Few décor elements are able to conjure a dreamy vibe as beautifully as candles. Just as Sam I Am discovered he loved green eggs and ham, we too have realized our affection for flickering candlelight. We love candles in a glass hurricane vase; we love them in votives on a runner of lace. We love candles’ gleam and candles’ glow; we even love them hanging or afloat. Scroll through these 29 ideas for candles centerpieces at weddings to see how you like them best — and find the décor team to realize your vision.
New York Rooftop Aglow
This luxe rehearsal dinner from the planning team at Leslie Mastin Events, makes beautiful use of the glittering city view from the roof at 620 Loft & Garden. David Beam Experiences curated king’s tables full of rows and rows of lovely candles accented by towering pink floral installations — bright and soft against the city backdrop.
photographer: Roey Yohai Studios | event planner: Leslie Mastin Events | design: David Beahm Experiences | venue: 620 Loft & Garden | floral: David Beahm Experiences | entertainment: Élan Artists | rentals: Party Rental Ltd. & Napa Valley Linens | lighting: Stark Production Group
Candlelit Enchantment
We are in love with this elegant wedding at The Revaire. Oulala! What an Event created a romantic dreamscape of simple spring foliage and never-ending candlelight. A delicious sit-down dinner, catered by A Fare Extraordinaire, kept guests lingering for hours at these beautifully lit tables. Even the dance floor was surrounded by candlelight at this stunning wedding.
photographer: Ama by Aisha | planner: Oulala! What an Event | décor & rentals: Blooming Gallery | venue: The Revaire | caterer: A Fare Extraordinaire | lighting & a/v: Generations Audio Visual | entertainment: Blind Date Austin | cake: Cakes by Susie
All-White with Candles Bright
Set at the historic Oheka Castle, this gorgeous Southeast Asian wedding featured thousands of white floral and the glorious glow of candlelight from the design team at The Style Marc by MWD Lifestyles. We love the elegant Mandap, with its surprise of light pink blooms scattered into the all-white design at these nuptials planned by Erganic Design.
photographer: Simon Luethi + Maloman Studios | event planner: Erganic Design | venue: Oheka Castle | design, decor, & floral: The Style Marc by MWD Lifestyles | mandap structure, custom dance floor, & backdrop: HITECH Events, LLC | furniture rental: AFR Event Furnishings
Opulent Ombré — and a Hot Air Balloon Too
This Southeast Asian wedding is a wonderful example of well-done ombré, with pink, red, and orange florals from Occasions by Shangri-la. We appreciate the way that KIS(cubed) Events created different moods for each part of the celebrations — from the bright nuptials to the swanky reception. And don’t miss the hot air balloon which made for some share-worthy pics.
photographer: Nadia D. Photography | photographer & event planner: KIS(cubed) Events | decor & floral: Occasions by Shangri-la
You Had Us at First Glow
What’s better than a table full of luminous candles? Even more candles. We love how additional glow was conjured by towering vintage candelabras looming over already decked-out tabletops by the talented team at Jose Graterol Designs. This celebration from Sari Events made beautiful use of varied 1 Hotel South Beach spaces, including the water-view terrace and glorious ballroom.
photographer: Patty Nash Photography |event planner: Sari Events |venue: 1 Hotel South Beach | production, lighting, dance floor, & backdrops: PSID Group | linen rental: Over The Top Rental Linens | rental chairs and tables: Elements & Accents | cake designer: Elegant Temptations Cakes
Floating Florals
The Chicago Cultural Center played host to this chic celebration. The grooms donned colorful floral garlands from the design team at Erin McDonald Co for their nuptials before dining at tables adorned with an interesting take on candles. The designers created a beautiful array of florals suspended underwater in vases topped by glowing candles at Clover Events-planned soirée.
photographer: Allison Williams Photography | event planner: Clover Events | décor/floral: Erin McDonald Co | venue: Chicago Cultural Center
Frozen Flowers, Leafy Place Cards, & Candelabras — Oh My
This wow-worthy vision from the design team at L’Atelier Rouge and the planners at Leslie Mastin Events has our team squabbling over our favorite parts. We love the leafy wonder that is the place card wall and we adore how ice bar contains frozen blooms and the lighting casts branch shadows — but the tapered candles and their cascading wax at the magnificent venue that is the Weylin put us right over the top.
photographer: Maya Myers Photography | event planner: Leslie Mastin Events | florals: L’Atelier Rouge | venue: Weylin | caterer & cake: Abigail Kirsch Catering | stationery: Bella Figura | lighting: Bestek Staging and Lighting | linen: Nuage Designs | entertainment: Hank Lane Music | dresser: Kiki Hronis | rentals: Party Rental Ltd. | entertainment: Drumadics | photo booth: We Love Photobooths | videographer: Love In Progress | ice bar: OKAMOTO STUDIO Custom Ice
Glamorous Golden Glow
The planners at cristina verger event planning & production created an elegant white and gold winter NYC wedding that was perfectly-set at The Metropolitan Club. The structure’s ornate design details were perfectly illuminated by the scores of flickering white candles encased in glass on every single tabletop — carrying a cohesive design vision through the space.
