The short answer: I don’t use real candles. For the long answer, keep reading…
The one thing almost 100% of my clients love is candlelight. A beautifully candlelit room can immediately evoke the feeling of romance. I think it reminds us of looking up into the magic and mystery of the skies. Also, the biggest advantage of using candles is that everyone looks GREAT.
However, I have had so many accidents with the casualties of wax that I used to panic every time a client told me they loved candles.
Here are a few of my casualties with different types of candles:
- If votive candles are not placed properly, they could burn a leaf or flowers and start a small fire. (However, these are safest to have if placed strategically.)
- If they are pillar candles, watch out for the tablecloths.
- If they are tall taper candles (these are the worst) you could have wax all over the flowers, glasses, tablecloths, and, in one case, spilling all over my client’s tux.
- If they are used outdoors, FORGET IT. Most likely they are going to blow out.
And forget about the promise of “dripless” candles, because once there is any kind of vent (air conditioner or any draft) these dripless candles become a blobby mess of wax.
My solution for using candles is to use LED or battery operated candles. (Of course, this is only my opinion based off my experience with clients. If you want to use real candles, there’s no fool-proof solution to the wax problem. There may be tips and techniques people can share below, but mostly it’s a lot of hoping for the best.) It might not seem as romantic as seeing the live flickering flames, but the overall effect is very much the same.
Here’s a battery operated votive. In the candle holder, you can hardly tell the difference.
This kind of votive has three different lighting options: flickering, flashing and solid.
This tall taper candle uses standard double A batteries. (I got these from Paradise Candles in Pennsylvania.)
On a few occasions, my clients didn’t even realize they weren’t real candles until I mentioned it to them. When using these types of candles, it’s also important to explain to your clients that large events are not the same controlled environment as their homes.
Now please tell me, how do YOU decorate with candles without making a mess? And if you could share some secrets on how to get rid of unwanted wax, that’s great too.
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Erica Scott
March 23, 2010
I prefer to put candles, whether they be pillar or votive, inside a glass container such as a cylinder or something similar. That way the wax is contained within the container but you still have all the beauty and romance of pure candlelight. I’m with you, I think taper candles are the worst so I very rarely use them unless a client just really, really wants them. The glass containers also keep drafts or gusts of wind from getting to the flame so as not to extinguish the candle…great option for outdoor events where they want lots of candlelight.
Ben Legacy
March 23, 2010
The soy candles are a good alternative, if you must have the real candle look. The mess is much easier to take out. We have several museums as venues, so the switch to flameless wasn’t a terribly hard one. We’ve also had great success with the ice cubes shown, as well as several other types of glowing centers.
Sonia
March 23, 2010
Sometimes well meaning guests decide to help with “blowing” out candles instead of letting us do our job and snuff them out. Once someone someone blew out some tapers and the wax was all over our table cloth. Thank God for the following tip. You can get rid of unwanted wax on fabric by putting a paper towel over the wax and then ironing over the paper towel. The heat melts the wax which is absorbed into the paper towel. I dislike using tapers.
Gloria Brown
March 23, 2010
Preston, thank you very much for posting this topic. You have been very helpful and also everyone that shared in yesterday’s post was very helpful, too!
I haven’t completely switched to LED’s but I feel that I will probably go totally LED in the future. I use a mix of real candles and LED’s with real pillars being the majority. I am very careful to make sure that I have all of the real candles strategically placed where guests cannot get burned and also where centerpieces cannot catch on fire. I always place real candles in glass cylinder vases with a touch of salt on the bottom for easy cleanup.
I have a tip to share on cleaning wax from tablecloths. Plug in a hot iron, place a paper towel under the tablecloth beneath the wax area, place another paper towel on top of the wax and press with the hot iron for a moment. Both paper towels should have collected the wax. You may need to repeat with a fresh paper towel for a few more times. And this may not completely remove all of the wax but it sure removes most of it.
I look forward to reading more ideas from fellow bloggers.
Gloria Brown
March 23, 2010
Hi Sonia,
Great minds think a like ….LOL!
We must have posted at the same time.
C Callender
March 23, 2010
I love to use tealights as they give an airy fairy elegance to any table top. Aside from messy table cloths nothing is less appealing than a bunch of dirty votive or pillar candle holders/vases. To prevent too much wax from making a mess, add a wee bit of water to the vase or votive holder when setting up. This helps prevent wax from sticking to the bottom. As for the messy sides, use a lighter to reheat the area and melt the offending wax for easy wipe off.
Teresita Doucet
March 24, 2010
We use LED candles in our clear candle cups, for our chandeliers, I find the LED do not have enough bunch (candlefoot power) for some events..so in those cases, we use tealights or votives in our deep glass votives with a base of salt..then after wards, we pop out the whole mess..sift the wax out, re-use the salt..
Cheers! Sita
Hovik
March 24, 2010
Hey everyone,
I’m a young, aspiring event designer and this is something that I would like to talk about. My events so far have not been overly luxurious or extravagant but my experience is growing on a daily basis. Recently, I did I birthday party for a client it was a “Spring Lounge Bash” theme and since it was an evening event in their beautiful, big backyard I put candles to good use (floating candles in the pool, tealights on the buffet/bar stations, etc.). Although I had a few candle casualties because of the wind, I would say most of my candles were in good shape throughout the event. I don’t prefer working with real candles either. I prefer the battery operated but what the battery operated can withstand in the wind, it falls prey to dying batteries. Maybe I haven’t experienced work with long lasting candles, but from your experiences do you guys trust that the batteries will suffice throughout the event. And from your experience is their a correlation between price and duration in these candles?
