Proposing or Getting Married on the Gold Coast? How to Take Your Flowers Home

Here on the Gold Coast, I've noticed something lovely. Couples from Japan are flying all the way to Australia to pop the question, and then they want to take the flowers home with them.

I'm Cher from Cherished Blooms, a flower preservation studio on the Gold Coast, and I've now helped several couples do exactly that. I wanted to share this story as it might help other couples planning to get engaged or married here, and wondering what on earth to do with their flowers afterwards.

A Carefully Planned Proposal, Executed to Perfection

This story starts in Yokohama. While planning his proposal, the groom-to-be asked the team at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa to recommend someone who could preserve the flowers. That's where I came in!

He'd already arranged for a local florist to deliver a beautiful bouquet of white roses with baby's breath. On the night, the room was set with balloons, fairy lights, champagne on ice, chocolate-dipped strawberries and, of course, the ring.

She said yes (of course!). The next day, I collected the bouquet from the hotel. These weren't just pretty flowers. They were the flowers from the moment everything changed.

Then came the fun part: deciding what to make. Because this keepsake had to travel all the way home to Japan, I suggested a resin block:

• Sturdier and smaller. It's far less fragile than a glass frame or dome, and easier to pack.

• Better protected. The flowers are sealed in, so changing temperature and humidity on planes and in transit won't affect them in the same way.

• More affordable. It's cheaper to make and cheaper to send.

  
  

Back at the studio, I sorted through every bloom, dried each one in silica gel so it kept its 3D shape, then arranged the roses, baby's breath and leaves into a heart and set them in crystal-clear resin. I sent it to Japan with a reliable courier, and it arrived in 3 to 5 days with no issues at customs.

Destination Wedding or Proposal on the Gold Coast? Don't Leave Your Flowers Behind

It's easy to see why so many people choose the Gold Coast for a destination wedding or proposal. Beaches, hinterland, sunsets and some seriously gorgeous hotels and venues.

But here's the catch for visitors. You're flying home in a few days, and the bouquet usually gets left behind in the hotel room. Most people assume there's nothing they can do with it. There is!

This isn't only for couples from Japan. Flower preservation is for anyone who:

• Got engaged or married on the Gold Coast while on holiday

• Flew in from interstate or overseas for a destination wedding

• Received flowers for a special occasion during their stay

• Lives locally but has family overseas who'd love a keepsake

How Bouquet Preservation Works When You're Only Visiting

You don't need to be a local, and you don't need to stick around for weeks. Here's how it works:

1. Get in touch early. Ideally before the big day. Fresh flowers give the best results, so the sooner they reach me, the more I can save.

2. Look after them until handover. Keep them in a cool spot, out of the sun and away from the air con vent. Pop the stems in water if you can.

3. Drop-off or pick-up. You can bring them to me, or I can collect them from most northern and central Gold Coast hotels for a small fee. Your hotel concierge or wedding planner can often help hand them over.

4. Choose your keepsake. A frame, a dome or a resin block. If you're heading overseas, I usually recommend resin (more on that below). We sort all the details up front, so there are no surprises.

5. Drying and design. Each flower is dried by hand in silica gel so it keeps its 3D shape, then arranged into your keepsake.

6. Getting it to you. Your keepsake can be posted to you, in Australia or overseas, or collected by family or friends here.

   
   

Flying home overseas? My tip is resin

A resin block is compact, sturdy and much less fragile than glass. The flowers are sealed inside, so they're better protected from temperature and humidity changes in transit. It's usually cheaper to post, too.

As a guide, sending a resin piece to Japan took 3 to 5 days with a reliable courier, and costs around AUD $300 for a 4 kg parcel. If you live somewhere else, let us know your address and we can provide an up-front estimate for the shipping fee.

Quick Questions

How much does flower preservation cost?

It depends on the keepsake you choose and the size of your bouquet. You'll find all the details on my pricing page.

Who do you use for international shipping?

I send overseas parcels with PACK & SEND. Send me your address and I'll give you an up-front shipping estimate. If you're worried about your keepsake in transit, you can choose to add insurance or a warranty through them. I'd especially recommend it for frames and other fragile pieces.

Can preserved flowers be sent to any country?

Most of the time, yes. Some countries have rules about plant material coming in, so it's worth checking yours. Japan was no trouble at all.

Planning a Proposal or Destination Wedding on the Gold Coast?

Whether you're coming from Tokyo, Sydney or just down the road, I'd love to help you keep your flowers. Send me a message before the day if you can, and we'll make a plan that works around your trip.

Get in touch here or email me.

For hotels, venues and planners: if you have guests who'd like to keep their flowers, I'm always happy to chat. A huge thank you to the team at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa for recommending me.

日本からお越しの皆さまへ

ゴールドコーストでのプロポーズや結婚式の思い出の花を、記念に残しませんか。Cherished Blooms（チェリッシュド・ブルームス）では、プロポーズの花束やウェディングブーケをシリカゲルで一輪ずつ立体的に乾燥させ、レジン（樹脂）ブロック、フレーム、ガラスドームに仕上げています。

日本へお持ち帰りいただく場合は、軽くて丈夫なレジンブロックがおすすめです。信頼できる国際宅配便で、日本まで約3〜5日でお届けしました（4kgで送料の目安は約300豪ドル）。JWマリオット・ゴールドコーストからのご紹介実績もございます。

ご旅行の前にお気軽にお問い合わせください。やり取りは英語となります。