Baptism candles are part of the Christian religion used as a symbol of the light of Christ entering the life of the baptized child.  They are often large personalized pillar candles decorated in ribbon and pins which must be presented at the baptism by the godparents of the child.  It is also customary for the godparents to take baptism candle to the three consecutive communions following the baptism.  The Paschal Candle, sometimes referred to as the “Easter” candle, is used to light baptism candles as a symbol of the resurrected Christ who will live in the child forever.  The practice of baptism is a sign of washing away the sins of a child and welcoming them as a member of the church family.  It is expected that infants who are baptised be raised in the faith, and participate in the church as they grow older.

Personalized Baptism Candles

It is customary for a childs baptism candle to be personalized with the name of the child, the date of their baptism, and the location where they were baptised.  It is also optional to include a small scripture that has significance to the godparents or to the child.  Baptism candles can be personalized with this information by molding the wax on to the exterior of the candle, or by etching out the details of the personalization by hand or with a machine.  Modern baptism candle companies can even offer to seamlessly overlay photos of the infant onto the candle.

It’s also common for the parents of the infant to create memorable tokens of the event for friends and family to take home such as small candle tins with the baby’s name and date of baptism along with a simple scripture.  This type of gesture is certainly not necessary, but it represents a certain gratitude that the child should be so welcomed into the church home.

Decorating Baptism Candles

Part of the job of the godparent before presenting the baptism candle at the ceremony is to decorate it, further personalizing it.  Most commonly, baptism candles are decorated with a simple candle and bow, however the decorations can be as complex as a tulle and streamer, or even a small floral corsage or bouquet.  Baptism candles do not need to be overdone, they should simply reflect the wonderful relationship between an infant and his church family, and more specifically, the important journey the child embarks on with Christ.

With the popularity of winter weddings increasing, the demand for winter wedding centerpieces is also increasing.  Having a winter wedding gives you the opportunity to create a unique and memorable wedding theme that includes winter wedding centerpieces that many people will have never seen.  Whereas most weddings occur in the spring or summer months using bright and cheery colored themes, winter weddings centerpieces can utilize darker more sophisticated colors.  Instead of an apple red that might be used in the spring, winter weddings can utilize more cosmopolitan colors like merlot, carmine, or sangria.  Your centerpieces can reflect these darker more subdued colors by including them in your design.

Additionally, winter weddings generally call for more formal themed designs which can be reflected in your winter wedding centerpieces with crystal, velvet, and satin ribbon.  Some of the hottest trends right now include either contrasting the winter weather with warmth and relaxation, or embracing it.

Ice Carved Winter Wedding Centerpieces

The most popular winter wedding centerpieces embrace the winter weather and heighten the drama by using ice carved centerpieces to hold their candles or flowers.  For example an iced carved vase filled with tall winter branches will be a conversation starter at any table, and be remember for long after the wedding.  Or, create a contrast of fire and ice with an ice carved candelabra or candle platform.  The melting wax, flickering light, and melting water are sure to create a dramatic impression.

Floating Candle Winter Wedding Centerpieces

Floating candle centerpieces have been growing in popularity for several years.  They offer a number of benefits.  Primarily, they are incredibly easy and inexpensive to create compared to the costs of hiring a florist, designer, or ice carver.  You can pick up floating candles in bulk in the color of your choice, put in simple garden style floating candle bowls, and accent with winter berries, or the flower petals of your choice.  Additionally, floating candle centerpieces are extremely unique, and although not as grandiose as ice carved vases, they still serve as memorable winter wedding centerpieces for any table.

It is also very common to use seasonal arrangements rather than traditional floral designs.  Large white winter branches are great for dangling crystals which beautifully reflect light and give the appearance of pure snowfall.  One of the benefits of choosing between winter wedding centerpieces is the fact that you have the chance to create something completely new and unique, so be sure to think beyond the traditional wedding designs.

With all of the important decisions brides-to-be are faced with, it can feel overwhelming to have to add wedding backdrops to the list. Fortunately choosing a wedding backdrop can be fun and rewarding, however the importance of choosing something that fits your theme and style should not be discounted. Simply put, wedding backdrops are the faux wall, curtain, or structure that is behind you, the groom, and the minister at your wedding ceremony. It is an extremely important aspect of your wedding design because it creates the anchor point for the room by which all of your planning and decorating is built on. It also creates the focal point for the space making it very clear to guests where the service will be taking place.

