Witch Hazel Turns Wedding Florals Into Forever Art
How To Make A Special Day Last A Lifetime
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A stunning floral installation in the window of Witch Hazel, created by its owner, Jill Hilbrenner.
Whatever the scale of your celebration, wedding florals are a stunning and often costly part of it. Yet most beloved blooms meet the same fate—discarded, composted, or tucked tenderly into a shoebox, never to be admired again. This author knows; she and her calla lilies have been there! But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Create A Lasting Keepsake
Jill Hilbrenner—owner of Witch Hazel (176 Main Street)—offers a chic, elevated, and creative way to capture the memory of a special moment—whether it’s a wedding, an anniversary, birthday, or any life event commemorated with flowers. By turning a bouquet, boutonnière, or even a table arrangement into a customized, lasting keepsake or heirloom piece of pressed flower art, it can be enjoyed for years and even generations to come. Flower pressing originated as an artform in Japan as far back as the 16th century, and artists and hobbyists have created beautiful and intricate artworks with all types of botanicals ever since.
A pressed flower artwork created by Jill from wedding florals. Photo credit: Witch Hazel.
Witch Hazel opened in July 2022 and quickly became a destination for seekers of niche beauty brands that have helped to redefine what self-care smells and feels like. These include names like Nopalera, Ursa Major, Rituel de Fille, and Icelandic cult favorite, Fischersund. Witch Hazel is the shop for you if you’re looking for naturally driven, quietly luxurious, cruelty-free skin care and niche fragrance formulas. And now, thanks to client requests, Jill has expanded her offerings to include creation of wedding arrangements and post-wedding or special occasion floral preservations that redefine floral design.
Growing Up With Flowers
Dried flowers and flower arrangements have been available at Witch Hazel since its doors opened just over three years ago. If you’ve visited, you’ll have admired the showstopping floral installations dotted around the space. What you may not have realized is that Jill created every one of them.
Jill’s family owned a flower shop for many years, which means she grew up surrounded by flowers and learned from an early age how to create beautiful bouquets. “Yes, there was a little light child labor involved,” she jokes. Fast forward to a health scare in 2019—from which she has happily recovered—which inspired her to use flower arranging and pressed flower art as a coping mechanism and a form of meditation. Safe to say, creativity and calm is in Jill’s DNA. Walk into Witch Hazel and its distinct serenity and artful vibe is immediately evident.
Creating Something Unique To You
A wedding bouquet repurposed into wall art courtesy of Main Street’s Witch Hazel. Photo credit: Witch Hazel.
The creative possibilities of flower preservation are endless. They can range from pressed flower wall art of any size or a decorative wreath to a 3D resin-based block or paperweight that encapsulate elements of a bouquet or even a single flower in a modern, chic display.
What You Need To Know
A client wanting bouquet or floral art should ideally deliver their flowers to Jill within a week of cutting them to ensure the pigments are intact and the petals still have some hydration. The sooner the better. They can also be shipped (talk to Jill first) or picked up locally, if necessary. The next step is to disassemble the flowers and press them in a plant press for at least two weeks to stabilize them. For Jill, the vision starts by reviewing and exploring the creative options and preferences with the client. Her goal is to create a piece that’s one-of-a-kind while honoring the wishes of the client. In all, allow six weeks from delivery of the flowers to receive the finished artwork.
We asked Jill for some advice on how to make sure the artwork or ornament doesn’t fade. “It’s important to remember that because we’re working with botanicals, they do change slightly over time. Pigments can get darker or become more neutral. So, I make sure the client knows to keep them away from humidity and limit their exposure to light. We do everything we can to ensure the artwork has UV protection, but it’s not 100% foolproof. Ultimately, the most important advice I can give is to put it somewhere you can enjoy it every day but avoid placing it in the brightest spot in your house!”
The post-event transformation to floral art is a cinch to arrange if you choose Jill to be your wedding floral designer as well. She’ll handle everything from start to finish so you can concentrate on every other aspect of the big day. One less thing to worry about.
It’s important to keep pressed flower art away from direct sunlight to maintain the stunning color palette. Photo credit: Witch Hazel.
Become A Pressed Flower Artist
And if you’ve ever been curious about trying pressed art, Witch Hazel offers regular workshops where you can learn how to arrange pressed botanicals and take home a piece you’ve made at the end of the session. Jill shared recently, “Our workshops have become popular with bachelorette groups looking for a unique shared experience ahead of the big day.” Follow Witch Hazel on Instagram for news of the latest pressed flower workshops or contact Jill directly at hi@witchhazelny.com if you’re interested in a group workshop for friends and family.
From bouquets, boutonnières, and table arrangements to dramatic installations, Witch Hazel is the ideal destination for wedding couples looking to make a lasting impression.
So, if you have a wedding on the horizon and are seeking the kind of beautiful, bold floral design that brings something unique to the (wedding) table, or to your home after the celebrations are over, book an appointment with Jill and share your vision to get the conversation started. Visit Witch Hazel’s website to learn more.
Until next time…
The Beacon Beacon🧡
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