Also, is there any sure way of using floating candles in a pool and not having them blown to the sides by the wind? I have been advised to use anchors but haven’t tried that option before…seems like a lot of miniscule engineering for a floating candle. Please let me know what you guys think!
MELISSA
March 24, 2010
I AM NOT A PARTY PLANNER SO I WILL SAY THAT FOR MY HOME I LOVE BEES WAX CANDLES FROM “SANTA FE” CANDLE COMPANY… I LOVE THE SMELL OF BEES WAX AND FEEL THAT THESE ARE THE MOST REFINED OF ALL CANDELS.. IN A CLASS BY THEMSELVES AND WELL ABOVE EVEN SOY CANDLES…
I HATE ANY CANDLES THAT HAVE SCENT AND THEY ARE SINTHETIC AND ARE TOXIC WHEN BURNED… EVEN. ESSENTIAL OIL CANDLES ARE TOXIC WHEN BURNED….
XXOO
MELISSA
joann447
March 27, 2010
i love it
Sharon Dalton
September 22, 2010
A good way to get rid of unwanted wax is to blow dry it. The heat helps the wax soften and makes it easy to get off of linen and or materials.
Miato
October 12, 2010
Hola,
їPuedo tomar una pequeсa foto de su sitio
Have a nice day
Miato
M Throne
October 30, 2010
These are GREAT alternatives to candles when you have a large group of people and get that sweet romantic feeling. So beautiful!
I personally burn soybean based candles and have for years. Clean burning and cooler than paraffin candles. A great alternative and kinder to the environment.
harley davidson
November 3, 2010
We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.
————–
Northwestern University
Paty Jaurena
November 8, 2010
Todo lo que veo me gusta mucho y no me canso de verlo todos los días
Flameless Candle
November 19, 2010
I totally agree with you about using battery operated or flameless candles. They are so much safer and easier to use than regular candles. No mess and no fuss.
You can also get flameless candles in a variety of scents. I don’t know how well that would work for an event, but it’s great for the home.
Madeline
November 24, 2010
I had already used the ice cubes during our exhibit and during All Saints Day. People really are impressed with it.
Real candles are really nice but we have to always be on the look out of the possible hazards. Thanks for sharing your experiences. This might be little things but they really count a lot.
Thanks for sharing. Some people dont share their knowledge while others share. In my observation, those who share really receives back the blessings. I might not know you personally but I can say by the way you share that you are really a good man that is the reason why you are blessed so much.
Zaara's Mummy
November 28, 2010
You can buy no-drip candles. I always light candles on my family heirloom silver candlesticks and I don’t have messes.
Geoff King
December 10, 2010
Hey I found your site to be very informative about candles which in my case
is my great hobby.
I love to visit your site again when there are new posts. Thanks…
Margaret Ivory - Ivory Pearl Bridal
February 14, 2011
I am going to use LED candles from now on.
Rebecca Henry
April 11, 2011
You nailed it! This is the biggest problem with candles. Not to mention that often when brides want candles it’s because they think they will get that soft glow that comes from pinspot lighting they see in magazines. We always have to remind them that no matter how many candles they load a table with it will never be the same as investing in lighting. And around here nearly every site now has fire code restrictions that prevent us from using candles without glass, an added issue to the whole candle thing, since many people who like tapers would not like then to be under glass.
Elizabeth Gall
June 3, 2011
Last year I had a wedding reception with over 1000 candles – the couple didn’t want them in glass – it looked fantastic and the wax came out of any linen by ironing it onto greaseproof paper – wax on glass comes off with a wipe of nail polish remover on cotton wool – but a good quality battery operated is definitely the way to go with tapers.
soy candle-making classes
June 20, 2011
nice web blog on Candle. Carry on. It will definitely help us in our work. Please keep sharing like this.
John Douldouras
August 19, 2011
Overall the effect of REAL Candlelight when used correctly is second to none. Education is the key, and a lot of NEW Event Planners and Designers consistently ask about how to use Candles within their events. It seems that Candle Care and Usage is not being taught anymore and has become a lost art. With Candelabras the use of Fuel Cells, particularly an 8 hour (Tealight equivalent in size) is the way to go. These are contained within the cups or holders and the flame is still noticeable. No mess no need for cleanup, at the end of the night, just put the empty in the recycling bin or disposal bin. As for Pillars always use an accompanying plate or mirror, this will minimize spill cleanup due to uncontrollable event environments. Remember use the correct Holder for different types of candles where needed, keep wicks properly trimmed and always leave enough flame clearance from other Centerpiece arrangements.
Mandaps
January 9, 2012
Candles are tough work, however if done correctly, can look amazing during the dinner. We use candles as much as we can as they look really nice, especially with Mandaps, wedding stages and Asian wedding decor
Tish Dacio
January 25, 2012
Love your concepts! Love your solutions!
In the Philippines, florists would keep the candles away from the flower arrangements but having them grouped in glasses. Some would opt for floating candles, the glass containers would be filled with water… droplets of food coloring… and surround its base or top brims with flowers.
I keep extra vigil over my bride when I coordinate weddings as their 10ft long veil (a tradition in my design shop) may catch fire if it comes close to a candle. That’s also why I insist that the ceremonial veil be removed as soon as they enter the reception ballroom and take their seats at the head table.
Anonymous
September 20, 2012
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY?