Want to preserve your wedding bouquet? You’ll need to know how to make a good frame for flower preservation.

1. Floating Glass-on-Glass Style

A floating glass-on-glass style offers a sleek, modern look that allows the flowers to be the star of the show. This design provides an elegant backdrop that emphasizes the delicate beauty of the pressed flowers.

2. Solid Construction with Full Grain Wood

The frame's construction should be robust and durable. Preferably, the frame should be made from untreated full grain wood. This type of wood not only looks beautiful but also provides the strength and stability needed to protect your flowers.

3. UV Protective Front Glass

UV protection is crucial in preserving the vibrant colors of your pressed flowers. UV protective glass helps prevent fading and discoloration caused by exposure to sunlight, ensuring your flowers maintain their beauty over time.

4. Glass Over Acrylic

While both glass and acrylic can be used for pressed flower frames, glass is generally preferred for pressed flower frames. Glass is more resistant to scratches and provides a clearer, more polished look compared to acrylic.

5. Correct Spacer for Flowers

The frame will require a spacer of the right depth to accommodate the thickness of the pressed flowers, typically between 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This ensures that the flowers are securely held in place without being crushed.

6. Flower Trap for Fallen Pieces

Your frame shouldn’t be ruined by just a couple of small fallen pieces. Often it’s cumbersome or impossible to disassemble a large frame, so it’s important that you take this in to consideration when building your display. We build in a Flower Trap gap in our spacer that is still sealed from the elements, but allows a small piece of leaf or flower to fall hidden out of sight, instead of just sitting at the bottom of the glass where you can easily see it. Falling flowers are inevitable, but they don’t have to be a huge bummer!

7. Narrow Profile from the Front

A narrow profile frame from the front offers a minimalist aesthetic that draws attention to the flowers rather than the frame itself. This sleek look complements the delicate nature of the pressed flowers.

8. Appropriate Rabbet Depth

A shallow rabbet depth of around 1 inch is ideal. This ensures that the flowers are placed close to the glass without being too recessed, creating a pleasing display that highlights the floral arrangement but blends in to it’s surroundings on a wall or in your home.

9. Multiple Hangers for Strength

To ensure that your frame stays securely on the wall, it should have multiple hangers. This provides extra support and stability, preventing the frame from tilting or falling, as a glass on glass frame will be relatively heavy.

10. No Visible Retainer or Backing

For a clean and professional look, the frame should have no visible retainer or backing seen from the front. This keeps the focus on the pressed flowers and maintains a polished appearance, but is very difficult to replicate without specialized tools and supplies.

11. Permanent Shadowbox Spacer

A good pressed flower frame will include a permanent shadowbox spacer that won't warp or become misplaced over time. This spacer is crucial in keeping the flowers in place and maintaining the frame's structure, and it’s important to find or make one that is invisible or at least nice to look at.

12. Sealed from the Elements

The frame should be sealed from the elements to protect the flowers from moisture, dust, and other environmental factors. We want to allow a tiny bit of air exchange, but the compartment should be sealed about 95% of the way to prevent any significant dust or contamination exchange.

By considering these features, you can ensure that your pressed flower frame is not only beautiful but also effective in preserving your cherished memories. At For Keeps Florals, we take pride in crafting frames that meet these high standards, providing a lasting and elegant display for your special moments.