Frequently asked questions.

Flower preservation is a detailed, handmade process using real flowers and resin. These FAQs explain how booking, flower care, pricing, timelines, shipping, add-ons and finished piece expectations work before you reserve your date.

Booking & Payment | Flower Drop-Off | Flower Care | The Process | Finished Piece Expectations | Add-Ons | Shipping | Planners & Coordinators | Sentimental Flowers

Booking & Payment

  • Start by sending an inquiry with your wedding or event date and the resin piece or pieces you are interested in.

    Once availability is confirmed, we will send an invoice for the booking deposit. Your booking is secured once the contract is signed and the deposit has been paid.

  • Yes. You can reserve your date before choosing your final piece.

    During the inquiry process, we will talk through the style you are drawn to, the size of your bouquet and the pieces you are considering. Your final order can be confirmed once your flowers have been dried and we can see what is possible, especially if you are interested in add-on pieces.

  • Yes. A $250 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your booking.

    This deposit is applied toward your final order total.

  • No. The $250 booking deposit is non-refundable.

    The deposit reserves space in the drying schedule, covers booking administration and helps prepare materials for your flowers. Because flower preservation is time-sensitive and studio capacity is limited, this deposit cannot be refunded once your booking is confirmed.

  • The remaining balance is due after your flowers have dried and your final pieces have been designed, but before the flowers are placed in resin.

    At this stage, we will confirm which pieces can be made, whether there are enough flowers for any requested add-ons, and the estimated shipping cost. GST and shipping are added to the final invoice.

  • Yes. Prices may change as material costs, shipping supplies and studio expenses change.

    The pricing listed at the time of your confirmed booking will be honoured for your order.

  • Yes. GST is added to all Canadian orders.

  • Clients are invoiced directly.

    Payment options will be listed on the invoice. Credit card payment is available, though e-transfer can be used to avoid the 3% credit card processing fee.

  • No. Due to the custom nature of flower preservation and resin artwork, refunds are not offered.

    If there is a major concern with your finished piece, please contact us within 48 hours of receiving it. We will review the concern and work toward a fair solution together.

Flower Drop-Off

  • Local flower drop-off is at the Cariad Flower Preservation studio in Canmore, close to downtown.

    The exact address is provided after booking.

  • For best results, flowers should be dropped off within 24 hours of the wedding or event.

    The fresher the flowers are when they arrive, the better they can be dried and prepared for resin preservation.

  • Yes. Your bouquet does not need to be dropped off by you personally.

    Planners, coordinators, florists, friends or family members are welcome to drop flowers off by appointment, as long as the order has been confirmed with the client ahead of time.

  • Yes. Flowers can be shipped from within Canada.

    Overnight shipping is required so the flowers arrive as quickly as possible. Detailed shipping instructions are provided after booking.

  • No. Fresh flowers are only accepted from within Canada.

    If you are outside Canada, you can send a photo of your bouquet and we can discuss sourcing similar flowers locally to create an inspired piece. Additional flower sourcing fees will apply.

Flower Care

  • Keep your flowers cool, hydrated and out of direct sunlight.

    If the flowers cannot be dropped off right away, give the stems a fresh cut and place them in clean water. Flowers should be delivered to the studio in water whenever possible.


  • Extra flowers are recommended, especially if your wedding is on a hot day, your bouquet will be out of water for a long time, or you are interested in a large piece or add-on pieces.

    Extra blooms give us more design options if some flowers become wilted, bruised or damaged during the wedding day. You can ask your florist to provide extra flowers when ordering your wedding florals, or use blooms from centrepieces, ceremony arrangements or other floral pieces after the event.

    Extra flowers are not required, but they can be helpful.

  • Some wilted or damaged flowers may still be usable, but their condition will affect the final piece.

    Bruising, browning, wilting or broken petals may become more visible once the flowers are dried or placed in resin. If your flowers arrive too damaged to preserve, we will contact you right away to discuss options. In some cases, similar replacement flowers can be sourced from a local florist for an additional cost.

  • Yes. Already dried flowers can be preserved.

    A discount may be applied because the drying stage has already been completed. The final result will depend on the condition, age and structure of the dried flowers.

