A Cozy Winter Wreath Workshop at Eye for Pretty at Home in Danville, California

This past December I was joined by a lovely group for an intimate evening of winter wreath making. As a mom and businessowner, I know how hectic the holiday season can feel. This event was designed to create a special space for the community that would allow you to work hands-on with nature, create something for yourself, and kickoff the holiday season with friends.

Nicole of Eye for Pretty graciously opened the doors of her beautiful shop in downtown Danville, Eye for Pretty at Home, as our workshop venue host. The store was a twinkling winter wonderland of candlelight and seasonal decor – the coziest and most inspirational setting for the evening.

Guests were greeted by glasses of wine and champagne, festive tunes, and the scent of evergreen from a foliage bar full of winter textures like various pines and cypresses, local foliages, berries, and preserved flowers. Each individual’s station was set with a wreath building kit – including the wreath form, clippers, wire, silk ribbon, and bells  – plus a personal snack box of charcuterie and nibbles by Danville Cheese and chocolates by Danville Chocolates. 

We took time to meet and mingle before getting started. I guided the group through an initial demo, sharing my foundational design techniques, composition notes, and care tips. Then it was time to turn it over to our attendees to create their own one-of-a-kind creations. Everyone was able to get one-on-one instruction from me throughout the evening as they perfected their wreaths, chatting and laughing away with their friends. It was truly meditative!

At the end of the evening, no two wreaths looked the same. Each wreath was a unique reflection of each attendee’s personal style. The group photo captured by The Poffs says it all – everyone was so proud and excited to take their creations home.

I look forward to hosting more of these community events in the future! If you’re interested in hosting a private floral or wreath workshop (perfect for a birthday party, bridal shower, girls’ night out, or corporate event) – I’d love to chat details with you! The options are endless, and all skill levels welcome. Please send me an email at hello@anastasiaandenmatten.com or inquire at the link below.

EVENT PARTNERS 

Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten

Venue: Eye for Pretty at Home

Charcuterie: Danville Cheese

Sweets: Danville Chocolates 

Photography: The Poffs

Anastasia Andenmatten is a floral designer based in the San Francisco Bay Area (Danville, California) with a modern approach to thoughtful florals for events, weddings, homes, and businesses. 

Toast to Fall: A Modern + Minimalistic Seasonal Gathering, featured on Green Wedding Shoes

I recently had the privilege of collaborating with a talented group of vendors on a fall-inspired shoot. And I’m REALLY excited to share that it’s been featured on Green Wedding Shoes! In addition to the photos so beautifully captured by Sarah Eichstedt, I figured I’d share a bit below about what went into the floral design for this shoot. You can see the full feature on Green Wedding Shoes here.

INSPIRED BY

Our goal of this shoot was to give minimalistic style-minded readers inspiration for their next fall gathering, whether that be a wedding, special event, Friendsgiving 2K19, you name it. The clean white studio space gave us a blank slate to build from, where Studio DBI worked her magic to create a warm, intimate, and modern tablescape with a muted autumnal palette in mind. For my part, I aimed to demonstrate that floral installations don’t need to be over-the-top or break-the-bank. With a thoughtful approach to design, you can completely and uniquely transform any space for your next gathering.

THE FLOWERS

When conceptualizing the floral design, I took a ‘less is more’ approach with the goal of creating big impact with minimal materials. Suspended mid-air above the tablescape is a non-floral installation; it departs from the flower-heavy look but is still full of texture. I selected seasonal plum foliage and opted to hang it at an asymmetrical angle with negative space carved out to create movement. The effect is striking, yet effortless. What’s more fall than a bunch of foliage hanging from the ceiling?

To balance the installation, floral arrangements designed in the Moribana technique of Ikebana decorate the tabletop. Moribana showcases clusters of flowers and leaves arranged in shallow vessels with kenzan pins. This style of arranging places emphasis on the shape, line, and form of stems and leaves to achieve, you guessed it: minimalism. Dried queen anne’s lace and heuchera leaves bring fall to mind, while garden roses and fluffy lisianthus add romance and softness.

GRATITUDE

I loved having this opportunity to team up with other creatives to just…create. And share my ideas with you! These days, nothing is off-limits especially when it comes to floral installations at any type of event. It’s my hope that somewhere around here you find inspiration and encouragement to incorporate something a little different into your own event!

Floral Design: Anastasia Andenmatten | Photography: Sarah Eichstedt Photography | Planning: Studio DBI | Ceramics: Sarah Kersten, Earthen Shop | Paper: Bourne Paper Co. | Tabletop: Chairs and Cups | Linens: Napa Valley Linens | Furniture: CB2 | Gifting: Bestowe Gifting | Catering: Charming Fig Catering | Desserts: The Right Bite KG | Venue: Creative Space Studios