Create Affordable Favors That Look Amazing

People who are looking to get the best quality for the lowest price realize that sometimes it is hard to have both.  If you looking for some  inexpensive decorating ideas for place settings at your dinner table or favors at your wedding, these decorated votive cups will fit the bill.  With a little bit of work you can have 1 of a kind decorations at a very low cost.  The price to put together one of these votive holders is under $2.00 and will be even cheaper if you use flowers or greenery from your garden or yard.

What you need to make favor:

• straight sided votive cups
• some ribbon (we used 1 1/2″ wide satin but any kind will do)
• raffia (twine or string can be used)
• double stick tape
• flowers (we used wild flowers on one and a lily on the other but you can use whatever you want, you can also use fake flowers, leaves, berry clusters, etc )
• votive candles to fill the cups

Step 1: Cut a piece of ribbon to wrap around the votive cup and over lap about 1/2″.

Step 2: Stick a small piece of double stick tape to the votive cup right about in the middle.  If you use a thinner ribbon and want it to wrap around near the top or bottom, put the tape on accordingly.

Step 3: Attach one end of the ribbon to the tape, stick a second piece of tape on top and near the end of the ribbon which is now attached to the cup.

Step 4: Wrap the ribbon around the votive cup keeping it as tight and straight as you can.  Press the end of the ribbon down onto the tape to hold it in place.

Step 5: Cut a piece of raffia or twine long enough to wrap around the votive cup 2 times and to tie a bow or knot.

Step 6: Wrap the raffia around the votive cup 2 times (you can do more or less, just cut the length accordingly) and tie in the flowers or greenery you chose for the decorative accent.

I found that with the lily flower, since it had a thicker stalk, it was easier to tie my raffia into a knot then tie the flower in with the bit of raffia that was left.  For the wild flowers, the raffia was loose enough that I could slip them in behind the raffia after I had tied it.

If you are making your decorations up pretty long in advance you might want to stick with fake flowers so that they don’t look dead by the time your guests arrive.  Also, very important note… make sure that whatever you use for the accent does not hang down into the votive cup and create a fire hazard when you light the candle inside.

Magnetic Butterfly Accents

The beauty of displays and centerpieces is often enhanced with small decorative accents like ribbon, flower, sand, or garland.  We have a new line of magnetic butterfly decorative accessories that are gorgeous.  These butterflies are hand crafted and hand painted in vivid colors.  Each painted glass section is set in metal cutwork which gives the decorative butterflies as stained glass look.  The butterflies have a small magnetic disc attached underneath so they can be placed on any ferrous (containing iron) metal surface.  In addition, we also include a small suction cup with a built in metal disc which matches up perfectly with the magnet on the base of the butterflies.  With this suction cup these butterflies can be used on a myriad of smooth surfaces including, vases, mirrors, window, candles, and more.  These decorative accents can be use all around your home or at events such as weddings or banquets.  Our wide selection of available colors means you are sure to find glass butterflies to match your color scheme.  For other accents and decorative accents checkout U.S. Candle Company.

Wedding Candle Holders

We have some beautiful wedding candle holder sets which include a pillar holder and two taper holders. The holder for the unity candle can be used with a wedding candle up to 4″ in diameter. The two matching taper holders should be used with taper candles with the standard 7/8″ diameter base. These unity candle holder sets are elegant yet simple enough to fit with any wedding theme. We also have brass and silver plated candle holders that are a single piece but will hold a unity candle and two taper candles. We have an affordable brass plated holder which can be used as either a taper holder or a pillar holder.  This reversible candle holder can be used with a pillar candle up to 3″ in diameter or a standard taper candle.  We are currently offering a buy 2 get 1 free deal on these holders for a limited time.  Put three of these together and you have a very nice looking set of holders for your wedding candles. If you haven’t already purchased your unity candles we have a nice selection of pre-made ones as well as some that can be personalized.

Submersible LED Decor Lights

We have new submersible LED lights that are great for adding to your displays in low light settings like wedding receptions or banquets.  These LED lights run on 2 batteries, which are included, and will last for approximately 8 – 10 hours.  The lights will sink to the bottom of any water filled container.  To turn the lights on/off simply twist the bottom half of the light.  You can put LED lights into floater bowls, water filled cylinder vases, or any other container.  If you aren’t using any type of floating candles or displays these lights can be used right on the table around your displays or centerpieces.  Our LED lights come in white, purple, blue, pink, and amber.  The floating candles at the top of the image are actually white candles in our 4″ diameter glass cylinder candle holders.

