Personalized Wedding Hangers: Adding Names To Your Design

Wedding hangers with names are a popular trend, often used for wedding photos and as gifts for bridesmaids or groomsmen. They can be made from wire or wood and customised with names, wedding roles, dates, and other decorations. DIY tutorials for these hangers are available online, and they can also be purchased from various retailers. Making your own wedding hangers can be a fun and creative way to add a unique touch to your special day.

Choosing your wire

The type of wire you choose will depend on your level of experience with wire bending. If this is your first time, opt for 16-gauge galvanized steel wire, which is easier to bend and manipulate. If you're more experienced, you can try 14-gauge wire, which is tougher and requires more force to shape. Floral wire is another option, and it's available at craft stores like Michaels or on Amazon.

When cutting your wire, cut a piece that is about twice the width of your hanger. This will give you enough length to work with and ensure you don't run out halfway through. You can always cut off any excess at the end.

Before you start bending, sketch out your desired lettering on a piece of paper. This will help you visualize the design and plan how to bend the wire without lifting your pen off the paper. Remember, you won't be able to cut the wire once it's bent, so plan your bends carefully and commit to each one.

To protect your wire from ridges and bumps caused by pliers, consider wrapping the inside of your pliers with masking tape. This will help you achieve a smooth, professional finish.

Removing the bar for pants

To make a personalised wedding hanger, you will first need to remove the bar for pants at the bottom of the hanger. This is usually easy to do by pulling hard and then removing the little nails inside using needle-nose pliers. If you are using a regular shirt hanger, you can skip this step.

• Identify the type of hanger you are working with. If it is a suit hanger, it will likely have a bottom bar designed to hold pants or trousers.
• Grip the bottom bar firmly with one hand, as close to the hanger's body as possible. This will give you more leverage when applying force.
• Pull the bar downwards with a firm, steady force. It may require some strength, but the bar should eventually pop off. Be careful not to bend or break the hanger in the process.
• Once the bar is removed, you will see small nails or protrusions inside the holes where the bar was attached. These can be carefully removed with needle-nose pliers. Grip the nails firmly with the pliers and twist or pull gently until they come out.
• With the bar and nails removed, your hanger is now ready for the next steps in creating your personalised wedding hanger.

Remember to work carefully and patiently when removing the bar for pants. If you encounter any difficulty, take your time and adjust your technique as needed.

Planning your lettering

Before you start bending wire, it's important to plan out what you want your hanger to say. Write out the name or phrase you want to include, keeping in mind that you won't be able to lift your pen off the paper as you write it out. Common examples include 'Mrs. [Name]', 'Bride', 'Mr. & Mrs.', or the names of your bridesmaids. You can also add a heart, rose, or the wedding date for a decorative touch.

When it comes to the style of your lettering, you can choose between modern calligraphy or traditional calligraphy. Modern calligraphy is easier to master and allows you to add your own personality to the lettering. It typically involves using brush pens or dip pens to create a mix of thick and thin lines. Traditional calligraphy, on the other hand, has set patterns and strokes and can be done with a dip pen and ink.

If you decide to go with modern calligraphy, there are a few tips and tricks you can follow to improve your lettering:

• Practice making different thicknesses with your brush pen by applying varying amounts of pressure.
• Combine these marks to create shapes like a V or an upside-down U.
• Learn the alphabet using the general rule of thick strokes down and thin strokes up, then test out different styles to find what feels comfortable for you.
• When joining up words, give your letters tails instead of trying to write the whole word in one go.
• Sketch out the rough placement of your letters with a pencil before committing to ink.

Once you've planned out your lettering and chosen your calligraphy style, it's time to start bending your wire!

Bending the wire

First, decide on the length of wire you will need. This will depend on the length of the word or name you are spelling out. It's better to be generous and leave a few extra inches, as you can always cut off the excess at the end.

Now it's time to start bending! It can be helpful to sketch out your lettering first, as a guide. Remember, you can't cut the wire, so you need to be creative with how you form each letter. For example, you might need to get inventive with how you cross your "t's" and dot your "i's". You might like to add a loop at the beginning and end of the wire, too, for a cute decorative touch.

When you're bending the wire, try not to second-guess yourself. Once you've made a bend, it's hard to straighten it out again, so be confident in your design. Make sure your bends twist around the letters, as this will add strength to your wiring and prevent it from coming loose.

If you need to make sharp angles, use pliers, but try to bend the wire as much as you can with your hands first. If you are using pliers, make sure you use the flat part, rather than the ridged area, as this can leave bumps and expose the dark wire underneath the coating. You can avoid this by putting masking tape over the ridged surface of the pliers before you start.

Finally, when you've finished bending your wire into the desired shape, straighten out a few inches of wire at the end and cut it with wire cutters.

Adding embellishments

If you want to add a bow, simply tie it at the top of the hanger. You can choose a colour that matches the wedding theme or the dresses. A cute bow will add a little something extra to the look and will stand out in your photos.

Flowers can also be a beautiful addition to a wedding hanger. You can use real or artificial flowers. If you're using artificial flowers, try to find some high-quality ones that look realistic. Attach the flowers securely to the hanger, perhaps with a hot glue gun or superglue.

Ribbons are another great option for embellishing your wedding hanger. You can tie the ribbon in a bow or simply let it hang down from the hanger. Choose a colour and width that complement the hanger and the overall wedding aesthetic.

Don't be afraid to mix and match different types of embellishments. For example, you could combine a ribbon with a small bouquet of flowers or a bow with some greenery. You can also add other decorative elements like pearls, rhinestones, or small charms.

When adding embellishments, consider the weight and balance of the hanger. You don't want to add too many heavy items that might make the hanger lopsided. Always ensure that the embellishments are securely attached so they don't fall off.

Remember, the key is to have fun and be creative. There are no rules when it comes to adding embellishments, so feel free to experiment and make your wedding hanger truly special.

Frequently asked questions