Wedding backdrops are also a crucial part of your wedding plans because they are what define the space as your own. You, along with your wedding planner have an important job- to create a unique and memorable space that belongs to you and your future husband. As you look back at your wedding day photos, you will have wanted an elegant platform that transformed a simple banquet hall into a special place shared by you and your closest friends and family.

Column Wedding Backdrops

By far, the most popular wedding backdrops use some form of round or Grecian column to create a timeless look that is elegant and sophisticated. A sweeping chiffon is commonly used to tie all of the columns together and create a pure white backdrop for the best quality photos. Drawn white fabric between sturdy square columns trimmed with complimenting floral arrangements are a very inexpensive way of defining your space, while still providing the perfect backdrop for photos.

White Iron Wedding Backdrops

If you are planning an outdoor wedding, it can be difficult to separate your own space in the wide open space. You can overcome this obstacle by using a wedding backdrop that is see-through. Wedding backdrops made of wrought iron are wonderfully artistic and can be lined with flowers to make your alter stand out among the open space.

Light Up Wedding Backdrops

One of the latest trends in wedding backdrops utilizes the dazzling beauty of LED lights, or fiber optics embedded into white fabric. The result is a vibrant and dynamic wedding backdrop that literally sparkles in light. While this can be extremely attractive, you must keep the brightness of the twinkling to a minimum level to be tasteful. Otherwise, these kinds of wedding backdrops can be tacky and distraction to both guests and your photographer.

Many times, wedding backdrops can also be a term used to describe the scrim used to enhance the scenery surrounding the wedding cake, or even the head table.

Whether you are planning a wedding or event with several hundred guests, or if you just want to save money buying votive candles bulk, the Internet has made wholesale and bulk purchasing accessible to anyone with a computer. Votive candles are small cylindrical shapes of wax, usually paraffin or beeswax, measuring around 2.5 inches tall and 1.5 inches round. The primary use for votive candles in the past century has been a symbolic religious offering for those who are christian or roman catholic. To light a votive candle for someone meant you had intentions of praying for that person for healing, salvation, or any other interference of God in their lives.

Today, votive candles in bulk are used as an inexpensive way to decorate a room filling it with the romantic and relaxing ambiance of a candle’s glow. Votive candles are often used in restaurants and cafes as well as for large banquets or events because although they are simple in design, they are a timeless and classic anchor point for a table.

Benefits Of Buying Votive Candles Bulk

There are two primary benefits for buying votive candles bulk. The first is that you can save a substantial amount of money. Obviously with volume, manufacturers are willing to give steep discounts. If you know that you are going to be using more than 10-15 votive candles, then you should consider buying in bulk. Purchasing votive candles bulk can save you over 50% allowing you to reallocate that money to other areas.

Buying votive candles in bulk is also much more conscious of the environment. Purchasing normal quantities of votive candles will result in you wasting packaging and shipping costs. Boxes of 100 votive candles or more are packaged much more efficiently than 10 boxes of 10 candles. However, only buy votive candles bulk if you intend on using all of the candles. Ordering bulk and then throwing away unused goods is just as wasteful as buying in smaller quantities.

Tips For Purchasing Votive Candles Bulk

Scented Or Unscented - Unless you plan on distributing your use of bulk votive candles, be sure to choose unscented versions without any fragrance. Even the slightest of scent multiplied hundreds of times at a wedding reception or banquet can nauseate everyone in the room.

Colored Votive Candles – While it is more difficult to find colored votive candles in bulk rather than white, if you are using a glass votive holder, you can enhance the ambiance of a room all while contributing to the theme or colors of your wedding.

Votive Candle Holders Included – Many bulk votive candle packages include votive candle holders for simplicity and convenience. If you plan on purchasing glass votive holders anyways, you can save a little bit of money by buying the glass holders along with your votive candles bulk.

One of the most dazzling ways of decorating a room for a wedding, banquet, or event is to saturate the room with candle light emitting from tealight holders. Spread among many tables, shelves, and pillars, tealight holders are sure to captivate the minds of anyone who enters the room. However their uses are not just limited to large banquets or wedding receptions. Tealight holders are extremely affordable making them a great way to enhance or create a romantic or relaxed mood at home.

Since tealights themselves are cheap, effective, and easily replaceable, there are a number of manufacturers who design beautiful and artistic tealight holders for the home. Most are designed for the dinner table, but there are many other options available for wall mounting and coffee table decorations. They are available in many styles including glass, wrought iron, lantern and contemporary designs.

