What to Do With Your Pet's Ashes or Fur — A Gentle Guide to Keepsakes That Last

Losing a pet is a real loss. The kind that catches you off guard with how much it hurts, even when you knew it was coming. The kind that leaves a specific silence in a house — a gap where something used to be.

A keepsake doesn't fill that gap. Nothing does. But having something physical — something you can hold, or see on a shelf, or pick up on a difficult day — can matter more than you might expect.

This guide is here to help. It covers the options available for keeping something of your pet close — from the practical to the deeply personal — and the questions worth asking before you decide.

Take your time with it. There's no hurry.

What You Might Have — and What's Possible

Most people come to this with one of three things: ashes, fur, or both. Occasionally a collar tag, a name disc, or a small personal item. All of these can be worked with. Here's what each makes possible.

Ashes
Pet ashes can be set into resin keepsakes — suspended permanently in crystal clear resin in a shape of your choosing. A small dome, a heart, a sphere, a simple rectangular block. The ashes become part of the piece itself, visible as a soft, frosted presence within the resin. The result is something you can hold, display, or keep close — a physical object that carries the weight of what it means.

Fur
Pet fur preserves beautifully in resin. A small curl or tuft — the kind you might have kept without quite knowing why — can be set into a keepsake that holds its colour and texture for decades. Fur also presses well for framed pieces if you prefer something for a wall rather than a surface.

Both
Ashes and fur together create the most complete keepsake — two physical presences from the same animal, held together in one piece. Many people find this the most meaningful option.

A tag, disc, or charm
Small flat metal items can be embedded alongside ashes or fur in a resin piece. A name tag from a collar. A vaccination disc. Anything small, flat, and meaningful.

The Shapes and Sizes Worth Knowing About

Resin keepsakes come in a range of shapes and sizes — and the right one depends on how you want to live with the piece.

Small pieces are personal and portable. A small dome or sphere sits on a bedside table, a desk, or a windowsill. Something you can pick up and hold. These work well for ashes, fur, or both, and are often the pieces people find most comforting in the early weeks of grief.

Medium pieces make more of a statement — a heart, a larger dome, a shaped block. Still personal, but more present in a room. These suit people who want the piece to be seen, not hidden.

Framed pressed pieces are for those who want something for a wall. Fur pressed flat and arranged in a botanical-style composition, sealed under glass — quiet, elegant, and completely unique.

The right size is simply the one that feels right for where you want the piece to live.

An Honest Note on Timing

There is no deadline. Many people wait weeks or months after losing a pet before they feel ready to think about a keepsake. Others want to do something immediately — a way of holding onto the moment before it slips. Both are completely valid.

If your pet has recently passed and you're not sure you're ready, you don't need to decide now. Ashes keep indefinitely. Fur, stored somewhere dry and cool, keeps well too. Whenever you're ready — whether that's next week or next year — the option will still be there.

The only thing worth knowing is that if you do want a piece made from fresh flowers (from a service, for example), those need to be sent within a specific window. For everything else — ashes, fur, tags — there is no rush at all.

What the Process Actually Looks Like

If you do decide to go ahead, here's what happens — simply and honestly.

You get in touch. Tell me what you have — ashes, fur, both, any small items — and what you're thinking of in terms of size and shape. If you're not sure, that's fine too. We'll work it out together.

You send your materials. I'll give you clear, simple instructions for packing and posting everything safely. Everything is handled with the same care I'd want someone to handle something precious of mine.

I make your piece. Resin is poured in careful layers, with your materials set exactly where they should be. You'll receive updates, and a photo before anything is posted back to you.

It arrives, beautifully packaged. Ready to keep, display, or give as a gift to someone who loved the same animal.

Any unused materials are always returned.

And if you're not ready yet…

Some people know immediately what they want to do. Others wait weeks, or months, before they feel ready to think about it. Both are completely normal. If you're reading this, you're probably somewhere in that in-between — looking for something that feels right, without quite knowing what that is yet.

Still wondering what to do with your pet's ashes or fur? If you'd like to talk through what's possible before you decide anything, you're welcome to get in touch. No obligation — just a conversation.

And if you're not ready yet, that's completely fine. This will still be here when you are.

With love,
Joanna ❤️

Which Wedding Flowers Last the Longest? A Bride's Guide to Choosing Blooms Worth Keeping

Choosing your wedding flowers is one of the loveliest parts of planning — but if you’re thinking about keeping them afterwards, it’s worth a conversation with your florist before you finalise your choices. Some flowers dry and last beautifully for decades. Others fade, brown, or lose their shape no matter how carefully they’re handled.
This guide is here to help you make informed choices. It covers the flowers that tend to do well, the ones that need a little more care, and a few honest things worth knowing before your wedding day.

One thing applies to every variety mentioned here: flowers need to be properly dried before any kind of long-term keeping — whether that’s set in resin, pressed in a frame, or simply displayed. The good news is that most popular wedding flowers dry beautifully — and the ones that don't are worth knowing about before you visit your florist.

