A Conversation with J&B Designs Florals on the Art of Wedding Flower Preservation
As a wedding photographer, I spend a lot of time thinking about how couples remember their day. The images I create are one piece of that — but I’ve always believed that the more ways a bride can hold onto her wedding, the better. That’s exactly why I was so excited to sit down with the team behind J&B Designs Florals, a Northeast Ohio-based mother-daughter duo that specializes in resin wedding flower preservation.
What Jen and Bri do is genuinely special. They take the bouquet you carried down the aisle — the one that was in your hands during your vows, present for every single moment — and transform it into a handcrafted heirloom you can display in your home for decades (Read more about wedding flower preservation here). I wanted to learn more about their process, their philosophy, and why so many brides are making preservation a part of their wedding planning. Here’s our conversation.
THE STORY BEHIND J&B DESIGNS FLORALS
I always love knowing the ‘why’ behind a business, especially one as personal as this. When I asked what first inspired them to start offering wedding flower preservation in Northeast Ohio, the answer was rooted in something close to home. Here’s what Bri had to say:
“What inspired us was actually my own wedding. After I had my bouquet preserved, I completely fell in love with the idea that something so fleeting could become a forever piece of art. My mom and I have always loved learning new DIY skills and creative processes, so once we saw what was possible with resin preservation, we were hooked. We realized there wasn’t a lot of accessible, high-quality wedding flower preservation in Northeast Ohio, and we knew we wanted to bring that option to local brides. It’s also given us something really special: dedicated mother-daughter time. Building this part of our business together has allowed us to create not only meaningful keepsakes for brides, but meaningful memories for ourselves, too.”
That sense of personal investment comes through in everything they create. I asked them to put into words why preserving a bouquet is so meaningful for couples — and their answer is something I think every bride needs to hear.
“Weddings go by in a blur — but your flowers don’t have to. Your bouquet holds so much symbolism. It represents the start of your marriage, the people who stood beside you, and the love and support that surrounded you that day. Turning those flowers into a tangible keepsake allows couples to hold onto something real from their wedding — not just photos on a phone, but a physical piece of the day displayed in their home. It becomes part of their everyday life instead of something packed away in a box. We also love when couples use preserved pieces as thank-you gifts for parents or loved ones — gifting them a piece of the bouquet is such a meaningful way to say, ‘You were part of this, too.’ And one day, it can be shown to children or even grandchildren as part of the family story.”
It’s the same reason I guide my couples through creating a wedding day that feels intentional and unrushed — because the more present you are, the more meaningful these details become.
THE CRAFT: RESIN VS. OTHER METHODS
Before I learned more about their specific offerings, I wanted to understand what makes resin preservation distinct — because not all flower preservation is the same. Their take on it was thoughtful and refreshingly honest.
“Comparing resin preservation to pressed flower preservation is honestly like comparing apples to carrots — they’re two completely different art forms. I have so much respect for artists who specialize in pressed florals, because the work is incredibly detailed and beautiful in its own way. What draws us to resin is that it allows the flowers to maintain their natural, three-dimensional form. The result feels very true to how the flowers looked on the wedding day — vibrant, dimensional, and lifelike. Resin also offers couples a wider variety of ways to incorporate their preserved flowers into their home, through trays, bookends, coasters, ring holders, and larger statement blocks. Both methods are meaningful; they just offer very different experiences and final products.”
That versatility was something that really stood out to me as I learned more about what J&B Designs Florals offers. Their range of pieces is genuinely impressive — from large statement trays that showcase an entire bouquet, to mid-sized options like their Madelyn gem shape, custom letters, and bookends, all the way down to coasters and ring holders that bring a little piece of the wedding day into everyday life. When I asked which pieces Northeast Ohio brides tend to gravitate toward most, their answer made a lot of sense.
“It’s honestly a close tie! Our trays, custom letters, and coasters or ornaments are consistently our most popular. Trays are loved because they’re such a statement piece — they beautifully showcase the bouquet while still being functional and display-worthy in a home. Our custom letters are incredibly sentimental, whether it’s a new last name initial or something meaningful to the couple. And coasters and ornaments are perfect for brides who want smaller keepsakes or meaningful gifts for the people they love most.”
