Creating Wire Hangers For Wedding Gowns: A Diy Guide

Personalised wire wedding hangers are a popular choice for bridesmaids' gifts and wedding dress photos. Despite their popularity, tutorials on how to make them are surprisingly scarce. Making your own wire wedding hanger is a simple and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your wedding. All you need is a bit of patience and some basic supplies. This introduction will guide you through the tools and steps required to create your own wire wedding hanger, from planning your lettering to adding the finishing embellishments.

Choosing the right wire

Wire Gauge:

The wire's thickness is measured in gauge, and the most commonly recommended sizes for this project are 12, 14, and 16. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the wire. Thinner wires, such as 16-gauge wire, are easier to bend and shape, making them a good choice for beginners. On the other hand, thicker wires, like 12-gauge wire, offer more strength and durability but require more effort to bend.

Wire Material:

Galvanized steel wire is a popular choice for wedding hangers as it is strong and relatively easy to work with. However, some people also use floral wire, which is available in different colours and can add a decorative touch to your hanger. Aluminium floral wire is another option, though it tends to come in shorter lengths.

Wire Length:

When it comes to wire length, it's better to be generous. Cut a piece of wire that is approximately twice the width of the hanger. This will give you enough wire to work with and allow for mistakes. It's also a good idea to straighten out a decent length of wire before starting to bend and shape it.

Wire Colour:

The colour of the wire can be chosen to match the wedding theme or the hanger itself. Galvanized steel wire typically has a silver finish, while floral wire can be found in various colours, including purple. If you can't find the desired colour, you can always paint the wire to achieve the look you want.

Bending and Shaping:

Before you start bending the wire, plan out your lettering. Practice shaping the wire to form the letters, and remember that once you bend it, it's challenging to straighten it out again. Use needle-nose pliers to help with sharp angles, and be mindful of the type of pliers you use to avoid leaving ridges or dents in the wire.

Prepping the hanger

The first step in making a wire wedding hanger is to prepare the hanger itself. If you are using a suit hanger, you will need to remove the bottom bar used for hanging pants. This can usually be done by pulling it off with some force and then removing any small nails inside using needle-nose pliers. If your hanger does not have this bar, skip this step.

Next, you will need to plan out your lettering. Using a pen and paper, sketch out what you want your wire lettering to look like. It is important to remember that you won't be able to cut the wire, so you'll need to get creative with how you form certain letters, like "t" and "i." This step is just an outline, so it doesn't need to be perfect or to scale.

At this stage, you should also decide on the type of wire you will be using. The thicker the wire, the tougher it will be to bend, so if this is your first time, consider starting with a thinner wire, such as 16-gauge wire. You can also use 12- or 14-gauge wire, which will result in a sturdier hanger but may be more challenging to work with.

Before you begin bending the wire, it is a good idea to straighten out a generous length, depending on the length of the word or name you are spelling out. It is better to have too much wire than too little, as you can always cut off the excess later.

Now, you are ready to start bending! Start about four inches from the end of the wire and slowly form each letter, frequently comparing your work to your sketch. Remember, once you bend the wire, it will be difficult to straighten it out again, so take your time and commit to each bend. Try to make your bends twist around the letters, as this will add strength to your wiring and prevent it from coming loose if it gets snagged.

Only use the pliers for very sharp angles, and bend the wire as much as you can with your hands first. When using the pliers, make sure to use the flat part, closer to the wire cutter, to avoid leaving ridges in the wire. If you are concerned about forgetting or accidentally snipping the wire, you can put masking tape over the ridged area of the pliers.

Forming certain letters, like "i," can be tricky. One tip is to twist the wire flat on the table, looking at the word straight on, and twist right to left (never left to right, as this will mess up the previous letter and decrease the space between letters). Usually, three half turns are enough.

Once you have finished spelling out the word, you can make minor adjustments to straighten out the letters. However, try not to move them around too much or make drastic changes, as this can weaken the wire.

Planning the lettering

Step 1: Choose Your Words

Decide on the word or phrase you want to display on your hanger. Common choices include "Mrs.", "Bride", "Mr. & Mrs." or the names of the bridal party. You can also add decorative elements like hearts or the wedding date.

Step 2: Sketch Your Design

Using a pen and paper, sketch out how you want your wire lettering to look. This doesn't have to be perfect or to scale, it's just an outline to guide your wire bending. The key is to ensure that your pen never leaves the paper as you won't be able to cut the wire. Get creative with how you cross your t's and dot your i's! You can make your letters loopy and girly or experiment with different styles.

Step 3: Measure and Mark

Determine how much wire you'll need by measuring the width of your hanger and cutting a piece of wire that is twice as wide. This will give you enough length to work with as you bend and shape your letters.

Step 4: Practice Bending

Before starting on your final hanger, it's a good idea to practice bending and shaping your letters with some extra wire. This takes patience and practice, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it right the first few times. Remember, once you bend the wire, it's difficult to straighten it out again, so be committed to each bend. Try to bend the wire as much as you can with your hands before using pliers.

Step 5: Finalize Your Design

Once you've mastered the bending technique, it's time to create your final design. Start by bending your wire about 4 inches from the end, slowly shaping each letter and comparing it to your sketch. Remember, it's important to get the right shape for each letter before moving on to the next one.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating beautiful and personalized wire lettering for your wedding hanger!

Bending the wire

Before you start bending, sketch out your design on paper. This will give you an idea of how much wire you need and help you plan how to form each letter. Remember, you won't be able to cut the wire, so get creative with how you cross your "t"s and dot your "i"s. For instance, you could use a heart for the dot on your "i".

Now, start bending! It can be frustrating, so take it slow and keep referring to your sketch. Make sure you get the shape of each letter right before moving on to the next one. If you make a mistake, it's best to start over with a new piece of wire. Don't try to straighten out any bends, as this will only make your wire look messy.

• Commit to each bend you make. Don't second guess yourself!
• Make your bends twist around the letters to add strength to your design. This will also prevent it from coming loose if it gets snagged.
• Only use pliers for very sharp angles. Bend the wire as much as you can with your hands first.
• When using pliers, use the flat part, not the ridged area, to avoid bumps and exposing the dark wire underneath the coating.
• If you're worried about forgetting and using the ridged area, put masking tape over it.
• To add durability, twist your "i"s by putting the wire flat on the table and twisting it right to left.

Adding embellishments

You can add anything you like to decorate your hanger, from a simple bow or ribbon to something more elaborate. If you want to keep things understated, a single flower or a small bunch of handmade paper flowers can look beautiful. You could even add a little glitter to make your hanger sparkle.

If you want to go bigger and bolder, you could try adding a larger bouquet of flowers, some greenery, or even a small bunch of colourful feathers. You could also add some beads or pearls for a touch of glamour. If you want to include a personal message, you could try stamping the names or initials of the happy couple onto the wooden part of the hanger.

Whatever you choose, make sure it reflects the style and theme of your wedding and, most importantly, have fun with it!

Frequently asked questions