Team building events are freakin’ great because they help build those special connections and rapport, which are vital in any workplace. You spend so much time there, it’s gotta be a nice place to hang out while you get sh*t done.

During these past two exciting years of being a florist, I've done a whole bunch of corporate floristry workshops in and around Toronto.

I've found that flower and plant workshops encourage these lovely, open discussions that people don’t often have with workmates - I’ll hear people go, “wow, I didn't think of doing it that way. How did you get your rose to look like that?”

Learning a newfound skill together removes some of those regular workplace barriers, and allows the team members to chat about something that's kinda neutral. There’s no politics – office or otherwise.

Incorporating creative and engaging team building events into the work culture can look like all sorts of things, but if it’s flowers you’re after, you might want to consider one of these fun floral event ideas.

1. Create a vivacious vase arrangement

A vase arrangement is exactly what you’re probably thinking - a whole bunch of beautiful blooms, arranged perfectly in a vase.

I think holding custom vase arrangement workshops is such a fun way to bring people together, to showcase their individual creativity and attention to detail - something employees might not be able to express in their daily work life.

During my workshops, participants are given a vase, and loads of amazing flowers to choose from - I can even bring a selection of flowers that match your brand palette.

I guide my lovely participants through creating a take-away vase arrangement, and give them tips on how they can do this at home with store-bought flowers too.

Crafting a vase arrangement, in my opinion, gives a way better result than a hand tied bouquet, not just because it's easier, but also because you can go a little wilder with the design.

You’re safe in the knowledge that there’s no fuss having to cut stems when you get home, plus the shape and vibe of your floral display won’t get ruined when being moved into a suitable container - it’s already in one!

This is an activity that everyone can understand right away, which could help them feel comfortable straight off the bat. The vase arrangement also doubles up as a perfect employee reward, plus it’s the perfect jumping-off point to continue the art of floral arranging at home with fresh new flowers.

2. A hand-tied bouquet workshop

A hand-tied bouquet is a gorgeous flower arrangement made in the hand, and tied with natural twine or a colourful fancy ribbon to keep the shape.

Individual stems can be moved around to create a natural and balanced aesthetic, or you can create a huge showstopper bouquet with a much more bold look.

Once all your blooms are all perfectly placed and tied, you can cut the stems to the same length.

Whether your business budget allows for a petite posy per employee, or you have the funds to splash out on a bountiful bouquet for everyone, a workshop like this would be so much fun.

Crafting something with and in your hands is so grounding and mindful - something I’m pretty sure every office could do with a little more of.

A hand-tied bouquet workshop is great for opening up discussions around the commercial value of care, experience, and creativity. Flower arranging takes buckets of blooms and a barrel of foliage, and turns them into something people pay big bucks for.

3. Hold a fancy flower crown class

Ah, flower crowns, loved by Ancient Greeks and 2012 fashion bloggers alike… and pretty much everyone else too, right? They’ve always been super popular as festival attire, as well as for brides and their parties.

Flower crowns have had cultural significance in celebrations and rituals for hundreds of years, and I think that the fact that they symbolise celebration, unity, and festivity makes them perfect for team building events.

ICYMI, a flower crown is either a semi-circle of flowers tied with ribbon at the back, or a full circle of flowers, which you adorn your pretty little head with.

During a flower crown workshop, participants are usually given a frame or headband to construct from, and of course, a gorgeous array of blooms and foliage, which are usually attached with florist wire or tape.

Crafting a wearable floral creation can encourage collaboration between work colleagues, at the same time as giving the opportunity for individuals to really express themselves.

I love this one for brands in fashion and styling, festivals, events and the wedding industry, as it's a great way to combine their existing knowledge with a new skill.

4. A wonderful wreath building workshop

A wreath is also a circle of seasonal foliage and flowers, often displayed on a front door at Christmas time, but I've also had past participants hang them inside their door so they see them more, on a fireplace mantle, or even replace a hanging picture for their frame.

But really, they can be made for any season and in any size - think springtime or Easter wreaths with pink and blue flowers, or autumn wreaths with gorgeously rich oranges and yellows.

As with flower crowns, participants of a wreath building workshop usually get a frame to build their wreath on. Seasonal foliage, blooms and often berries are then added to create a lusciously full arrangement.

You want a seasonal themed team-building exercise? This is the ultimate - the symbolism of continuity and teamwork are represented by the circular shape of a wreath.