PLANNING & LOGISTICS
One of the most common questions I hear from brides is when they should be thinking about preservation — and the answer might surprise you. I asked Bri, and her advice was clear.
“We always recommend brides book in advance — ideally around the same time they’re booking their other vendors. We only take a select number of brides per week and per month to ensure each bouquet gets the time and care it deserves. That said, don’t let uncertainty about which pieces you want stop you from securing your spot. Many brides finalize their selections after we receive the bouquet and see how the flowers dry. It’s better to reserve your date and decide on the details later than risk missing the opportunity altogether.”
Along those same lines, I was curious about the timing of flower delivery after the wedding — because this is something brides don’t always think about in advance.
“Truly, as soon as possible. Ideally, bouquets should be delivered within 24 to 48 hours after the wedding. Flowers are very delicate, and the longer they sit after the event, the more they begin to brown or break down. Getting them to us quickly allows us to preserve them at their peak. We always tell brides — the faster, the better!”
For brides who aren’t local to Northeast Ohio, I wanted to know whether shipping was an option — and it absolutely is. J&B Designs works with brides all over the continental U.S. and regularly coordinates shipping. For local couples, hand delivery is always available and a popular choice for peace of mind. Either way, they work to make the process as smooth as possible.
I also asked about flowers themselves — specifically, which blooms tend to preserve the best and whether there are any that are more challenging to work with.
“Truly, almost any flower can be preserved beautifully in resin — as long as it’s dried properly first. The drying process is what makes the biggest difference in how the flowers hold their color and structure long-term. We always evaluate each bouquet individually. Some blooms with very delicate petal structures, like daisies and chrysanthemums, can be a little more challenging since their petals may separate during drying — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be preserved. They just sometimes require more hands-on care and reconstruction. Our goal is always to preserve each bloom in a way that stays true to how it looked in your original bouquet.”
INVESTMENT & ACCESSIBILITY
Something I really appreciate about Jen and Bri is their commitment to making preservation accessible — not just for brides with a large budget, but for everyone. When I asked about their packages and price points, their answer reflects exactly that philosophy.
“We truly believe everyone deserves to have their bouquet preserved, which is why we’ve intentionally created package options at a wide range of price points. Our packages currently range from $250 to just over $1,000, with options that include everything from small keepsakes like letters and ring holders to larger statement pieces like trays, bookends, and full resin blocks. We also offer a build-your-own package option, where couples can select the pieces that matter most to them and receive a discount when bundling multiple items. We’ve had brides spend over $2,000 preserving multiple heirloom pieces, and brides who’ve spent closer to $100 on a single keepsake — and we’re just as excited and honored to work with both. For us, it’s never about the size of the order.”
They also offer a flexible payment structure that works well within the natural timeline of wedding planning. A deposit secures the date, and the remaining balance isn’t due until the drying process is complete and layout previews are sent for approval — which naturally gives brides some time after the wedding before the final payment is needed.
THE PROCESS, START TO FINISH
I think what sets these two apart most is how intentional and thorough their process is. I asked them to walk me through the full journey from wedding day to finished heirloom — and the level of detail involved is remarkable.
“It begins before the wedding day, when the bride reserves her date with us to ensure availability. After the wedding, the bouquet is either hand-delivered or shipped to us — ideally within 24 to 48 hours. Once it arrives, each flower is carefully separated and placed into a specialized drying process that takes approximately 3 to 4 weeks. After the flowers are fully dried, we design each piece by hand, individually placing every flower to create a thoughtful, balanced composition. For larger pieces, we send layout previews to the bride for approval so she can be part of the design process. From there, the flowers are encased in resin through a multi-stage pouring process. What truly sets our work apart is our finishing process — each piece goes through multiple rounds of hand-finishing using seven different grits of sandpaper, followed by a final flood coat that creates a crystal-clear, glass-like finish. Before delivery, every piece is carefully photographed and packaged. Every step is done with intention and care.”
That finishing process — the sanding, the flood coat, the photography before packaging — is a level of craftsmanship you simply don’t find everywhere. The full timeline from wedding day to finished piece is approximately 4 to 6 months, which allows every stage to be completed properly without rushing.