photographer: Gruber Photographers | event planner: cristina verger event planning & production | venue: The Metropolitan Club
Grand Green & Gatsby Gold
This glamorous Gatsby-themed wedding from Marbella Event Furniture & Decor Rental incorporated 20s-era touches like luxe emerald green seating by All Occasions Party Rental and gold table runner and more green velvet in linen cloths from Lendable Linens. Then there was the glowing lighting scheme by LUXE Creative that captivated with hundreds of candles on tabletops and suspended in towering deco-like structures. Pure luxury.
photographers: Steven Dray Photo & Jade Devore Photography | event branding & décor: Marbella Event Furniture & Decor Rental | venue: Pittsburgh Opera | rentals: All Occasions Party Rental | linen: Lendable Linens | lighting design: LUXE Creative
Splendor, Suspended
Kildeer, IL
So far, we’ve talked about tabletop candles and candelabras, floating candles and flickering flames in tall structures, but here’s a new one: candles suspended from the centerpiece itself. Northern Greenhouses brings us this creative floral and light vision set in Kildeer, Illinois’ beautiful Concorde Banquets space.
photo courtesy of & floral design: Northern Greenhouses | venue: Concorde Banquets | linen & chairs: Covered Affairs
Brilliant Ballroom Beauty
The W Chicago – City Center is perfect for a candlelight-forward celebration, with its luxurious ballroom boasting unique chandeliers that look like flickering tapers that have been fashionably upended. Greenwood and Giel worked with StemLine Creative to curate this lovely celebration that used glorious candlelight to tie the ceremony (hello, candle-lined aisle) and the moodily-lit reception together in the most stylish way.
photographer: Elena Bazini Photography | planner: Greenwood and Giel | floral design: StemLine Creative | venue: W Chicago – City Center | cake: Alliance Bakery | band: TVK Orchestra
Romantic White, Gold, & Bold
This glorious celebration from the visionary team at Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design incorporated flowing white drapery, luxe tufted alabaster lounge seating, and the beautiful glow of candles enclosed in mercury glass. The tiny flickers were multiplied by glamorous mirrored tables and gold-backed chairs. Don’t miss the memorable floral-flanked, monogrammed aisle.
photographer: John & Joseph Photography | floral design: Eddie Zaratsian Lifestyle and Design
Candle Glean & City Scene
When a venue like New York’s Tribeca Rooftop gives you views, you don’t block them with towering florals; instead, you keep it low and glow, with hundreds of white candles accented by chic white blooms. The planners at Ruth Ridgeway Designs conjured this beautiful celebration with the design team at AMG Events and Visuals. Click through to see how string lights were creatively (and beautifully) used to define the ceremonial space.
X Marks the (Perfect) Spot
Gatsby-glam globe lighting, an art deco-inspired monogrammed dance floor, and an uncommon table arrangement boasting rows of glowing candles are just a few of the memorable details of this romantic wedding from Jackie Ohh Events. The design team from Xquisite Events curated this beautiful vision, and you’ll have to click “see more photos” to catch their totally-unique, totally-gorgeous feather and branch altar (we promise you’ve never seen anything like it).
Iconic New York Spots for a Soon-to-be-Iconic Design
When the planners from Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants and the design and décor team from Elegant Affairs team up, we are guaranteed a flawless celebration full of beautifully surprising moments — and this one is no exception. The ceremony at The Plaza New York is a vision in red that highlights its soaring ceilings, reminding us why the spot is iconic; meanwhile, another New York mainstay, Cipriani Wall Street, plays host to the all-white reception featuring soaring glass candelabras and gorgeous floating glass teardrops holding candles.
photographer: Salwa Photography | event planner: Sonal J. Shah Event Consultants | design & décor: Elegant Affairs | ceremony venue: The Plaza New York | reception venue: Cipriani Wall Street | rentals: Luxe Event Rentals | lighting: Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging, Inc. | entertainment: Star Group | caterer: Bukhara Grill | makeup & hair style: Susmita | videographer: Pacific Pictures
Royal Reception
Jennifer J Events planned this royal-inspired wedding at the opulent mainstay, The Breakers Palm Beach. Rich purples, pinks, golds, and reds created a deeply-hued vision from The Special Event Resource and Design Group. We are wowed by the lush florals suspended over the unique serpentine tables — the entire scene lit by layer upon layer of sparkling candlelight. See more photos to catch the oversized rose installation that made the perfect graphic photo spot.
photographer: SigVision Photography | planner: Jennifer J Events | floral & design: The Special Event Resource and Design Group | venue: The Breakers Palm Beach | stage design: Globadyne Production and Design
Cheers to the Future in a Historic Space
When it comes to creating a wow-worthy space, Jerry Rose Floral & Event Design never disappoints; we adore how chic elements like glass, candlelight, and greenery have been combined into one stunning vision at the already-beautiful Weylin in Brooklyn, New York. Leslie Mastin Events planned a New Year’s Eve wedding that had all of the guests grateful to raise a glass of Champagne together at midnight.
