If you’re putting together your own wedding centerpieces, you’ve probably realized by now that tealight candles make fantastic accents. There’s nothing quite like the romantic glow of candles at tables during a relaxing dinner! But you’ve probably also decided you need to buy bulk tealight candles and you want to get the best price.
But what kind of tealight candles should you get?
Where is the best place to buy tealight candles for weddings?
What are a few things to avoid when buying tealight candles?
We’ll answer all of these questions — and more! — including one very important tip about why you should never use scented tealight candles for weddings. It’s a biggie. Don’t miss it!
Bulk Tealight Candles for Weddings
We’ll show you where to buy tealight candles in bulk in a minute. First, there are some important things to know before you get a bunch of tealight candles for your centerpieces and we’re here to help you pick out the best candles for your wedding.
1. Are tealight candles those small ones I always see used as candles for wedding centerpieces?
It depends on what kinds of candle size you’re envisioning, but yes — tealight candles, like these, are the most popular candles for weddings. This is a visual to show you the size, so you know exactly what you’re looking for.
2. Why are tealight candles so popular for weddings?
Tealight candles are great because they’re economical, they have a long burn time (especially if you buy these), and they look beautiful as accents placed in and around your centerpiece design.
3. Do you need to put tealight candles inside anything when using them for centerpieces?
If you’re using candles for wedding centerpieces as the main focus, then yes; if using tealight candles as an accent (with scattered petals, or placed by floral arrangements, then no — you can keep them in the tin container they are packaged in. But keep them away from anything flammable!
4. If I’m putting tealight candles inside another vessel, what should I use?
We love these tealight candle holders that double as favors as one option. You can get them at PashminascarfGifts.
Alternatively, paper luminary bags are another great choice, particularly for lining walkways around your ceremony or reception at night. These are by Olden Designs — she’s a serious expert when it comes to all things luminary, so check her shop out here.
5. How long do tealight candles burn?
It is important to buy the right kind of tealight candles for weddings — you want a very long burn time so that your centerpieces aren’t flickering out mid-dinner.
As a rule of thumb, I never use tealight candles for weddings UNDER an 8 hour burn time. You can get a huge bulk pack of 100 tealight candles from Stonebriar (they’re awesome) here for around $24 and they burn for 8 full hours each.
6. Do you have any suggestions for smoke coming from tealight candles if guests are sensitive?
While it’s pretty uncommon to have complaints with long-burning tealight candles simply because you won’t see them flicker out (and that’s when you see smoke), these tealight candles are also my favorite because they’re smokeless. That’s because they’re made from a lead-free, 100% cotton wick. They’re the same ones mentioned above.
7. I want clear glass holders for my tealight candles. Any suggestions?
When using tealight candles for weddings, only use tealight sized candle holders, Other holders are too small and the flame is too low. These tealight candle holders from Eastland are a great deal.
Now, if your heart is set on the larger votive candle holders you often see, you’ll need to get votive candles instead of tealight candles. You can get long-burning votive candles here. They’re a huge hit with wedding centerpieces, too, and are just as popular as tealight candles.
If you’re buying votive holders, buy in bulk to save money AND buy the candle holders separately from the actual votive candles. You’ll actually save some money, to be honest. I only buy votive candles from here, simply because I’ve used them in actual weddings we’ve planned and they boast a 10 hour burn time (and that’s totally accurate in my experience). You can get them here.
8. Are tealight candles for weddings in white only?
Typically yes, but they don’t have to be.
Due to the ease of making bulk tealight candles in one standard wax color (ivory / white), you’ll usually find them in one color. But some places offer a small wrap that goes around their tealight candles to give them a little extra pop, like these:
Of course, that’s more of a neon set, so if it doesn’t jive with your color palette you have another option. Instead of choosing white tealight candles for weddings, opt for votive candles like we talked about earlier. There are more options for colors when it comes to votive candles, like these in navy:
Or these, in pink:
You can see a ton of beautiful color candle options here.
9. Do you know of any tealight candles for weddings with rustic flair?
YES. These are my new favorite at the moment! I adore these tealight holders and would love them all around my home. By AECreativeDesignsCo.
Or these by Hagao:
Want a geometric flair? Try these by Verydise:
If you love mercury glass like me, buy tealight candles in bulk with holders like these from Beau-coup:
10. How do you make your own tealight candles for weddings?
I don’t know if there would be a cost savings (or stress relief from so many candles to make!), but certainly… if you want to make your own tealight candles, follow this DIY tutorial. I’ve never made them myself, but it’s worth the read if you’re interested!
11. My venue prohibits open flames of any kind, but I want candles. Any tips?
If you love the warm glow from candles and the romantic light (who doesn’t?), we recommend the next best thing: LED candles! These battery-operated tealight candles are as good as it gets with no risk of fire, no smoke, and no mess.
Some venues are particular because things can get out of hand with napkins on tables and placement of open candles; it makes sense. ALWAYS use fake LED battery-operated candles when venues prohibit open flames AND on any candles that aren’t in plain open sight. This means walkways outside the reception or ceremony venue (just to err on the safe side). You can buy highly-rated, awesome, long-lasting LED tealight candles here.
12. Do you have suggestions for using tealight candles for weddings with beach / nautical themes?
YES. Use these driftwood tealight holders from CoastalDecorShop:
Anchors aweigh! These are by KateAspen:
These sailboats are cute by Beau-coup:
Lighthouse lanterns? You’ve got it! By Beau-coup:
Nautical glass tealight candle holders? Definitely love these (by Beaucoup):
Or these tealight holders for nautical weddings by Whole House Worlds:
13. What about tealight holders for succulent inspired weddings?
Sure enough, we’ve found ’em! Aren’t these so cool? They make an awesome accent to your centerpieces. By LilyPress.
14. Any suggestions for tealight candle holders for the head table?
This set we spotted at GFT Woodcraft is perfect!
Or this one from here:
Or put your bulk tealights in lanterns, like this (from the same shop):
And lastly…
15. Do you have any suggestions for tealight wedding favors?
Yes — these teacup holders are adorable (from Kate Aspen):
Lanterns from the same shop here:
I love these glass tealight candle holders from KateAspen:
Also available in pink:
I’ll also never tire of the tried-and-true mercury glass bulk tealight candles and holders, like these from Letine.
BONUS: Never, ever use scented tealight candles for weddings.
As a rule of thumb, never use scented candles for weddings anywhere — especially the reception tables. The reason is that it changes the taste of food; the scent is also really hard to deal with when people have sensitivities to smells. You can read more about it here: Why You Should Never Use Scented Candles at Weddings.
And there you have it: everything you ever needed or wanted to know about tealight candles, I’m sure. Now that you know where to buy bulk tealight candles for weddings, the type of candles to buy, and what kind of holders to use, do you have any questions for us? Let us know in the comment box below and we’ll swoop in to help!
Happy Planning!
xo
Emma