  • Flowers with sturdy petals and strong structure tend to preserve best. Roses, ranunculus, carnations, orchids, daisies, baby’s breath, lisianthus, greenery and many filler flowers often dry well and hold their shape beautifully in resin.

    Every bouquet is different, so we work with the flowers provided and design each piece around what preserves best after drying. Extra blooms are always helpful, especially if your bouquet includes delicate flowers or if you are hoping for a larger piece or add-ons.

  • Some flowers are more delicate or water-heavy, which can make them harder to dry and preserve in resin. Flowers such as tulips, lilies, calla lilies, dahlias, anemones, some orchids and certain varieties of hydrangea can be more unpredictable.

    These flowers may shrink, bruise, darken, become translucent, lose shape or become too fragile during the drying process. White flowers and very pale flowers can also be more prone to showing bruising, browning or translucency once preserved.

    This does not always mean they cannot be used, but it does mean the final result may vary. If your bouquet includes delicate flowers, ordering extra blooms from your florist is helpful so we have more options when designing your piece.

The Preservation Process

  • Once your flowers arrive, they are placed into silica gel to dry. This helps remove moisture from the flowers while supporting their shape and detail.

    Flowers must be fully dry before they are placed in resin. Any remaining moisture can affect the clarity, curing and overall quality of the finished piece.

  • From receiving your flowers to completion, please expect around 6–8 months, depending on seasonal demand and the complexity of your piece.

    Cariad works with a limited number of moulds, so your piece may spend time in the design or casting queue while other keepsakes are being completed. This timeline allows enough time to carefully dry the flowers, design the piece or pieces, pour the resin, allow proper curing time, and finish and polish each piece by hand.

  • This timeline allows enough time to dry the flowers, design the piece or pieces, pour the resin, allow proper curing time, and finish and polish each piece by hand.

  • Yes. Every Cariad piece is dried, designed, poured, cured, sanded, buffed and finished by hand.

    Because resin flower preservation is handmade and uses real flowers, small variations are part of the process. No two pieces will ever be exactly the same.

  • Resin is a clear, liquid material that hardens into a solid form through a curing process. For flower preservation, dried flowers are carefully arranged inside a mould and encased in resin to create a solid keepsake piece.

    Resin flower preservation is different from simply placing flowers behind glass. The flowers become part of the piece itself, suspended inside the resin.

  • Once the resin has fully cured, the piece is removed from the mould. From there, it may need sanding, buffing, polishing, edge finishing or a top coat depending on the shape and style of the piece.

    This finishing stage is what helps clean up the edges and complete the final look of the artwork.

  • Curing is the process where resin changes from liquid to solid. Each layer needs time to harden before the next layer can be poured.

    Rushing this process can affect the clarity, structure and finish of the piece, so proper curing time is an important part of creating a strong, well-finished resin artwork.

  • Resin is poured in layers to help support the flowers, control the design and allow the piece to cure properly. Large pieces cannot be poured all at once, because resin needs time to set and release heat during the curing process.

    Layering also helps hold the flowers in place and build the piece slowly with more control.

Finished Piece Expectations

  • No. Flowers naturally change during the drying and resin preservation process.

    These changes are part of preserving real flowers and cannot be fully prevented.

  • Flowers naturally change as they dry and are preserved in resin.

    Pinks, reds and purples often deepen, while some lighter colours may soften. White flowers can turn cream or appear slightly translucent in the final artwork. These changes are part of working with real flowers and resin.

  • Each resin keepsake is handmade and unique.

    Because resin is poured in layers, faint layer lines and small bubbles may appear. Bubbles form naturally as air releases from flowers during preservation. Every effort is made to reduce them, but they cannot be avoided completely.

  • Flowers hold air. When flowers are placed in resin, some of that air can release during the curing process and create small bubbles.

    We take steps to reduce, prevent and remove bubbles throughout the process, but a few may still appear in the finished piece.

  • Resin is poured in layers to properly cast and cure the piece.

    Faint layer lines are a natural part of the resin casting process and may be visible in the final artwork.

  • No. Resin pieces are designed to be viewed from the front.

    The back may show stems, texture, layering or the reverse side of the flowers. The front is the intended display side.

