Crafting Wedding Champagne Glasses: A Step-By-Step Guide

There are many ways to make wedding champagne glasses your own. You can buy or rent glasses and build a champagne tower, which is a super fancy way to serve drinks to your guests. You can also decorate the glasses with ribbon and charm embellishments, hand-painted designs, or glass etching. If you're feeling creative, you can even try painting your own stemless champagne glasses.

Glass etching

Step 1: Clean the Glasses

Start by cleaning the champagne glasses thoroughly to remove any dirt or oils. It is important to ensure that the glasses are completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Prepare the Stencil

Create or purchase a vinyl stencil with your desired design. If you have a Cricut or Silhouette machine, you can easily make custom stencils in the size and font you prefer. Alternatively, you can check Etsy for custom vinyl stencils. When cutting the stencil, trim the vinyl as close to the letters or design as possible. This will help you achieve a smooth finish and prevent bubbles from forming.

Step 3: Apply the Stencil

Once your glass is clean and dry, apply the stencil or vinyl cutout to the glass, ensuring that it is securely in place. You can use painter's tape around the vinyl to keep the etching cream exactly where you want it and prevent any accidental smudges.

Step 4: Apply the Etching Cream

Using a small paintbrush, carefully apply a thick coat of etching cream to the exposed areas of the glass. Be generous with the cream to ensure complete coverage. Remember to wear gloves and goggles for safety.

Step 5: Let the Cream Sit

Allow the etching cream to sit on the glass for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer. This could be around 15 minutes, but be sure to check the instructions on your specific product.

Step 6: Rinse and Remove Stencil

After the etching cream has done its job, rinse it off under running water. Then, carefully remove the stencil to reveal your design. Admire your handiwork!

Your etched wedding champagne glasses are now ready to use and will be a beautiful addition to your special day. This technique is simple yet effective and will surely impress your guests.

Ribbon and charm embellishments

Adding ribbon and charm embellishments to your wedding champagne glasses is a quick and easy way to decorate them and make them stand out. This method is highly customizable, allowing you to match the glasses to your wedding's theme or colour scheme.

To get started, choose a ribbon that complements your desired aesthetic. Cut a length of ribbon long enough to wrap around the stem of the glass. Secure one end of the ribbon to the stem using double-sided tape or a small dot of glue. From there, wrap the ribbon tightly around the stem, ensuring it remains smooth and even. Once you've wrapped the entire stem, secure the ribbon in place with another piece of tape or glue.

If you want to add a charm, simply attach it to the ribbon using a small jump ring or a thin piece of wire. Charms can include anything from hearts to horseshoes, crowns, or even personalised details like initials or the wedding date.

For a more elaborate design, you can combine the ribbon and charm embellishments with other decorative elements. For example, you can attach ribbon and tulle to the bottom of the glass to create the look of a dress. Add rhinestones or other embellishments to complete the look. For men's glasses, you can add a matching bow that coordinates with the ladies' glasses.

Hand-painted designs

If you're feeling creative, you can try hand-painting your wedding champagne glasses. This method allows for endless creativity and personalisation. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Choosing the Right Glasses and Paints

Select a set of champagne glasses with a smooth surface that's suitable for painting. It's important to ensure the surface is smooth so that the paint adheres properly and the final result looks neat. Gather acrylic paints in your desired colours, as well as a set of fine paintbrushes.

Planning Your Design

Before you start painting, it's a good idea to plan your design. You can sketch it out on a piece of paper or use a stencil for guidance. Consider the overall theme or colour scheme of your wedding and choose a design that complements it.

Painting Your Glasses

Start painting your design onto the glass using thin, even strokes. Take your time and be patient as you work, as a steady hand will help you achieve a neat finish. Remember that less is more when it comes to paint—you only need a tiny amount, and it's better to build up the colour gradually than to apply too much at once.

Drying and Setting the Paint

Allow the paint to dry completely before handling the glasses. You may want to consider baking the glasses in the oven according to the paint manufacturer's instructions to help set the design and make it more durable. Some paints may require curing, which can be done by letting them dry for an extended period (such as 21 days) or by baking them in the oven.

Adding Personalised Touches

To make your hand-painted wedding champagne glasses even more special, consider adding personalised touches such as your names, wedding date, or a meaningful quote. You can also customise the design to fit your wedding colours or theme. For example, you can choose specific colours for the design or add small details like a heart or your initials.

Care and Maintenance

Once your hand-painted champagne glasses are complete, it's important to handle them with care. Follow any specific care instructions provided by the paint manufacturer. Some paints may make the glasses dishwasher-safe, but it's generally recommended to hand wash them gently to preserve the design.

Building a champagne tower

Planning Your Tower

First, decide on the height of your tower. The number of tiers will determine the number of glasses you need. For example, a five-tier tower would have one glass on the top, four on the second tier, nine on the third, 16 on the fourth, and 25 on the bottom tier, totalling 55 glasses.

You'll want to use "coupe" style glasses, which are shorter and wider than flutes. These can be rented or purchased, but ensure they are all identical in size and style.

Calculate how much champagne you will need by multiplying the number of glasses by the ounces each glass holds. This will tell you how many ounces or bottles of champagne you require.

Constructing Your Tower

Find a sturdy table to build your tower on. A wobbly table could lead to a disaster! You may also want to place a towel or tray underneath to catch any spills.

Start by arranging the bottom tier in a square, with each glass touching. For a five-tier tower, this would be a 5x5 square, with 25 glasses. The next layer will be a 4x4 square, with four glasses placed in the centre of the bottom tier's glasses, so that a diamond shape is visible when looking at the base of the second tier glasses.

Continue building your tower, ensuring each glass is snugly touching the other glasses and that you can see a diamond shape in the base of each glass. The tower will get smaller as it rises, until you place the final single glass on top.

Filling Your Tower

Now it's time to fill the tower with champagne! You can either leave the glasses empty and pour the champagne into the top glass, allowing it to overflow and spill down the tower, or you can build the tower with the glasses mostly full.

If you start with empty glasses, it will take a while for the champagne to fill all the glasses, so your guests may lose interest. However, if you fill the tower first, you will still get to fill the top glass and see the champagne overflow, but at a faster pace.

Decorating Your Glasses

If you want to add a personal touch to your tower, you can decorate the champagne glasses. Here are some ideas:

• Glass etching: Using glass etching cream, a stencil or vinyl cutout, and a small paintbrush, you can create elegant and sophisticated designs on your glasses.
• Ribbon and charm embellishments: Wrap a ribbon around the stem of each glass and attach a charm using a small jump ring or thin wire. Choose a ribbon that matches your wedding colours or theme.
• Hand-painted designs: If you're feeling artistic, you can paint designs on your glasses using acrylic paint and fine paintbrushes. Plan your design in advance and consider baking the glasses in the oven to set the paint.

Curing painted glasses

Air-Dry Method:

• This method requires patience, as you need to let the painted glasses air-dry for at least 21 days before using them.
• During this period, the paint will gradually cure and harden, becoming more durable and resistant to chipping or scratching.
• It is important to keep the glasses in a safe place where they won't be disturbed or handled during the curing process.

Bake-to-Cure Method (Oven):

• This method accelerates the curing process by using an oven.
• First, ensure your painted glasses are completely dry to the touch.
• Place the glasses in a cold oven, and then set the temperature to 350°F (176.6°C).
• Bake the glasses for 30 minutes, and then turn off the oven.
• It is crucial to let the glasses cool down gradually inside the oven to avoid thermal shock, which could cause cracking or breakage.
• Once the oven and glasses have cooled to room temperature, you can remove them.
• Glasses cured using this method are typically safe for the top rack of a standard, non-commercial dishwasher.

Combination of Both Methods:

• For the best results, you can combine both curing methods.
• After painting your glasses, let them air-dry for 72 hours (or the recommended time specified by the paint manufacturer).
• Then, proceed with the bake-to-cure method described above.
• This combination ensures a more durable and long-lasting paint job.

Additional Tips:

• Before curing, make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific paint you are using. Different types of glass paint may have varying curing requirements.
• Always clean the glasses with rubbing alcohol or white vinegar before painting to remove any dirt, grease, or soap residue. This step ensures better paint adhesion.
• Avoid washing painted glasses in the dishwasher, especially if they have intricate designs or are not properly cured. Hand washing is generally recommended for painted glassware.
• If you must use a dishwasher, place the glasses on the top rack and ensure the dishwasher does not have pot-scrubbing features or top jets, as these can damage the paint.
• Painted glassware is not suitable for microwave use.

Frequently asked questions