Are you thinking about having a fun candle-making party? If it’s your first time hosting one, you’ll want to make sure you plan accordingly. That way, your guests can enjoy themselves as much as possible.
At this type of party, you give your guests all the supplies they need to make candles. You want to set up areas for them to pour wax and teach the beginners the basics. It’s a great activity for everyone and gives people the chance to practice a new hobby.
You’ll need to make sure you have everything ready for the day of your party- you don’t want to have to make any last-minute purchases. You can also include other activities and plenty of snacks at your party.
What Happens at a Candle Making Party?
Candle-making parties involve a group of family and friends coming together to design their own candles. If you’re the one hosting, you want to make sure you provide your guests with plenty of wax, ideas, tools, and opportunities for creativity. The more you can offer, the more experience and enjoyment your loved ones will have with candle-making.
These parties usually serve as a social way for people to get into a new hobby. Suppose you love candle pouring or want to get started. In that case, an event like this encourages people to experience it with you.
Overall, you can expect it to go like a typical party. Your guests will have snacks, drinks, and socialize. However, the main event of your party is candle pouring.
How Do You Host a Candle Making Party?
There are plenty of ways to host a candle-making party! You’ll want to make the event your own- design invitations, prepare desserts and snacks, and decorate. We’re sure you’ll have fun coming up with a party theme.
From there, you’ll need to obtain supplies and make sure you’re familiar with the candle-making process. You, or someone you know, will need to guide the party through making the candles. As the host, you’ll need to make sure you take care of your guests and keep them comfortable.
Get the Candle Making Supplies
First, you’ll need to make sure you have enough supplies for everyone attending. You must buy as many quality ingredients as possible so your guests have a lovely candle that burns well. The essential candle making parts include the following:
- Candle wax
- Container for the wax (a jar, tin, or a heat-safe mold)
- Fragrances
- Liquid dye or dye blocks
- Wicks
- Spatula
- Scale
- Candy thermometers
- Stove or hot plate for melting wax
- Saucepans
- Pencils or chopsticks
- Labels and stickers (optional)
- Scissors
You’ll want to offer various candle dyes, fragrances, and container labels or stickers. That way, your guests can make their candles even more unique. They’ll feel more engaged when they can be creative, even if everyone at the party is following the same guide.
Make sure to save this list and cross the items off as you get them! Once you have enough materials for everyone attending, you can move on to the next step.
For the best candle making experience possible, we recommend using a candle making kit like this one. It has everything you need to get started in candle making and is perfect for beginners and veterans alike.
Gather Your Party Supplies
Don’t forget- this is still a party! You’ll want plenty of decorations. Many people also include charcuterie boards, wine or champagne, and another party decor. You might want to bake some cookies or a cake too- your guests will love it!
It’s best when you make sure that everything follows a color theme. You can even choose dyes for the candles that match. For example, you could have a gold-themed party.
Prepare the Candle Making Activity
You’ll need to make sure your guests have plenty of flat, open space to work. You may need to set up more tables for your event. Then, set out all of the candle-making supplies. Every guest needs to have the essential tools and ingredients in front of their seat. Remember, young kids will need supervision, so make sure they have an adult to help them.
Before the party, you’ll also need to learn all of the steps. If you’re not that familiar with candle making, we recommend that you watch some videos and practice on your own. You may need to guide the group through the activities you have planned.
You’ll also want to think about possible candle variations. For example, you can have your guests make floral candles or candles that have a buried treasure hidden inside of them. It’s up to you, but there are plenty of ways to provide your loved ones with a unique experience at your party.
Include Other Games and Activities
While you want the candle-making to be the main event, you should also include other party games. Your games can consist of classics, like cards or board games, but you can also come up with your own candle-themed games.
For instance, you can have your guests guess the scent of a labelless candle. Maybe whoever guesses correctly wins a prize! The reward could include a toy, a unique fragrance or dye for their candle, or anything else you can imagine.
You can come up with your own games too. Your guests might even bring their own to the party, so make sure they have the space and time to enjoy it!
Teach Your Guests
When it’s time to make candles, you’ll want to have your guests follow you through the process. The basic steps to candle making include:
- Measuring the wax: You need double the amount of the candle container.
- Melting the wax: You heat the wax using your stove or hot plate for at least 10 minutes. Make sure to stir often.
- Add some fragrance: You can add any fragrance oils you want to the melted wax.
- Add the dye: You also want to add the color at this stage.
- Attach the wick: You want the wick to go on the bottom of your container. Dip it in the melted wax, then press it into the bottom of your jar. It should harden quickly.
- Let the melted wax cool: Use your candy thermometer. The wax should be 140 degrees F ( 60 C) before you can pour it.
- Pour the wax: Make sure your guests pour the wax very slowly into their containers to avoid spills and burns.
- Let the wick set: You can use the pencils or chopsticks to support the wick while the wax settles. It takes about four hours to set completely. (This is a great time to play games with your guests and enjoy the party!)
- Cut the wick: Your wick should be pretty short. It helps to cut it down with scissors.
You can add more steps or adjust the guide however you need. For example, if you’re adding decorative petals or treasures to your candle, you’ll need to do that before you pour. Make sure to place the items away from the wick.
Overall, you’ll need to understand the candle-making process before you can teach your party guests. You can screenshot the above guide or make a note of it somewhere safe. That way, you can use it as a reference during your event.
Final Thoughts
Candle-making parties are a fun way to spend time with your loved ones. You get to enjoy good food, practice a new skill, and introduce others to a new hobby. Plus, you’ll have a blast learning about candle-making and coming up with themes for your party.
You can always make this party your own! There are no set rules to follow. As long as you make sure that you have enough supplies, everyone’s going to have a great time! It’s always a good idea to have a little more than what you suspect you need, just in case.
Before you send out party invitations, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the candle-making process. That way, you can assist your guests.