Make Christmas Flower Arrangements with Peony Story

Nikki Zeng is a senior business analyst who decided to pursue her passion for floristry after receiving a single peony from a kind-hearted stranger.  

Spurred on by this unexpected act of kindness, Nikki packed a bag and followed her heart to Europe to study the delicate art of flower arranging. It was there – under the guidance of world-renowned florists – that she developed her signature romantic style, characterised by the use of elegant greenery and pastel pops of colour.

With a wealth of knowledge and inspiration, she returned to Sydney and started her very own floristry school, Peony Story – an ode to the delicate flower she was gifted all those years ago.

Ever since, Nikki has made it her mission to help others experience the same sense of beauty that transformed her life, with everything from flower workshops and elegant arrangements to whimsical event styling. 

Whether you’d like to arrange your own wedding bouquet or twist floral wreaths at a picnic with friends, Nikki’s floristry classes are the perfect place to slow down and show yourself a little kindness. 

The first thing I ever made…

Was a dried flower crystal dream catcher for my best friend. She tasked me with combining her passion for spiritual healing items and my passion for floristry to make something that represented both of us. 

I’m on a mission to...

Help people to accept that nothing is perfect in the hopes that we become more kind to ourselves and others. I think that floristry has a beautiful way of helping people enjoy those special moments in the present as they immerse themselves in the hands-on arranging process. 

When I'm arranging flowers, I...

Love to listen (and dance) to music to give me inspiration for different styles of arrangements. From French songs to Bachata… the list is endless! 

Teaching others has taught me…

To be patient and that everyone’s imagination is unique. If I give ten people the same materials to work with, I’m always surprised by the variety of the pieces - some perfectly symmetrical, some simple and some boho. There’s endless creativity in the room, it’s very inspiring. 

The holiday season smells like...

Tea roses. In summer we would spend time picnicking in gardens, surrounded by lots of tea roses. We often visited the local markets and would see buckets and buckets of fresh garden roses. I’ll never forget the familiar sound of those friendly market stall owners who would sing beautiful Italian songs from opera from 6am onwards.

This year I'm grateful for…

All the love and support from friends and family, as well as those special ones who I’ve met through workshops. I’m deeply touched by the positive experiences I have at my workshops and knowing that people are inspired or touched by my story, just like I was touched by that stranger’s act of kindness six years ago.