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Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find some of the most frequently asked questions. Do you have a question that is not listed? Then email reserveringen@floralstories.nl or call +003185-0606879 (also available on WhatsApp).


How far in advance should I make my reservation?
We have limited space for preparations each week. This may cause us to be fully booked in certain weeks because our maximum capacity has been reached. To be sure of your spot, we advise you to book early.

 

Where can I have my flowers delivered?
This is possible in Sleen, Zwolle, Tiel, Leiden and Someren. View all information about these drop-off points here .


What does the process look like and how long does it take?
Once we have received the flowers, we prepare and dry them so that the moisture is extracted. This drying process takes an average of four weeks. Once the flowers have completely dried out, we start working on the design. A design is sent in advance for all items from the size 15x15 cm. We only start pouring after you have approved the design. This does not apply to small items such as hearts and tea lights. This is because these are small dimensions, which is why we mainly look at the technical aspect: which flower fits where nicely in terms of size and composition.

Each layer of resin hardens in a few days. This is a long lasting process, as multiple layers of resin go into a design. Once the last layer has fully hardened, we remove the pieces from the mold and sand, polish and finish. The duration of the entire process varies, but expect 14-18 weeks.

 

Where can I view sample pieces?
This is only possible in our studio in Sleen, please make an appointment with us.

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Can I also deliver flowers in Sleen if you are not there?

Yes, there is a large box at the front door where the flowers can be safely left 24/7. When you make a reservation, you will receive more information about this box from us.

 

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How do I ship my flowers?

You can indicate in the reservation that you want to receive a shipping box from us. We will send this strong and suitable flower box, together with all the necessities to you. Easy!

 

Prefer to arrange shipping yourself? To ship a bouquet, you could use a slightly larger box (for example, a moving box or a box from the supermarket). First, you can cover the bottom with newspaper or folder paper. Fill the box about halfway with the wads and then place the bouquet with the handle upright between the wads. The flowers will now rest on the wads. Then, it is best to fill the box around and on top of the bouquet with wads of kitchen paper. Make sure that the entire box is filled so that the bouquet cannot slide around in the box. Do not use plastic on the flowers. In the case of a hand-tied bouquet, you can wrap damp kitchen paper or cotton wool around the stems and then wrap it with aluminum foil or a sandwich bag. This way, the bouquet will still receive nutrition. Do not forget to include your details with the box, so that we know that the flowers belong to you.

 

If you have several loose flowers, the same applies: tie wet cotton wool around the stem with aluminum foil around it. Sometimes it is useful to put the loose flowers in a box or container, so that the chance of damage is the smallest.

You can send the flowers to:

Floral Stories
Meulenakker 5A

7841 EP Sleen

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How do I store my flowers before sending them?
Before you send the flowers, it is best to store them (in water) in a cool place. They will recover the most from this, think of the refrigerator or another cool space.

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How quickly should I send my flowers?
The sooner we receive the flowers, the better. The condition in which we receive the flowers, we can also prepare them. We advise you to send or bring the flowers to us within 1-3 days.

What if my flowers are damaged during shipping?
We receive more than half of the flowers by mail, and to reassure you: this has always gone well (touch wood;)). In the worst case, we can always choose to replace a few flowers. But our experience is that this is almost never necessary.

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I don't know yet which size I would like, is this a problem?
No, we understand that very well. We are happy to think along with you. Would you please let us know? Then, if we are not present personally when you deliver the bouquet, we will contact you by phone as soon as possible after seeing your flowers.

 

I don't live in the Netherlands, can I make a reservation?
Yes, that is possible. The delivery services can deliver the flowers from multiple countries to us. Please take into account a possible longer delivery time of the flowers, send the flowers as soon as possible.

Can you dry all flowers?
We can dry 90% of all types of flowers, but not all. It becomes difficult when the flower contains a lot of moisture, think of tropical flowers. Flowers such as the bird of paradise, lilies, certain types of orchids, berries and succulents we cannot dry and therefore cannot use in the preparation. If you supply flowers of which this is the case, we will always let you know.

 

Do the flowers change during the drying process?
We dry the flowers professionally, which allows us to retain as much of the original shape, texture and colour of the flowers as possible. However, red/purple flowers often become a lot darker. This is because the moisture is extracted from the flower. The moisture is responsible for the 'bright' red/purple colour. White flowers can also become slightly more yellow. For the rest, this depends on the quality of the flower, the colour pigment present and the type of flower.

 

Will my flowers discolour and epoxy turn yellow?
Yes, flowers can discolour during the chemical process of epoxy. Unfortunately, we have no influence on this in any way. This is (unfortunately) part of the process. Light-coloured flowers in particular can become more yellow or warmer in colour. The leaves of the flowers can also get transparent spots as soon as they come into contact with epoxy. Other colours of flowers can also differ in colour. The extent to which this occurs is also not something we can estimate in advance.

 

Floral Stories uses the highest quality epoxy. The epoxy contains UV stabilizers that prevent the resin from yellowing. However, if you store your floral arrangement in a place with direct or indirect sunlight, your block will yellow faster. For this reason, never store your preparation in the sun or in bright daylight. However, it cannot be ruled out that the resin and/or your flower will discolour over the years. No guarantee is given for this.

 

What else do I need to know about flower preparation?
Because the flower is dried it can cause the flower to shrink a little and the color to differ a shade from the fresh flower. The resin can impregnate the flowers a little. This can make the leaf (locally) semi-transparent.

 

Are there air bubbles and casting lines?
Yes, the castings are poured in multiple layers. Because of this, you will always see casting lines in the preparations. And there will always be multiple air bubbles visible in your preparation. Despite the fact that we mix and pour the epoxy air-free, these will always remain visible.

 

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If not all the flowers are used, will I get them back?
No. We dry and use the most beautiful dried flowers for the preparation. Because we do not treat the flowers afterward, moisture will still enter the flowers within a short time, then you have no use for the flowers.

I have dried flowers myself, can I have these flowers prepared?
Yes, absolutely! It doesn't matter if they are a month old or ten years old, as long as you still like the way they look, we can work with them. It is also possible to recreate the bouquet from a photo.

I have fresh funeral flowers but no ashes yet, what now?
As soon as we receive the flowers, we start the drying process of the flowers. It is usual for it to take around five weeks before the relatives receive the ashes. We store the flowers in an airtight space until then so that we can finish the preparation or the jewelry when you receive the ashes.

How does payment work?
You will receive an invoice for the order in due time. As soon as the invoice has been paid, the products will be sent or the items can be picked up in our studio in Sleen. You will receive a message from us as soon as your order is finished.

Can I cancel my reservation?
Reservations can be cancelled free of charge. If you decide to cancel your preparation, we ask you to do so within 24 hours. This is because purchasing/labour costs are incurred almost immediately. A preparation is a custom-made, artisanal product. For this reason, our products are excluded from the right of withdrawal (you cannot return your order). If you have any questions about your order, please always contact us. We find it very important that you are satisfied with your product.

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