I was also curious about how they ensure flowers keep their color inside the resin over time, and their answer speaks to how much thought goes into this even before a single drop of resin is poured.
“Preserving color starts long before the resin process — it’s largely determined by how quickly the bouquet gets to us and how the flowers are dried. Every flower naturally reacts a little differently. Reds often deepen into rich wine tones, pinks and yellows tend to become even more vibrant, and white flowers can take on a soft, almost translucent appearance. These changes are a normal and beautiful part of the process. Once dried, the flowers are encased in resin, which protects them from air, moisture, and UV — allowing their preserved state to remain stable long-term.”
PERSONALIZATION & DESIGN
One of the questions I was most excited to ask was about customization — because I know my brides. Details matter deeply, and the idea of weaving personal elements into a preserved piece takes it to a completely different level.
“Customization is one of our favorite parts of the process! We offer a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and we love incorporating meaningful personal elements — charms, ribbons, and pieces of stationery like invitations or vow excerpts can all be included to make the piece even more sentimental. We also offer custom add-ons like embedded wording — a wedding date, last name, or meaningful phrase — as well as colored foil flakes to complement wedding colors. These details help tell the full story of the wedding day, not just the flowers themselves.”
That combination of real flowers, real details, and real craftsmanship is exactly what makes a resin block feel less like décor and more like an heirloom. I asked them to put that distinction into words.
“It comes down to two things: meaning and craftsmanship. Each block holds the actual flowers from one of the most important days in a couple’s life — the real blooms that were carried down the aisle, held during the vows, and present for every moment of the celebration. That emotional significance alone transforms the piece into something far more personal than décor. Beyond that, each block is carefully designed and handcrafted. The result is something timeless — not tied to a trend or a season, but a preserved moment. These pieces often become part of a couple’s home for decades, and are eventually passed down, carrying both the flowers and the story of where their family began.”
THE MOMENT THAT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT
After everything I’d learned about the craft and the process, I wanted to end where it all matters most — with the brides themselves. I asked what reaction they most often see when someone receives their finished piece.
“The reaction is almost always emotional. There’s something powerful about seeing their actual flowers again — not in photos, but preserved right in front of them. Brides often point out specific blooms they remember or mention how the piece brings them right back to that moment. Many tell us it exceeded their expectations and that it feels even more special than they imagined. Being able to give someone that piece of their story back, in a way they can keep forever, is truly the most rewarding part of what we do.”
As someone who has watched hundreds of brides experience their wedding day through my lens, I understand that feeling completely. It’s the same reason I do what I do — because these moments deserve to be preserved in every way possible.
WHY LOCAL MATTERS
Before we wrapped up, I wanted to talk about why working with a local Northeast Ohio preservation artist specifically can make a real difference for brides in our area.
“Working with a local artist allows for a much more personal, reliable, and hands-on experience from start to finish. One of the biggest advantages is timing — flowers are incredibly delicate, and the sooner they begin the preservation process, the better the final result. When working with someone local, brides have the option to hand-deliver their bouquet, which eliminates shipping time and reduces the risk of damage or delays. It also creates a more personal connection. Brides know exactly who is handling their bouquet, and they’re able to communicate directly throughout the process. There’s a deeper level of care and pride in preserving flowers for couples who live and celebrate right here in Northeast Ohio — and that personal investment is reflected in the final piece.”
What’s Coming Next from J&B Designs Florals
J&B Designs Florals is always growing. They’ve recently partnered with a local Northeast Ohio carpenter to begin incorporating custom wood elements into their preservation pieces — a collaboration that will bring even more distinctive, heirloom-quality options blending preserved florals with handcrafted woodwork, expected to launch very soon. They’re also launching a monthly newsletter in April featuring new product releases, featured client pieces, and helpful tips for brides planning ahead for preservation.
Ready to Preserve Your Bouquet?
If you’re a Northeast Ohio bride — or a bride anywhere in the continental U.S. — I can’t recommend J&B Designs Florals enough. You can explore their packages, view their stunning work, and submit an inquiry at www.jbdesignsflorals.com. They’re also active on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, where you can see real client pieces and behind-the-scenes content.
Your bouquet was in your hands for just a few hours. With J&B Designs Florals, it can be part of your home — and your family’s story — forever.
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