As well as being surprisingly social and therapeutic, wreath making is one of the best ways to really lean into the Christmas spirit.
It pulls eyes away from screens and onto holly and pine cones with laser-like precision, and is usually accompanied by a festive tipple, some mince pie and jolly commentary from frustrated creatives.
The best part is the fruits of such elfish labour are taken home to be strung up on front doors, bringing joy to the world (and immense, daily pride to crafty coterie behind them). Here are the best wreath making workshops to book for the most wonderful time of the year.
Grace & Thorn, London Fields
The cool creative one
Cult florists Grace & Thorn have long been the go-to for the cool East London crowd. Their annual series of crafty festive wreath making workshops blend hipster botanicals with classic, yuletide foliage and decorations. Their floristry wizards go out of their way to encourage creativity, with both expert pointers and glasses of wine. The result? A seriously stylish door hanger with plenty of festive warm fuzzy to take home.
Date: November 28, 29, 30, 1st, December 3, 4, 5
Time: dependent on date
Price: £100
Buy tickets here: graceandthorn.com
Moyses Stevens, Battersea Power Station
The classy one
Stalwarts of London’s floristry scene, Moyses Stevens make a mean Christmas Wreath – the unapologetically classic sort with dried citrus fruits and cinnamon sticks for nuts and bolts. The Cordon Bloom standards guarantees that even floristry novices will leave with some stellar tips, from compiling a frame with moss and wire as a base to weaving in foliage, berries and pine for a tasteful (and sustainable) Christmas wreath. They’ll even show you the just-so technique for tying the ribbon and ply you with mince pies and mulled wine. Merry Christmas.
Date: December 1, 2, 8, 9
Time: All 5pm - 7pm
Price: £95
Buy tickets here: moysesflowers.co.uk
Emma’s Kitchen, Clapham
The homespun, delicious one
If comfort and joy is top of the festive agenda, head to Emma’s Kitchen in Clapham, a home-based cookery school which transforms annually into a wreath making grotto. Word soon got out about Emma’s wreath making bonanzas, with groups now booking a year in advance to secure their evening of restaurant-grade canapes, sumptuous festive puddings and even live jazz from an exceptional guitarist. Florist Robin takes everyone through the movements – making the wreath from scratch then adorning it with a bespoke mix of feathers, bells, baubles, dried fruit and herbs… It’s essentially a crafty take on the festive night out.
Date: December 5, 6, 8, 9
Time: All 7pm - 10pm
Price: £145
Buy tickets here: @EmmasKitchen
Lucy Vail, Battersea
The sustainable one
Festooned in floral Christmas cheer, Lucy Vail’s Battersea studio is as much a marvel has her full-bodied wreaths. Learn how to make one from scratch at the florist’s popular Deluxe Christmas Wreath Workshop, with step-by-step guidance on weaving evergreen foliage and pine together, then embellishing it with fragrant dried fruits and pine cones. Far from kitsch, decorations tow the traditional, natural line – more Von Trapp than Love Actually. Those unable to make the scheduled slots of botanical merriment (with festive nibbles and bubbly) can organise a private group wreath making season (Lucy offers off site workshops) or buy a DIY kit and give it a go at home with Lucy’s how-to video. That’s the team Christmas party sorted.
Date: December 6 and 13
Time: All 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Price: from £125
Buy tickets here: lucyvailfloristry.com
Buy bespoke group bookings here, 6-12 people: lucyvailfloristry.com
Buy DIY wreath making boxes here: lucyvailfloristry.com
Lavender Green, Chelsea
The swishy one
Florist Sue Barnes was responsible for the blooms at various royal and society weddings including Sophie Wessex and Pippa Middleton’s and is known for her photogenic Chelsea store (which is a sight to behold at Christmas). Here, she holds a series of coveted wreath making workshops: one for the botanically-minded, the other for the traditionalists, all studded in mince pies and washed down with several rounds of mulled wine. Sue will guide her wide-eyed students through arranging the luscious foliage such as Scotch pine, (grevillea and eucalyptus for the botanical class), then how best to decorate it with pinecones and slices of dried orange and berries. Guests will leave with the most luscious wreath, a raft of skills from a floristry maestro, and plenty of festive cheer following a glass of English sparkling wine and mince pies.
Date: November 26, December 3 and 10
Time: All 7pm - 10pm
Price: £95-£165 (price dependent on wreath size)
Buy tickets here: lavendergreen.co.uk
My LADY GARDEN, Dalston
The hipster one
Head north this Christmas, to Islington where Dalston-based flower bar and concept store host Saturday wreath making workshops at their laid-back studio. The formal partnership with Cloudy Bay wine bodes well for those eager for a wreath-wine pairing, and crafty types will relish LADYGARDEN’s start-from-scratch approach, guiding budding florists through flowers and foliage to the velvet ribbon finale. And having graduated in wreath making, those serious about festive floristry can book onto the Christmas tablescaping or Christmas floral sculpture classes, to cover all festive basis.
Date: November 26; December 3, 10, 17
Time: 3.30-5, 5.45-7.15 (depending on the date)
Price: £125
Buy tickets here: myladygardenflowers.com
FLOWERBOX
The seriously bespoke one
Along with cleverly boxed bouquets, Floral delivery don FLOWERBX is now bringing its big wreath making energy to doors across the city, with an army of florists on hand to take festive groups through the steps. They’ll teach you all the inside tricks – from making the most out of foliage, limiting waste, to the actual hanging process for optimum Christmas chic. Those familiar with the herding cats affair (aka pulling friends scattered across London into one scheduled spot) will relish the home-kit option, where a FLOWERBX florist Zooms into any seasonal setting for a virtual here’s-how. Avoids the inevitable who’s driving argument…
Date: bespoke
Price: £150 (minimum of 10 attendees)
Email: workshops@flowerbx.com
