How to Preserve Your Destination Wedding Bouquet: The Complete Travel Guide

This blog is a complete guide for destination brides on how to safely preserve their wedding bouquet while traveling. Discover expert tips, real bride success stories, and how Wild Coast’s Travel Flower Press Kit makes it easy to bring your blooms home—no matter where you get married.

You've spent months planning every detail of your dream destination wedding. From the beachfront ceremony in Tulum to the vineyard reception in Tuscany, everything is perfect—especially that gorgeous bouquet you'll carry down the aisle. But here's the question that keeps destination brides up at night: How do I preserve my wedding flowers when I'm getting married thousands of miles from home?

The heartbreak is real. The average bride spends around $2,700 on wedding flowers, and the thought of leaving that beautiful bouquet behind in paradise feels devastating. Fresh flowers wilt within days, international shipping is unreliable and expensive, and getting blooms through customs? That's a whole other challenge.

Photo courtesy of Rebecca B. - Lake Garda, Italy

But here's the good news: distance doesn't have to mean saying goodbye to your wedding flowers forever.

The Destination Bride's Dilemma

At Wild Coast Flower Preservation, we've preserved over 18,000 bouquets, and hundreds of those came from destination weddings around the globe. We've heard the same concerns from brides getting married everywhere from Greek islands to Costa Rican beaches:

• "How do fresh flowers survive a flight?"

• "Will customs confiscate my bouquet?"

• "Can I even bring flowers through airport security?"

• "What if my bouquet wilts before I get home?"

• "Is overnight international shipping even possible?"

Traditional flower preservation requires getting your bouquet to a specialist within 3-5 days of your wedding. When you're celebrating in Santorini or saying "I do" in the Caribbean, that timeline feels impossible.

"I was devastated thinking I'd have to leave my bouquet behind in Santorini," shares bride Sarah M., who recently used our travel solution. "I spent months planning every detail, but never considered how I'd get my flowers home safely."


Photo courtesy of Wild Coast Flower Preservation - Travel Flower Press with carryon luggage.

The Game-Changing Solution: Travel Flower Press Kit

That's exactly why we created our Travel Flower Press Kit—a professional-grade rental system designed specifically for destination brides who refuse to compromise on preserving their memories.

This isn't your grandmother's craft store flower press. This is a lightweight, TSA-friendly, customs-approved solution that fits right in your carry-on luggage and protects your precious blooms all the way home.

Photo courtesy of Wild Coast Flower Preservation - Travel Flower Press is 9"x12" shown inside carryon luggage aside a toiletries bag. 

What Makes Our Travel Press Kit Different?

Professional-Grade Equipment: Each kit contains a large 9"x12" flower press—the same quality we use in our Florida preservation studio. Unlike paper flower presses, this press is lightweight, durable, and comes with super absorbent drying pads that apply consistent pressure during travel for optimal preservation.

Custom Sealing System: Your pressed flowers are sealed in specialized bags that protect against moisture while the drying pads absorb the water content from your blooms. This dual-protection system means your flowers stay safe even in humid climates or during long travel days.

Foolproof Instructions: Our detailed 5-minute video tutorial ensures your wedding planner, maid of honor, or even hotel concierge can properly press your bouquet. No preservation experience required—we've made it simple enough for anyone to follow.

Extra Drying Pads Included: Travel delays happen! That's why every kit comes with an extra set of paper drying pads. If your journey takes longer than expected, simply swap out the pads on day three, and your bouquet will continue drying safely for up to two days in transit.

Photo courtesy of Wild Coast Flower Preservation - Travel Flower Press show with a variety of supplies provided in the kit.

Your Step-by-Step Destination Wedding Flower Preservation Guide

Before You Leave Home (4-6 Weeks Before Wedding)

Order your Travel Flower Press Kit and have it shipped to your home address. The kit is lightweight and compact—about the size of a laptop—so it fits easily in your carry-on bag. We recommend keeping it in your carry-on rather than checked luggage (more room for shoes in the checked bag!).

Pro tip: Consider designating a bridesmaid or family member who's traveling home quickly after the wedding to carry the press kit back. The less time flowers spend in the press before reaching us, the better we can preserve their color and shape.

Wedding Day (Enjoy Every Moment!)

This is YOUR day—don't stress about the flowers yet! Designate a trusted bridesmaid to be in charge of collecting your bouquet after all the photos are finished. Keep the bouquet in fresh water and store it in a cool room overnight.

Wedding Weekend (Caring for Your Bouquet)

Keep your bouquet fresh until the day before you travel home:

• Cut the stems at an angle every 24 hours

• Place the bouquet in fresh, cool water

• Keep it away from direct sunlight and heat

• If flowers begin to wilt, place the entire vase in your hotel refrigerator to extend their life

Pressing Process (Day Before Travel)

Give yourself at least one hour for this project—it's therapeutic and fun! Follow our step-by-step video tutorial to layer your flowers and drying pads correctly. The pressing process is simple:

1. Disassemble your bouquet carefully

2. Arrange flowers between the absorbent pads

3. Close and secure the press

4. Seal in the protective transport bag

Watch our complete tutorial here: Travel Flower Press Kit Video Guide

Packing for Home

The loaded flower press sealed inside the transport bag fits easily in carry-on or checked luggage. The pressing pads absorb moisture while in transit, keeping your flowers safe for up to two days of travel. Remember: customs inspectors treat pressed flowers like dried botanicals—we've never had a bride report issues with our sealed press system.

Important note: We've only heard of ONE case where a bride hand-carried a fresh bouquet through customs and was asked to toss it because inspectors found a bug inside. Our sealed press system prevents this issue entirely!