The Ones That Last Exceptionally Well

Roses

The gold standard. Roses dry beautifully, hold their three-dimensional form well, and press into stunning flat compositions too. Pinks, creams and whites give the most reliable results. Reds are good. Yellows can deepen to orange after drying — worth knowing if your colour palette is precise. The most versatile flower you can choose if longevity matters to you.

Best for: Classic, Romantic, Garden Party

Ranunculus

One of the most rewarding flowers to work with. The many-layered petals create incredible depth and texture when dried, and press individually into beautiful layered compositions. Pinks, whites and creams are particularly reliable. A fashionable choice in modern bridal bouquets.

Best for: Romantic, Modern, Garden Party

Lisianthus

Increasingly popular in UK wedding bouquets and for good reason. The ruffled, rose-like petals dry and hold well. Whites and purples both work beautifully, though very deep purple can shift slightly in colour after drying.

Best for: Classic, Romantic, Modern

Gypsophila (Baby’s Breath)

A wonderful supporting flower. The tiny white florets catch the light and fill space beautifully around larger blooms, and press easily into delicate, airy compositions. One of the most reliable flowers for keeping — whites hold exceptionally well, drying to a warm ivory.

Best for: Classic, Romantic, Rustic, Bohemian

Lavender

One of the most stable flowers you can choose. The purple holds exceptionally well — in resin, pressed, or simply air-dried and displayed — and it carries that unmistakable association with English summer weddings. Surrey even has its own lavender farms, which come into bloom from July.

Best for: Rustic, Bohemian, Garden Party

The Ones That Work Well — With a Little Care

Peonies

Wildly popular in UK summer bouquets and absolutely worth including. The heads are large and need to be deconstructed — petals set in clusters or layers rather than whole. Pressed peony petals are particularly beautiful — translucent, almost ethereal. Pinks and whites give the best colour results. Peak season June to early July.

Best for: Romantic, Garden Party, Bohemian

Sweet Pea

Presses exceptionally well and the colours are lovely in flat compositions. Needs more careful handling if being set in resin — the delicate petals can brown if any moisture remains. Peak season May to July. Very popular in cottage-style and garden bouquets.

Best for: Rustic, Bohemian, Garden Party

Freesia

Presses cleanly with a beautiful translucent result, and individual florets are lovely in compositions. Whites and yellows are the most colour-stable. Purple and pink varieties can fade. Widely available year-round.

Best for: Classic, Romantic

Flowers That Need Extra Thought

Some flowers present challenges whichever method you choose. Tulips, for example, collapse when dried — the petals work better individually than whole. Sunflowers have large domed centres that are tricky to handle. Berries can turn black when dried. Succulents are water-dense and need very long drying times. None of these are impossible — but they need careful handling and it's worth knowing in advance.

An Honest Note on Colour

Dried flowers will always look a little different from fresh ones. Colours soften. Some deepen. Some fade. This isn’t a flaw — it’s simply what happens when a living flower is dried and kept. The result is often quieter and more muted than the original, with its own particular beauty.

Purple and blue varieties are the most unpredictable — cornflowers, scabious, nigella, anemones, and some lisianthus and freesia. They can shift or fade significantly after drying. They can still be beautiful, but it’s worth setting realistic expectations before your wedding rather than after.

If a specific colour is important to your vision, mention it to your florist early. The right advice upfront saves disappointment later.

For a more detailed flower-by-flower colour change guide, Smart Floral Art have put together a helpful reference at smartfloralart.co.uk

How to Keep Your Flowers Fresh Before They’re Dried

However you plan to keep your flowers after your wedding, getting them to that stage in good condition matters. Here’s what makes a real difference in those first hours and days:

•       Change the water daily — bacteria builds up quickly and shortens the life of cut stems

•       Cut the stems at an angle each time you change the water — this opens up more surface area for drinking

•       Add flower food or conditioner to the water — your florist will often provide this

•       Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat — a cool room is ideal

•       Don’t let leaves sit below the waterline — they rot quickly and contaminate the water

•       Keep them away from fruit — ethylene gas from ripening fruit speeds up wilting

The fresher and better-conditioned your flowers are when they arrive for drying, the better the final result.

What’s at Its Best — June to September

If you’re planning a summer or early autumn wedding, here are some of the flowers at their peak during the season — and the styles they suit best:

Peonies  ·  Peak: June – early July  ·  Romantic, Garden Party

Sweet Pea  ·  Peak: June – July  ·  Rustic, Bohemian, Garden Party

Lavender ·  Peak: July – August  ·  Rustic, Bohemian, Garden Party

Cornflower  ·  Peak: June – August  ·  Bohemian, Rustic, Wildflower

Cosmos  ·  Peak: July – September  ·  Bohemian, Garden Party

Scabious ·  Peak: July – September  ·  Bohemian, Rustic, Wildflower

Gypsophila ·  Peak: Year-round  ·  Classic, Romantic, Rustic

Roses ·  Peak: Year-round  ·  Classic, Romantic, Garden Party

Lisianthus  ·  Peak: Year-round  ·  Classic, Romantic, Modern

Ranunculus  ·  Peak: Spring – early summer  ·  Romantic, Modern, Garden Party

A Final Thought

The best bouquet for keeping is one chosen with love — not one chosen purely for how it dries. If a flower matters to you, it’s worth including. The right specialist will always work with what you have.