Glass Tealight Holders

Common at wedding receptions or on cafe tables, simple glass tealight holders will allow you to utilize inexpensive tealights in a sophisticated and elegant way. You will find glass holders can be made in crystal styles, or in frosted designs which emit a more even glow. There are even shapes such as flower tealight holders which can be easily stored for use at many gatherings. These types of glass holders are different from votive holder in shape and size. Votive holders are made to accommodate slightly taller candles which do not have the metal tin to contain the wax.

Wrought Iron Tealight Holders

Extremely popular in candle holders like candle sconces or candle chandeliers, wrought iron is no doubt one of the best selling tealight holders as well. Wrought iron pieces are almost as beautiful with, or without a lit candle, making them perfect decorations for a coffee table or console table year round. Their ornate design and extreme strength allows them to display tealight candles in what seems like mid air. They are also extremely versatile pieces which can be used indoors or outside, great for summer barbecues or get togethers. Some of the best selling wrought iron tealight holders are wall mounted units which add character to a room year round, making an evening in a special occasion anytime the candles are lit.

Contemporary Tealight Holders

Contemporary or modern tealight holders are truly a reflection of your personal tastes and style. They will often use abstract shapes and patterns in unusual ways to display your tealights. In addition, contemporary tealight holders will often be made of unusual or interesting materials such as aluminum, chrome, bamboo, or stainless steel.

Lantern Style Tealight Holders

One type of tealight holder that is sure to delight and entertain guests is a lantern design. Commonly used outdoors for pool parties, or perfect that summer evening get together with close friends, lantern style tealight holders use anywhere from one to five tealight candles to create a relaxing glow reminiscent of a simpler time.

Whether you are choosing to use red candles for your a simple dinner party or an elaborate wedding design, there is an underlying meaning to every colored candle that we choose. Red candles have been used for centuries for their bold and charming glow. Understanding what red candles mean can help you determine if they are a good fit for your event. Traditionally, the color red has always been a symbol of passion, romance, love, health, attraction and desire. It’s no wonder that Valentine’s day dinners are often distinguished by their deep red colored themes and candles. However, red candles can be used as a symbol for those things all year round, making red a great color for any romantic event.

Using Red Candles For Your Wedding

Red has always been a difficult color to use in weddings because depending on the season, it can either look too heavy or even enigmatic. However, the good news is that red candles can be used to create wonderfully elegant wedding decorations whether they are used as the primary color, or an accent. The key to properly including red in your wedding theme is to choose shades of red that are more appropriate for the season you are to be married. For example, spring and summer weddings should utilize bright and cheery reds such as apple red candles or even scarlet. While fall weddings should focus more on burgundy and merlot shades both of which can be tasteful and classy.

Types Of Red Candles

Depending on the setting, there are a number of different styles of red candles that you can use to create vibrant and dynamic centerpieces for your party. Each design reflects a particular class of elegance which can be determined by how formal you intend the event.

Red Pillar Candles - Simple, yet classic cylindrical in shape. When arranged into a candle bouquet, use many different sizes of candles to create multiple dimensions to the piece. Hurricane candle holders are a great way to enhance the appearance of red pillar candles.

Floating – Red floating candles are one of the most elegant and dazzling ways of creating a centerpiece for your wedding. Although they seem complex, floating candles are actually very easy to use in an inexpensive floating candle bowl with a few flower petal accents from your floral arrangement. Guests will be stunned at your creativity and unique design ideas.

Tealight – Hundreds of tea lights in simple votive holders create an unbelievable first impression with guests. Filling a room with candlelight from so many sources creates an instantaneous mood of relaxation and romance. Using red candles in votive holders are a great way to maintain your theme while keeping costs reasonable.

A candle warmer is an electrical device that heats the wax of a candle without using a flame in order to safely expose the fragrance of the candle to the room.  Candle warmers got their start around 2001 as an alternative to lighting candles allowing you to leave them safely unattended for hours on end.  A candle warmer works by simply heating the wax with a high intensity halogen bulb or plate rather than burn the candle via the wick.  Whereas most candle warmers heat the wax from the bottom up, requiring up to an hour before the aroma is dispersed throughout the room, Candle Warmer brand units use a lamp on the top of the candle to melt it from the top down, just like a real wick.  The result is a candle that melts and smells just like a lit wick, but without the hazard of articles near the candle catching fire.  Additionally, the wax does not actually burn off, meaning the petroleum substances are not released into the air along with your favorite fragrances.

