Lucy Whitfield 🌸 wedding bouquet & floral preservation | UK

If you’re new here, welcome 🌸 I’m Lucy, a floral preservation artist specialising in pressed wedding bouquets & bespoke flower artwork. This business began after my own wedding, first with pressing flowers for friends & slowly growing through Etsy alongside my career as an architect. Over time it became clear this was more than a side project 😅 My background in architecture gives me a huge edge. Attention to detail, precision & patience sit at the heart of my work, & every bouquet is treated with care & intention. If you’re getting married & wondering how to preserve your bouquet properly, you’re in the right place 💕 I’m based in the New Forest, & work with brides across the UK, even some internationally! I can’t wait to help you hold onto your flowers & the memories they carry 🌸 pressed wedding bouquet, wedding flower preservation, bouquet preservation, pressed flower art, floral keepsake, wedding flowers preserved #pressedweddingflowers #bouquetpreservation #weddingkeepsake #jumpstartjanuary2026

💐 What I wish more florists knew when their brides want to preserve their bouquet… If your client is planning to preserve their flowers, a few small tweaks during the bouquet-making process can make a big difference in how well those blooms press. Over the years I’ve worked closely with hundreds of wedding flowers, & these are the things that help turn a beautiful bouquet into lasting, heirloom-quality art: ✔️ Keep stems on ✔️ Avoid floral foam ✔️ Be mindful with wire ✔️ Don’t reflex the roses ✔️ Skip sprayed/dyed blooms ✔️ Choose press-friendly flowers ✔️ Tie a little looser These aren’t about compromising your design - they’re small details that preserve your work & your client’s memories. Swipe through to learn more or share this with a florist you love 🌸 #floristtips #pressedflowers #bouquetpreservation #floralpreservation #weddingkeepsake #flowerpreservationartist #floralart #weddingfloristuk #modernbouquetpreservation #ukbride #pressedflowerart #ihavethisthingwithflowers

I didn’t plan to start a bouquet preservation business, & I certainly didn’t anticipate leaving my career in architecture for it either! It began with a rushed attempt to save my own wedding flowers - using printer paper, cardboard & a stack of plate weights the day after we got married & leaving it for 10 days while we were on our honeymoon… it didn’t go very well 🙃 ⁠ But that small moment led to something bigger.⁠ ⁠ From pressing flowers at home to making pieces for friends, to slowly growing an Etsy shop before setting up my own website… it’s been a very organic process.⁠ ⁠ Swipe through to see how it all started & why I care so much about helping others hold onto their flowers properly 🌸 I’ve VERY limited availability 2025 (I’m pretty much fully booked until winter), but I am taking bookings for 2026. Head to my website to enquire about my availability & secure your date - see the link in my bio! ✨ (Thanks to Hannah for the lovely photo of her frame in the last slide! 😘) #BouquetPreservation #PressedFlowerArt #WeddingKeepsake #FlowerPreservation #BridalBouquetPreservation #WeddingDetails #SlowMade #CreativeBusinessOwner #BehindTheBusiness #PreservedBlooms #modernbouquetpreservation #ukweddingsuppliers

🌸 for Bronwyn 🌸 I loved fitting all these delicate flowers together for Bronwyn’s A2 and A4 frames. It’s like floral tetris… the gluing and frame cleaning did take a while though 😅 But honestly, it’s the tiny details that really light up the architect in me. Spacing, balance, everything lining up just right - it’s very satisfying! One piece for her and one for her grandma, now safely home in Canada 🇨🇦 Swipe for some close-up details, Bronwyn’s kind words and her bouquet when it first arrived. 💐 by @edenweddingflorist #pressedflowerart #weddingbouquetpreservation #keepsakeart #floralpreservation #weddingflowers pressed flower art, wedding bouquet preservation, preserved wedding flowers, floral keepsake art, pressed flower frames, bespoke wedding artwork, sentimental wedding keepsakes, floral preservation UK, architect eye for detail, modern pressed flowers

Saying yes to this felt like a bit of a moment for me. I’ve spent so long working quietly, pressing flowers in the studio, figuring things out on my own & then sharing my knowledge 1:1 with the ladies helping in the studio… & now I’m stepping into teaching it out loud, to a whole group of people at once 😅 I’m excited, but definitely nervous too! This craft means a lot to me. It’s slow, detailed & personal, & I think part of me has been hiding in that a little. So this feels like a stretch, in a good way. On June 20th I’ll be running my first flower pressing workshop with @stemandgreen , just outside Winchester. We’ll be working with flowers grown right there on the farm, first collecting some to press, before creating a little arrangement with pre-pressed flowers from the farm to take home. Everyone will also leave with their own professional flower press to keep creating at home. There are only 10 spaces, so it’ll be small & really hands-on. If you’ve ever been curious about pressing flowers, or just want a creative day surrounded by beautiful blooms, I’d love to have you there. You can book through Stem & Green’s website, I’ve added the link to my bio & will share it on stories too 🌸 #flowerpressing #flowerpressworkshop #pressedflowers #creativeworkshop #hampshireevents flower pressing workshop pressed flower art learn flower pressing creative workshop hampshire winchester flower farm workshop botanical art pressed flower class summer workshop uk creative day flowers

I took a week off work to be fully with my family… & here’s what actually happened. This was my first week long holiday since 2020, & the first time I’ve properly stepped away from my business. Before now, even on the few long weekends away, I’d still be doing bits of admin here & there. I realised I need better boundaries. Deleting Outlook from my phone made such a difference - no constant checking, no low-level pressure sitting in the background. We had lazy mornings & afternoons out, & I finally gave myself space to rest. I read, scrolled less, & properly switched off for the first time in a long time. More sleep would’ve been nice but I’ll take the small wins! The big one… my business didn’t fall apart. I felt guilty at first, but everything was still there waiting for me. Maddy has a list of things to check in on, & I’m looking forward to getting back into work, slightly better rested, calmer, & more ready than before. It’s also been a reminder I needed - rest & boundaries aren’t getting in the way of my business, they’re part of building one that actually works. I’ve work to do on this still, to give myself a better work/life balance but I’m putting in some foundations to build on. When did you last properly switch off? #worklifebalance #smallbusinessowner #bouquetpreservation #creativebusiness #mumbusiness work life balance, small business boundaries, rest and reset, family time switching off, burnout recovery, bouquet preservation, pressed flower art, wedding flowers, floral keepsakes, bridal bouquet preservation

This week didn’t go how I imagined. On Monday I had a really productive day - mock ups, framing & packing whilst keeping Rory entertained. I thought I was on a roll. Then the rest of the week turned into cuddles on the sofa or in bed with a poorly baby. Sick days, contact naps, walking round & round with a Rory backpack trying to get him to sleep. Meanwhile, May has been holding down the fort in the studio, pressing & checking in on your flowers, so at least some work has kept moving while I was where I was needed most. After a tough few days Rory now seems to be feeling more himself luckily. I’ve had to learn it’s okay if things slow down for a few days. I’ll catch up when I can in pockets of time, & next week is a new week. Being their mum will always come first. If you’re a parent running a business & this week hasn’t gone to plan, you’re not alone. Like me you’re probably also looking forward to better weather & less germs 🫠😂 #mumpreneur #bouquetpreservation #pressedflowerart #weddingkeepsake #smallbusinessmum pressed flowers, wedding bouquets, bouquet preservation, keepsake artwork, studio workflow, behind the scenes, mumpreneur life, catching up on orders, personalised wedding flowers, floral art in progress

🌸 for Lucy 🌸 Soft pinks just do something, don’t they 💗 This A2 oak frame is filled with the dreamiest spring bouquet. I just love the ranunculus, the two types each giving something special. They’re always a favourite of mine - though more than a little time consuming to take apart to press & then reconstruct, but that texture is worth it! One of the things I love most about flower pressing is how the colours shift once they’re pressed - sometimes settling into softer, dustier tones with others going deeper, a little moodier, & somehow even more romantic. It’s never an exact replica of the day, & that’s the magic of it. The flowers evolve, just like the memories do. Spring bouquets really are in a league of their own ✨ 💐 @wildernessfloraldesign #pressedflowers #weddingbouquetpreservation #floralkeepsake #ranunculuslove #springweddingflowers pressed flower art, bouquet preservation, pink wedding bouquet, ranunculus bouquet, oak frame artwork, spring bridal flowers, sentimental home decor, preserved wedding flowers

