Bright Ideas: 15 Fresh Ways to Use Candles in Event Design

At Netflix’s Emmys after-party earlier this month, candles were more than just decor—they were a bold statement that set the tone for an unforgettable night. The event was produced and designed by Gold Sky Productions with an "Underground Opulence" concept, featuring a design that embraced the industrial brick and concrete building while layering in luxurious materials like velvet, marble, silks, and satins. A showstopping element? An arrival moment featuring 1,800 flickering candles, a classical pianist playing pop hits at a grand piano, and a 7-foot gold N inlaid with over 300 candles. See more: Emmy Awards 2024: Jaw-Dropping Event Designs From Netflix, HBO | Max, Disney, and More

Another standout Emmys 2024 design came from HBO | Max, which hosted a star-studded after-party in celebration of the ceremony and the streaming service's six wins at the San Vicente Bungalows. Produced and designed by Bespoke Bohéme, the event's design "leaned heavily into natural terrazzo, marble, stone, clay, and scalloped wood, all accented with lime-wash finishes; dreamy candlelight; and lush, loose greens and florals dotted alongside potted herbs," said producer Kate Mazzuca. See more: Emmy Awards 2024: Jaw-Dropping Event Designs From Netflix, HBO | Max, Disney, and More

For the Phantom of the Opera's 25th anniversary celebration, held in New York in 2013, a post-performance event brought 1,250 guests to the New York Public Library. To make a strong statement as guests pulled up, the planning team from Serino Coyne projected a strip of red light over the library's front steps, effectively creating a virtual red carpet that led to the entrance. Hundreds of LED candles sat on either side of the illuminated pathway. See more: Phantom of the Opera Hosts Eerie Masquerade Ball for 25th Anniversary

The New York premiere of I Am the Night, TNT’s crime-noir drama directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Chris Pine, took place in January 2019. The after-party featured a variety of performances inspired by themes and scenes from the miniseries, which was set in 1960s Los Angeles. Macabre performances included a woman lying on a table, wearing a dress made of candles and melted candle wax. Creative direction was overseen by Little Cinema, while Preview Events produced the event.

Warner Bros. effectively evoked the magic of Tinseltown with its 2023 Oscars event. Drawing 350 guests, the glamorous gathering had an over-the-top event design from JOWY Productions, which leaned into a mix of black and gold with accents of red—and, of course, plenty of sparkle. Over 300 glass hurricane candles filled with black sand flickered throughout the party, juxtaposed with twinkle lights in the trees. As a focal point, a tiered candle installation featured 5-foot crystal and gold chandeliers. See more: Oscars 2023: Elegant Event Inspiration From Hollywood's Most Glamorous Week

The 2021 Robin Hood Benefit, held at New York’s Javits Center that October, raised $77.5 million and served as a “love letter” to New York, according to longtime event designer David Stark. As a main focal point, large letters spelling out the word “forever” were actually made from candles that sat on scaffolding shelves—but attendees perceived them as upright because of their reflection in the mirrors above them. A sign spelling “NYC” hung above the display, so when guests walked down the entry hallway into the cocktail space, "NYC FOREVER" read as one powerful statement. Overall, there were 12,000 candles set up on the scaffolding. See more: Robin Hood Benefit 2021: See What It Takes to Produce New York's Largest Annual Benefit

Engage!13, a luxury wedding summit, took place at Scottsdale's Montelucia Resort & Spa in December 2013. Playing off the venue's Moroccan-inspired architecture, designers from Gifts for the Good Life crafted birdcage lanterns to use as escort cards. Guests plucked the glowing lanterns off a live hydrangea wall that Todd Events erected for the closing night gala. Each lantern was marked with a guest's name and table number.

At the opening ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in 2018, participants formed a dove of peace with 1,270 LED candles while street artists sang John Lennon's "Imagine." See more: Rating the Pyeongchang Olympics: Event Producers Give Opening Ceremony a B+

At Disney’s 2022 Emmys party, designed and produced by Sterling Engagements, candles played a subtle yet impactful role in the "modern botanic brilliance" theme. Surrounded by lush garden blooms and shimmering jewel tones, the candles added a soft, elegant glow that enhanced the chic botanical garden vibe without overshadowing the stunning floral arrangements. See more: Emmys 2022: Inside Parties From Netflix, Disney, Paramount, and More

At DIFFA Chicago’s Dining by Design in November 2013, the Coalesse table, designed by Gensler, had subtle twinkle lights and a wishbone pattern swirling on its walls. The table's centerpiece was a dense arrangement of wishbones, laid over a row of softly glowing electric candles.

In September 2023, Chris Weinberg Events and PartySlate hosted a Little Prince-themed networking event in Miami, where Earth & Sugar showcased their decadent desserts in a display reminiscent of clear candleholders. Though it didn’t use actual flames, the arrangement cleverly mimicked the flickering glow of candles, adding a dramatic and enchanting ambiance to the dessert presentation. See more: 10 Catering and Decor Ideas From This Poetic The Little Prince-Themed Networking Event

The premiere of FX’s Shōgun—held in February 2024 and designed and produced by Event Eleven—used hand-painted pagodas, 20-foot bonsai trees, authentic taiko drummers, and more to immerse guests in Japan in the year 1600. A highlight was 300 lanterns hung from the ceiling of the Academy Museum's terrace. See more: How This Jaw-Dropping Event Design Transported Guests Into the World of FX's Latest Series

A display of 1,200 votive candles lined the stairs in the Great Hall at The Metropolitan Museum of Art at the opening night party for Bullets Over Broadway in New York in 2014, greeting the 900 guests as they arrived from the St. James Theatre. See more: Why 'Bullets Over Broadway' Took Over the Met

To help redefine itself as a fashion destination for urban career women, Dynamite hosted a “Style in the City” event at Toronto’s Union Station in September 2023. Designed in collaboration with The Concierge Club, the decor centered around mirrored and reflective elements, with clear, elegant candleholders serving as the focal point on flower-free tables. The candles' soft glow, amplified by strategic lighting, created a stunning crystal-like effect that added sophistication and ambiance to the sleek, urban setting.

Finally, here's a unique one that you might be a little less likely to recreate at your own events. To celebrate its 17th birthday in 2016, Mike’s Hard Lemonade pulled a stunt fiery enough to break a world record: The brand placed 50,151 candles on a massive cake in Los Angeles, and then lit them ablaze for a dramatic marketing photo op—and a Guinness World Record. (The number of candles on the cake—50,151—corresponded to the number of fans who engaged with a Facebook post.) BeCore Experiential Marketing Agency produced the event. See more: See a Birthday Cake Ablaze With 50,151 Candles