Cascais sees a steady stream of destination weddings, and a fair number of clients aren’t local at all — they live in the US, the UK, or elsewhere in Europe, and the bouquet has to make its way to Portugal before pressing can even begin.

International shipping of fresh flowers is more involved than a domestic parcel. Rules around bringing fresh plant material across borders vary by country and do change, so it is worth checking current customs guidance for cut flowers from your own country before sending anything internationally — what is straightforward from one country can require extra paperwork from another. A courier experienced in shipping perishables is usually a safer bet than a standard postal service for this reason.

Beyond the customs question, the same fundamentals apply as any bouquet shipment, just with a longer journey: ship as soon as possible after the wedding, package with damp (not wet) paper around the stems, and choose the fastest shipping option available. A bouquet that travels well over two days can struggle over five.

For couples marrying in Cascais who are based elsewhere, dropping the bouquet with a local florist on the day, or arranging an in-person handoff during the trip, often turns out to be simpler than shipping at all — worth considering if travel plans allow for it.