Personalized Wedding Hangers: Diy Guide For Brides

Wedding hangers are a must-have for every bride. They are a great way to add a personal touch to your special day and can even serve as a pleasant surprise for your bridal party and groom. They are also perfect for photo props and can be used to keep things organised on the morning of the wedding. While you can buy them online, making your own is a fun and easy way to save money and add a unique touch to your wedding. All you need is a bit of creativity, some basic supplies, and patience.

Embellish with bows, flowers, pearls, gemstones, or seashells

Bows, flowers, pearls, gemstones, and seashells are all great ways to embellish your wedding hangers and add a personal touch. Here are some ideas and instructions to get you started:

Bows

Adding a bow to your wedding hanger is a simple yet effective way to add a touch of elegance. You can use ribbon in your chosen colour and secure it to the hanger with a glue gun. If you're feeling creative, you can make your own bow by cutting organza ribbon into strips and forming a bow. You can then slip the bow over the neck of the hanger or affix it at the centre with hot glue.

Flowers

Flowers are a beautiful way to embellish your wedding hangers. You can make your own fabric flowers or buy ready-made ones and glue them onto the hangers. If you want to add a touch of sparkle, you can even find ready-made flowers with pearl or gemstone centres.

Pearls and Gemstones

Pearls and gemstones are classic embellishments that can add a touch of glamour to your wedding hangers. You can use artificial pearls or gemstones and combine them with other embellishments for a luxurious look. Just remember not to overcrowd the hanger by using more than three different types of embellishments.

Seashells

If you're having a beach wedding, seashells are a perfect choice for embellishments. Clean the seashells to remove any debris, and soak them in bleach for a while if you want them to be bright white. Once they're dry, you can glue them onto the hangers.

Use wire to spell out names or titles

Personalised hangers have become a must-have for brides on their wedding day. They are a great way to add a unique touch to your special day and can be used as a cute gift for your bridal party.

To make your own personalised wire hangers, you will need the following supplies:

• Hangers in your colour of choice (IKEA’s Bumerang hangers are a great, affordable option)
• 12-gauge floral wire (available at craft stores like Michaels or on Amazon)
• Needle-nose pliers (optional: cover the inside of the pliers with masking tape to prevent ridges on the wire)
• Hot glue gun or superglue
• Drill with a 3/16" bit
• Ribbon in the colour and width of your choice

Step 1: Prep your hangers

If you are using suit hangers, remove the bottom part that holds the pants. These can usually be removed by pulling hard and then taking out the small nails inside using the needle-nose pliers. If you are using regular shirt hangers, you can skip this step.

Step 2: Plan your lettering

Before you start bending the wire, it's a good idea to plan out your lettering on paper. This doesn't have to be perfect or to scale, but it will give you an idea of how to form the letters without cutting the wire. Get creative with how you cross your t's and dot your i's, as you won't be able to cut the wire. You can make your letters loopy and girly or however you like!

Step 3: Get bending!

Take your wire and straighten out a generous length, depending on the length of the word or name you want to spell out. It's better to have a bit too much wire than not enough. Start bending the wire, forming the letters of your chosen name or title. You can add a loop before and after the word as a cute embellishment, if you like. Bending the wire can take some practice, so don't be discouraged if you don't get it right the first time. Here are some tips to help you:

• Commit to each bend you make, as it will be difficult to straighten the wire again.
• Make your bends twist around the letters to add strength to your wiring.
• Only use the pliers for very sharp angles, and try to bend the wire as much as possible without them.
• Use the flat part of the pliers, not the ridged area, to avoid bumps and exposed wire innards.
• Twisting the wire for the letter "i" can add durability. Put the wire flat on the table and twist right to left (not left to right, as this will affect the previous letter).

Step 4: Drill your hanger and attach the wire

Use your drill to make holes in the hanger where you want your wire to go. If you are using a suit hanger, you can use the existing holes where the pants hanger was attached. Measure how far the wire goes into the hole and cut it to size, ensuring that your word is centred on the hanger. Use a small amount of hot glue or superglue to secure the wire in place, then bend it so that it is parallel with the top of the hanger. Cut and glue the other end of the wire, making sure the lettering isn't too tight or too loose.

Step 5: Add the ribbon

Finally, tie a ribbon onto your hanger and make a bow. You can also add other embellishments to decorate your hanger further.

And that's it! You now have a beautiful, personalised wire hanger for your wedding day.

Apply vinyl stickers

Wedding coat hangers are a great DIY project for those new to crafting. A pretty bow tied to the top of your hangers can add a little something to the look. You can also use vinyl stickers to decorate your hangers. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to apply vinyl stickers:

Prepping the Surface

Check that the hanger is around 55 °F (13 °C). Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the room. Ideally, you don't want the environment to be too hot or too cold, or the vinyl sticker might not adhere properly. While your space doesn’t have to be this exact temperature, try to keep it in a cool area.

Wipe and dry off the hanger with a baby wipe or a water-soaked towel to clear away any dust, wax, and debris. Try to get the area as smooth and clean as possible, so no dust or grime adheres to your vinyl sticker later on. If the area is especially dirty, add a pea-sized amount of delicate soap to your damp towel to get the surface squeaky clean.

Securing the Sticker

Peel away the backing tape on the sticker. Use your thumb and pointer finger to pry the back paper from the surface of the sticker. As you peel away the paper, pinch the vertical edges of the sticker with your opposite hand. Once the back paper is completely removed, hold the sticker with the thumb and pointer finger of each hand.

Pinch the vertical edges of the vinyl sticker as you place it down. Continue holding the sticker securely as you place it on a wet or dry surface. Try applying the centre of the sticker first, then press the outer edges of the vinyl sticker into place. Aim to do this in a fluid motion to prevent any air bubbles from forming.

If you’re applying the sticker to a dry surface, make sure that it’s positioned and angled properly. Once the vinyl is in place, you won’t be able to adjust it easily. If applying to a wet surface, use your fingers to push and adjust the edges of the vinyl to your desired position.

Press out any air bubbles with a squeegee or credit card. Grab a flat, bendy item and press it in an even line along the surface of the sticker. Move your tool consistently, applying an even amount of pressure as you go from edge to edge. Focus on areas that have air bubbles, so the sticker looks smooth.

If you’ve applied the sticker to a curved surface, heat it with a blow dryer on a low setting. This will help the sticker stick to the curved edge. Don't use a high heat setting—you just want to stretch and expand the vinyl, not melt it.

Peel away the final layer of transfer tape. Use your thumb and pointer finger to pinch and remove the outer layer of the sticker, which looks like a strip of opaque masking tape.

Hang printable tags

Printable tags are an inexpensive way to decorate your wedding hangers. There are innumerable free tag designs available online, which you can download and print. You can choose different designs for each member of your bridal party, or opt for a single design that suits your wedding theme.

What You'll Need:

• Tags printed on white card stock paper
• 1/4-inch wide ribbon
• Scissors
• Glue
• Hangers

Method:

First, cut out the tags neatly, and write names, titles, and other details on them if you haven't already customized them. Next, cut the ribbon into 4-inch strips. Form simple loops out of each strip of ribbon using glue to hold them in place, and glue the loops onto the back of the tags. Once dry, slip the loops over the hanger necks.

Wooden hangers look pretty with just these personalized tags. However, if you're using plastic hangers, consider sprucing them up with paint, sequins, or embellishments.

As an extra touch, consider writing notes for your bridesmaids on the back of the tags or make separate tags for this.

Decorate with temporary tattoos or decoupage paper

Decorating your wedding hangers with temporary tattoos or decoupage paper is a simple way to spruce them up and make them picture-perfect for your big day. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this look:

Using Temporary Tattoos:

• Choose your desired temporary tattoos: Opt for custom designs, elaborate patterns, simple doodles, wedding details, or the names and roles of your bridal party. You can easily create and order custom temporary tattoos online.
• Cut the tattoo to fit the size of your hanger.
• Peel off the plastic protective layer and place the tattoo face down on the hanger.
• Using a damp sponge, press the tattoo firmly onto the hanger for about 30 seconds.
• Carefully peel off the paper backing to reveal the design.
• If needed, dab off any excess water with a towel.
• Seal the design using Mod Podge to ensure it lasts.

Using Decoupage Paper:

• Choose your decoupage paper: Opt for patterned napkins, decoupage paper, or wrapping paper with a design that matches your wedding theme or colour palette.
• Lightly sand the hanger to create a better surface for the paper to adhere to. Wipe away any dust.
• Paint the hanger with a colour that matches the background of your chosen paper. Allow it to dry completely.
• Cut out the desired designs from the paper. Be sure to discard any plain white layers of the decoupage paper, as you only need the patterned layer.
• Apply a thin coat of glue to the hanger.
• Carefully place the patterned paper onto the hanger, smoothing out any creases or folds with a clean, soft brush.
• Seal the paper with another layer of glue and let it dry for at least an hour.
• Repeat the gluing and drying process until you achieve a hard-wearing finish. Applying multiple thin coats will result in a more even finish than using a single thick coat.
• Once dry, add extra embellishments like bows, pearls, or flowers to further decorate your hangers.

Both of these methods are simple, cost-effective, and highly customisable ways to create beautiful wedding hangers that will add a unique and personal touch to your special day.

Frequently asked questions