FAQ's - Dried Flowers

Where do dried flower sellers get their flowers from?

At GATHER, we access our flowers from suppliers who form part of our natural and sustainable ethos. GATHER dried flowers represent the best flora and foliage Aus can offer and like everything we stock, it’s Australian grown right here.

At GATHER, do you dry your own flowers and foliage?

In beautiful sunny Aus, we are blessed with outstanding native blooms, such as the Silver Dollar eucalyptus, banksia, and Ozzie daisy, that hardly need any drying treatment at all before being dried flower-ready! Some of the more delicate flowers are harvested and dried with TLC so they arrive at your doorstep at the peak of perfection. We do not use artificial glue sprays or preservatives to dry the flowers out faster.

Are dried flowers more expensive? 

It depends if you are talking about expensive for the environment or cost - because as far as eco-friendly goes, dried flowers rule! Not only do they use zero air miles to get to your doorstep because they are local and light, but they last so long that the turnaround is significantly reduced. When you add all that together - their longevity, sustainability, and unique beauty - dried flowers are very budget conscious. 

How long do dried flowers last?

Our dried blooms are long lasting and should last for years if kept out of direct sunlight and in a low humidity environment. From the time they are picked in the field, dried under careful conditions, and then shipped to your address, your bouquet of GATHER dried flowers will last somewhere between 1 to 5 years. It depends on which type and species of flowers are selected, but this is a very conservative estimate. 

What is the best way to care for dried flowers?

When dried flowers are handled with care - not left in the sun or wind or humidity (damp) - they can last for much longer than the average of 1 to 5 years. Prepare to enjoy your gorgeous dried flowers and foliage for years after you place them in the ideal spot. Corporate designers will be pleased to know that dried flowers love HVAC, making them the best choice for conference rooms and entrance foyers.

What is the best way to clean dried flowers when they get dusty?

It’s a blast sprucing up a bouquet of dried flowers. All you do to get rid of the dust on your dried flower arrangement is set the hair dryer on its coolest setting and lowest speed, and then go to town blowing the dust off the blooms. Get an extension cord and do it outside for maximum effectiveness.

Do dried flowers smell?

They can if you want them to! Scented sprays for dried flowers are a great way to spritz some perfume into a room. Please follow the instructions on the dried flower scented spray for the best results. If you want to know if our dried flowers will smell musty, the answer is no. They are professionally dried and stored before shipping. Some dried flowers retain their natural odors after drying, such as lavender and naturally scented roses. 

Are any of the dried flowers in arrangements poisonous?

If you are a cat lover, it is never a good idea to leave fresh or dried flowers on the ground where your furry friend might be tempted to rub against it and eat it. This is because there are quite a few flowers and leaves that are poisonous to cats if they ingest them. That’s why tall, heavy vases are ideal for dried flower arrangements, because they keep curious little felines from being able to reach the blooms.

Can my dried flower bouquet be placed outside? 

As a one-off decoration for a special occasion, the answer is yes, a dried flower arrangement is the perfect decor for any event. Once the special day is over, try to bring your dried flowers inside. Wind, damp, and direct sunlight is not the best way to encourage dried flower longevity.

Can dried flowers give me hay fever?

If a certain type of bloom gives you the sneezes and sniffles, the flower might retain its ability to set off your allergies, even after it has been dried, because trace amounts of pollen might still cling to it. But this would be a very rare thing to happen, because it is the pollen that causes hay fever, and dried flowers don’t produce annual pollen. Likewise, flowers and foliage with hyperallergic leaves and stems are not used for dried flower arrangements.

How do I look after them?

As mentioned above, keep them out of direct sunlight in low humidity and of course, absolutely no water!  That may sound obvious but we've had people do this out of habit.   

How do you ship your flowers?

We send our blooms out in sturdy boxes and secure them into place to minimise movement whilst in transit.  

Which freight companies do you use

We use Aus Post predominantly as well as other independent couriers who are trusted and reliable. You will receive regular shipping updates via Shippit so you can track your parcel at any time. For non Aus Post deliveries, we are unable to provide live tracking details.

Do you offer same day Deliveries?

Yes we do offer same day delivery but at this stage, we are servicing the Gold Coast region (Kingscliff to Yatala) for $25.00 and Brisbane Metro for $35.00.  PLEASE NOTE, the cut off times for same day deliveries for Brisbane Metro is 10.00am and Gold Coast region is 12.00pm.  If you order after those times, delivery will be the following day (excluding weekends and Public Holidays).

Can I include a message with the flowers when sending as a gift?

100%.  As soon as you add an item to your cart, below the subtotal, you will see a section to write a message.  Please note, there is a maximum of 25 words.

I ordered two bouquets but only received one. Where is the other one?

We always send our bouquets out in separate boxes.  This ensures they turn up looking fabulous.  Your other bouquet won't be far away. 

Why can't I purchase the bouquet once I enter the Shipping address?

Sometimes when Google does not recognise the address you have entered, it will not allow you to complete your order.  Once you start typing in the shipping address, it should show in the drop down menu below. Click on the address and it will auto complete.  If it does not show in the drop down menu, you need to check you have all the correct address details i.e. Baker Street not Baker Lane.  If sending to an apartment, you need to type in the apartment number first, followed by the street number and name.  For example, 1/27 King Street, Melbourne VIC 3173 (unit 1, 27 King Street). Please contact us if you still didn't manage to enter the shipping address.

How soon can I order my wedding flowers?

We require at least 4 weeks notice if ordering dried wedding flowers. 

Can I order my wedding flowers months ahead of time?

Yes!  The beauty of our dried blooms is that they will store perfectly well in the boxes we send them out to you in.  With all the craziness of wedding plans and appointments, this is one thing you can definitely tick off your 'to do' list well ahead of time. 

Can I customise my wedding flowers?

Yes slightly.  It may be a combination of two themes we offer or it may be the Blushing Bride but adding more green foliage for example or adding a different colour.  If you have your heart set on a particular look, we will do our best to make as similar as possible but we are limited to the flowers we stock.  We aim to offer a range of unique wedding themes to suit most styles and tastes and these are updated seasonally.