Decorating candles for a wedding: spectacular lighting accompaniment for the celebration

Where did the tradition come from?

Not all rituals performed at modern weddings have long historical roots. One of these recently invented ones is the lighting of a family hearth. This beautiful, impressive sight echoes the need for an open fire in the homes of our ancestors. But the ritual of its (fire) transmission never existed.

This ritual was invented by our contemporaries, wedding planners. It involves all the main characters of this celebration: the groom, the bride and their parents. The ritual is highly significant for a young family. This is a kind of blessing from parents to create a happy family for their children. The ritual confirms the beginning of their new, family life.

Interesting!

What is needed for the ceremony

Not everyone knows how to properly light a family hearth at a wedding and what is needed for this. The main accessories of the family hearth lighting ceremony are candles. There are no strict requirements for size, quality and appearance: there is only one thing - quantity. There should be three candles. Modern rituals allow variations in the design of accessories in accordance with the style of the wedding celebration.

Most often these are three light-colored candles, one large and two thin. But they can also be curly, floating, flavored.

In order not to lose the solemnity and main meaning of the ceremony, it is recommended to adhere to several simple rules when choosing candles.

1. The central figure of the composition is the newlyweds’ candle. It should be larger in thickness than others, since it will have to burn longer and more often. But a larger size is also desirable because it is to this element of the composition that the attention of those present will be drawn.
2. The design of accessories may include a variety of ribbons, bows, lace, and plastic accessories with wedding symbols. There may be decorations in the form of engraved patterns, monograms, the first letters of the names of the bride and groom. The same wish applies to the design of candles: they should all form a composition in the same style. But the central candle for the newlyweds can be decorated more impressively than the other two.
3. If the wedding ceremony involves further handling of the candle after it is lit, precautions must be taken to prevent wax spillage. For a photo shoot or visiting guests, it is advisable to have a candlestick or stand that matches the style of the overall candle composition.
4. For parents, it is advisable to choose thin candles. This advice is dictated by two reasons: thin ones are much faster and more convenient to set on fire, this shape (long and thin) best sets off the spectacular central one.

Candles for the ceremony of lighting the family hearth are sold in all wedding salons. If you want to personalize your celebration, you can make accessories of any size and shape with your own hands.

Today, those newlyweds who had the ritual of lighting the family hearth performed at their wedding are thinking about saving their candle in order to light the fire from it at the wedding ceremonies of their children. This is how new rituals and traditions are born that will become significant for our descendants.

Symbolism of wedding candles

The ceremony has various options for using this decoration:

• for wedding;
• decorating a table or room for celebrating an event;
• for the newlyweds' dance (subject to certain fire safety conditions);
• in the “home” ritual;
• during a photo shoot.

The use of fire for various actions has its own sacred meaning. Thus, wedding candles symbolize the union of two loving hearts before God. The sacrament of wedding sanctifies the creation of a new family and blesses the birth of children. The ritual with candles is very beautiful. The young people take them and keep them lit until the end of the ceremony.

The fire is extinguished before the blessing of the priest. Candles are kept and lit in difficult moments of turmoil for reconciliation, wedding anniversaries, as an attribute of the holiday. This sacred fire protects peace, reminds us of the years we have lived together, consoles us, and makes us happy.

Candles can be used to decorate tables. These elements will personify the spiritual unity of the newlyweds and create an atmosphere of comfort and mystery. The lights on the tables look especially impressive in a darkened room. To be safe, it is better to take gel candles in glasses or containers with water.

Alternatively, this design is appropriate during the dance of the newlyweds. Burning attributes of the holiday are placed on the floor to create a place for dancing; guests can hold them, which creates a certain halo around the bride and groom.

A photo session of newlyweds can be held in the most unusual places: a swimming pool, in nature, among flowers, in stone gazebos. Experienced photographers can always offer a large selection of locations decorated with these winning elements.

The beautiful “Home” ritual has gained great popularity among young people who have decided to get married. Its basis is candles, which symbolize the passing of the baton of love from the older generation to the newly created family. It is worth telling more about this ritual.

How the ceremony goes

Before lighting the family fire at the wedding, the toastmaster announces that one of the most important rituals for the newlyweds will now begin. Dim the lights and turn on beautiful slow music. We light the family hearth at a wedding as follows:

• The groom's parents approach the table from the groom's side:
• the bride's parents come up to stand next to their daughter;
• the newlyweds take their candle and hold it together;
• the groom's parents pick up the candle that is closest to them and light it;
• the bride's parents take their candle in their hands and light it too;
• at the same time, the newlyweds' parents bring their candles and light the newlyweds' candle.

