The Chicken Wire Frame That Collapsed During the Funeral

A standing spray for a funeral service — about 90 cm tall and carrying 34 stems — collapsed sideways 40 minutes before the service began. The frame had been constructed from 50mm mesh chicken wire, which is designed for garden fencing, not floral structure.

Mesh size and stem load

Chicken wire used in professional floristry is typically 25mm or 38mm mesh. The smaller aperture creates a denser grid that catches stem ends at multiple points, distributing weight laterally. A 50mm mesh has too few contact points per stem — stems shift, lean, and eventually the cumulative imbalance tips the whole structure.

Structural errors in the frame build

1. 50mm mesh instead of 25mm — stems had only one contact point each
2. Frame attached to the easel at one point rather than two
3. No secondary support crossbar at mid-height
4. Heavier stems placed on one side without counterbalancing

After this, I build all standing frames with 25mm mesh, two easel attachment points, and a deliberate weight-distribution check before adding any flowers — heaviest stems go in first, centered on the vertical axis.

The service was delayed by 20 minutes. I still think about it.