Once You're Home

Ship your pressed flowers to Wild Coast via overnight mail. We offer discounted overnight shipping labels that help brides save money—you can even purchase this label in advance if a helper is shipping the bouquet for you.

Once we receive your pressed flowers, we complete the preservation process by encasing them in UV-resistant, food-safe resin to create stunning, functional keepsakes that last forever.

Photo courtesy of Wild Coast Flower Preservation - Our Hassel Free Pre-Paid Shipping Label can be purchased in a pinch if overnight shipping costs exceed $140 flat rate (plus tax).

Real Destination Brides, Real Success Stories

Kaitlyn's Italian Dream: "My wedding planner helped me press my bouquet before we departed Lake Como. Five months later, I had a gorgeous wall photo frame with my actual wedding flowers. My family still can't believe those are the real petals from Italy!"

Gabrielle's Mexico Adventure: "I was worried because I have zero artistic talent, but the video made it so easy! I pressed my roses before our flight home from Mexico, and even snuck a couple bridesmaid bouquets in my checked bag. The coasters turned out absolutely stunning!"

Maria's Irish Castle Wedding: "The press kit made it through Dublin customs with no problems. I even pressed a 4-leaf clover and real bells of Ireland! Now I have serving trays that remind me of our magical day in our favorite country every time we entertain."

What You Can Create with Your Pressed Destination Wedding Flowers

The travel press kit opens up beautiful possibilities for functional art pieces featuring your actual wedding flowers:

• Serving Trays: From elegant rectangle trays to stunning geode-edge designs

• Wall Décor: Photo frames, live edge art, and custom canvas pieces

• Coasters: Round, geode edge, diamond edge, or square designs

• Jewelry: Necklaces, earrings, and keychains featuring your blooms

• Ornaments: Perfect for commemorating your anniversary each year

• Bookends: Functional home décor that tells your love story

• Custom Keepsakes: Ring holders, trinket trays, and more

Every piece is handcrafted with museum-quality, UV-resistant resin that prevents yellowing and keeps your flowers looking vibrant for decades.

When Things Don't Go as Planned (We've Got You Covered)

Travel is unpredictable, and sometimes even the best-laid plans hit a snag. Here's what can happen and how we handle it:

Postal Delays: If your press kit gets delayed in transit and flowers become compromised, don't panic. We offer bouquet replacement services using our extensive dried flower library.

Over-Saturated Pads: If there are too many flowers in the press or extreme heat during transit, the drying pads can become oversaturated. That's why we include extra pads—swap them out if needed!

Wilted Flowers: If pressing is delayed and some flowers wilt, we can source similar blooms locally to complete your design.

Remember: the goal is to create beautiful floral keepsakes that remind you of your special day. While having the exact flowers from your destination is wonderful, we can always add personal touches like charms, invitation snippets, photos, and personalized text to make your piece uniquely yours.

Featured: Destination I Do Loves Our Travel Press Kit!

We're thrilled to have been featured by Destination I Do, the premier resource for couples planning destination weddings! Their article, "How to Bring Your Wedding Flowers Home (Without Breaking TSA Rules!)" showcases our Travel Flower Press Kit as the solution destination brides have been searching for.

Photo courtesy of Destination I Do - The Destination Bride’s Secret to Flower Preservation

The article highlights real bride stories, practical travel tips, and the complete step-by-step process for preserving your bouquet abroad. It's a must-read for any bride planning a destination wedding!

Read the full Destination I Do article here

Common Travel Concerns Answered

Will TSA Allow a Flower Press Through Security?

Yes! Our press kit is TSA-friendly and lighter than most souvenirs. It takes up about the same space as a laptop in your luggage. We've had brides carry it through security in dozens of countries without issue.

What About Customs Inspections?

Customs inspectors treat pressed flowers in sealed bags like dried botanicals. Our sealed press system has successfully passed through customs in countries worldwide. Always check specific customs guidelines for your destination, but pressed flowers are generally treated very differently than fresh blooms.

Will Extreme Climates Affect My Flowers?

Whether you're in tropical humidity or mountain cold, our pressing system works. The sealed environment protects against weather extremes. The only thing to avoid is extreme heat over prolonged periods (like leaving the press in a hot car for hours).

How Long Can Flowers Stay in the Press?

Flowers are safe in the press for up to two days in transit with the standard pads. With the extra set of pads included in your kit, you can extend this even longer by swapping them out on day three.

Ready to Preserve Your Paradise Wedding Memories?

Your destination wedding represents months of planning, significant investment, and a lifetime of dreams. Don't let distance prevent you from preserving those precious moments forever.

Our Travel Flower Press Kit has helped brides on every continent bring their bouquets home safely to create stunning keepsakes they'll treasure for decades. From tropical beaches to European vineyards, from mountain ceremonies to island celebrations—love knows no borders, and neither should flower preservation.

Reserve your Travel Flower Press Kit today and ensure your destination wedding bouquet makes it home to become a lasting work of art.

The kit includes everything you need: professional 9"x12" press, super absorbent drying pads, extra pad set, custom sealing bag, detailed instructions, and video tutorial access. Rental period is 7 days—perfect for destination wedding timelines.

Shop Travel Flower Press Kit

Share Your Destination Wedding Story

Have you used our Travel Flower Press Kit for your destination wedding? We'd love to hear your story! Share your experience and photos with us on Instagram @wildcoastflowerpreservation or email us at info@wildcoastflowerpreservation.com.

Every destination wedding is unique, and every preserved bouquet tells a beautiful love story. We can't wait to help you preserve yours.

Planning a destination wedding? Download our free Destination Wedding Flower Preservation Checklist to ensure you don't miss a single step in preserving your precious blooms!