We do lights, ribbon, ornaments, then throw some of that fake snow at the tree (the plastic kind in a bag). Okay...that sounds really tacky, but it's not! It's not a lot of snow, just enough to look nice. It's a mess, but it's pretty.
so obviously the lights first..until this year I always put the garland on next to last followed by tinsel..(we use the irridescent kind)..but "Martha" was on the other day and she said always put the garland on first..and I tried it and have to admit that I didn't knock off one ornament by doing it that way..so from now on it's lights, garland, ornaments, bows, and tinsel..angel on top is always last!