From Pandemic Startup to Industry Leader: How Wild Coast Redefined Wedding Flower Preservation

When the world shut down in 2020, Michelle Besu found inspiration in collecting wildflowers during family camping trips in Central Florida. What started as a pandemic hobby and Etsy Shop has evolved into Wild Coast Flower Preservation, a home and wedding industry-disrupting company that has preserved over 18,000 wedding bouquets and gives couples new possibilities for saving their expensive wedding flowers!

"It all started when we were mudding and camping in Central Florida. My wife would make me pull over to pick a field of wild flowers," recalls Julio, now CFO of the 15-person operation. "Turning those memories into something tangible with resin was inspiring – we realized we could create art that moves people with nature. As our Etsy business grew, the demand grew for functional art pieces that people would actually use, not just display."

That insight proved transformative. While traditional preservation companies focus on shadow boxes and glass displays, Wild Coast pursued the concept of functional floral decor. Brides can now transform their wedding bouquets into serving trays and coasters for entertaining, jewelry and vanity dishes for daily use, or stunning wall art that becomes a focal point in their homes.

The company's growth trajectory tells a remarkable story. Starting with Etsy sales during the pandemic, Wild Coast now operates from a dedicated 8,000 square foot facility in Pompano Beach, serving customers nationwide. Their team has grown from two founders, a handful of neighbors and family to 15 skilled artisans, each trained in the company's proprietary preservation methods.

Innovation drives their success. Wild Coast has developed exclusive products unavailable anywhere else in the market: the 8x10 Wall Photo Frame, Rock Glasses, Love Story Book Bookend that tells a couple's floral story, and their signature Live Edge Floating Wall Decor – a massive 40x27 piece that represents the largest resin floral preservation available commercially.

"We're not just preserving flowers," Julio explains. "We're creating heirloom pieces using proprietary processes."

The market has responded enthusiastically. With an average order value of $350 and premium pieces reaching $2,000 or more, Wild Coast has tapped into the luxury bridal market's appetite for unique, functional keepsakes. Their client base spans all 50 states, with 98% of orders coming from outside Florida.

"We've proven that couples want more than traditional preservation," notes Julio. "They want pieces that integrate into their lives, that spark conversations, that serve a purpose beyond just preserving a memory."

The company's success reflects broader trends in the wedding industry, where couples increasingly seek personalized, meaningful investments over cookie-cutter solutions. From pandemic startup to industry leader, Wild Coast has redefined what wedding flower preservation can be.

Wild Coast continues to innovate. Their exclusive ashtray for cigar-loving grooms, preserved flower menorah for Jewish couples, and resin floating wall frames demonstrate their commitment to creating products that serve real needs in couples' lives.

"We're not just preserving the past," Julio reflects. "We're creating pieces that become part of couples' futures."