After a funeral, the flowers often come home with you. They sit on the kitchen table, or in the hall, and at some point you notice the petals beginning to soften — and you realise you have to decide something, at a time when deciding anything feels like a great deal to ask.
Please know there is no wrong answer here, and no need to rush. This guide is simply here to lay out the gentle options open to you, so that whatever you choose, you choose it calmly and in your own time.
The short answer
There are five things most families do with funeral flowers: keep them as they are for a little while, press or dry a few stems at home, give some away to others who loved them, return them to the earth by composting or planting, or have them preserved into something lasting like resin. Many families do a combination — keeping a few at home, sharing a few, and setting aside the most meaningful blooms to be preserved.
You don't have to decide today. Even flowers that are already past their best can usually still be saved, so take whatever time you need.
There's no rush — a word on timing
It's natural to feel a quiet pressure to act before the flowers fade. In truth, you have more time than it might seem.
Fresh flowers are easiest to work with in the first week to ten days, while the colour and shape are still strong. But if a fortnight has already passed, or the flowers have begun to dry on their own, that is perfectly all right — pressing and resin preservation can both work beautifully with flowers that are no longer fresh, and dried petals have a softness all their own. If you simply aren't ready, you can let the flowers dry naturally and revisit the decision later.
What matters most is that you do what feels right for you, not what feels efficient.
Image placeholder — a small bunch of funeral flowers resting on a windowsill in soft daylight
Your options, gently laid out
Here is a simple way to see the choices side by side. None is better than another; they suit different feelings and different homes.
| Option | What it involves | This often suits families who… |
|---|---|---|
| Keep them as they are | Display the arrangement at home and let it fade naturally | Want time, and find comfort in seeing the flowers each day |
| Press or dry a few stems | Press petals in a book or air-dry small bunches yourself | Enjoy a quiet, hands-on way to remember |
| Give some away | Share blooms with family, friends, or a local care home | Want others who grieved to have something too |
| Return them to the earth | Compost the flowers or plant seeds in their memory | Find meaning in a natural, living tribute |
| Preserve them forever | Have chosen flowers set in resin into a lasting keepsake | Want to keep something they can hold for years to come |
A closer look at each
Keeping them at home. There is nothing wrong with simply letting the flowers be. Trim the stems, change the water, and let them stay as long as they bring comfort. Some families find that watching the flowers slowly fade is part of saying goodbye in its own gentle way.
Pressing or drying a few stems. If you'd like to keep something yourself, pressing is the simplest place to begin. Lay a few flat blooms or petals between sheets of paper inside a heavy book, and leave them for two to three weeks. Smaller bunches can also be hung upside down in a dry, dark spot to air-dry. Pressed flowers can later go into a frame or a card. They are delicate and can fade over time, but the act of doing it yourself is, for many, deeply meaningful.
Giving some away. Funerals are rarely grieved alone. Passing a few stems to a sibling, a grandchild, or a close friend lets others hold a piece of the day too. Some families also leave flowers at a place that mattered to their loved one, or pass them to a local care home or hospice where they can be enjoyed again.
Returning them to the earth. For those who find comfort in nature, composting the flowers or scattering them in a garden can feel like a quiet, fitting tribute. You might also plant something in their memory — a rose, a shrub, or bulbs that return each spring — so that the act of remembering becomes something living.
Preserving them forever. When flowers carry too much meaning to let go, they can be preserved. This is the path families choose when they want to keep something permanent and tangible — something they can hold, display, or pass on. The rest of this guide explains how that works, gently and without pressure.
If you'd like to keep them forever
Preservation takes the flowers from the service — or even a single meaningful stem — and sets them in clear resin so they hold their shape and colour for years to come. It's the work we do at Artisan Palace, and we treat every set of flowers with the care we'd want for our own.
Each keepsake is handmade by Julie, our artist, who works with artistic flair while staying true to the original flowers. Before anything is set in resin, we share a design with you for your approval, so nothing is final until you're happy — a small but important reassurance when the flowers cannot be replaced. You can read a little about Julie and how we work if it helps to know the hands behind the work.
There are many forms a memorial keepsake can take. A few that families turn to most often:
- A resin robin memorial keepsake, which holds particular resonance in the UK — there's an old belief that when a robin appears, a loved one is near, which makes it a quietly comforting way to keep the flowers close.
- A resin heart to hold or display, small enough to keep somewhere personal.
- A photo frame set with preserved petals, pairing a favourite photograph with flowers from the day.
- A shadow box, an acrylic-fronted display that holds a fuller arrangement, for those who'd like to keep more of the flowers together.
You can see the full range on our funeral flower preservation collection, and choose at your own pace.
Image placeholder — a resin robin keepsake holding small preserved petals, held in two hands
Flowers fade, but the love they stood for doesn't have to. Whatever you decide, the memory is yours to keep.
How to look after the flowers until you decide
If you think you might preserve some of the flowers but aren't ready yet, a little care will keep your options open:
- Keep them somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, which fades colour quickly.
- Trim the stems and refresh the water if they're still in a vase.
- If they're already drying, simply leave them somewhere dry and undisturbed — don't press them into a sealed bag, as trapped moisture can cause mould.
- Set aside the blooms that matter most to you, so the ones you love are protected whatever you choose.
Sending your flowers to us
If you decide on preservation, there's no need to travel. Most families post their flowers to us, and we'll guide you through wrapping them gently so they arrive safely. We'll keep you updated at each stage, because we know these are not ordinary flowers and waiting in silence is hard. If you'd like to understand the timeline first, our guide on how long flower preservation takes walks through it step by step.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to preserve flowers that are already wilting?
Usually not. Flowers that have begun to wilt or dry can still be preserved — the colour may soften, but the result is no less meaningful. If you're unsure, send us a photo and we'll tell you honestly what's possible.
How long do I have to decide?
There's no deadline. Fresh flowers are easiest to work with in the first week or two, but you can let them dry naturally and come to a decision when you feel ready. Many families take their time, and that's perfectly fine.
What if only a few flowers survived?
That's more than enough. A single rose or a small handful of petals can become a keepsake — a robin, a heart, or a small frame. The meaning isn't in the quantity.
Can you include a ribbon or a note from the service?
Often, yes. Small mementos such as a ribbon or a sprig can sometimes be incorporated. Mention it when you get in touch and we'll let you know what will work.
How much does preservation cost?
It depends on the keepsake you choose and how many flowers are involved. Prices for each piece are shown on the funeral collection page so you can consider quietly, without having to ask.
Whenever you're ready
There is no right thing to do with funeral flowers — only the thing that feels right to you. Whether you keep them, share them, return them to the earth, or preserve them, the love behind them remains.
If you'd like to keep the flowers a little longer, you're welcome to look through our memorial keepsakes whenever the time feels right, or read about how we work first. There's no hurry — we'll be here when you are.
Every Artisan Palace memorial keepsake is handmade in the UK by Julie. We've been preserving wedding and funeral flowers since 2023, with more than 2,000 orders completed across our Etsy and Shopify stores, and over 300 verified reviews.