Floor Advent Wreaths

Advent is right around the corner, and many churches are taking stock of what?they'll need?for the upcoming season.?Searching for a new?Advent?wreath for your church can be confusing and frustrating. You'll see models from three hundred to three thousand dollars (and more) in a variety of styles and made from several different materials.?

Which is best for your church??What's the difference between a cheap model and a really expensive model? Will it work with?your candles and will?you have problems with it down the road?

1. Budget. Church Advent Wreaths typically fall into three price categories:
   • $500 or less lets you choose from one or two floor standing metal wreaths (made from painted steel and/or aluminum with?some brass fittings),?or?the ever popular?wooden floor wreath
   • For $1500 or less,?you'll find?a few well built, but basic?Floor Standing models. These will be made from brass, wrought iron?or bronze, but typically have?bases made of painted steel or steel with a formed brass covering. The shaft and upper components are usually made of brass bar stock and brass tubing?or bronze-finished steel. The fittings wil be sturdy and functional, but may lack the details or decorative designs of the more expensive models.
   • $1500 and up gets you a wreath that is made almost exclusively from either solid brass or solid bronze. The bases are usually cast and feature decorative relief and do the upper components.Solid brass or bronze tubing is used in the shaft and the wreath may have a combination of highly polished and satin brass or bronze.
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2. Style.?Take a look at your church's overall feel and design. Is it modern, traditional or perhaps gothic? Many churches will match the finish on the candle holder to their other altar appointments such as altar candles, banner stands or the processional cross. Choose a model that?matches the surroundings. High church often?calls for?polished brass or bronze and highly decorative castings. Contemporary churches may prefer a sleeker profile made from aluminum or painted metal. Gothic churches?might benefit from a?wrought iron or?wood holder.
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3. Material. Brass?and bronze are?the most popular while?wrought iron?and wood are also popular choices. When choosing models made from brass, it's important to select a model that's made in the USA as brass models from India or China are of a lower quality that will not hold up very well. Imported brass tends to be lighter and often has pitting in the brass. We only sell advent wreaths that are made in America by companies who have been producing church goods for generations. Even our least expensive models are of?better quality than what you will see on the import market.
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4. Protective Coating.?Most brass and bronze Advent wreaths have a clear coat protective finish. Some?of the less expensive?models may not have the protective finish and may require polishing. Either way, it's always a good idea to wipe down the stand with a clean soft cloth after each Sunday, so any fingerprints don't damage the finish. We always recommend you wear gloves when handling church metalware.
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5. Sturdiness.?If you plan on using lightweight, 1-1/2" x 12" or 16"?wax or oil?candles, you can select from any church-model wreath we sell. If, however, you plan on using larger diameter wax or oil candles, it's probably best to choose from a model that has some "heft" to it so it isn't top heavy when the candles are in place. You can usually tell from the picture if the wreath is sturday. If it looks bulky, has a substantial base or just plain "looks big", it can probably handle the larger candles. If in doubt, please call us and we can tell you if the model you want will work with the candles you plan on using. Also?remember that?thick pile carpet?can affect the sturdiness of the unit.
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6. Greenery. Will you be placing greenery around the advent ring? If so, make sure to choose a sturdy?floor model or a table model.?
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7. What type of candles will you use??The tried and true candle is the 1-1/2" x 16" wax advent candle. You can put any brand 1-1/2" diameter wax candle in any of our wreaths. Many churches now use?the larger 2", 3" or even 4" diameter candles.?Be sure to let us know when ordering if you plan on using these larger candles and we can tell you if there will be a problem as well as make sure you get the right size sockets for your candles.??Center or Christ candle.?It's important to let?your church goods dealer?know the size and type of Christ candle you will use. Most advent holders have a center pan that accomodates a 3" wax candle and includes a small spike in the center that goes in the hole in the bottom of the Christ candle. If you plan on using a candle that is smaller in diameter, or an oil candle, be sure to specify when you place your order so the appropriate fitting can be added to your wreath.?
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8. How will you store it?during the "off season"??We see more advent wreaths get damaged, come loose or have parts go missing when they are put in storage. Keep the box your wreath comes in or get a large platic see-through box to keep it in if you disassemble it. Keep the screws and other small parts in a clearly-labled, zip lock bag. If you are leaving your wreath assembled, it's a good idea to cover it with a sheet and place it where it won't get banged?or knocked as people are moving things in and out of storage.?You wouldn't leave a $1500 dinner plate in your tool room at home, you should?use the same care at church for your Advent candle holder.??
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9. Do you need it engraved??Any of our wreaths can be engraved as memorial gifts but keep in mind that engraving may add anywhere from 1-3 weeks to the delivery time so plan accordingly. You can always order a plate that can be attached after the fact if we are not able to handle your engraving request in time.?
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10. How soon should you order??While we have shipped wreaths to customers the week Advent starts, many models take time to build so try to place your order at least 4-6 weeks ahead of when you want to receive it. If you find you have waited to late, call us anyway.?Most of the manufacturers?can often rush things through, but only if we hear from you.

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So there you are, a comprehensive list of considerations to help you start your search. Remember, we carry almost any wreath you see in any church goods catalog or web site. If you can't find domething on our site, let us know, we most likely have it.