  • Yes. Each piece is handmade by an artist.

    Small variations, bubbles, layer lines, flower movement, sanding marks, texture and other minor imperfections are part of handmade resin preservation. Every piece is created with care, but it will not look machine-made.

  • Resin can slowly change over time.

    Cariad uses high-quality UV-resistant resin, but all resin can yellow with prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. To help your piece last as long as possible, display it indoors and away from direct sun.

  • Display your piece indoors, away from direct sunlight, high heat and excess moisture.

    Clean gently with a soft, dry or lightly damp cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners, abrasive cloths and prolonged exposure to windowsills or direct light.

  • Yes. Some resin pieces can be made as hanging pieces, depending on their size, weight and design.

    Please let us know before casting if you would like your piece to hang, as the necessary hanging hardware needs to be added during the creation process. If hanging is not discussed ahead of time, your piece will be made with a flat back and will not include hanging hardware.

    Resin pieces can be heavy and should always be handled with care. If hanging or mounting your piece, please use secure hardware suitable for its size and weight. Cariad is not responsible for damage caused by improper hanging, mounting, handling or display after the piece has been received.

Add-Ons

  • Yes. Add-on pieces can be ordered when enough flowers are available.

    Main pieces are created using the majority of your bouquet or floral arrangement. Add-ons can only be accommodated if your bouquet is large enough to provide extra blooms or if extra flowers are supplied.

  • No. Add-ons are dependent on flower availability.

    The final number of pieces is confirmed after the flowers have dried and the main piece has been designed.

  • If there are not enough flowers after designing the main piece, we will let you know before moving forward with add-ons.

    You can choose to continue with the main piece only, adjust your order based on the flowers available, or discuss whether it makes sense to prioritize smaller add-on pieces instead.

  • Yes. There is a $500 minimum order if you would like to order add-on pieces without a main keepsake.

Shipping

  • Yes. Flowers can be shipped from within Canada.

    Overnight shipping is required so the flowers arrive as quickly as possible. Detailed shipping instructions are provided after booking.

  • Flowers should be packaged carefully and shipped overnight.

    In general, stems should be wrapped in damp paper towel to help reduce drying during transit, then secured so the flowers are not crushed or moving around loosely in the box. Do not ship flowers sitting in a vase of water.

    More detailed shipping instructions will be provided after booking.

  • The client is responsible for all shipping costs.

    This includes shipping flowers to the studio, if applicable, and shipping the finished resin piece back to the client.

  • Finished pieces are carefully wrapped, packaged and shipped directly to your door.

    Delivery costs vary by location. A shipping quote will be provided and charged before your piece is shipped.

  • Yes. Local pickup in Canmore is available by appointment.

Planners & Coordinators

  • Yes. Wedding planners and coordinators are welcome to inquire about date availability on behalf of their couples.

    Once availability is confirmed, we can connect directly with the couple to discuss their preferred resin style, pieces, contract, deposit and flower preservation details.

  • Planners should provide the wedding date, couple’s names, and whether they are checking availability only or ready for us to connect with the couple directly.

  • Yes. Planners and coordinators can drop flowers off by appointment after the wedding, as long as the order has been confirmed with the client ahead of time.

Sentimental Flowers

  • No. Cariad specializes in bridal bouquet preservation, but we also preserve sentimental flowers from other meaningful moments.

    This can include engagement flowers, memorial flowers, anniversary arrangements, graduation flowers, milestone bouquets, celebration blooms and other flowers connected to a meaningful memory.

  • Yes. Memorial flowers are welcome.

    These pieces are handled with care and respect. If the flowers are already dried or delicate, we will discuss the best options before beginning the preservation process.

  • Yes. Engagement flowers, graduation flowers, anniversary flowers, milestone arrangements and celebration blooms can all be preserved.

    If the flowers hold meaning, they are welcome here.

  • Yes. Boutonnieres and corsages can be preserved if the flowers are in suitable condition.

    Because they are smaller floral pieces, they often work best in smaller resin keepsakes or as part of a larger order.

  • Cariad specializes in flower-focused resin artwork.

    Additional mementos can be discussed during the consultation, but they are not always suitable for every piece. Approval depends on the material, size, condition and overall design direction.

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