Winter wreath workshops are also the perfect end of year team building activity before the relaxing break - a really nice reward for a year of hard work.

5. Other elegant seasonal arrangements

Speaking of seasonal, floral workshops can be a little more jovial than a simple wreath.

An extra layer of interest would be to create a whole workshop around a seasonal event, like flowers in an Easter basket for spring, a summer sunflower display, or an autumnal arrangement in a little pumpkin instead of a vase.

A workshop like this would look pretty similar to a vase arrangement, but with the added element of a theme. Narrowing creativity down to a theme can sometimes help people who are learning a craft for the first time, as it can be tricky to know where to start.

It’s also just super fun to celebrate seasonal festivities and the produce that’s available at that time of year.

This one works for any kind of seasonal business, like events, catering and cooking. Plus, if you've already done a generic vase workshop that was a total hit, this is a great reason to get that second floristry team building event in, without being a repeat!

6. Have a tip-top terrarium making class

A terrarium is basically a mini ecosystem within a cute little glass container, filled with soil, sand, rocks, and plants. It’s a whole tiny living landscape.

Tropical plants such as moss, ferns and even orchids thrive in a closed terrarium, while plants that prefer less humidity (like cacti, succulents and air plants) do better in an open terrarium.

During a terrarium making class, participants learn how to layer different soils, sands and rocks, and arrange plants to create their own perfect little world.

There are real therapeutic benefits of working with plants and creating miniature ecosystems - not only can plants improve mental health and purify the air, soil also contains a bacteria that triggers a release in serotonin!

If that doesn’t sound like a wonderful element to a team bonding experience, then I don’t know what does.

Yet another plus point for making terrariums is that with proper care, you can keep it forever. The terrariums could live in the office, helping to add some beautiful greenery to desks and shelfies.

7. Craft an ikebana-inspired arrangement

Ikebana is the Japanese art of floral arrangement. It has strict rules, emphasising simplicity, balance, and harmony. You can learn more about the history of ikebana on the Japan Objects website.

While I never ever want to appropriate a culture, taking inspiration from this amazing art form would result in a super interesting and creative workshop, with a whole bunch of cross-cultural learning opportunities.

I’d love to hold a workshop like this, which would entail using a flower kenzan or flower frog (a shallow dish with spikes to hold flowers) to build a striking and elegant floral display.

The mindfulness and focus required to craft elegant Ikebana-inspired arrangements would create a real sense of tranquillity between work colleagues.

Ikebana is a lesser-known floral arranging style in Western cultures, so if your team loves florals, but they've already done wreaths and bouquets, an ikebana-inspired workshop could be a great choice to impress your employees.

8. A fun flower pot painting class

If you’re not feelin’ floristry for your team building event, how about something flora-adjacent, like painting flower pots?

Whether in teams or solo, participants get to decorate flower pots with paint and other artistic materials, expressing their individuality and creativity. It’s a real opportunity for team members to showcase their artistic talents and bond in a chilled setting.

You could even say that painting flower pots can represent the teamwork and growth within your organisation.

This is something you can organise yourself and do in-house by finding tutorials online, or you could even find a pottery painting place, like The Clay Room in Toronto.

9. A whole dang floral-themed retreat

Picture this: a host of various flower-themed activities, workshops, and discussions; build a vase arrangement, terrarium, flower crown, or all three. You could even learn to forage and discover which flowers and plants can be used as food, and cook them together over an open fire…

If you really want to splash out and spoil your employees, organising a retreat would create opportunities for deeper connections and team bonding, as well as personal growth and rejuvenation.

There’s a real long-term impact of investing in team building through immersive experiences like these, and they really do create a positive company culture and make employees feel truly appreciated.

It's the perfect complementary theme for so many events! Growth, blooming, reflection, balance - what a way to add an authentic and mindful practice to a business situation.

I’m kinda biassed, being a florist myself, but I think creative workshops like these are the best way to go, no matter what industry you work in.

Participants have this bit of time to literally step away from the computer. In a world filled with meetings, calls, documents and demands, being physically present and away from a screen is super important, and using your hands to create something completely different to what they normally do all day is so grounding.

All in all, holding any kind of diverse and engaging team building activities is a positive for everyone - not only will employees feel valued by their higher-ups, they’ll also work harder while enjoying their environment and relationships.

If you’re planning a floral team building event in Toronto - I might just be the florist you’re looking for. Check out my workshops page for more info and to enquire.

9 fun flower-themed team building event ideas for your business