The short answer: At DBANDREA®, most pieces are ready in 4 to 6 months from the day your flowers arrive, up to 50% faster than the industry standard of 8 to 12+ months. About 2 to 3 months of that is drying time that cannot be rushed. The rest is your design consultation, color restoration and framing or casting.
Timing varies slightly with the wedding season, but the steps are always the same. Here is exactly what happens, and when.
Flower preservation timeline, step by step
| Stage | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Arrival | Day 1 | Your flowers arrive at our studio and you receive arrival photos. If you reserved with the $49 engagement fee, our team calls and texts to confirm your piece. |
| 2. Pressing or drying | Months 1 to 3 | For pressed pieces, we spend about 3 to 4 hours inspecting and pressing the best blooms petal by petal, using up to 7 preservation methods. Flowers for resin and Press-3D™ are dried without pressing. |
| 3. Design | About 2 to 3 months in | We email your design form (please complete it within one week), then schedule a 15-minute phone consultation to choose your layout, background and framing. |
| 4. Flower Restoration™ | After your design is final | Our proprietary color restoration process, over 200 steps and up to 30 hours, brings your flowers as close as possible to how they looked on your wedding day. |
| 5. Framing or casting | Final weeks | Pressed pieces are treated, sealed and framed in our hand-crafted frames in house. Resin pieces are cast and finished. |
| 6. Your finished piece | 4 to 6 months total | Your heirloom is ready to hang or display. |
Why does flower preservation take months?
Flowers have to be completely dry before they can be restored, sealed and framed or cast in resin, and that takes about 2 to 3 months depending on each bloom. After drying, every petal and leaf goes through our Flower Restoration™ process, which takes an average of 30 hours per piece depending on size and complexity. These steps are what make a piece last for years instead of fading or browning.
How is DBANDREA® faster than the industry standard?
Many studios quote 8 to 12 months or more. Our turnaround is 4 to 6 months, without ever rushing the craft. Your $49 engagement fee places your wedding date on our production calendar the day you book, so your flowers have a place in our schedule before they ever arrive.
Does the season affect how long it takes?
Slightly. Spring and fall are the busiest wedding seasons, and timing can vary a little with demand. We will keep you updated at each stage.
How far in advance should I book?
As soon as you have your wedding date. We often book two years ahead, and booking now locks in today's pricing even if prices increase later. Last-minute bookings are welcome too: reserve online and ship the same day or next business day.
Quick questions
Do I have to choose my design before the wedding?
No. Your design consultation happens about 2 to 3 months after your flowers arrive. The one decision we need early is the method: flowers for resin or Press-3D™ are not pressed, so tell us before your flowers arrive if you want more than one type of piece.
When will I hear from you after my flowers arrive?
Right away. You will receive arrival photos shortly after we receive your bouquet, and your design form about 2 to 3 months later.
What if my flowers are already a few weeks old?
We can still help. Flowers older than about 5 days are treated as air-dried, and we can create a beautiful recreation using your original blooms and color restoration.
How long do I have to ship my bouquet after the wedding?
Ship within 5 days of your event. See our step-by-step guide: How to Ship Your Bouquet for Preservation.
