5 Things to Do Now If You Want a Meaningful Keepsake From Your Wedding Day in 2026
Your wedding day will be one of the most emotional days of your life. It’s carefully planned, deeply personal, & over far quicker than most couples expect.
The flowers, in particular, play such a big role. They’re held during the vows, carried through the day, & woven into so many important moments. But once the wedding is over, they’re often one of the first things to fade.
If you’re getting married in 2026 & want a meaningful keepsake from your wedding day, here are five things worth thinking about now.
1. Think past the wedding day
Most wedding decisions are made with one day in mind. How it will look, how it will photograph, how it will feel in the moment.
But a meaningful keepsake starts by thinking beyond that. Your bouquet isn’t just a decorative detail, it’s part of the memory of the day itself. Preserving your wedding flowers allows you to hold onto that memory in a tangible way, long after the celebrations are over.
2. Choose flowers you’d love fresh and pressed
This is something many brides don’t realise until it’s too late.
Flowers change when they’re dried and pressed. Colours often soften or deepen, petals flatten, and shapes become more delicate. A bouquet that looks beautiful fresh can take on a completely different feel once preserved.
When choosing your wedding flowers, it’s worth thinking about how they’ll look not just on the day, but as pressed flower art in your home. Loving both versions makes your keepsake feel intentional and timeless, rather than an afterthought.
3. Book wedding flower preservation early
Wedding flower preservation is not something to leave until after the wedding.
Preservation artists often book up months in advance, especially during peak wedding season & for bank holiday weekends. Securing your spot early means you won’t be scrambling for options once the day is over, & you’ll know your flowers are properly cared for from the moment they leave your hands.
For many couples, booking early also brings peace of mind. It’s one less decision to make during an already busy planning process.
4. Tell your florist your bouquet will be preserved
Letting your florist know that your bouquet will be preserved can make a real difference to the final result.
Florists can design with longevity in mind, choosing blooms & arranging them in a way that helps them hold their shape for the best results for pressing. It’s a simple conversation that can significantly improve how your preserved wedding flowers look in the end. (See my previous blog post on this by clicking here!)
5. Think about sharing the love
Your bouquet doesn’t have to become just one keepsake.
Many brides choose to turn parts of their wedding flowers into smaller pieces as thank you gifts for parents, grandparents, or bridal party members. A pressed petal or small floral arrangement can become a deeply meaningful reminder of the day for the people who supported you along the way.
It’s a beautiful way to share the sentiment of your wedding day beyond just the two of you.
Your wedding flowers can live on
Wedding flowers don’t have to be a one-day detail. With a little planning, they can become a lasting piece of art, memory, & meaning in your home.
If you’re planning a 2026 wedding & want to preserve your bouquet as a keepsake, starting these conversations now can make all the difference.
(I created this A5 frame for myself, using the best of what I salvaged from my own bouquet after a last minute, day-before-honeymoon panic pressing session… spoiler, not much pressed well & my bouquet was huge!)