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About Beverly's Freeze Dry Boston |
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"Because the days before the wedding are so hectic, you may overlook planning for a keepsake from that important day." What you should do: 1. Call for an appointment. 2. When we meet, we'll look over samples of cases and designs and discuss delivery arrangements. 3. Leave a $100 non-refundable deposit to reserve space and time. 4. Notify your florist that you have selected freeze dry preservation. Give him our letter with instructions on preparing your flowers for the best results. What you should know: We do not press your flowers. We keep your bouquet intact. Your flowers will be placed into a special machine that will freeze them at 20 degrees below zero and then create a vacuum that removes the moisture. After two weeks, we will remove the flowers and infuse them with special chemicals, making them flexible and resistant to the environment. This process is known as Freeze Drying. Flowers should keep their shape indefinitely. Colors Most colors darken after the water has been removed. Depending on the base shade, some peaches will show pink tinges. Reds could become burgundy or show some slightly pink hues. Pinks could become deeper pink or even mauve. Whites, especially in roses, are ivory when fresh, therefore, they may become darker ivory or parchment. Over time, you may notice the colors mellow, taking on a shading reminiscent of Victorian hues. Best flowers to freeze dry: Roses, carnations, peonies, all types of lilies including lilies of the valley, hydrangeas, gardenias, orchids, Dutch iris, and more, all freeze dry beautifully. Flowers from bushes such as lilacs, tiny petalled flowers, daisy-like flowers, gerberas, and chrysanthemums, as well as wildflowers, need extra preparation and post treatments. We charge a little extra for their preservation. How to prepare your flowers: Fresh flowers, free of all chemicals, Crowning Glory, or glitter freeze dry best because their cells are open and will give up their moisture efficiently. Do not bring full blown flowers if you can avoid it. Flowers at their peak save us time and you money. We won't have to repair them and you won't have to replace them. For best results, we must have your flowers within 24 hours after the wedding. Freeze drying preserves your flowers as they are upon delivery. It does not restore them.Each flower must have its own water source. Orchids and gardenias must have water picks. Stephanotis must be on cotton tipped wired stems, which must be kept moist. For bouquets in holders, keep the Oasis moist. This is where the stems are. We want your flowers to be fresh. Keep all stems moist! Put handheld bouquets into vases of water as soon as possible, preferably during the reception, even when the entire stems are wrapped in ribbon. Because some florists place the stems into a plastic bag before wrapping them with ribbon, always remove the covering at the ends of the stems to ensure they can absorb the water and remain fresh. Of course, we will have this information in our letter that you give to the florist, but it is up to you to check that your flowers have nothing interfering from keeping them at their best. Periodically, mist your flowers and replenish the water sources until we receive them. To avoid damage, keep all flowers upright, either in vases or "pillows" of crumpled paper. Store your flowers in an air-conditioned room or place them into the refrigerator in an opened plastic bag. Do not let them touch anything cold. Never place your flowers in the freezer. Price List Because each keepsake is custom made, prices vary with each piece. You may use portions of your bouquet and vary the design to fit your budget. Most keepsakes cost between $250--$550. Freeze drying prices include labor and chemicals. Prices for cases and frames depend on the size and type chosen. Since there is a wide choice, prices vary. Labor is $40 per hour for designing, assembling, and encasing your keepsake. Depending on the amount of time needed, expect to pay between $120--$300 for labor. Of course, not all bouquets or arrangements are the same. Neither are their prices. In general, expect to pay accordingly.
It is impossible to list all the flowers your florist may include in your bouquets and arrangements. The flowers listed here are examples of the most often used. We are happy to accommodate everyone who wishes to have flowers preserved for keepsakes from special occasions or even from the backyard garden. Always send extra flowers for replacements or additions to the final design. One or two attendant's bouquets will do. They may have colors and flowers that are different from yours, but will be perfect for your design. We will freeze dry all your flowers. You pay for the ones you choose for your keepsake and the individual stems you take. There is no charge for mother's corsages and two boutonnières. If mothers carry small bouquets, each bouquet is $30. Extra boutonnières are $8. Delivery to Us For delivery in cold weather, place your flowers, upright into a box lined with crumpled paper "pillows" and cover the box so that they won't be exposed to the elements and freeze. In warm weather, place your flowers into a cooler. Do not add ice or anything cold. Keep your flowers upright with crumpled paper "pillows." Cover the cooler and keep it out of the hot sun. About 6-8 weeks after delivery, we will help you choose your case and design. You will select your mat color as well as the frame. You may include a photo, invitation, headpiece, garter, etc. We've been freeze drying memories since March 1989. Beverly's Bouquets of Boston is a founding member of the International Freeze Dry Floral Association, est. 1990. PLEASE, CALL OR EMAIL FOR AN APPOINTMENT AND DIRECTIONS TO OUR WEST ROXBURY STUDIO. I am looking forward to meeting you, Beverly R. Deraney
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