Creating The Dahlia Affair – Floral Installation Workshop by Veldmeisie

About this workshop

Creating The Dahlia Affair – Floral Installation Workshop by Veldmeisie is a one-day only event on the first day of the Love Dahlias Festival.

In this workshop, Corli Leonard will show you how to plan and build the signature dahlia installation for The Dahlia Affair – a massive, floral piece that transforms the Dahlia Workshop and anchors the long tables for the festival dinners. Together you will create the main dahlia installation that will stay in the Dahlia Workshop and be used for The Dahlia Affair dinners and all the other events for the rest of the festival.

This is a practical, hands-on workshop for people who want to understand how large floral installations really work – from concept and design to the technical, structural side.

About Corli Leonard & Veldmeisie

Corli Leonard is an industrial engineer turned floral designer and the owner of Veldmeisie, a floral studio inspired by the South African veld.

Her work brings together:

• A love of the wild, natural landscape

• A background in engineering and structure

• A playful approach to flowers, crowns and celebrations

She is known for creating natural, textural designs with solid mechanics behind them – exactly what you need when you are building a big installation that has to stay in place and look good for several days.

What you will learn

In this one-day installation workshop, Corli will cover both design and technical, practical aspects:

• Planning a mega installation

  • How to think about scale and proportion for the Dahlia Barn and long table

  • Choosing a colour story and design approach that suits The Dahlia Affair dinners

• Mechanics and structure (technical side)

  • How to build a structure that is stable and safe

  • How to attach and support flowers so the installation can last through multiple evenings

  • Practical tips on tools, fixings, water sources and how to avoid common mechanical mistakes

• Designing with dahlias as the star

  • Using dahlias as focal flowers in a large installation

  • Adding supporting flowers and foliage so the dahlias stand out without becoming heavy or droopy

• Working as part of a team on a large piece

  • Breaking a big installation into sections and assigning tasks

  • Keeping a consistent look and feel when several people are working together

By the end of the day you will have helped to build the main dahlia installation that stays in the Dahlia Workshop and becomes the backdrop for The Dahlia Affair dinners and other evening events for the rest of the festival.

At a glance

• Event: Creating The Dahlia Affair – Floral Installation Workshop by Veldmeisie

• Host: Corli Leonard – Veldmeisie

• When: 19 March 2026 from 09:00-13.00 break 15:00 - 17.00

• Location: Dahlia Workshop

• Focus: Large-scale dahlia installation for The Dahlia Affair (design + technical mechanics)

• Level: Ideal for serious hobbyists, florists, floral designers and flower farmers who want to learn installation work

• Ticket type: Workshop ticket for one person

Why this workshop is a good choice

This workshop is especially useful if you:

• Already make bouquets or smaller arrangements and want to move into large installation work

• Want honest, practical advice on the technical side – structure, mechanics, stability and longevity

• Are a florist, flower farmer or designer wanting real-life experience on a big, live project that festival guests will actually see and photograph

• Like the idea that your learning is tied to a visible end result – the installation you helped create will be the visual heart of the Dahlia Workshop for the rest of the festival

What’s included

Your Creating The Dahlia Affair – Floral Installation Workshop by Veldmeisie ticket includes:

• A full day (6 hours) of teaching and practical work with Corli Leonard
• Use of dahlias and other flowers supplied for the installation
• Use of structural materials and mechanics needed for the build
• The chance to see your work in place at The Dahlia Affair dinners and evening events for the rest of the festival
• Cold water.

No lunch is included.  The Coffee Shop is next door if you need anything.

Important ticket information

• This product is a workshop ticket, not a physical item.

• No parcel will be shipped and courier options at checkout do not apply.

• One ticket admits one person to this one-day workshop (6 hour) on the first day of the festival.

• Tickets are non-refundable, but you may transfer your ticket to another person if you can no longer attend.

• Full Festival Ticket Terms & Conditions apply to this event.

After checkout you will receive:

1. An order confirmation email from Love Dahlias with your booking details.

2. A follow-up email closer to the festival with the exact date, time, venue and what to bring (comfortable clothing, closed shoes for working, and any preferred tools if you have them).

Please use the same name and email address for all your festival bookings so we can keep your reservations together.