Tips to Make Sure Your Bouquet Looks Beautiful—Now and Forever
You’ve picked your wedding date, found your dream florist, and maybe even started envisioning your bouquet. But if you’re planning to preserve your flowers after the big day, there’s one important step many couples miss: communicating with your florist about preservation.
With nearly five years of experience preserving flowers through resin, shadow boxes, and pressed frames, I’ve learned that collaboration between your florist and your preservation artist can make a big difference in the final results.
Here’s how to work with your florist to make sure your bouquet is not only stunning in the moment, but also designed to last a lifetime.
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1. Tell Your Florist Early That You Plan to Preserve
As soon as you know you want to preserve your bouquet, let your florist know! Ideally, this happens during your design consultation or final flower selection. Florists can plan more intentionally when they know your blooms will have a second life.
Why it matters:
Certain flowers preserve better than others, and florists may recommend substitutions or tweaks to help your bouquet hold up beautifully in resin, frames, or a shadow box.
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2. Ask About Preservation-Friendly Flowers
Not all flowers are created equal when it comes to drying and preserving. Your florist can help guide your choices once they know your preservation goals.
Flowers that preserve well include:
• Roses
• Ranunculus
• Lisianthus
• Strawflower
• Delphinium
• Baby’s breath
• Peonies (with care)
Flowers that can be trickier:
• Succulents (moisture-heavy)
• Calla lilies (fragile)
• Some tropicals (can brown or wilt when dried)
That doesn’t mean you can’t include delicate flowers—just that they may need extra care or might look slightly different once preserved. A good florist + a skilled preservation artist (like me!) will know how to make it work.
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3. Choose a Bouquet Structure That Works for Preservation
Loose, airy bouquets are usually easier to work with than super compact or tightly bound arrangements. Shadow boxes and resin blocks benefit from some breathing room between blooms, and pressed designs work best when flowers aren’t overly layered.
If you’re going with a full resin block or shadow box, consider a more structured bouquet with distinguishable focal flowers. If you’re planning a pressed frame, opt for variety in color and shape for visual interest once flattened.
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4. Ask for Extras or Matching Florals
Your florist may be able to set aside a few extra blooms for preservation—especially helpful if you plan on making multiple keepsakes (like gifts for parents, coasters, or ornaments).
You can also request:
• Duplicate boutonnières or corsages
• A few loose stems from your centerpieces or ceremony florals
• A special “preservation bundle” just in case your bouquet gets damaged or wilts
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5. Coordinate Timing & Delivery With Your Artist
Work with your florist to figure out who will handle the bouquet after the wedding—whether it’s you, a planner, or a family member. It’s important that the flowers are stored properly and delivered to your preservation artist as soon as possible.
Pro tip: I offer flower care and packing guides for all clients—especially helpful for shipping flowers from destination weddings or out-of-state events.
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Final Thoughts
Your florist and your preservation artist are on the same team—working together to make your wedding flowers unforgettable. When you include preservation in your planning from the start, you’ll not only get a stunning bouquet for your wedding day, but a keepsake that captures its beauty for decades to come.
Looking to get started? I’m always happy to chat with florists and couples early in the planning process to help you get the best results possible.
