very small bouquets. Then we made a call to our local nursing home and go the OK to bring them in. This was pre-COVID, so we were able to actually deliver them room-to-room to all of the residents. And I can't tell you the joy it brought us. It was so much fun and they loved it so much! I highly recommend it to all of my brides interested in ways to reuse their own florals.

Emerald green candles lined with pink, orange and ivory florals on the reception table.
Amanda laughing as she walks towards her family with her colorful wedding bouquet.
Shawna trimming flowers to create a gorgeous, jewel-toned wedding bouquet.

Preserving Them in Resin


This technique was just taking off back when I got married and today, it's one of the most popular ways to preserve your flowers. You can do this yourself, or send them off to someone else to do the hard work! There are a couple of different options when going the epoxy route. Some choices are:

  • Different sized blocks
  • Letters- such as the initial of your new last name!
  • Coasters
  • Ring Holders
  • Jewelry- earrings, necklace pendants or rings
  • Bookends
  • Jewelry Boxes

Pressed Frame or Shadow Box


As an over-achiever, I also did this one! In fact, I made 6 shadow boxes. I preserved one for myself, my mother, my husbands parents, and both sets of our grandparents. My box was the largest, and I made a few 8x10's for the grandparents. The biggest tip for this one? Patience.

Pre-purchase some silica gel before the wedding so you will have it on hand. It's the best way to dry out the flowers so they won't mold when you put them into frames or boxes. It takes about 2 weeks for them to completely dry before they are ready to place. It's a super fun project and I highly recommend doing it if you have the extra flowers and the extra time!

If you know of any fun ways to recycle your wedding flowers that I may have missed in the post, please let me know in the comments or send me a message! I would love to hear all about it!

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