Let there be light - using candles to make your indoor or garden wedding really special

The more candles you use during your celebrations, the more glowing and radiant the atmosphere.

The variety of candles is unlimited: gel, tea-lights, scented, personalised,tinned candles,heart-shaped ... and their uses are equally endless. You need to consult with the venue for your wedding and reception to check what rules and regulations they have about candles – some churches like them, some insist on you using special candles that don’t drip or smoke and some don’t allow them at all. Once you’ve found out what you can and can’t do, here are some ideas to get your imagination aflame!

At the ceremony

• An American tradition that is becoming popular here is the unity candle. Just before the vows, the bride’s mother and groom’s mother both light a taper which they hold during the vows. When the vows have been exchanged the bride and groom take the tapers from their mothers and together they light a tall candle at the alter to signify the union of the two families. If you are marrying for the second time and you both have children from your first relationships you can ask each of the oldest children to light the taper instead – which is a lovely way of involving them in your new family from the very beginning.
• How about each usher and bridesmaid having a candle that they light during the vows, so that they light your journey back down the aisle as a married couple.
• Some churches allow pew end candles, which can be beautiful, but remember that floaty dresses and veils can be a danger when walking up the aisle!
• Memorial candles can be personalised with the name of the loved, departed, family member, and lit at the beginning of the ceremony by the celebrant or a near relative of the deceased. This is a touching way of remembering family members who have died, or invoking those who cannot be present – especially those who are on active service overseas.
• Any and all of these candles can be transferred to your reception. Make sure you appoint somebody to do this – they can be used as centre pieces for the top table, or set on a side table within a floral ring.

Don’t forget to check safety when using candles. Hurricane lamps or glass holders ensure that naked flames are not going to put your guests at risk – but make sure the holders are properly heat resistant or they make crack. Consider draughts, breezes, smoke alarms etc. when planning the layout.

Reception ideas

• Hurricane lamps are safe and pretty – you can surround the base with wrapped chocolates or flowers.
• Mirrors double the light a candle gives out, so consider mirrored holders or just set your candles on small mirrors as a centre piece and surround them with fire resistant artificial flowers, or even fresh fruit and nuts.
• Floating candles in little bowls are sweet and safe, consider buying artificial pearls or other beads in your wedding colours to put in the bottom of each bowl. You can also colour the water in which the candles float.
• Fabric table runners look wonderful with a line of candles down the middle.
• For a summer wedding, paint clay flowerpots either white, or in your wedding colours, and tie your wedding ribbon round them. Plug the hole in the bottom, fill them with sand and set your candles in the top. Looks really countrified!
• Scented candles can be surrounded with potpourri or fresh flowers – this works particularly well for autumn weddings.

For guests - and for you

• If you have guests staying overnight, make up a little welcome basket including a local map, important telephone numbers, a candle and matchbook (both of which can be personalised), fruit and some miniature toiletries.
• A small floral display, a half bottle of champagne, some fruit and a candle make a wonderful surprise for your new partner. Pack them in a hatbox and set them up in your honeymoon room.

Outdoor wedding or receptions

• Citronella candles for an outdoor wedding will keep away midges and mosquitoes – put them in holders in case it’s windy
• For outdoor weddings or receptions in the evening, remember to use citronella tapers stuck into the ground (those four foot tall ones which also look lovely) both for their light and their insect repellent effect.
• If placing candles outdoors in the evening, remember yellow and white flowers and silver foliage will bounce back candlelight. Red flowers don’t show up at all in the dark, so if you have them, you need to offer white or silver as a foil to bring them out. Remember that mirrors, or silver coloured trays and salvers, will double the light given by your candles.
• Have a back up lighting plan in case it’s very windy or drizzly – Chinese lanterns strung around your venue don’t have to be turned on unless the weather lets you down. Make sure any lights you string are outdoor lights, indoor ones can’t cope and will blow their bulbs.
• Light pillar candles or put tea lights in glass jars to show pathways.
• Lantern stands are cheap at present and can simply be plunged into the ground. From them you can hang hurricane lamps or votive holders with handles. It looks very pretty and gives light at the right height for people to be able to see their hands easily when eating, or reading.