How far in advance can I create my wedding sola wood flowers? Most common sola flower questions answered!

All right, so your front door has just received your order of sola wood flowers (and possibly some greenery, too!). What now?

First things first, open all the bags.

Despite having a somewhat foam-like sensation, sola wood flowers are really constructed of shola/sola, a lightweight wood. When they get there, you should open all of the bags to let some fresh air in. You can store your flowers in a different container or keep them in the box we shipped them in until you're ready to create them. Here are a few ideas we have for a container: a tube, box, or basket without a top; a box with holes; or if a lid is required, add holes to an existing box (again, to ensure sufficient airflow!).

How early can you dye the flowers?

One of the most frequent queries we receive is this one, and the most straightforward response is as soon as they come! Here are some tips to keep them in good condition, whether your event or arrangement is taking place months or even years after they arrive.

You can store the colored flowers in the same way that you did with the raw flowers when you first received them after they have completely dried (we recommend air drying for a minimum of 24 to 48 hours). Keep them away from harsh weather and intense sunshine to prevent color fading; a dry, comfortable temperature is ideal.

How early can I make the bouquet, corsages, boutonnieres, centerpieces, etc?

You can keep your components before the big day as early as you like and in as many areas as possible! It should be noted, too, that there are extra guidelines to adhere to if you are using preserved foliage. It is known that preserved greenery can weep when "atmospheric changes to moisture" occur, meaning that it can weep in humid conditions regardless of the temperature. It is at this point that the dye added to the preserved vegetation to give it a vibrant color begins to drop and bead up on the foliage. It may leave stains behind. We advise delaying making your floral arrangement until closer to the big day if you want to employ preserved foliage on your special day to avoid tears. But be aware that crying can occur despite your best efforts to prevent it.

How do I prep the greenery?

I like to remove individual stems from the bunch or bush of greenery to prepare the artificial foliage I'll be utilizing. Occasionally, I will remove the lowest leaves from a stem to give my handle a smooth surface. I want to attach the bottom leaves to wire stems in order to elevate them and give them a more noticeable position within the bouquet.