Colleen Fernie takes you through the steps needed to build a stylised cone with its origins in the 5th century, at the time of the Byzantine Empire.

Long slim tapering cones of foliage were constructed and placed in urns or chalices. They were decorated with fruits, lilies, daisies, carnations, pine and cypress. It is from these beginnings we now have more sophisticated cones  made as Christmas trees, and other celebratory icons, all inspired by the Byzantine period
Add piles of ribbons in the colour scheme of the event, and let them  meander along a table and you have the start of an idea for a contemporary wedding table.

Mechanics:
Start by finding an urn shaped container that is in proportion to the size of the cone you wish to make. Start with a  firm mix of plaster of paris and water or similar product that will set hard, and pour into the urn. Place a piece of thin dowel  at your chosen height in the centre of the  urn, propping it up temporarily if necessary,  and so when all the mixture is  set hard the dowel is stuck firmly in place.

Spray the urn gold or green , and  push a block of foam (you may need 2) or cone shape over the centre of the dowel. If you use a block you will need to shape it into a cone.

These are modern day mechanics, as originally sphagnum moss would have been bound together with natural fibre such as string, to make the shape. Modern mechanics help to achieve better and faster results and if people can't see the mechanics it doesn't really matter.

The design
Small pieces of fairly dense conifer are placed all over the cone, keeping the cone shape tall and elegant. Clip it if necessary

Select flower heads that are in the jewel colours of the period, in this case red, yellow and orange. Daisies, wild flowers. carnations, and roses are all good choices.


Establish a spiral with one row of your flowers, in this case orange wild flowers were used. It is easier if you put your cone on a turntable to do this, so you can turn and get an even spiral as you place the flowers. If the stems are too soft to push into the floral foam, you may have to wire them  to create a stiffer stem.

Strengthen the spiral by adding the other  flowers , in this case yellow wild daisies and  red carnations.

Collect artificial or dried fruit, once again picking sizes in proportion to the cone and  wire these to a skewer or toothpick. Then add them at random amongst the flowers.

Finally, add three loosely entwined ribbons. In this design they are blue, purple and red, reflecting the rich and regal colours of the period. The ribbons follow the line of the spiral and float above the flowers, to be secured neatly with florist pins top and bottom.