Avant Garden: From Styling Gucci and Chanel in LA to Auckland Wedding Flowers

Vendor Spotlight: Florists

Every so often we come across a vendor whose backstory is genuinely wild, and Avant Garden's founder Alyssa Bennett is one of them. She started arranging flowers in Auckland shops at 16, spent six years designing florals in Los Angeles for some seriously famous names, then brought all of that experience home to build a wedding florist that still feels approachable rather than intimidating. We wanted to introduce her properly.

Alyssa Bennett, the founder and creative behind Avant Garden.

Why We Recommend Them

Alyssa's floral career started here in Auckland when she was just 16, working nearly a decade in local flower shops learning the trade the classic way, from early market runs to midnight Valentine's Day shifts. She then moved to Los Angeles and landed a role at Eric Buterbaugh, a florist known for working with major celebrity clients. During her six years there she designed florals for events hosted by names like Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore and Nicole Richie, and styled installations for fashion houses including Gucci, Dior and Chanel.

Now back home and running Avant Garden from Takapuna, Alyssa brings that same high standard to New Zealand weddings, with a style she describes as romantic with a little edge, always tailored to the couple's own vibe. That range, from minimal and elegant through to bold and sculptural or wildly whimsical, means she can adapt to almost any wedding vision rather than pushing one signature look.

What They Offer

Avant Garden covers weddings across Auckland and beyond, including Waiheke, Kumeu, Matakana and Britomart, alongside corporate events, private celebrations and flower workshops. One thing we particularly like is their approach to budget: there is no minimum spend required, and Alyssa is upfront that there are always ways to create something beautiful at different price points. Pricing itself is fully custom and quoted after a consultation, which can happen over a call, email, or in person.

Avant Garden is currently taking bookings for the 2026 and 2027 wedding seasons, so if you have a date in mind, it is worth getting in touch sooner rather than later, especially heading into the busy October to April season.

An Avant Garden hydrangea table runner at a coastal Auckland wedding reception.

The Experience

What comes through clearly on the Avant Garden portfolio is a genuine eye for scale and drama, whether that is a cascading hydrangea table runner or a full ceremony installation. Having styled for fashion houses on a global stage, Alyssa brings a level of polish to table settings and structural florals that photographs beautifully in both wide reception shots and close table detail work.

Couples working with Avant Garden also get a low-pressure, genuinely personal planning process. Alyssa is upfront that she wants floral design to feel approachable, fun and exciting rather than overwhelming, which tends to make for a much more relaxed lead-up to the wedding.

Our Tips

If you love bold colour or a bit of unexpected texture, tell Alyssa early. Her background styling for fashion clients means she is genuinely comfortable pushing past the safe, standard bridal palette if that is the direction you want to go. And if you are booking us for photography as well, let us know about any structural pieces like table runners or floral arches in advance so we can plan our angles around them properly.

Avant Garden at a Glance

Founder: Alyssa Bennett

Studio: Takapuna, Auckland

Services: Wedding florals, corporate events, private celebrations, flower workshops, funeral and memorial flowers

Pricing: No minimum spend and no published price list. Quotes are tailored to your budget and brief, so we'd recommend enquiring directly for current pricing.

Website: avantgarden.co.nz

If florals with this level of polish and personality sound like what you want for your day, we would love to be part of it too. A vendor with a story like Alyssa's tends to bring exactly the kind of confidence and detail we love photographing.

Planning Your Own Wedding?

Planning your Auckland wedding? Explore our photography and film packages or get in touch with your date and venue. We can help you build a relaxed team and coverage plan around your day.