Dress up your own cheap wedding favor candle

Leaving a candle at each guest’s place setting as a wedding favor is a great way to say “thank you” for sharing your special day. Candles are a practical and inexpensive gift that will be utilized by most people and the newlywed couple will be remember at each lighting. To spice up the presentation of your candle wedding favor without breaking the budget, try one or more of these ideas.

Bargain or low cost shops usually have a large selection of candles, holders and wrapping ideas and supplies. A trip or two to your local store for supplies, and a little effort and time, will produce a very pretty favor without hurting the budget.

A white or cream-colored votive candle wrapped in simple tulle or colored cellophane and tied with a ribbon will be the simplest favor. Match the tulle and ribbon color to the wedding theme color and the favors will help the reception table tie into the theme. Consider adding a charm, shell, sticker or small toy tied to the tulle with the ribbon to accentuate the wedding theme ever further.

Adding some items to the candle itself will create a unique favor. Metal or wax candlepins can be purchased in bulk at bargain or kitchen stores. Simply press the pin into the candle and wrap; a heart, wedding cake or other theme related pin would present itself nicely.

Purchase sealing wax in a different color than the candle and a stamp. Melt the sealing wax and add a drop to the candle. Stamp and you have a unique and personalized candle to wrap and present.

Add thin pedaled dried flowers, leaves or herbs to each candle for a seasonal affect. Press flowers, leaves or herbs between sheets of paper and iron them so they are completely flat. Apply glue or paraffin wax to the pressed flowers and press on the votive candle. A coating of melted paraffin wax can also be applied to the entire candle to secure flowers in place. Wrap and present.

Utilizing special printing wax paper, found at office supply or stationary stores, and a printer, you can create a saying, poem or simple thank you candle. Print the sayings onto the wax paper cut and apply with paraffin wax; wrap and present to your guests.

For a winter wedding try a beaten wax candle for a snowball effect. Melt paraffin wax and allow to slightly cool, as it begins to solidify beat with a fork until it froths up into a foam. Apply the froth to a white votive candle. Before it hardens, sprinkle glitter on the wax and you’ve got a glittery, snowball for each place setting.

To present an elegant favor, add glass votive candleholders. Discount stores are the best location to find candleholders and will often sell in bulk for an even better bargain. Since candleholders come in many shapes and colors, it’s fairly easy to purchase something that relates to your wedding theme. A backup plan that will appear elegant and fit into any wedding theme is to purchase white candles, a clear candleholder and wrap with white tulle, cellophane or ribbon.

For those that have the time to create their own candles, think of spending the budget on an elegant candleholder to spice up the presentation. In addition, consider making gel candles instead of wax candles. The option to add shells, charms, flowers and other items is easier and rewarding with a gel candle as opposed to a wax candle.

Whichever selection you decide to go with, know that your thoughtfulness and time will be appreciated and remembered by your guests.