The lit candles of the parents symbolize the fire of their home. By lighting a candle for their children, they convey to them a piece of the warmth of their homes and bless them for a happy family life. As a rule, the symbolic transfer of fire from two hearths is performed by the mothers of the newlyweds. Which is not surprising: a woman has long been considered the keeper of the home.

Interesting! While the family hearth is being lit at the wedding, the host can read poetry and parting words for the newlyweds. Parents can also congratulate their children and express their wishes regarding the future fate of the new family.

Often, after lighting the family hearth at a wedding, the young husband is given the floor. He reads poetry to his wife or addresses guests.

If the parents are not in full force

It happens that for some reason the parents of the newlyweds are absent or not present at the holiday. Who should light the family hearth at a wedding in this case? The central candle can be lit by the newlyweds themselves. If the bride's parents are absent, she lights her own candle from a thin one, symbolizing the hearth of her father's house.

The situation is similar with the groom: if his parents are not there, he himself takes their candle and lights the one that symbolizes the home of his new family. If the mother is not present, but the father is present, he participates in the candle lighting ceremony.

Wedding candles for the “Family Hearth” ceremony

To carry out the ritual, prepare a set of three candles. The large one is intended for the newlyweds, the two thin ones are held by the parents of the bride and groom. The ceremony consists of “transferring the flame of love.” Parents light a large candle for their children, thereby opening their new home.

The candle stands in front of the newlyweds throughout the celebration, and then is stored so that it can be lit on the next anniversary. How to choose the right accessories for the ceremony? You can buy ready-made unity candles or order them to be made according to your own design. Young people can express their wishes to the master on how to decorate this holiday symbolism. You can also purchase handmade products from famous designers. Finally, you can do it yourself.

A few recommendations

It is advisable to hold the ceremony of lighting the family hearth at the beginning of the wedding banquet. It is at this moment, when the guests’ attention has not yet wandered, that the ritual will be most impressive for everyone. The wedding scenario always includes many important rites and rituals, so it is recommended that the most significant ones be carried out at the very beginning of the banquet.

If you decide to carry out the ritual of lighting the family hearth at the end of the wedding celebration, you can involve all the guests in this action. To do this, each person present is given a small thin candle. Guests surround the newlyweds and pass the fire to each other, accompanying this action with kind words and wishes addressed to the newlyweds. This continues until the fire reaches the newlyweds’ candle.

Interesting!

Some great candle decoration ideas

The main accents when decorating the table and hall for a wedding fall on the candles and glasses of the newlyweds.
Now we’ll talk about how to decorate candles for a wedding so that they fit into the scenario of your holiday. Wherever you are (in Kyiv, Moscow, Minsk or Almaty), I think that you can find ready-made candles to decorate your holiday in any wedding service salon; in extreme cases, you can use an online store. So, you don’t face the problem of where to buy candles. Another thing is to choose a style: everyone wants every little thing to delight and arouse admiration among guests, so there should be a twist in everything.

I would be very glad if you share your ideas on how you can decorate a wedding with this decor, and if you have a visual representation of your ideas, then you are welcome to comment, other readers will be all for sharing.

Gold and silver – nobility in everything

For a sophisticated wedding in silver and gold, you need appropriate decorative elements. The heroines of this article will be able to fulfill this role simply perfectly: using gold ribbons, candlesticks, and beads, you can create masterpiece jewelry. You don’t have to go far - accessories made of gold and silver materials are already beautiful decor in themselves.

Nowadays it is very popular to make some kind of engraving: on thin candles you can write the initials of the bride and groom in gold or silver, and on the main candle you can combine them into a single composition.

Decoration with flowers

This type of decoration is suitable for weddings in a certain style and color: blue, green, red, pink or pastel colors. Based on the color scheme, flowers for the composition are also selected; as a rule, decorating a candle with fresh flowers does not require additional elements (unless you can decorate a composition of ribbons and flowers), but it is advisable to combine artificial ones with lace and ribbons.

Simple and elegant

In the so-called rustic style, anything that comes to hand can be used - dry twigs, wooden dies, old grandmother's lace. Here you can also decorate the compositions with ribbons. An excellent idea for this theme is to create a composition in the form of an antique lantern. It will also not be superfluous to create additional illumination from the same lanterns, but smaller in size.

Marine style

Oh, I have a lot to offer here, so catch it. Sand base for candles, you can add shells and pebbles to maintain the image. Banquet tables decorated with floating candles will not leave any guest indifferent. You can complement the interior with bottles with candles, which will create ship romance.

Interesting video: example of implementation

You can watch a video about lighting a family fire at a wedding, and find ideas for holding your own wedding ceremony in it.

The video will help you choose the words of the presenter to light up the family hearth at the wedding, write texts that the ritual participants will speak, and borrow ideas for decorating the banquet. You will make your wedding truly impressive and unforgettable.

Alexandra

Wedding planner, blogger, marketer, athlete and just a beauty

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DIY wedding candles

Many young people consider it worthy to decorate the attributes of the celebration themselves. There are two known ways to create them independently:

• finished products are designed to your taste;
• making candle mass with your own hands.

In the first case, purchased items can be decorated at your discretion, using all kinds of elements - flowers, ribbons, rhinestones. In this case, you will have to be content with the shape and size of the materials offered by the sellers. This is an easy way to decorate a table or ceremony element. The main thing is to take into account the fire safety of the decor.

The second, more labor-intensive method has its positive aspects. Having made the holiday attribute with their own hands, the couple fills the work with the sacrament of the ritual and creates a talisman for the hearth.

Necessary materials

To implement the idea you will need: wax, paraffin, candle mass.
It is not difficult to purchase shapes; it is better to choose a cylindrical one (it will suit any interior). For the wick, it is recommended to take a cotton thread impregnated with wax or a ready-made wick. To lubricate the mold, you can use any vegetable oil. Before pouring the material, the mold should be warmed up. It is better to immediately attach small decorations to the inner walls of the mold, and then fill in the material for the product. If you want to make a candle in an unusual color scheme, use food coloring and wax crayons. If you want to make the accessory fragrant, add a few drops of aromatic oils.

Secure the wick with a weight in the center of the mold, heat it up, and pour in the melting mixture. The product must remain in the mold until completely cooled. After which, by pulling the wick, the finished creation is removed. The decoration doesn't end there. You can continue working using other materials.

How to decorate?

You can decorate both ready-made and hand-made candles. There are many different little details for decoration:

• rhinestones,
• ribbons,
• bugles,
• clay elements,
• fabrics,
• cereals,
• wrapping material,
• flowers and much more.

Objects made by painting, decoupage, molded or carved will look unusual and attractive. Ideas for making wedding symbols of a certain style may seem interesting: sea, silver, gold. It all depends on the general attributes of the event.

Decorating wedding candles with ribbons

The best option for a celebration are satin ribbons. They look exquisite. To work you will need:

• satin ribbon;
• sharp scissors;
• good quality glue that does not leave stains on the product;
• thread and needle for sewing parts.

You can create flowers and petals of different shapes from ribbons of different or the same color. To wrap, take into account the width of the material and do it in a spiral. To securely fasten them, they should be sewn and glued.

Decorating candles with flowers

Floral decoration is as popular as ribbon decoration. The following materials are useful for making flowers:

• polymer clay for the base;
• rhinestones, glass beads;
• pins, toothpick;
• small scissors;
• glue.

The work consists of several stages.

1. Make a clay ball and give it a droplet shape.
2. Make several cuts on the wide side.
3. Open each part with a toothpick to create petals.
4. Attach a bead to a pin and insert it into the center of the flower.
5. The pin is needed to be long enough to secure the product to the base.
6. To finish, place the finished flower in the oven to roast (5-7 minutes).
7. We attach the finished floral element. You can additionally decorate with rhinestones, shells, and other small elements.

Marine style candles

Marine wedding themes are very popular in the summer. The most commonly used color is blue. To create a sea fairy tale, you will need the following components:

• blue candles;
• white, blue satin ribbon;
• coarse thread or rope;
• scissors, glue;
• special decorative container (glass vessel);
• sandy, shell material.

The process of creating decor in a marine style is as follows:

• fill the container with shells and sand;
• We fasten the candles with glue, tie them with ribbon, then with coarse rope;
• immerse the resulting composition in a container.

The vessel can be decorated with white sand dust and painted with symbols - swans, rings.

Decorating candles in silver style

The decor in silver tones seems interesting and mysterious. To create such a gentle, exciting image you will need:

• white candle;
• ribbon of pearls, individual pearls;
• satin ribbon;
• floral decor tones of the overall style;
• scissors, glue.

To create such splendor, you should first fasten a pearl thread from the bottom to half of the base. Then wrap the rest of the part tightly with satin ribbon and secure it with glue. Emphasize the transition from pearls to ribbon with satin flowers and individual larger beads.