A valve holder for a prosthetic valve having a stent comprising a stent base and multiple commissure posts projecting from the stent base, the valve holder including a connector hub, a plurality of legs connected to the connector hub, each leg having an elongate portion and a commissure post engaging plate, a sliding member slideably connected to each leg of the plurality of legs and positioned between the connector hub and the commissure post engaging plates of the plurality of legs and slideably positionable at a first position relative to the connector hub with the commissure post engaging plates in an uncompressed configuration and a second position relative to the connector hub with the commissure post engaging plates in a compressed configuration, and a handle extending from the connector hub.