Elite Event: Floral Design @ Vida Flores

What a treat it was to be part of the elite event at Vida Flores last week. The starting cocktails, the demonstrations, the bread and cheese all got it under way with an enthusiastic audience.
Taking part in achieving a florists’ spiral from what seemed to be an un-​florist selection of flowers was really something to be proud of and the encouragement from Davina and Gretchen of Vida Flores was invaluable.
The store is an inspiration for anyone vaguely looking for help with those ideas for what to do with flowers. Some great effects can come from very simple ideas.
Thank you Vida Flores and Unilocal

Had such a lovely evening learning from the girls and enjoying the cheese platter and cocktails. Learnt a lot which I’ll definitely apply when brightening up my home with flowers. Thanks girls!

Blooming beautiful!
Vida Flores is incredible! I am not usually loyal to a particular florist but I will be after their showcase of some of the most breathtaking arrangements and tips for dummy’s to get the perfect arrangement every time.
We all received a whimsical array of flowers to create a dreamy bouquet using their simple and easy to follows tips. We were hosted by two lovely ladies who were so passionate about flowers it made for an educational event with skills I will use for a lifetime.
Vida Flores also stock a great selection of glass vases from mini fish bowls to enormous table transforming pieces. Super cheap too! Perfect gift every time.
The cheeses from C’est Fromage across the road were to die for so lads next time your in the dog box get some flowers from Vida and pick up some cheese and you are sure to back in the good books in no time

The elite event at Vida Flores was perfect — what more could you wish for — good company, great cocktails from Ponsonby Road Bistro and the opportunity to see how Davina and Gretchen work magic with flowers. The stunning simplicity of Gretchen’s fishbowl stack makes you realise that the key to amazing flowers is style not dollars. One perfect head of hydrangea looked fantastic in the fishbowl.
Davina and her team are well known for great quality flowers and beautiful compositions and so it was good to hear some easy tips to make our flowers at home the best.
The posy tying was fun and made us all realise that while they made the spiral look easy it isn’t!
I spied some very interesting looking coloured glass jars for grouped arranging that I am going back to get for home.
Across the road from Vida Flores is Maison Vauron, who provided some cheese platters that were to die for — so must pop in there also and get some of the walnut infused and the goat cheese.
The two PRB cocktails were very summery and delicious and I am definitely going to get the recipes for both the gin and elderflower and the Damson vodka from Alex.
Great event — looking forward to the next one!

Once again Alex D puts on another outstanding event for the Auckland Unilocalers. Vida Flores hosted a fun night in their Newmarket boutique where we learnt a tip or two on arranging flowers to ensure we have gloat worthy bouquets throughout our homes and what a treat it was! For me this was my favourite Elite Unilocal event to date. The combination of cocktails (which Alex D made. delish) and being surrounded by beautiful flowers was a great night out. After learning a few handy tips and tricks from the hosts who were engaging, informative and down to earth for a high end florist we then got the opportunity to make our own bunch and take it home, I was so excited to take my bouquet home to show it off I closed the car door on it! (The flowers survived a bit bruised but still good) overall an excellent night and something that not only was enjoyable as all the Unilocal events are, but I genuinely felt I got an education on flowers as well! I will defiantly be doing my flower shopping here in the future — their selection of vases were also good and reasonably priced.

Such a delightful combination of whimsical cocktails, creamy french cheeses and flower design!
Needless to say my posey was among the best and now stands proudly on my kitchen table.
The ladies at Vida Flores were fabulous teachers and I’ve now come away with so much more knowledge than before! Thanks to Alex, Vida Flores, Maison Vauron and Ponsonby Road Bistro. Bisou bisou

