Candles are one of the few decorative elements that completely transform the feel of a space without the need for elaborate setups. At a wedding, they mark the difference between a standard room and a room with atmosphere. In this guide, we’ll tell you how to use them well, how many you need, and what to keep in mind before you decide.
Why they work so well at a wedding
Candlelight is warm and low, the exact opposite of a room's general lighting. This does two things: it softens faces (your photographers will thank you) and creates focal points wherever you decide. Furthermore, unlike flowers, they don’t wilt during the day and will last from the ceremony until the end of the dance floor.
Where to place them: the four moments
1. The ceremony
Lanterns on both sides of the aisle, spaced one to one-and-a-half meters apart, guiding the view toward the altar. If the ceremony is in the evening, this is where it makes the most impact. If it is in full sun, the light isn’t visible: it’s better to invest the budget elsewhere.
2. The cocktail hour
This is the most forgotten area and where guests spend the most time standing and talking. Lanterns on high tables and in corners set the mood without getting in the way.
3. The banquet
The rule here is height: either very low or very high, never at eye level. A mid-height candle prevents guests sitting across from each other from seeing faces clearly. Group three pieces of different heights in the center of each table, and it will work better than a row of identical candles.
4. Outdoors and pathways
Stairs, entrances, and paths. Closed lanterns are essential here: outdoors, an unprotected candle will be extinguished by the first gust of wind.
How many candles do I need?
As a starting guideline, for a wedding of about 100 guests: between 10 and 16 lanterns for the ceremony aisle, 3 pieces per banquet table, and between 8 and 12 for walkways and outdoor areas. Total approximate sum: between 60 and 80 pieces. It seems like a lot, but candles work through accumulation: four loose candles in a large room aren't visible.
What nobody tells you: safety and venue rules
Before buying anything, ask your venue or estate. Many spaces have their own rules regarding open flames, especially in interiors with wooden ceilings or in wooded areas. Three things to confirm:
- If they allow open flames indoors and outdoors.
- If they require candles to be inside closed lanterns.
- Who is responsible for lighting and extinguishing them (this is not a minor detail: lighting 70 candles takes time, and someone has to do it while you are with your guests).
Always choose soy or vegetable wax over paraffin: it burns cleaner and doesn't leave that black smoke that stains the lanterns by the middle of the night.
Buy or rent?
The math is simple. Buying 70 lanterns to use for just one day means paying for items that you will later have to store, transport, and, almost always, resell or give away. Renting makes sense when the service includes transport and setup, because on your wedding day you will neither have the time nor the desire to set up candles.
Buying is worthwhile for the pieces you want to keep: the ceremony candle, the wedding favors, or a personalized lantern with your names and the date as a keepsake.
Our proposal
At Creative Velas, we make handcrafted soy wax candles and lanterns in our Tarragona workshop, and we offer lighting rentals for weddings and events with a minimum service of €150 (excl. VAT) that includes setup, collection and transport up to 30 km, plus the pieces you choose. We handle the setup so you only have to enjoy the day.
If you prefer something to keep, take a look at our customizable SUN LANTERN, to which you can add any phrase or names you like, or our entire collection of handcrafted candles.
Do you have a date in mind? Tell us about your space and we will prepare a proposal with no obligation.