Because having a Unity Candle in a wedding means more than just lighting a candle together, you may want to consider making your Unity Candle a unique representative of you and your spouse-to-be. Store bought Unity Candles may be an easier alternative, but chances are, these candles will cost over $50 and will end up sitting in your attic, forgotten. For a creative, inexpensive, and often easy way to individualize your Unity Candle, you should consider making your own. Below, you'll find different options you have for making your own Unity Candle that range from simple and fast to more complex and time-consuming.
Very Simple Methods
Though you may not want to buy a prepared Unity Candle, you can make a great Unity Candle starting with a simple store bought candle that you can find at stores ranging from Wal-Mart to Hallmark. Ideally, you'll want to look for a simple pillar candle that you can decorate to match your ceremony colors and designs. White pillar candles are great because they are both cheap and versatile. A plain pillar candle, whether white or any other color, leads to countless decorating possibilities. If the décor of your wedding is a simple elegance, you may want to consider simply tying a ribbon around your candle; the ribbon adds just enough color to make it decorative. If the ribbon's not enough for you, you could consider buying more elaborate ribbon or even using a glue gun to add a few silk flowers around the base or on the sides.
A Little More Work, A Little More Decoration
Another way to dress up a plain pillar Unity Candle is to stick a copy of your wedding invitation, a photo, a poem, a quote, or a Bible verse onto your candle. An easy way to do this is to use straight pins with white ball tops around the edges of the paper to stick it on the front of the candle. For more decoration, you can purchase or make ribbon bows to glue on the sides and base. Another option is to use trim or beads to put around the sides of the invitation or anywhere else on the candle. Also, keep in mind that if you would like a candle that is not white, you can buy acrylic paint to make it any color you like.
Making a Candle from Scratch
Making the Unity Candle itself can prove to be a fun and very rewarding experience. While making candles does take some time, candle making is a generally easy task to learn. To make a candle, you'll need candle wax, boiling bags, wicks, and a mold. Candle wax can be bought in any color, and you can even add different scents. Boiling bags are used to hold the wax in boiling water while it melts. When choosing a mold, you can use the standard cylinder shaped mold or try an unconventional shape. You can also try mixing or layering wax colors or even adding dried flowers. You can find all your supplies and how to make the candle at any craft store like Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Creating a Unity Candle from scratch provides more choices and versatility, plus it may be a great project for you and your spouse-to-be.