What an elegant swellegant Unilocal Elite event last night at Vida Flores, hosted by Alex D.
Gorgeous lush botanicals, divine creative cocktails — I tried both variations — and swoon-​worthy cheeses from Maison Vauron — especially the cheese that is made by French nuns using walnut liquor!!!
Afficianados (owner) Davina Prankard and her colleague, the lovely Gretchen, provided the group with a very interesting and informative session on all things floral, from how to care for your blooms through th styling and ‘spiralling’ — and the secret ingredient … cellotape!
And then it was time for us to undertake a practical lesson. When we’d finished we looked like a very glam ‘bunch’ (sounds like the right collective noun to use!) of bridesmaids — as we ooh-​d, aah-​d and congratulated one another’s individual creative style. While some of us appeared more dexterous and naturally gifted in the craft of floral art, it was a lovely way to spend a Tuesday evening.
Thank you Alex D, Davina and Gretchen!!!
PS: Oh, Melissa, you’ve missed your calling. Look out Taylor Swift!!!

Wow! Yet again, what an amazing Unilocal event. Thanks so much to Davina, Alex and team for organising such a fun weeknight activity.
The cocktails were simply delicious and what a great idea for a small group or crowd! I wonder if these can be purchased for any event? The cheese was all I had hoped it would be and more… dreamy.
I think I’ve got a bit of work to do on my flower arranging but what a helpful kick-​start. Better get practising!

It will be hard to top this Unilocal event, it was a thing of beauty.
Watching Davina and Gretchen create masterpieces in front of our eyes was jaw dropping, and then followed by lots of «ooo’s» and «aaa’s». Having the chance to create our own spiralled posy was more challenging than expected which only added to the sense of achievement upon completion. It was great to see how different each posy looked even though we were all given similar flowers to work with.
The event was so well organised — Thanks Alex! — right down to the flowers on the glasses. The cheese and cocktails were delicious. I left with an even greater appreciation for not only the work that Davina and Gretchen do, but the impact that flowers can have on a person and a home.

«Flower Girl» (come onnn, sing it!)
I’m a flower girl, in a florist’s world
Life in a fish bowl, it’s my life goal
Cocktails & cheese, lovely instructors demonstrate with ease
Imagination, this bouquet is your creation!
Come on foodies, let’s make beauties
(ah-​ah-​ah yeah)
Come on foodies, let’s make beauties
(we’re bloomin’, we’re bloomin’)
— - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — — — - — - — - — - — — - — - — - — - -
Okay, so maybe I’m not cut out for a career in song writing, but, hey, at least now I have some floral arranging skills :)
Thank you Alex and the gorgeous ladies of Vida Flores for such a wonderful evening. You will be happy to know my personalized flower arrangement is sitting in the middle of the dining table and has already received various compliments!

I have to say, «Floral Design At Vida Flores» is up there with the top « Unilocal Elite» events in Auckland, to date.
As I entered this unfamiliar shop jam-​packed with luscious flowers, I walked to the pop-​up bar and was greeted by our hosts Davina, Gretchen from Vida Flores and the lovely Alex.
«Are you our tweeter?» was the first comment.
«Yes — Unilocaler and tweeter!» I said.
I was offered a beverage of either «Doris Day» (Slipsmith damson plum vodka, violet liqueur, damson plum purée, fresh lemon juice and soda. Or «Elderflower and Gin Lemonade» (Tanqueray gin, elderflower syrup, passion fruit, fresh lemon and soda) both designed by Ponsonby Road Bistro.
Pure indulgence as I sipped away on my «Doris Day» admiring the French (creamy) cheeses from «Maison Vauron». My favourite was the Reblochon.
Gretchen demonstrated the art of flower design, in small to large fish-​bowls. Impress she did — the whole room of women took photos in wonderment.
Davina did a mini Masterclass on «spiralling» and the «tricks of the trade» when creating a flower bouquet.
Now the fun begins!
All the Unilocalers were given an assortment of flowers to spiral individually and create our own art. Looks easier than it is! I had to spiral twice to perfect my bouquet!
Sterling experience.
Unilocaling. A lot of Unilocaling.