Benefits Of A Candle Warmer

According to the US National Fire Protection Agency, over 10% of residential fires can be attributed to candles with 6% of civilian fatalities due to fires being caused by candles.  Candle warmers eliminate the dangerous open flame that can be a hazard to you and your family.  Wicks of candles that are not properly trimmed will also emit soot which is known to cause several health problems.

Any good candle warmer will completely eliminate the hazards of burning a candle while still allowing you to emit the wonderful fragrances that you have become accustomed to with your candles.  The best part of candle warmers is that you can still use all of your favorite brands of candles without any of the hazards.  There is no need to by any special equipment or particular brand of candle other than the candle warmer itself to safely enjoy your favorite aromas.  Finally, candle warmers will actually increase the lifespan of your candles because the wax is never burnt off.  When you start to notice the fragrance weakening, simply throw out the candle, or repurpose the wax for other crafts.

Candle Warmer Bestsellers

By far the best selling candle warmer on the market is the original Candle Warmer brand unit which created the industry standard in 2001.  They offer a bulb life of over 1000 hours, and their units are one of the only candle warmers to heat the wax from the top down, filling your room with the candle’s scent in just minutes.  It features a sturdy metal construction and a patented lamp which uses a narrow focused beam to heat your wax quickly and effectively.

There are other less expensive heated plate designs such as the Darice No Flame Electric Candle Warmer.  This type of candle warmer is best if you plan on being around the house all day long.  Because they can take up to an hour to completely heat the wax, you will not get the full scent of the candle immediately.  However, customers love this type of warmer because its set it and forget functionality.

Using a candle warmer is a great way to safely burn all of your favorite candles while increasing the lifespan simultaneously.

Candle sconces are a form of decorative lighting that can be used to enhance the appeal of any room, whether it be a dining area or living space. Prior to the 18th century, candle sconces where used as the primary form of light during the evening hours. Usually a simple shelf mounted on the wall, tall pillar candles would be placed on top and would be lit to provide light. Today’s candle sconces have come quite a bit further in both efficiency, function, and style. In fact, most candle sconces are purely decorative, but they are still very romantic in their reminiscence of a different era.

Additionally, candle sconces are an extremely affordable way to add a touch interior design in your home. Creating a romantic mood has never been easier than lighting a few scented candles in the living room, and just spending time together admiring the subtle flicker of the flame’s shadow on the wall. Most people agree a candle light dinner is one of the most romantic gestures one lover can make to another. Cooking by candle light is both unique and equally extravagant. By mounting candle sconces throughout your home, you can take advantage of the calming atmosphere candle light creates whenever you feel inclined.

Wrought Iron Candle Sconces

Most of the bestselling candle sconces are made of wrought iron which is a material that is durable, stylish, and affordable. The appeal of wrought iron design is that fact that it can be bent and shaped into wonderfully artistic pieces in their own right. Adding a candle simply enhances the piece. Wrought iron candle sconces are usually very curvy or swirly in design which allow manufactures to make extremely complex pieces that are sure to add character and appeal to any wall. Utilizing wrought iron’s strength, many wall sconces have candles that float effortlessly in the air creating a three dimensional accent for your room.

Modern Candle Sconces

Modern candle sconces are made from any number of materials and of various styles, but all reflect a similar core design. Simplicity and minimalistic appearance separate most modern candle sconces from the more traditional styles. Contemporary design also utilize uncommon materials in their base construction, some of the most popular of which are: nickel, brushed aluminum, chrome, and bamboo. Beyond their unusual construction most modern candle sconces will contrast colors and shapes to create a unit that stands out on the wall. Shapes like circles and squares may be overlapping one another, or perhaps bright and vibrant colors will be contrasted against darker browns or greys.

Choosing the right sconce is dependant on the theme of your interior design. However, it’s almost impossible to go wrong with something as charming or beautiful as candle sconces.

