Petal Theory

Our home studio is nestled in the charming town of Clayton, North Carolina, just around the corner from Raleigh. While in-person drop-off is available for those in the Raleigh-Durham and surrounding areas, we gladly accept your flowers wherever they bloom across the United States.

Our services are available across the United States! Simply ship your blooms to our studio, and we’ll transform them into a stunning piece of art! We include a comprehensive shipping guide with each order, outlining everything you need for safe and secure delivery. While initial shipping is your responsibility, we'll happily cover the return shipping back to you, free of charge.

Book early for peace of mind and to lock in your reservation! We recommend booking as soon as you have chosen your wedding date and booked your venue. While we do sometimes have availability to accept last-minute orders for bouquet preservations, it's not always guaranteed that we will have a press open. If placing a last-minute order, please contact me as soon as possible to confirm we have a press ready to receive your flowers.

The fresher the flowers, the more impressive the outcome! For optimal preservation, you will need to deliver your flowers to our Clayton, North Carolina studio within 2-3 days of your event (or 3 days if shipping).

• For local brides—we provide detailed instructions and coordinate a convenient drop off time the week of your wedding.

• For those shipping—overnight shipping on the Monday following your wedding is recommended. A comprehensive shipping guide will be sent upon booking to ensure safe arrival.

Pressing your flowers is a journey—not a sprint. Most of your flowers are taken apart petal by petal and pressed for 4-6 weeks, depending on the flower. The petals are then removed from the press and reassembled. The entire process can take up to 3-4 months to complete. Floral preservation is a slow art. We prioritize quality, not speed.

Yes, to snag a spot in one of our presses, we do require payment at the time of booking.

While we do sometimes have availability to accept last-minute orders for bouquet preservations, it's not always guaranteed that we will have a press open. If placing a last-minute order, please contact me as soon as possible to confirm we have a press ready to receive your flowers.

Absolutely! We work with bouquets from all across the United States. When you book, you'll receive a comprehensive shipping guide with easy-to-follow instructions for overnighting your flowers. Please note, shipping fresh flowers to our studio is the financial responsibility of the customer.

Yes! If you’re local or within driving distance of our home studio in Clayton, North Carolina, you can absolutely schedule a flower drop-off or finished order pick-up. When placing your order, simply select the "drop off/pickup" option on the inquiry form. We will send you additional information once your order is placed.

No. Glass vases, ribbons, pins, pendants, charms, or other similar decorative items that may be used to hold/decorate your flower stems won’t be returned with your pressed flowers. Remember to remove these from your bouquet before shipping or dropping off locally!

Remember variety is key! Choosing a diverse selection in your fresh bouquet will create the best depth and dimension in your final pressed piece. Some of the flowers we think press best are:

• Amaranthus, Anemone, Astilbe, Astrantia, Baby's Breath, Carnation, Caspi, Clematis, Cosmos, Dahlia, Delphinium, Dusty Miller, Eucalyptus, Fern, Gerbera Daisy, Green fillers, Hellebore, Hibiscus, Hydrangea, Ivy, Larkspur, Lavender, Lisianthus, Olive Leaf, Pansy, Peony, Pittosporum, Poppy, Proteas, Queen Anne's Lace, Ranunculus, Rose, Ruscus, Salal (Lemon Leaf), Smilax, Snapdragon, Spirea, Sunflower, Sweet Pea, Thistles, Tulips, Veronica, Wildflowers

Not all blooms are created equal! Some flowers have a higher water content than others, and some may be too bulky to fit in the frame; however, we will do our best to incorporate elements of these flowers into your final piece when it is possible. Unsure if your blooms are perfect for pressing? We are always happy to chat about it!

Of course! We can preserve floral memories from any occasion: baby showers, memorials, funerals, graduations, proms, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, or even blooms grown in your garden—we would love to press them all.

While dried flowers don’t press well since they are so fragile, we do offer a solution—a fresh remake! We love to partner with local florists to recreate your bouquet with fresh blooms to press and frame so you can remember your special day! Contact us to find out next steps!

We welcome the challenge of working with all white bouquets! We do prefer your all white bouquets to have a variety of white flowers and greenery for the best results. White flowers tend to undergo a subtle color shift when pressed, often taking on a warm creme shade. Having different types of white flowers and lush foliage will make the final design more visually interesting. If you have a diverse mix, we'd be delighted to preserve your bouquet!

Yes, the full bouquet is required for optimal results. To ensure a more flawless final product, we select the flowers in the best condition from the bouquets. Having extra blooms allows us to carefully choose the most vibrant and unblemished flowers, eliminating any potential imperfections for your finished piece.

1. Hydrate: Submerge the stems in cool, fresh water.

2. Shade: Avoid placing them in direct sunlight.

3. Cool climate: Keep the flowers in a well-ventilated, air-conditioned space.

4. Fresh water: Replace the water daily to prevent rotting.

Absolutely! We value your input and send you a mock-up of your design for your review before we glue it down. This allows you to offer any feedback before the piece is finalized.