🎄 Ten Reasons Why I Love a Christmas Wreath

During our first winter here at the cottage, I was brave and booked onto a Christmas Wreath Making class.

I remember that I arrived to the venue nervously, to find lots of ladies who already knew one another and had brought with them their own secateurs and tonnes of foliage for their own wreaths. We were provided with a copper hoop frame, moss, and everything needed to make our own bases. But I didn't realise I need to bring extra materials.

The florist running the workshop was really lovely and kind, and suggested I use a few stems from her demo bucket. I added a few sprigs of pine, but loved the fluffy look of the moss a lot. Looking back, my wreath was technically terrible - but I loved it, because I had made it myself, exactly how I wanted, with the materials I had.

It didn’t occur to me until later that this genuinely was a turning point in my career. Because I enjoyed the workshop so much, despite feeling slightly out of my depth, I signed up for an evening course in floristry a few months later.

Now, more than eleven years on, and after ten years of running Sarah Guild Floral Design one of the highlights of my florist year is hosting Christmas Wreath Making classes. I always feel it’s a hectic time for the list-makers and organisers of a household, and that taking time out to create something unexpected can be the creative balm that helps press reset.

So, I suppose that discovery of a moment of creativity is my first reason for loving a wreath. The following nine reasons are as follows:

1. Every wreath is different – no branch of pine is the same, and neither can a festive wreath ever be identical to another, even if the ingredients are the same.

2. I love the scent of moss – it reminds me of walks on Dartmoor when I was growing up.

3. The circular shape of a wreath made SGFD-style is so pleasing; it flows and takes the mind on a little journey of detail – whether you spot citrus slices, disco balls, or a pine cone.

4. The scent of fresh pine, eucalyptus, herbs, and more simply cannot be replicated – not even by the best diffuser or candle!

5. Making a wreath gives you a chance to play and hold natural ingredients in your hands – this is very grounding.

6. We all need more velvet bows in our lives! I often think they should embellish all things – including a wreath!

7. Hanging a festive wreath celebrates the season and marks the gentle passing of time.

8. Each time I host a wreath workshop, I’m reminded of all the beautiful people I’ve met since starting my business, and I love knowing that houses across the UK will be proudly wearing my wreaths again this year (thank you to Holly & Co!).

9. Last but not least – festive wreaths welcome you home. And home is where the heart is. 💚
   

My wreath-making season starts next week, when the fresh moss arrives at the workshop. All the wreaths I make (and encourage my guests at my workshops to make) will last long into the festive season. I only build wreaths using moss bases and plenty of beautiful, natural ingredients. At my workshops, there’s always plenty of tea and coffee, and cake to keep the creativity flowing. All materials are provided, and no one is left short of materials.

At the time of writing, there are a few spaces left at my Christmas Wreath Making Classes at Rookesbury Park on Friday 28th and Sunday 30th November. I’ll also be running private classes and making plenty of wreaths for Holly & Co clients across the UK. Clients sometimes ask me to make them kits to use at home if they can’t attend the workshops — this is easy to arrange by sending me a message via Instagram, Facebook, or the contact page on my website.

🎀 Happy Wreath Making! With love, Sarah x