For most of our history, this studio was closed to everyone except the people who work here. Every artist signs an NDA. No cameras, no tours, no exceptions.
We weren't being dramatic, flower preservation at this level involves techniques we spent years developing, from scratch, and we protect them. But over the past few years we started letting two groups of people inside: our clients, and the wedding planners and florists we work with. And every single tour ended the same way:
"I had no idea it was this intricate."
Planners who have seen a thousand weddings stood in our studio and said they finally understood why preservation takes months and why it's priced the way it is. Enough of them told us "you need to show people this" that we finally listened. So we partnered with one of our favorite Dallas videographers, Daniel K, opened the doors, and filmed the tour we've been giving privately for years.
What you're seeing
The short version of what happens between "my bouquet arrived at DBANDREA" and "my piece is on the wall":
Intake and triage. Flowers arrive by drop off or courier from a DFW wedding, sometimes hours after the last dance, or shipped overnight from anywhere in the country. Every bloom is inspected, documented, and moved into preservation before time can take anything from it. Timing is everything in this craft, which is why we ask couples to reserve their date in advance.
Preservation. Different flowers demand different methods, and most bouquets need more than one. This is the part of the process people imagine takes days. It takes weeks, and it cannot be rushed without costing the flower its shape or its color.
Design. Your flowers aren't dropped into a mold. A designer lays out your piece, bloom by bloom, and for our clients, that design is reviewed and approved before anything is permanent. It's the same reason a couture gown gets a fitting.
Hand-painted color restoration. This is the part of the tour where every visitor stops walking. Nature doesn't preserve perfectly. Whites want ivory, reds want to deepen, and often pinks turn purple. Our artists restore color to preserved flowers by hand, one petal at a time. It is the single most labor-intensive thing we do, and it's the difference between a keepsake and an heirloom. This part alone can take up to 100 hours.
Finishing, quality control, and delivery. Resin work, pressed framing, sealing, framing and matting, then a piece has to pass QC before it ever gets photographed, packed, and delivered. Some pieces pass on the first try. Some don't. That's the point of QC.
What we didn't film
You'll notice the video never shows the specific materials, formulas, or techniques behind our preservation and color-restoration work. That's deliberate. We spent years developing our process from scratch, and our clients' pieces are the only place it belongs. We're happy to show you what happens here, while the how stays in the building.
Why this matters when you're choosing a preservationist
Preservation is a growing industry, and not all studios are the same. Whoever you choose, us or anyone else, here's what this tour should teach you to ask:
- Who is actually doing the work? Ask how many artisans touch a piece and what happens if a flower arrives damaged. At DBANDREA, we have 12 specialists working on each part of the process; not a single person wearing all the hats.
- How is color handled? Ask whether faded or discolored petals are restored, and how. With us, every petal and leaf is color-restored, regardless of how vibrant they turn after preservation, because flowers will continue to lose their color over the years.
- How are your flowers protected between wedding day and studio? Ask about pickup, packing, and timing. (It's why you have someone helping you 1:1 throughout the process every step of the way, and why we run our own white-glove courier across Dallas–Fort Worth.)
A studio that's confident in its process will love these questions. That's really why we published this video.
Come see it with your own eyes
If you're a DBANDREA client or a wedding professional in DFW, studio tours are still something we offer, the video is the preview, not the substitute.
And if your wedding is coming up: your flowers only get one chance to be preserved. Reserve your date for $50 — it's credited toward your piece, and it guarantees our studio is ready the week your flowers are.
Know someone getting married? A DBANDREA gift card lets you give this to a bride you love.
Questions? Our DBANDREA team is a text, call or email away. Email: info@dbandrea.com Text/Call: (833) 426-3732
Our FAQ covers pricing, timelines, and what preserves best: https://www.dbandrea.com/pages/faq
