Life & Work with Merritt DuPree

Today we’d like to introduce you to Merritt DuPree. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Merritt is native to Nashville, TN, and was married in Nashville in early 2022. When she was planning her wedding, she discovered modern floral preservation.

Merritt found there were very limiting options in Nashville for local floral preservationists, so combining her background with flowers and art, she decided to work with brides and individuals wanting to preserve precious keepsakes to create long-lasting centerpieces for their families to cherish for generations.

Merritt has always loved valuable keepsakes and family treasures. Wanting to share this love with others, she founded Every Reason | Nashville Floral Preservation in 2022.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some of the obstacles I have faced are the challenges of my craft. I combine nature and science to ensure the longevity of precious flowers and artifacts. Working with flowers means that I am in a race against time. I am on a strict timeline to begin the drying process and also begin the resin process.

Resin is very much a science. I must measure carefully and make sure to not pour too much one one preservation piece because this can cause an exothermic reaction where the piece overheats, resulting in a flash cure that can leave flowers burnt or even catch on fire.

Working with resin also requires me to wear full face and arm protection to be protected from the fumes. There are even certain flowers that react with the resin; differently; some produce tons of tiny bubbles that must be meticulously popped, while others will release large air bubbles over time.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I preserve flowers from special events and encase them in resin to be used as centerpieces. Nashville Floral Preservation mainly focuses on preserving bridal bouquets, but we also preserve florals from bridal showers and memorial services. I love that this work helps people to remember the biggest events in their life and also can provide comfort after deep loss.

I am currently working on a preservation piece for a young boy who lost his life way too soon. I am humbled that I get to create a piece of art that will provide comfort to them in this dark time. My favorite part of working with brides is creating a unique design based on their requests. I also send them a layout before the flowers are encased in resin for their approval. I love including them in the process of their forever piece.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I compost the leftover stems and flowers that don’t make it into the final pieces. I plan to grow new flowers from the composted stems. It is a touching experience for me to get to compost the stems from memorial flowers, knowing that new life will come from these flowers.

Contact Info:

• Website: nashvillefloralpreservation.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvillefloralpreservation/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089449071319 

Image Credits
Lockstep Creative