Whatever flowers you choose, the most important thing is that they mean something to you. 🌹❤️

What to Do with Your Wedding Flowers

By Joanna, Everform Atelier  ·  Near Reigate, Surrey  ·  Wedding bouquet preservation specialist

Fresh wedding bouquet alongside a resin sphere preservation keepsake — Everform Atelier Surrey

Your wedding day goes by faster than anyone warns you it will. The flowers, though — they stay around a little longer. And for a few days after the wedding, they sit in a vase and you find yourself not quite ready to let them go.

You're not being sentimental. You're being right.

Here's what your options actually look like — and why more and more Surrey brides are choosing to preserve their wedding flowers in resin rather than watch them fade. At Everform Atelier, near Reigate, we specialise in wedding bouquet preservation — turning your flowers into something you can keep for decades.

You carry those flowers for one day. You deserve to keep them forever.

Option 1 — Let them dry naturally

The simplest approach. Hang your bouquet upside down in a warm, dry room for two to three weeks. You'll end up with dried flowers that retain their shape — though colours will shift and some petals will become fragile.

It's a lovely, low-cost option, but the results vary significantly depending on the flowers in your bouquet, and dried arrangements can deteriorate over time if not kept carefully.

Best for: brides who want a simple, natural feel and don't mind some colour change.

Option 2 — Press them

Pressing individual flowers between heavy books or in a flower press creates beautiful, flat specimens that work well framed. It suits certain flowers better than others — full, structural blooms like roses and peonies don't press as well as flatter flowers like cosmos or sweet peas.

The result is delicate and two-dimensional; meaningful, but limited in what you can do with it.

Best for: brides with simpler, flatter flowers who want a framed botanical display.

Option 3 — Donate them

Some hospitals, hospices and care homes accept fresh flowers after events. It's a generous option if you'd like your bouquet to bring joy to someone else — though it does mean letting go of the flowers entirely.

A number of charities coordinate flower donations from weddings and events. It's worth searching for local schemes in Surrey and the wider area if this feels right for you.

Best for: brides who find meaning in passing the joy on.

Option 4 — Preserve your wedding flowers in resin

This is the option that's grown significantly in popularity over the last few years — and for good reason. Brides across Surrey, Reigate and the wider UK are choosing resin preservation, and it’s different from everything above. It doesn’t flatten, fade or rely on perfect drying conditions. Done well, it captures your flowers in a way that remains beautiful for decades.

Here's how it works and why I believe it's worth doing properly.

How wedding flower preservation in resin works

Your flowers are dried slowly in silica gel — a professional drying medium that draws moisture out of the blooms while preserving their shape and, crucially, their colour. This is a different result to air drying, which causes flowers to shrink, discolour and become brittle.

Once dried, the flowers are arranged by hand and set in layers of premium clear epoxy resin — poured carefully over days, not hours, to ensure clarity throughout. Each layer cures before the next is added. The result is a solid, glass-clear piece that lets light pass through the flowers exactly as they were.

What can you include?

The flowers themselves are the starting point — but many brides like to include other elements that made the day personal:

•     Wedding bouquet flowers and stems

•     Bridesmaids' flowers

•     Invitation card details or paper

•     Bouquet ribbon or lace

•     Small personal charms

Not sure what will work? Get in touch before your wedding and I'll let you know exactly what's possible with your flowers.

Resin keepsake shapes for your wedding bouquet

Shapes range from simple display blocks and arches to spheres, hearts and cubes. Most brides choose something they can display at home — somewhere it catches the light. A few choose something more unusual. Every piece is bespoke and made to order.

A word on timing — this is important

This is the detail that catches people out: your flowers need to reach the studio within 48 to 72 hours of your wedding. After that, the stems begin to perish and even the professional drying process can't fully save them.

The good news is that posting them is simpler than it sounds. Keep them in fresh water overnight after the wedding, and the next morning have a family member or friend box them carefully and send them via a tracked next-day service. You don't need to be there — you just need someone ready to help.

I'll send you clear packing instructions well in advance so there's nothing to figure out on the day.

💡 TIP FOR BRIDES

Tell one person — a parent, a bridesmaid, your venue coordinator

— that they're responsible for your flowers on the morning after.

One person, one job. That's all it takes.

A note on which flowers preserve well

Not every flower preserves equally well in resin, and it's worth knowing this before the wedding rather than after.

Dark-coloured blooms tend to deepen slightly through the drying process. Whites can shift towards cream. Some flowers — roses, peonies, dahlias, ranunculus — hold their colour and structure beautifully. Others are more unpredictable.

If you have specific flowers in mind and want to know how they're likely to behave, I'm always happy to advise before your wedding day. Just get in touch.

What if it's too late?

If your flowers are already gone — or if you're reading this well after your wedding and wish you'd done something at the time — it's still possible in some cases. Identical or very similar flowers can sometimes be sourced and used to recreate your bouquet for preservation.

It's not the same as using your actual flowers, but it's a meaningful option for those who missed the window. Get in touch and we'll talk through what's possible.