On a cold January day, designer Lauren Liess’ dining room is awash in summer’s glory. Roses, tulips and proteas proliferate on the wooden table. But Liess isn’t on the clock. Rather, she’s hosting friends at a flower-arranging fête thrown by local start-up Bouquet Club.

The company was launched in November by interior designer Liz Levin and floral designer Tess Finnegan after they collaborated on a couple of classes for charity auctions and received rave reviews.

Bouquet Club parties combine a workshop experience with social time for improving social media shares and are customized to any occasion, from birthdays to bridal showers and corporate retreats. Vases, tools and premium flowers in a pre-selected palette are provided. “These are not grocery store flowers,” notes Finnegan, who has wholesale relationships as owner of DC’s Green Hydrangea Flowers.

“Tess shows you, stem by stem, how to build an arrangement, and you leave with the skills to replicate it at home,” says Levin, who brings insights on color theory and texture to the table.

The partners suggest that Bouquet Club guests also reap other rewards.“The phones are down and people are engaged and thinking in a different way,” says Finnegan, a former trial attorney.

Levin agrees, “In this touch-screen era, making something creative is pretty scarce. There’s a sense of being connected to other people—and feeling joyful.”

Bouquet Club parties are $100 per person for a minimum of 10 guests (refreshments not included). Coming soon: public “pop-ups” for individual attendees. bouquetclub.com.