This florist helps you carry the memories of your wedding day by framing bridal bouquets
(From left) DIY pressed botanicals; bouquets framed with a wedding photo; preserved bouquets in frames
Owning a flower shop seems like the stuff urban fairytales are made of, and florist Noora D’Mello’s work and craft paint the aesthetic that goes with this reverie. She is The Happy Florist, the name she goes by on Instagram. This Mumbai-based floral designer has been crafting bespoke bouquets — working with fresh flowers as well as pressed, preserved, and dry botanicals — for weddings and as gifting solutions for the last eight years. Designing bridal bouquets and later preserving them in frames as a happy-ever-after thought of the special day was an offering that caught our attention.
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Pictures may speak a thousand words, but a memento preserved in this manner immortalises the day differently. “The idea is to preserve the memory in a way that it does not add to household junk, get hidden in a cupboard or collect dust,” D’Mello tells us. She adds that people might avoid fresh flowers because they don’t possess the longevity of artificial ones, but preserving offers a neat solution. Besides not being flammable or ending up in a landfill, the beauty of natural flowers will outdo artificial bouquets.
Noora D’Mello
Without limiting the choice of botanicals, brides can customise any bouquet. After the wedding day, customers are to return the flowers to the florist within three days to preserve them in frames, either flat-pressed or framed wholly. This can take upto a month or longer. D’Mello has to ensure the flowers are completely dried since any bit of moisture can cause the framed bouquet to catch mould or fungus. Mumbai’s humidity lengthens the process further. The frames last indefinitely, as long as they are kept away from harsh sunlight and water.
But the way these botanicals age is an added charm. The colours eventually fade — some into a sepia tone, like an aged photograph, while others acquire tones of rich browns and maroons. The result reflects the sweet thought of a couple growing old together, framed in love. Maybe we’re sentimental, but isn’t that the point of bridal bouquet preservation? To capture the sentiment.
Log on to @the_happy_florist
Call 9619200570
Cost Rs 3,000 onwards
DIY pressed flowers
Turn the day into a memory by preserving grasses, weeds, flowers from the day. Here are tips from The Happy Florist.
1. Collect flowers on a hot day at noon. Avoid the morning’s dew.
2. Place the botanicals in a book with matte pages leaving a few pages between specimens.
3. Place four to five heavy books on top of the book to add pressure.
4. If you’re travelling, save the specimens in a book or tissue to carry home.
5. Watch out for moisture for thick flowers. If you spot any signs, place them between new pages.
6. The drying time for thinner flowers and grasses is 10 to 15 days.
7. Frame the pressed flowers between two pieces of glass and frame it.
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