Votive Candle Inserts Eliminate The Mess

New unscented soy votive inserts virtually eliminate the need to clean leftover wax out of your votive holders.  These thick poly carbonate inserts are the same size as a standard votive candle so they will fit in all the same holders.  When the unscented soy candle is used up in the insert, just recycle it.  These votive candles can also be used without a holder because they have a flat base.  Votive candle inserts should be burned on a heat resistant surface so they won’t damage the table tops when the flame gets near the bottom.  They are less expensive than buying a candle and a holder separately so they make ideal wedding decorations for brides on a budget.  These unscented soy candles will burn for 12 hours.  These soy candles are a big benefit to places that burn a lot of candles often like restaurants and places that host banquets or events.  You can save tons of time getting wax residue and wick tabs out of the bottom of your holders by just replacing the insert.

WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011

Harrisburg, PA – January 26, 2011 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce U.S. Candle Company has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for candles and decor!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

U.S. Candle Company stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud U.S. Candle Company for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that U.S. Candle Company is among the very best in candles and decor within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our Storefront today at http://www.uscandleco.com

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation’s leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

New Product Category

We are happy to announce that we have added a new product category to our website… Wedding Accessories.   This new category includes items such as ring pillows, toasting flutes, guest book and pen sets, flower girl baskets, and more.  Many of the accessories in each of these categories has matching items in other categories.  For example you will find the Blush Ivory design in the toasting flutes, guest book and pen sets, flower baskets, garters, and ring pillows.  Some of these wedding accessories will also have a matching Unity Candle such as the “scroll” design.  The Unity Candle for this design will be added shortly.

We have also added a number of new Unity Candle designs and some taper and pillar holder wedding sets.  If you have a wedding coming up or have friends who are engaged be sure to look at what we have.

2009 Wedding Colors

The color trends for wedding decorations have been moving away from strictly white and ivory and more toward bold, vibrant colors. Some examples of these 2009 designer colors are hot pinks, bright oranges, tiffany blue, yellows, and purples. These fresh trendy colors help make the wedding atmosphere fun and bright. Use some modern accessories to give your wedding decor a classy touch. White and ivory decorations will always be part of wedding decorating but a splash of strategically placed color can have a really nice affect. The hardest part of adding these trendy colors to your wedding decor is not going overboard. You don’t want all the guests to need sunglasses just to find their tables. Of course if you are doing a tropical theme wedding then color is the order of the day. So there is occasion to have color as the bulk of the design, it’s your wedding do it your way. We have a very nice line of unscented candles available in these colors to help get the look you want. Start planning your wedding decorations with enough time to make sure you can get what you want, and remember to have fun.

Stimulate Your $ cent-es

In times of economical crisis, after the fears subside, people start to realize what’s really important. We start to enjoy the small things in life – a home cooked meal, time with loved ones, and we appreciate the things we have. Decorate your home even on a “shoe-string budget”. You can even use them as a functional light source. Get the most “bang for your buck”, using our affordable candles to stimulate your mind, body and spirit with warm, soothing, or invigorating candle fragrances.

Wedding Candle Ideas and Tips (part one)

There are so many different things you can do with candles for your wedding. Whether you use candles as the main focal point in your centerpiece, or as accents on your tables, you can create a look that is unique and personal. Below are some tips and ideas on how to make your wedding easy, affordable, and a “day to remember”.

Light your candles prior to the event.

Lighting your candles prior to the wedding, will help them re-light easier and faster during the ceremony. Light the candle wick briefly, and then blow it out. Also, check the area around your candles. Test lighting will ensure that they will stay lit throughout the entire ceremony, and won’t be extinguished due to overhead fans or air ducts.

Outside Weddings

If you are planning an outside wedding, glass hurricanes or cylinders are a wonderful was to help keep your candles lit on a windy day.

Candle light Receptions

Use candles as a functional light source. Dim the room lights and light the candles to create a romantic look. Candles give you the most “bang for your buck”, and this can be an economical way to start your new life together.

Storing Candles

Store your candles in their boxes, and keep them away from direct sunlight so the color won’t fade. Store them at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or freeze them, this will cause the wax to crack.

Unity Candles

Want a unity candle that is made just for you? We can personalize your candles by using your invitation, wedding date or a design of your choosing. Want to keep that candle forever? We can put a tealite in the top of it, so your candle will remain intact for years to come.

Memorial Candles

A great way to include a deceased loved one in your wedding ceremony is with a memorial candle ceremony. A personalized memorial candle can be a touching yet simple way to have that person participate in your ceremony. Place it next to your unity candles at the ceremony, or have it at the entrance of the church.