Hi, I’m Alyssa – the colour-loving, flower-obsessed creative behind Avant Garden.

My floral journey started here in Auckland, when I was 16 years old. I spent nearly a decade working in local flower shops, learning the ropes the classic way – early market runs, hand-tied bouquets, and midnight shifts bunching red roses for Valentine’s Day. It was busy, beautiful, and made me completely fall in love with flowers.

Then I took the plunge and moved to Los Angeles with nothing but a suitcase and a lot of determination. Within two weeks, I found myself working at Eric Buterbaugh, a world-renowned celebrity florist. I went from wrapping market bunches to designing florals for events hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore and Nicole Richie, and styling installations for all of the high fashion houses such as Gucci, Dior, and Chanel.

As a Kiwi in LA, it was a total pinch-me moment. Overwhelming at first, but I threw myself into the work and slowly earned my place as a trusted designer on the team. The pace was intense, the expectations sky-high, and I loved every second of it. My six years spent in LA is a part of me that I’ll carry in my heart forever, and made me who I am today.

Now that I’m home in Auckland, I bring that same level of polish, creativity, and bold vision to weddings and events across Aotearoa NZ. My style is romantic with a little edge, always tailored to your vibe. I’m all about making floral design feel approachable, fun, and exciting.