Frequently Asked Questions

 

bullet1.What is freeze drying?  Freeze drying your flowers is the process of removing water from flowers while they are frozen in the vacuum chamber of a professional freeze drying machine. Water is slowly removed from the frozen flowers during a 14 day drying cycle leaving the flowers looking absolutely beautiful and natural. Science prefers the name sublimation while the process is commonly referred to as freeze-drying.

bullet2. Is freeze drying the best method to dry flowers? Yes, freeze-dried flowers are still amazingly beautiful when dry. All flowers can be freeze dried with excellent drying results producing very alive looking dried flowers. Color value or hue change is expected to occur when water is removed from flowers during the drying process and also with the ageing process, actual drying results may vary.

bullet3. How much will freeze-drying cost?  Completed wedding bouquet preservations are offered in three categories. Prices vary with selections and size:
1.Glass Bureau Top Domes $399* & $499*
2.Oval Framing starting at $654*
 3.Sealed Shadowbox Framing start at $739*
* includes freeze drying.

bullet4. What types of flowers can you freeze-dry?   All Orchids: Cymbidium, phalaenopsis, dendrobium orchids. Sweet pea, daffodil, stock, lisianthus, japhet, All Lilys: asiatic, oriental, casablanca, calla lily, and stargazer lilies. Agapanthus, alstroemeria, anemone, chrysanthemum, red, coral, pink bouvardia. Ageratum, aster, bells of Ireland, birds of paradise, calycina, calendula, stephanotis, gardenia, ranuculus, phlox, peony, queen annes lace, lysimachia, lily of the vally, iris, hyacinth, heather, kangaroo paw, liliac, liatris, freesia, delphinium, gladiolus, hydrangea, leptospermum, limonium,  protea, pompons, gerbera, carnation, All Roses, cornflower, dahlia, tulip, yarrow. All sunflowers, scabiosa, larkspur, solidago, statice, snapdragon, waxflower, viburnum, Babies breath and filler flowers, many wild flowers, aquatic flowers and other flowers...if your flower is not listed here chances are we have freeze dried it with good to excellent results!

bullet5. Should I make a reservation?  Yes, we encourage reservations! Starting the preservation process through a reservation allows the best preservation results for your wedding bouquet. If you are thinking about using our company why not start the process? A reservation secures your date with us and through a little planning, our professional assistance encourages proper flower care until we receive your bouquet for processing.

bullet6. How soon do you need to get my flowers?  It is not so much the time, but rather the freshness of the blooms that is important for the best preservation results . We encourage, if possible that our clients submit flowers without delay.

bullet7.  I have flowers that are over a week old, can you preserve them?  Flowers a week or older have been preserved for several of our clients with very good results. However with that said, generally a week is often too long after a wedding for flower preservation.  Bouquets that are a week or more in age will often require flowers to be replaced by your florist prior to sending to our company.

bullet8. How can I get my flowers to you?  Simply surround flowers in white foam packing peanuts in a cardboard box and ship them overnight. We now offer flower pick-up service for the Central New England Area (call for details and availability) Please follow the directions on our Ordering Page.

bullet9. What is the best way to care for my flowers before I can get them to you? For best preservation results, your fresh flowers should be kept hydrated and cool in an air conditioned room. Never allow flowers to freeze. Keep your floral design as fresh as possible before we can receive your bouquet. We suggest that you consult with your florist about keeping your specific flowers fresh prior to delivery or the sending of them to us for freeze drying.

bullet10. How long does the preservation process take?  Most orders are ready approximately 120 days from when you order your framing. By placing your order with us you are agreeing that our project completion times are estimates only. Completed items must be picked up within 30 days of notification. Please see our policies page for details.

bullet11. Do you guarantee longevity of freeze dried flowers ?  Freeze dried materials including flowers have the longest shelf life of any dried natural materials. Like any form of framed artwork your custom framed flowers can last for many years, however longevity is never a guarantee even with museums. We offer our customers the finest floral preservation service available. Our professionally sealed shadowbox frame designs will preserve your freeze dried flowers their longest.

bullet12. What is the best way to prolong and preserve freeze dried flowers?  The best way to prolong and preserve the flowers is by having the flowers professionally designed inside sealed shadowbox framing. Mountain View Freeze Dry™ shadowbox framing is designed to show the beauty of your blooms and to prolong flower life by securing the flowers in a sealed and stable frame environment.

bullet13. Can you ship it to me when its completed?  Yes we can ship completed orders. Our protective return shipping packaging costs $99.95 plus FedEx 2 day shipping rate to your location. The packaging fee is for a well strapped corrugated container with a custom fit soft blanket of polyurethane foam that protects your framed design. For the safe handling of your completed package we do not ship framed designs ground service.  More on return shipping

bullet14. How long do I have to select my frame or enclosure?   Thirty Days. Simply use our Product Catalog page to make your framing selections at the time you place your order or within thirty days of sending us the flowers.