Prior to the 18th century when gas lit lamps took the place of candles as a primary source of light, a candle chandelier was a sign of luxury, class and royalty.  Although we have the convenience of electricity today to power our lives, it is still wonderfully reminiscent and romantic to utilize candle light from a candle chandelier for special occasions.  Many of today’s candle chandeliers have been retrofitted to use either real pillar or tea light candles, or low maintenance flameless candles.  The candle chandelier of the medieval age was built purely for function out of wood crosses.  Modern candle chandeliers are built primarily for aesthetic appeal and beauty.  Nothing creates the comfortable and romantic environment like the flicker of a flame, and the right candle chandelier for your room can provide plenty of light for the evening’s events.

Candle Chandelier Sizes

The size of your candle chandelier will depend entirely on the size of room you intend on illuminating, and the level of light that you wish to have.  Most home units can hold between 6-12 candles at one time which would provide plenty of light for a romantic dinner for two.  However there are commercial units available that are used in restaurants or hotels which can hold 24 candles or more.  These types candle chandeliers can cost as much as $5,000, however you can find one perfectly suitable for your home for well under $100 dollars.  In any candle chandelier installation, you should be certain that you use non-drip, or “dripless” candles to ensure the safety of all of your guests.

Candle Chandelier Styles

Since the primary purpose of the candle chandelier is to add beauty and charm to your home, entire industries have been developed to satisfy the demand for different styles of chandeliers.  When choosing a style, pick something that will look good even when not lit during the day.  Remember that you’ll have to look at your candle chandelier unlit most of the time.  Some of the bestselling styles include:

• Wrought Iron - By far the most popular candle chandelier is made with a dark bronzed wrought iron design.  The complex iron shape gives character and depth to any room, and is a piece of art in itself without being lit.  Glass votive holders are also common to accent this type of design.  The strength of the wrought iron allows the unit to suspend candles effortlessly in mid air creating a focal point out of each flickering flame.
• Brass – Many people find it reminiscent to buy older style brass fixtures when choosing a candle chandelier.  In the right environment, brass chandeliers can tie a room together making for an elegant and classy decor.
• Crystal - For those that can afford the luxurious expense, crystal candle chandeliers create a magical sparkle as the flames reflect and refract in every direction.  Finding a quality crystal candle chandelier can be a challenge, but for those who succeed, it was well worth the cost and effort.

Taper candles are the long, thin candles that you will commonly see in candle holder centerpieces like a banquet candelabra.  They get their name from the shape that the hand dipping wax process creates when they are made.  At the base they can be as thick as one inch, while moving towards the top they “taper” down to nothing.  Taper candles have been used for centuries as a source of light and decoration, however since the invention of the light bulb, taper candles are most commonly used for creating a romantic atmosphere.  Taper candles are often used in wedding ceremony unity candles as a way of symbolizing the two people coming together to live one life committed to one another.  Two taper candles are used by the bride and groom to light the center pillar candle signifying the joining of two hearts.

Benefits Of Taper Candles

There are many reasons why taper candles are one of the most popular and bestselling candle.  Obviously they are extremely beautiful, ornamental, easy to purchase and store, and extremely affordable.  They can add a touch of timeless class to any dinner table whether it be a rare fine dining occasion, or a simple meal prepared at home.  They are decorative and appealing to look at even when not lit, making them extremely versatile investments.  Additionally, while they are comparatively inexpensive compared to other styles of candle, taper candles last for long periods of time.  It’s not unusual for a taper candle to burn for up to 10 hours creating a seemingly endless atmosphere of sophistication and romantic glow.

Types Of Taper Candles

Over the years, candle manufacturers have created unique and delightful variations that make taper candles even more appealing than ever.  Below are some of the most popular types of taper candles that are available online.

• Dripless Candles – Dripless candles eliminate the hazard soot inhalation and hot wax drippings on your centerpieces by using the perfect balance of wick to wax ratio along with a few other techniques such as double dipping higher melting point wax.  No more picking wax drippings of the table cloth, and your centerpiece stays as beautiful as the moment you lit it.
• Beeswax Candles – Beeswax has the highest melting point of any wax known in the candle industry.  Beeswax taper candles last longer, burn brighter and emit no harmful chemicals, fumes, or fragrances into the air when burned.  Beeswax candles are also smokeless and dripless in most cases making them a superior taper candle choice.
• Hand Dipped Candles – The old method of hand dipping candles repeatedly to build up tapered candle have been replaced by the machine and the mold.  However there are still a few purists who believe that hand dipped candles make for the most elegant tapered candles of all.

With all of the different styles of candles available, it can be difficult to choose.  Don’t forget, when picking your favorite taper candles that you need a candle holder to keep it upright.