First impressions count. A front door wreath sets the décor tone of the whole house.
Your Christmas décor mood starts before guests ever cross your threshold.
Said to represent eternity and unity, the circular shape of the wreath makes it the perfect symbol to use to welcome friends in at this time of the year.
It also helps set the tone for how you want to style the rest of the house.
One of the most beautiful options is the fragrant and festive fresh design by Rathgar-based Anna May Floristry.
Shown as the lead image in this story, it is generous in scale, extending to 0.6 of a metre in width.
It features spruce, eucalyptus, and seasonal greenery, finished with ribbons, berries, cones, and natural details. It costs €150 and can be pre-ordered now.
Faux finds include this lush berry, orange, and cinnamon wreath, €60, available from select branches of Marks & Spencer.
Fans of green foliage will love Neptune’s sage leaf and pine cone design is wonderfully understated.
It costs €135.
You could pay homage to one of Ireland’s great fashion designers, Paul Costelloe, by celebrating him, by having one of his designs on your front door.
This ruby red ribboned design is part of his Living collection at Dunnes Stores. Price €60.
You can buy an intraseasonal one from Co. Wexford entrepreneurs and fraternal twins, Aimée and Conor Farrell, whose Phenology Décor designs allow you to switch up the look of the base each season.
Woodies has a wide range of artificial options, many of which come with lights, helpful if it’s late in the evening and you’re struggling to put your keys in the door.
This larger option will work well on its own or as a base for a mix of natural and faux foliage. It costs €40.
For the non-conformist who wants neither faux nor fresh foliage, there is another way.
Donegal tweed wreaths by Kellee Cottage Crafts, €45, offer a long-lasting, less conventional option.
These can be bought online or at Gifted, which runs from Monday, December 3rd to Friday, December 7th inclusive, at the main hall at the RDS, Dublin.
Tori Murphy offers an alternative that ticks two trends in one. It features a check, a print that hasn’t been in vogue since Princess Diana was simply Lady Di.
It is bow-shaped, a form that is ultra fashionable this festive season.
Measuring 33 cm wide, it costs about €67, ex delivery from the UK-based designer.
DIY Style
You can also make your own
There are wreath-making classes taking place all over the country.
Make it a memorable, creative experience and invite a pal. Here’s a list below of some running in our cities.
There are suggestions below and more suggestions here.
Dublin
Mark Grehan of The Garden is hosting classes at Form & Fable, the pop-up shop on Mary Lavin Place, at Wilton Park, Dublin 2, on Friday, December 5th, from 4 pm to 6 pm, and Sunday, December 7th
For top-tier luxury, book the session taking place at The Westbury, which is served with a side of delicious nibbles and drinks.
Wylde Ribbons is running the class, so expect plenty of luxurious grosgrain finishings, dried fruit, and freshly sourced seasonal foliage fragranced leaves.
It takes place on Sunday, December 14th, from 11 am to 1 pm on Balfe Street. Tickets €125 on Eventbrite.
Me Aul Flower, is running a demonstration and wreath-making classes at Big Romance on Dublin’s Parnell Street.
Served with minced pies and a festive drink, it costs €97. 50 and runs this Saturday, November 29th, at 1 pm and 3.30 pm. It is also hosting an event at Fade Street Studios on Tuesday, December 2, at 7 pm.
Kilkenny
At the Medieval Mile Museum, part of Kilkenny’s Yulefest, there’s a session on Thursday, December 4th, €40, from 6.30 pm to 8 pm, while there are multiple family-friendly sessions 40 for a family of up to four, taking place on Sunday, December 7th.
On Tuesday, December 9th, Wylde Ribbons is travelling to the marble city to demonstrate a creative and inspiring Wreaths of Welcome workshop in the historic surroundings of the Shee Alms House from 6 pm to 8 pm, Tickets €80.
Cork
Third-generation flower designer Kelly O’Sullivan is hosting a luxury winter wreath-making workshop at her Flowersmith Studio in Glanmire.
A variety of high-quality foliage, dried flowers, and pine cones will be supplied, along with delicious baked treats, hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, tea, or coffee, and a playlist to provide the perfect soundtrack to the day.
It costs €115, and the courses run this Friday, November 28th, and Friday, December 5th, as well as on Saturdays, November 29th, December 6, and 13th.
Limerick
Sparkle and Sprigs is a workshop that will get you into the Christmas spirit. The wreath-making class is being held in the opulent surroundings of the Savoy Hotel on Wednesday, December 10th, at 7 pm by florist Madeleine O’Gormon of Maddy Made Creations. Canapes and glasses of prosecco will also be served. Tickets cost €103.
Galway
Lus will be running workshops at Ah Sure Look It, on Woodquay, on Tuesday, December 2nd, 6 pm to 8 pm, and at Mad Yolk Farm, Craughwell, on Wednesdays, December 3rd and 10th, from 6 pm to 8 pm, and on Sundays, December 7th and 14th, 2 pm to 4 pm. Tickets cost €65.
The Flower Farmers of Ireland are running a series of events too. For details of times, locations, and ticket prices, click here.