Let me tell you about the biggest mistake I made in my business so far that nearly cost me my sanity. I said yes to nearly every bouquet that came my way because I genuinely wanted to help. Every bride reaching out, every story behind their flowers - I wanted to say yes. I thought I could manage it all, squeeze everyone in, make it work. What actually happened? I fell behind. Long days. Constant stress. That awful feeling of always trying to catch up while making sure every bouquet still got the attention it deserved. I had to rethink how I was working & where I focused my energy. Slowly, I’m starting to find my rhythm again. I have more help & am trying to focus on the parts of the process I love & do best. I’m still behind, but I’m making progress & changing how I run my business into a way that feels more manageable, & more joyful,again. I’ve learned that helping everyone doesn’t help anyone if it stretches you too thin. Now I’m working smarter, not harder, each bouquet still getting the care it deserves. Every bouquet carries the memories of your wedding day… I make sure yours is preserved just as beautifully. #pressedflowers #weddingbouquetpreservation #floralart #bouquetkeepsake #weddingflowers wedding bouquet preservation, pressed flowers, keepsake, floral artwork, memories, heartfelt gifts, wedding keepsake, floral design, bespoke bouquet art, preserved bouquet, wedding flowers, wedding keepsake art, heirloom flowers

🌸 for Immy 🌸 A trio of frames (A3, A4 & A5) to showcase her pressed wedding bouquet. I think this may have been the first order to use the smoked oak frames, & boy don’t these tones look good with the dark wood! 😍 #pressedflowerart #weddingbouquetpreservation #floralkeepsake #framedflowers #heirloomartwork pressed wedding bouquet, bouquet preservation artwork, triptych floral frame, three panel flower frame, dark wood frame decor, custom wedding keepsake, preserved bridal bouquet, framed pressed flowers, statement wall art, modern heirloom piece

After preserving so many bouquets, you start to see what really lasts. Not just physically. Emotionally. If I could do my bouquet again, here’s a few things I’d change: 🤍 Seasonal flowers - they hit differently when they come back around each year for your anniversary. Hellebores & daffodils start popping up & I think, this was our month. Though not in my bouquet (I wished I’d thought of adding some!), we had potted hellebores as decor which are now planted in the garden, seeing them on our anniversary feels extra special - you bet I’ve got some pressing now! 🤍 Lisianthus can be so tricky to preserve. Now I’d pick flowers that press well more reliably. 🤍 I’d go more pinks, less white, more flowers, & a bit less foliage. A looser shape too, letting each bloom shine. 🤍 I’d have thought about preservation in advance! Space ready. Materials ready. Clear plan in place. No panicked pressing before our honeymoon which didn’t have great results, but did start me on this journey preserving flowers for others! It’s funny what you only learn after handling hundreds of love stories 💕 If you’re planning your flowers & even thinking you might want to preserve them one day, start with that in mind. Future you will be so glad you did. Happy anniversary to us 🥰 #pressedflowers #weddingbouquet #floralpreservation #seasonalflowers #weddingkeepsake wedding bouquet, pressed flowers, bouquet preservation, seasonal flowers, floral keepsake, anniversary flowers, bouquet tips, wedding memories, flower pressing, wedding inspiration

This is a hard post to write, but I want to be honest. Over the past couple of years, I’ve taken on more orders than I then found I could comfortably manage, especially with more & more orders comprising multiple frames. Life has also been heavy… loss, pregnancy, & raising a baby & energetic boy while growing this business. I also lost my cousin to suicide in the middle of a business wedding season last summer, & it’s a grief I still haven’t fully processed. Trying to keep up meant sleep, rest & health often came second, leading to months of illness & back to back antibiotics, further contributing to delays. I know communication has slipped. I often focused on carefully progressing orders rather than sending pre-emptive updates as I thought that was a better use of my time, & anxiety around my inbox has made opening it feel heavy. I’m truly sorry for any worry or frustration that caused. I have help in the studio with pressing, alongside part-time admin support from Maddy & help from my sister Hollie when she can. I have also been taking on significantly fewer commissions so I can complete each piece with the care it deserves (I solely undertake the designing & framing), while creating a little breathing space for workshops, creativity & myself. Hearing from clients that their frame was “worth the wait” keeps me going, even as I carry guilt for the waiting itself. Thank you for your patience, your kindness & your trust in this very full, very human season. I am listening, I am working, & I care deeply about your flowers & memories. Lucy 🌸