What to Ask Before Booking a Resin Preservation Artist

When it comes to preserving your wedding flowers, there’s no shortage of options these days, especially here in the UK. Resin preservation has become incredibly popular in the last few years, and with that growth has come a wave of new artists offering their services.

But as with anything handmade and specialist, not all resin flower preservation is created equal. If you want your bouquet to last beautifully for years to come, there are some key things to look for when choosing your preservation artist. These are the exact questions we suggest you ask before you book:

Why It Matters: Our Experience

At JoanyBow Designs, we’ve been working with resin for over five years now. Those five years included a lot of trial and error, testing different techniques, materials, and products until we found the combination that gives the best long-lasting, high-quality results.

When we first started, we took a lot of inspiration from artists in America. Back then, there weren’t many people in the UK offering resin flower preservation. Fast forward to now, and my Instagram feed is filled with artists in this space!

While it’s brilliant to see so many people getting involved, as someone who knows this craft inside out, I can often spot when an artist might still be learning or hasn’t quite refined their techniques. And that can make all the difference to the final piece you receive.

The Three Questions You Should Always Ask

1. What Moulds Do They Use?

The moulds used for resin preservation are not all the same. Low-quality moulds from places like Amazon or Temu may seem fine at first glance, but they often lead to what we call “bowed in” sides. That’s when the resin piece has slightly wobbly or unstable edges, which can really affect the look and stability of your preservation piece.

At JoanyBow Designs, we only use high-quality moulds from Zapp3D Design, which have stability built into the sides for a professional, crisp finish.

2. Is the Resin High Grade and UV Resistant?

All resin will naturally amber slightly over time, it’s just the nature of the material. But if you want your flowers to look as fresh as possible for as long as possible, it’s essential that the resin has high UV resistance.

We use GlassCast Resin. It’s a professional-grade product with its full properties and UV resistance information listed on their website. We’ve tested many brands over the years, and this is the one we trust.

3. Do They Apply a Topcoat?

This is a big one that often gets missed. The shiny, smooth, slightly rounded edge that everyone loves about resin pieces doesn’t just happen by chance. It’s created with a specialist topcoat applied after the main pour has cured.

In our first year, we didn’t use topcoats and we can honestly say the difference is huge. Now, all our main pieces receive a topcoat (again using GlassCast Resin) because it truly elevates the look and feel of the finished product.

A Final Word of Advice

Choosing who to trust with preserving your wedding flowers isn’t just about finding someone local or with a big following. It’s about finding an artist who has taken the time to learn their craft, invested in the right materials, and truly cares about the quality of their work.

If you’d like to know more or you’re ready to preserve your bouquet with confidence, we’d love to hear from you.

Hayley and Maria x