My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Things are looking up!

My article and Bamboo Lantern design featured in
DIY Weddings Magazine


Brides around the world are embracing the 2017 floral design trend of vertical design and hanging lantern centrepieces. It is easy to see why since such designs create such a lovely and unusual ambience. Hanging designs are however some of the most challenging and demanding design trends predicted for 2017. This is true for the experienced floral designer and DIY bride alike.

Bamboo Lantern

But, it should not be made hard to resist just because it is hard to make. A design idea, step-by-step tutorial for some know-how, and the following hints and tips will help you along the way to create your own special hanging design.

Tiny tea-light lantern

Time: Allow for extra time so that you are not rushed. Do a test to see how long it takes to design and craft the arrangement, and then allow for ample extra time to hang and test each design for safety and height. Try to pick a design with some dried floral material or a prop as base so that you can get a head start in the time leading up to the wedding and then make sure you have helpers to assemble and hang the arrangements.

Placement: A hanging design should be placed where it will not be in the way or where someone can bump into it. Walk around and imagine the placement from all angles.

Bamboo lantern hanging design

Support: Make sure the venue allows designs to be hung from the ceiling. Test the hooks and your own method of attaching the design. Ensure the beams and ceiling are stable and will not move once the design is up. Similarly, check for droughts. Swaying hanging-designs can be extremely distracting.

Height and Perspective: You want your hanging centrepiece to be so high that it does not obstruct the view of guests seated at the tables, and low enough to be noticed. The ideal is to look slightly up at the design. So you have to make sure to add some visual interest to the bottom.

Hanging floral lantern

Make it easy: Add clips or hooks to make it is easy to hang the design at the event. Measure the height required and the size of the design ahead of time. If at all possible, pre-prepare the designs so that they can simply be clipped into place. This will significantly reduce frustration and make it easy for others to help.

Keeping those flowers hydrated: You can simply hang the flowers without a water source, but then you run the risk of sad and wilted designs once they start to dehydrate. With a little bit of effort and skill you can add a water source (floral foam, test tubes, water filled bottles or vases) to the design and keep the flowers fresh throughout the event, and even longer. Any florist or flower supplier can help you with advice and special tricks to keep the flowers looking fresh. My website has these and a few unusual ideas on how to add a water source to keep your flowers hydrated.

Phalaenopsis, Ceropegia woodii and succulent bamboo lanterns

Lighting: You can either add your own, or use what is already at the venue. Check with the venue before deciding to use candles as many do not allow it, and always make sure there is no fire hazard. I use battery-powered tea-lights in my lanterns that can be easily switched on and off. Remember to check for access to power if you want to use fairy lights.

With a bit of know-how, you can design a struggle-free and stunning vertical hanging-design as that something special to take advantage of the visual vertical-space above the guest tables. You can be right on trend, whether it is tall tapers in cascading florals, or minimal low hanging lanterns.

DIY Weddings magazine article

Thank you DIY Weddings Magazine for inviting me to contribute.

Every week I add a new design with related tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to receive an email notification with design inspiration.

Tutorials

14 June 2017 Hanging Bamboo Lantern

This is a perfect do-ahead-of-time hanging design for a summer wedding. Craft one or three or a whole lot of the lanterns and add some orchids at the last moment to finish the...

17 February 2011 Hanging Jars

Add a handle to jars to hang in a design

16 February 2011 Hanging Jar tea light lantern

Set candles into the soaked powder

4 January 2011 Drinking straw "test tubes"

When you need to keep a tiny stem hydrated this is just what you need.

5 June 2012 Making the Bug Box

The tiny bug box is perfect to carry wedding rings in by a dapper Ring Bearer

4 December 2012 Twig Lanterns

Wire short twigs around wire rings to create rustic flameless tea-light lanterns

17 April 2013 Skeleton Leaf Flameless Candle Cocoon

Cover a balloon with skeleton leaves to create a cocoon

8 January 2014 Twig Tumbler

Wire and glue a stack of sticks into a cylindrical or tube shape

28 May 2014 Bamboo panel

Create a panel for the flowers to hang on

28 May 2014 Bamboo scaffold armature

Latch a few bamboo pieces together to create a scaffold for the flowers to hang from

Favourite Flowers

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis, Moth orchid

Ceropegia woodii

Rosary vine, Chain of Hearts, Collar of hearts and String of hearts

Related Designs

5 July 2017 Just A Bit

Glue a bit of grass snippets to suspend over the design

11 October 2017 giving a thanks

A wire and acorn thanks

12 December 2018 Availability of plant material shows in your design style

The last design I did for my book launch demonstration looking at aspects that influences my effortless style of designing... this week: often when we see a design element...

24 November 2021 It’s the most… it’s the most... Glowing-est Patina Christmas of all!

This is the first of my Christmas 2021 series of designs. This year in the form of a mini workshop… my Christmas present to you. We will explore how to patina Copper and use it to...

4 April 2011 "A New Age" Child's Midnight Meander (Avatar)

A New Age Child's Midnight Meander

17 February 2011 Hanging Garden

Hanging garden Design using Rainbow Oasis Powder

15 December 2011 Rocking around Three Candle Trees

Wire spirals twisted around candles to make small Christmas trees for the Christmas Eve dinner table

27 November 2012 The glories of Christmases long, long ago…

Weave a wire and twig Christmas chandelier

4 December 2012 'Tis the Season

My article looking at contrasts and 6 winter lantern designs featured in the DIY Wedding Magazine

17 April 2013 Hide-and-go-peek

Create a soft light by making a leaf cocoon for a flameless candle

1 May 2013 An invisible line to cross

Weave a strip to slip around a candle

8 January 2014 It's stick season!

Snap and stack an glue a few twigs to create a lace like armature

28 May 2014 Be Silent And Listen

Lash a few bamboo pieces together to create a scaffold armature

17 February 2016 Where would you put it!?!

Tie a twig armature enclosure for fresh flowers