DIY Unity Candle

My first DIY project was a unity candle set. I really like the unity candle ceremony, and I wanted to include it as part of my wedding. I looked around at various stores and online for unity candles, and I couldn't find anything that I liked. I was also rather dismayed at the price, over $30 for a candle? The final blow was when I fell in love with an ivory wedding gown. The majority of commercially made unity candles are white, which would completely clash with my dress. No thank you. I got some inspiration online, and decided to make my own. The first part of the project was actually the hardest, matching colors. It is no easy task to find a pillar candle and tapers in the same color. Most stores that sell pillar candles also sell tapers, but generally the pillar is with the scented candles and the tapers are with the unscented candles. Six stores later, I found my candles at Joanne's, and they were one sale to boot. I also purchased ribbon in my wedding colors. Once I had all my materials, I went to work. 

I wanted my candle to be personalized, so I designed a monogram on my computer. I just used microsoft word, and after tinkering with the size for a bit, printed the design out on vellum. Vellum is a transparent paper that is available at most craft stores, my mom had some kicking around from the scrapbooking drawer. I attached the vellum to the candle with hot glue, which I admit is a bit tricky, my goal was to combination glue/melt the vellum into the wax. I only glued on the back. The next step was to wrap my ribbon around, which I also secured to the back with hot glue. I used two ribbons, a wide purple one and a narrow green one. My mother was kind enough to tie a bow for me. Voila, handmade unity candle. 

I then wrapped my taper candles in ribbon too, so that they would match for the custom look. My mom tied those bows too and I secured everything with hot glue. In place of a unity candle holder (another expense I could do without), I purchased a set of crystal taper holders at the Christmas Tree Shop, which cost me a total of $4. The unity candle itself will be placed on a mirror with a shell garland wrapped around the base. The set will be placed on a small table behind the wedding arch at my ceremony.

I am very happy with how my candles turned out, all in all, once I had all my supplies, it took me about 45 minutes to assemble everything. I am definitely considering this a success and an excellent first DIY project.