- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee Blog
If wedding blogs are the gospel truth then I can’t possibly throw a reception without votive candles! I don’t know what I was planning on doing before I discovered these adorable little tea lights. Not having a very good wedding, that’s what. In case you have no idea what I am talking about:
Tea lights, we used to call them before I got engaged. / Image via Candles Shops Ideas
And in action:
Sold! I need candles as part of my centerpieces. Now I just have to find the best deal* on these adorable mini-candles.
We are having 125 guests, and at eight guests per table that makes for about 16 tables. I don’t want to have two or three lights per table because that might look a little silly. Mostly I have been able to find the candles in packs of 72, making it four and a half candles per table. That might be too few. To the Google-mobile!
First I tried Amazon, which is my go-to site when I want to purchase anything. Unfortunately I could only find a 72 pack of candles and holders for $39.99 plus $9.99 shipping. My bridal gut told me I could do better than that for candles.
Next stop was Cudge. I have no idea where I heard of this site—probably a wedding blog somewhere. They had a 72-candle-plus-holder kit for $35.44…score! But a $27 shipping charge. 
Suddenly Amazon was not looking so bad.
Another search led me to Candle 4 Less. I was excited about this option because I could upgrade to the frosted glass for no additional charge. The popular 72 piece was $36.88…but $23 for shipping. Each search was getting worse and worse.
See the frosted one in the front. / Image via Candle 4 Less
Finally I found my way to D-Light Online. At this site I could upgrade to the frosted glass for only $38 for 72 candles. Best part is shipping is only $18. However, I can get 144 candles for only $72. That would be nine candles per table! Plus, I won’t have to worry if any break, and I could put them in other places. So my total order would be $90 or about $0.62 a candle.
Do you think 144 votive candles is too many or not enough? I am nervous about buying things for the wedding because I am always convinced I am going to find a better deal, but I should just pull the trigger on this…right?!?
*My florist told me I could rent them through her for two dollars per candle. Hahaha. I laugh in the face of that “deal.”
I am having a problems finding the fake votives, battery operated ones. My mother found some on QVC, which were quite expensive 4 for 20 bucks! She bought five packages = 20 votives. I appreciate that these are upscale battery candles and all, but I am not going to put just ONE candle at a table around my centerpiece (around, lol).
I think we can use real ones, but I would rather not impose the risk of fire or injury to my guests, not that you will……….
I need help finding the flameless battery-operated ones that are not tacky yet not expensive as the ones my lovely mother bought……….. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH…….
Just another thing to worry about! Is it over yet????????
I found some on Amazon 144- 79.99 (i think) so I ordered them. I don’t think that will be too many at all! I will have 19 tables, so it will be 7 candles for each table. I just think it will give of a very romantic glow! Great find!
http://WWW.SAVEONCRAFTS.COM has a huge selection of real and battery operated candles for CHEAP!!!….
That’s a great deal, especially when you take the shipping cost into account! We had around 95 votive holders spread over 8 guest tables and our sweetheart table. We went on the dense side for candle distribution, so I think 144 is a great quantity for the number of tables you have!
I think that’s a good amount… will you use them around the house if you don’t end up using them at the wedding (I mean, don’t end up using *all* of them)? Renting them at $2 per candle? Hah! I laugh in her face, too.
Michael’s craft store sells votives in 12 packs for a couple dollars each. This week they are 40% off and then you can print a coupon off their website for an extra % off candles. They are a steal! I bought then for my favors and got 204 for less than 70 bucks!
That sounds like a good deal, but I’m always hesitant to buy something too thinking I can find a better deal. Sometimes you just have to go with it and just be happy to cross it off the list 
I actually used Candles4Less I did exactly what you did. Search every conceivable website I could find for the BEST possible deal. I ended up ordering 144 candles (72 Pink Votive Holders + 72 Ivory Votive Candles & 72 Amber Votive Holders + 72 Ivory Votive Candles) I used a 15% off coupon code I found on RetailMeNot and with $12.30 shipping I spent a total of $86.23. When they arrived only one was broken, I quite pleased with them. Probably WAY more info than you needed. =)
I got 72 votives on ebay for 20 bucks with free shipping…then I actually bought votive holders from ikea for 26.82 plus tax. The GALEJ tea light holders are a perfect size for the votives I got. It cost less than fifty bucks doing it that way
You can use spray paint to frost the glass - they make a special kind…
@Carolyn72: If you mean the tea light fake LED votives, they have them at the Dollar Store (2 for $1) but we got ours at Sam’s Club. I think it was something like $15-$20 for 24 of them.
