DIY Wedding Challenge: DIY Hanging Votives

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My mom and I made these hanging votives for my ceremony.  They are really easy to make, here's how!

Materials:

Heavy Gauge Wire, pre-greased (found at Lowe’s)
Wire Cutters
Votive Candle Holders, different sizes and shapes
Round Nose Pliers
Pencil

Instructions:

1. Depending on the size of the votive, use wire cutters and cut sections anywhere from 18-21 inches. 18″ for the smallest votives and 21″ for the medium and larger votives.  You can use 21″ for all if you want, you’ll just have a little extra when you close the sides.

2. Cut your desired length of wire with a wire cutter.

3. Fold the wire in half and crimp just below the fold with round-nose pliers.

4. To form a hook, wrap crimped end over a pencil. Hold the base of the hook tightly with pliers, separate the two lengths of wire, then twist tightly around each other three times.

5. To form a loop, while still holding the wire with your pliers, take the “legs” of the wire in your other hand and twist one to two times.

6. To form the cuff that will hold the votive, use pliers to make a 90-degree bend, 4 1/4 inches from the hook base, on each length of wire. Situate the bends on opposite sides of the votive, about two-thirds of the way from the bottom of the glass.

7. Bring each cut end around to meet the opposite bend. With the tip of the pliers, make a tiny loop at each cut end. Hook the loops to the bends; use pliers to close loops tightly. Insert votive into the circle formed.

Member Comments

248 43 170 Serendipity34

09/01/2009 at 04:05 pm Loving it! I bet it would make for a stunning scene at a nightime wedding!!

683 28 28 kdh126

06/08/2009 at 07:00 am That's a great idea!

4092 340 215 kohler44

04/10/2009 at 01:03 pm katygirl- I got them at stores like Dollar Tree, Big Lots and Michaels :)

3 58 2 meliss173

04/10/2009 at 12:52 pm I am doing something similar for my wedding, which is taking place in Maine and will have a rustic, backyard-barbecue type feel. I've been collecting food jars that I use at home (jelly, salsa, even spaghetti sauce--I just soak them to remove the label). They usually have a lip for the lid, so it's relatively easy to wrap the wire around the top. I'm going to print custom labels with our wedding monogram and place those on the jars, then put votives in them and use them along the walkway and we'll hang some from the trees as well. I'll post photos as soon as I have some samples done.