Made by Ali Haskell

I recently went to a lovely wedding reception in a pastoral setting. Round tables with white linens and chairs were set in a grassy field dotted with trees and looking out onto that area was this beautiful flower ring hanging from a tree. The ring was made by an amazing woman, Ali Haskell, who is very resourceful and talented. It was so beautiful that I wanted to share it with my readers and Ali graciously explained how she made it. Her instructions follow below. Thank you so much Ali!

1. I first decided how tall I wanted to make the ring and did some math (2 X 3.14 X r = circumference) and purchased 4) 3/4 inch ( we think) diameter of PVC pipe 10 feet long, and 4 connectors. I did this in order to make two rings I could bind together for strength.

2. Have one person stand on a ladder with one end as a second person bends the pipe into a half circle holding their end up while the person on the ladder carefully pours hot water in with a funnel, until it reaches the other end.

3. Repeat with another length of PVC pipe and connect the the ends together with a connector piece, making a large circle.

4. Repeat quickly with the other PVC pipes and bind the two circles together with floral wire in several places.

5. Lay circles on the ground and place 4 chairs inside to stretch the circles and keep them in the circle shape as the water cools.

6. When circles are cool to the touch disconnect one end of each and pour out water. Reconnect. Your pipe will now stay in a circle.

7. Spray paint your circle desired color. (We used gold)

8. Wrap desired floral or leafy garland around the circle securing with floral wire or simply lay it along the front of the circle and secure.

9. Cut a foam wreath in half and cover front and sides with desired silk flowers by poking them through the foam. Use hot glue if needed. Make more depending on desired fullness. ( I used some foam blocks my friend had and I think they were wet ones.? However, I think a foam wreath would be better because they are already in a ring shape and would attach better.)

10. Secure foam to the front of the circle with either floral wire (may cut through foam) twine or wrap floral tape around it.

11. Day of- hang floral circle in two places at the top. The weight of the circle will cause it to become an oval if you only hang it from one place. At this time you can also add any fresh flowers or garland to enhance its beauty.

Good Things to Know:

• Pouring the hot water into the PVC enables you to reshape it when bent.

• You want to keep the weight down on the flower ring so do not soak the floral foam.

• You will hang the ring with 2 pieces of weighted cable and hardware.

What to buy and where to buy them:

• 3/4 Diam. PVC and connectors - Lowe’s or Home Depot

• weighted cable and hardware to secure flower ring with 2 loops - Lowe’s or Home Depot

• gold spray paint

• 2) 6 foot long lemon leaf garlands - Hobby Lobby

• paddle of floral wire (purchase here)

• 4 bricks floral foam (purchase here)

• electrical tape to secure floral foam behind PVC - 99 cent store, Lowe’s or Home Depot

• silk flowers https://www.afloral.com/pages/silk-flowers-artificial-flowers-fake-flowers

• bead crystals to hang in trees (purchase here)

• battery operated tea lights (purchase here)

• hanging tea light holders (purchase here)

• small hanging tea light holders (purchase here)

• small white paper lanterns (purchase here)

Photos from the wedding: