Creating Wedding Bliss: Diy Candle Favors For Your Special Day

Candles are a great way to thank your wedding guests and are a popular choice as they are attractive, affordable, and can be used more than once. Making your own wedding favours can be daunting, especially if you have a large wedding, but candles are a relatively quick and easy option. You can make your own candles with just a few simple steps and materials, and even add your own creative flair with custom labels and fragrances.

Choosing a scent for your candles

Consider the theme and season of your wedding

If you're having a fall wedding, you might want to choose scents that evoke the warmth and comfort of the season, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice. For a spring or summer wedding, consider lighter and fresher scents like lavender, jasmine, or citrus. If your wedding has a particular theme, you can choose a scent that complements it. For example, a beach-themed wedding could feature candles scented like coconut or sea breeze, while a rustic wedding could include candles with woodsy or earthy scents.

Think about your favourite scents and fragrances

Your wedding favors are a reflection of your personal style and taste, so consider choosing scents that you and your partner love. Do you have a favourite perfume or cologne? Try to find a similar scent for your candles. Are there certain flowers that hold a special meaning for you? Incorporate those floral notes into your candles. By choosing scents that are meaningful to you, your wedding favors will be even more special and unique.

Offer a variety of scents to appeal to different tastes

Not everyone has the same preference when it comes to fragrances, so it's a good idea to offer a variety of scents for your wedding favor candles. This way, your guests can choose the scent that appeals to them the most. You can create different scent profiles, such as floral, fruity, woody, or fresh, and allow your guests to select their favourite. This also adds an interactive element to your wedding favors, making it a more engaging experience for your guests.

Opt for essential oils or natural fragrances

When choosing a scent for your candles, it's best to use essential oils or natural fragrances. These options are not only safer to burn, but they also provide a more natural and authentic aroma. Essential oils are derived from plants and offer a range of therapeutic benefits, such as relaxation or energy boosting. Natural fragrances are typically made from plant-based sources and are free from artificial chemicals. By using these types of scents, you can create candles that are not only pleasant to smell but also beneficial to your guests' well-being.

Consider the intensity and longevity of the scent

When selecting a scent for your candles, pay attention to its intensity and longevity. Some fragrances may be too overpowering, while others may be too subtle. Look for a balance that creates a pleasant aroma without being too overwhelming. Also, consider the longevity of the scent. You want your candles to retain their fragrance for a reasonable amount of time, especially if your guests will be taking them home as favors. Test different scents and fragrances to find the ones that have a lasting impact.

Personalize the scent with a creative name

As a special touch, you can give your candle scent a creative name that reflects your wedding theme or your relationship. For example, you could name the scent after the location of your wedding or a shared interest between you and your partner. This adds a unique and memorable element to your wedding favors, making them even more special for your guests.

Selecting the right type of wax

Type of Candle

The type of candle you want to make will determine the best wax to use. There are two main categories of candle wax: container wax and pillar wax. Container wax is designed to be used in jars, tins, glass, or other containers and has a softer consistency. Pillar wax, on the other hand, is used for free-standing candles like pillars, votives, or wax melts and is harder, allowing it to hold its shape.

Scent and Colour

If you want your candles to have a strong fragrance and hold colour well, paraffin wax is a good choice. It is the most widely used candle wax and can be suitable for making various types of candles. However, it is not considered the most eco-friendly option. Soy wax is another option that can hold fragrance and colour, although not as strongly as paraffin. It is more eco-friendly and has a longer burn time but can be more difficult to work with due to its temperature sensitivity.

Eco-Friendliness

If you are looking for a more eco-friendly option, there are several waxes to choose from. Beeswax is a natural, eco-friendly option that has been used for centuries. It has a subtle honey scent and a signature golden colour. Coconut wax is also gaining popularity as a sustainable and eco-friendly choice. It holds fragrance and colour well and has a clean burn with very little soot. Other eco-friendly options include rapeseed wax and blended waxes, which combine the benefits of different waxes.

Cost

The cost of the wax is an important consideration, especially if you are making a large number of candles. Soy wax is generally the most budget-friendly option, while coconut wax tends to be the most expensive. Paraffin wax is also inexpensive, making it a popular choice for candle makers.

Burn Time

The burn time of your candles is another factor to consider when choosing the right wax. Beeswax candles have the longest burn time, followed by soy wax, which has a slower burn. Coconut wax also has a slow and even burn, making it a good choice for long-lasting candles.

When selecting the right type of wax for your wedding candle favors, consider the type of candle you want to make, the desired scent and colour, eco-friendliness, cost, and burn time. By taking these factors into account, you can choose the best wax to create elegant and functional wedding favors that your guests will surely appreciate.

Picking a container for your candles

Container Options:

• Glass containers add an elegant touch to your wedding favors. You can opt for clear glass holders, which allow the beauty of the candle to shine through, or choose colored glass to match your wedding theme. Glass containers are also easy to decorate with custom labels, ribbons, or other embellishments.
• Metal tins are a popular choice for candle wedding favors. They come in various shapes and sizes, such as round, square, or heart-shaped tins. Gold, silver, and black tins are elegant options, but you can also find tins in other colors to match your wedding color scheme.
• Mason jars offer a rustic charm to your wedding favors. You can find them in different sizes, and they can be easily customized with labels, twine, or ribbons.
• Votive candle holders made of wood or glass can be a beautiful addition to your wedding tables. They often come with decorative elements like dried flowers or heart shapes, adding a rustic or romantic touch to your favors.
• Unique containers such as vintage teacups, recycled jars, old tumblers, or depression glass goblets can make your wedding favors stand out. Using recycled materials is also an eco-friendly option.

Things to Consider:

• Size and quantity: Determine how many candles you need and choose containers that are the appropriate size for your desired quantity. Smaller containers are ideal for individual favors, while larger ones can be used for centerpieces or decorations.
• Theme and decoration: Select containers that align with your wedding theme, whether it's rustic, elegant, or eco-friendly. Consider how you want to decorate the containers and ensure they can be customized with labels, ribbons, or other embellishments.
• Candle type: Decide on the type of candle you want to make. Containers for tea lights, votive candles, or pillar candles will vary, so choose accordingly.
• Safety: Ensure that the containers you choose are safe for candle-making. Avoid flammable materials, and opt for containers with a wide base for stability.
• Practicality: Think about the practicality of the containers, especially if your guests will be travelling. Choose containers that are easy to transport and store.

Adding decorations to your candles

Dried Flowers

Dried flowers can be used to decorate the tops of your candles, giving them an autumnal or rustic vibe. You can choose dried flowers in colours that match your wedding theme and secure them to the candle with a personalised label. This idea works well with soy wax candles in white tins, creating an elegant and natural look.

Custom Labels

Custom labels are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding candles. You can incorporate your wedding colours, invitation design, and theme. You can even come up with creative fragrance names that reflect you and your partner. Printing your own labels is an option, or you can use a service like Avery WePrint.

Ribbons and Twine

If you're going for a rustic or vintage look, consider decorating your candles with ribbons or twine. You can tie a simple bow around the candle or use it to attach a tag with a personalised message. This adds a charming, handmade touch to your wedding favours.

Heart Shapes

Heart shapes are always a popular choice for weddings. You can find heart-shaped candles or create your own by melting wax into heart-shaped moulds. Heart-shaped tea lights are also available, which can be placed in small bags or boxes as favours.

Personalised Initials

Another way to personalise your wedding candles is to add your and your partner's initials. Black labels with initials in an attractive font can be affixed to candle jars or tins, creating a stylish and modern look. This is a simple yet effective way to customise your wedding favours.

Succulents

If you're using succulents as part of your wedding decor, consider incorporating them into your candle favours. Faux succulent candles add a pop of green and can be placed in groups for a cute and unique favour idea.

Glass Votives

Clear glass votives or holders can be decorated in numerous ways to match your wedding theme. You can add custom labels, packaging, or ribbons that coordinate with your colours and decorations. Glass votives are a versatile option that allows for creativity and personalisation.

Luxury Glass Candles

For a more upscale option, consider luxury glass candles with crystal-like finishes and customised metal tags. These elegant jars can be a sparkly addition to your favours table and will impress your guests with their high-end look.

Crystal Toppers

Adding a crystal-like topper to your candles is a simple way to dress them up. You can also include an arrangement of dried flowers and a thin ribbon tied in a bow to complete the look. This idea adds a touch of glamour and sophistication to your wedding favours.

Packaging your candles

Recycled handmade gift wrap and watercolour tags

Paint sheets of watercolour paper in different hues and cut out tags with a paper punch. Then, tie your wedding favours with twine or other eco-friendly ribbon. You can also add a label on the lids of the jars to help your guests easily find their favourite scents. To avoid mislabelling, add tiny colour-coding labels on the bottom of the jars before pouring the wax.

Customised labels

Custom labels are a great way to add a personal touch to your wedding favours. Incorporate your wedding colours, invitation design, and theme. You can even come up with a creative fragrance name that reflects you and your partner. For printing your own custom labels, try Avery WePrint™. All CandleScience customers receive an exclusive discount on any WePrint order.

Tiny bags

If you opt for clear glass candles, you can package them in tiny bags that match your wedding colours. You can also add a custom label or a rustic ribbon and wooden heart.

Boxes

Some candle wedding favours come with small boxes, such as wooden heart-shaped candle holders or rose-shaped candles. Boxes add a nice finishing touch to your wedding favours and make them look more elegant.

Ribbon and twine

A simple way to elevate the look of your candle wedding favours is to tie them with ribbon or twine. This can be done for almost any type of candle favour, whether it's a jar, tin, or glass candle.

Frequently asked questions