You have me worried, Cucumber Sammie! I don’t have any candles for my wedding! Eeek!
Do it! I’m going to. My FI made me promise I wouldn’t get them just yet, but I’m going to scatter them around the centerpieces. For pure AWESOME factor.
It’s not too many at all! I’m doing at least 10 per table of eight guests. I collected all of my candle holders - about 800 - during the holiday season. They were all on clearance so I had major success. That price you found is very good. I would go for it! Just say no to the $2 per rental charge! That’s too much!
That sounds like a good deal. I ordered from Quick Candles and can’t remember the price exactly but what you quoted sounds about right. We only did three per table and it actually worked perfectly with our floral centerpieces. I didn’t bother keeping them afterwards, I just let the venue have them and then can give them to the next bride who wants them.
@Carolyn72: Not sure where you are from, but the Dollar Tree usually has those types of lights for $1! Can’t remember how many come in a pack, but I’m certain I’ve seen them their before.
MICHAELS. Depending on when your wedding is (if it is soon, maybe go online route).
But. I got 12 votives at michaels when they were having a candle sale plus an additional 20% off (use those coupons!) for about $3.50 .
Just keep an eye out for their ad
Our decor isn’t finalized quite yet…we’ll have candles and our venue requires them to pass a fire test! A piece of paper held over the top of the glass for 5 seconds and can’t catch on fire. So our candle holders have to be rather tall for a tea light. Yikes!
And I like the frosted glass look Good luck, CS!
Will from Cudge.net here.
In the post, Miss Cucumber Sandwich mentions our featured item: 72 votive candles and holders for $35.88
http://cudge.net/holders_detail5.html
The shipping on that item is just under $20 to the continental US, not the $27 mentioned in the post.
That’s still a much higher figure than we’d like. But after many rounds of negotiations with UPS (and FedEx and DHL) and discussions with cardboard carton manufacturers, we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s incredibly difficult to ship a 20+ pound box of fragile glass safely across the country for much less than $20.
How do some of our competitors manage it? By increasing the prices of some items, and having those higher prices subsidize the shipping costs.
Nothing wrong with that, but our idea has always been to be as transparent as possible with customers, and to have item prices and shipping prices accurately reflect that balance of costs involved.
@tink4kali: I love hearing about other people’s deals. I secretly want to be on extreme couponing but never will be. Keep the deals coming!
@Miss Pony: I know, it is so hard to be decisive.
@Ms October: Wow, I am really impressed that you found 800 holders!
@Miss Teacup: The day after I ordered the candles I got an email from the venue saying that they have a new fire policy and there is no open flames. I completely panicked of course. They meant simply that the holder must go above the flame… phew!
@Will: Hi Will. Thanks for letting me know and I will see if we can get it changed. I know tons of bees have used and loved cudge.net
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Mrs. Cucumber Sandwich, Washington, DC/Cape May, NJ Age and Occupation: 28, School Counselor Fiance's Age and Occupation: 40, Collegiate Athletics Engagement Date: March 27, 2010 Wedding Date: October 2011 Venue: Congress Hall Hotel About Me: I am a school counselor who spends my day wrangling children and my nights attempting to be creative with wedding projects. My enthusiasm for each of these activities far surpasses my skill. Thank goodness Mr. Cucumber Sandwich is there to pick up the pieces and be the voice of reason about my DIY tries. I have an obsession with terrible romantic comedies (‘From Justin to Kelly’ anyone?, anyone?!?), competitive Scrabble play, and hot dogs. I could eat astronaut ice cream for every meal and can’t seem to resist buying more shoes. Our wedding is going to be a true hodge podge of semi-destination, tradition, Yuengling, New England charm, with just a dash of ‘Jersey Shore’ thrown in. It has been six years in the making and I can’t wait to marry my best friend.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Latest Gallery Pics