Ethereal & Romantic Vision in White
Wow. We’re not even sure where to begin when describing all that we love about this Posh Parties-planned wedding. From the elegant all-white and gold palette to the energizing, dance-floor-filling performance from EastCoast Entertainment, we can’t choose our favorite element. What we appreciate most, though, is the layered design from Xquisite Events that extends from the towering white floral installations to the greenery wall accented by alabaster blooms — and of course, the dreamy candlelight that creates a warm, celebratory mood.
Chicago by Candlelight
The height of elegance is repetition of beautiful elements and this wedding is elegance multiplied with all-white candles in clear glass votives, hurricane glasses, and even in oversized water-filled bowls. The low profile of the décor allows the show-stopping views from the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago to set a magical, glittering city scene; we especially adore how the iconic Tribune Tower’s clock is a visible reminder to guests that they’re in Chicago, and to enjoy every moment.
Totally On-Trend
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, but we are loving all things geometric décor — so much so that we named it as one of the hottest party trends for 2020. Here, at Chicago’s luxe raw space, Loft Lucia, Flowers for Dreams uses gold geometric candle holders and sculptures to create tabletop interest and drama intermingled with greenery and unique white blooms. We also appreciate how the chic, leafy circular ceremonial arch from the spot’s gorgeous outdoor patio ties to the reception design.
Candlelight Under the Night Sky
The Lynden Lane Company beautifully tied the lovely tabletops at this Los Angeles wedding to the lush surrounding nature. We love how the lichen-hued La Tavola Fine Linen cloths are accented by their printed runners and black tapered candles encased in glass. Matching greenery from the floral team at Keith J Laverty and glamorous chandeliers hung in the night air from Signature Party Rentals complete the magical scene.
photographer: Katherine Ann Rose Photography | planner: The Lynden Lane Company | floral: Keith J Laverty | venue: The Avalon Hotel & Bungalows | linen: La Tavola Fine Linen | tabletop & lighting: Signature Party Rentals | dj: KRIEGER
Candles High & Candles Low
One of our favorite luxury ballrooms, Mandarin Oriental, New York, played host to this vision of glowing table bases topped by more glow in the form of tabletop and suspended candles. The talented team at Ovando Design and Production conjured this tableau, complete with saturated red, orange, and pink florals and tangerine-hued chargers and linen napkins.
photographer: Brian Dorsey Studios | event design: Ovando Design and Production | venue: Mandarin Oriental, New York
Enchanting & Elegant Garden-Inspired Soirée
What impresses us most about this dreamy wedding is how convincingly Oulala! What an Event and Blooming Gallery make it seem as if you’re tucked into a lush garden. However, this beautiful celebration actually took place in the cool raw space of The Revaire in Houston. Full-sized trees and glowing candlelight helped sell the vision.
photographer: Ama by Aisha | event planner: Oulala! What an Event | décor & rentals: Blooming Gallery | venue: The Revaire | caterer: A Fare Extraordinaire | lighting & AV: Generations Audio Visual | entertainment: Blind Date Austin | cake: Cakes by Susie
Moody & Magical
It’s not easy to make an already-stunning venue, even more beautiful, but LOLA Event Productions and HMR Designs have done it by adding hundreds of flickering ivory candles to Cafe Brauer at Lincoln Park Zoo. Glowing candlelight adorned the wedding aisle as well as the reception tables, furniture, and ceiling — with a gorgeous installation that defines the dance floor.
Star Light, Candles Bright
The Revaire again sets a beautiful stage for transformative décor — this time from the planners at Oulala! What an Event and the design team at Blooming Gallery. Candles artistically strung from the chandeliers create a dreamy, immersive aesthetic that we love.
What’s Glowy & Dreamy & Red all Over?
THE GRILL | THE POOL by Major Food Events boasts a sparkling fountain at its center which was the perfect setting for this candle-heavy affair. Flickering candlelight reflected and doubled in this serene scene as accented by rich red roses from the teams at State Of The Art Enterprises and Dejuan Stroud, Inc.
photographer: The Day Collective, Lauren Larsen for The Day Collective | event planner: State Of The Art Enterprises | design, décor, & floral: Dejuan Stroud, Inc. | venue: THE GRILL | THE POOL by Major Food Events | music & entertainment: Element Music | av & lighting: Fusion Productions | stationery: Julie Maloof Designs | cake: Nine Cakes | hair: Salon AKS | makeup: Makeup by Eleni
Vintage Beauty
Temple Court at The Beekman boasts historic charm that Save the Date® illuminated with candlelight for a romantic aesthetic. All white linen, florals, and plating contributed additional elegance to the memorable celebration.
photographer: Anthony Vazquez Photography | event planner: Save the Date® | floral: Swoop | venue: Temple Court at The Beekman | entertainment: Hank Lane Music | lighting: Fusion Productions
Vision in Violet
This royal wedding-inspired celebration — at the appropriately grand and gorgeous Ebell of Los Angeles — featured hues of vibrant purple accented by lovely lavender table runners from BBJ Linen. We love how deep purple tapered candles elevate the design from Moxie Bright Events and coordinated with the multi-colored blooms from Upton Grey Floral.
If you want more on the topic, don’t miss celebrity event planner, Mindy Weiss’ timeless advice on utilizing candles at events.