Warm Up To These Winter Wedding Candle Ideas

As the season turns and a crisp chill takes to the air, nothing feels more comforting than coming home and lighting a few candles. After years of designing weddings in New York City between the months of November and March, we’ve found that the flickering flames that warm the hearth have the same impact on setting a winter tablescape. Not only welcoming to guests who have made a cold sojourn to be at your celebration, candles help to create an undeniably romantic reception atmosphere.

With all of the different types of candles, there are a few decisions you’ll have make before settling on which will work best with your decor. First, you’ll need to decide on the type of centerpieces you want to use. Second, you’ll need to choose your seating configuration – will guests be dining at round or long tables? The aesthetic and theme of your event also must be taken into consideration – you probably don’t want vibrant pink taper candles in vintage holders if the rest of your event has a clean, modern vibe. To help you find the perfect fit for your big day, we went through the Real BB Weddings archives and highlighted our favorite winter wedding candle ideas.

Dynamic Centerpieces With Stemmed Glass Candles
Stemmed glass candles are an ideal choice if you desire a dynamic tablescape. The vessel’s slender foot in combination with how the water reflects the floating candle’s flame creates an impression that is high-impact, inviting, and graceful at the same time. They are available in an array of heights – presentations typically mix the sizes, producing a sense of dramatic movement within a room. The most versatile of all the options, stemmed glass candles work wonderfully with both long and round tables as well as high centerpieces, low arrangements, and garland.

Low Centerpieces With Colored Tapered Candles
Emerging onto the wedding decor scene a few years ago, colored taper candles are showing no signs of going anywhere soon. It’s impossible to fall under the spellbinding beauty they bring to a winter reception atmosphere – we love to see them arranged as a trio around a lush, low centerpiece. They come in every shade you can imagine from buttery yellow and sage green to mango orange and watermelon pink. We suggest looking at your floral palette first before deciding on a hue –  our favorite Real BB Weddings displays paired pale blue candles with garnet, blush, and ivory blossoms, black candles with black and white blooms, and light pink candles with an arrangement inspired by the colors of a sunset.

Light It Up With Pillar Candles
Because of their robust form, long burning time, and high-impact glow, pillar candles are a excellent choice for your winter wedding decor. Don’t let their sturdy character fool you – they are quite versatile when it comes to styling and design. Placed across seasonal flower and greenery garland, pillar candles cast a warm light for guests to enjoy during dinner. For an enchantedly romantic scene, display the candles on pedestals of varying height within a circle of grouped arrangements.

A Modern Candelabra Centerpiece
The opulent, towering candelabra will always hold a place in our heart. But it’s not for everyone, especially if your style falls under ‘artistic + modern.’ What we love about this contemporary version of the Old-World decorative mainstay is how its sleek, clean look still manages to captivate with intimate luminosity. The ‘candelabra’ is composed of tall clear holders with taper candles of varying height, often arranged at the center of a table or across a long tablscape. Impressive on its own, the design also looks mesmerizing accentuated by light touches of flowers and greenery.

A Cozy Long Tablescape Trimmed With Taper Candles
There’s something especially appealing about entering a winter wedding reception laid out with long tables centered by rows of twinkling taper candles. Cozy yet elegant, this radiant design works well with garland centerpieces or grouped arrangements. While the classic white candle is a timeless favorite, don’t be afraid to branch out to color – we’ve seen endless tablscapes bedecked with black, gold, and rich jewel-tones.

When it comes to lighting up your reception, there something here for every style and type of venue. We hope these ideas inspire you to use candles in fresh, bold ways to create a glittering wedding celebration that guests will be talking about through spring and beyond.