Illuminating the venue with votive candles only proves the fact that ?marriages are made in heaven?. A votive candle is typically a small white cylindrical candle. It is generally made with paraffin wax that is combined with beeswax. It was originally made in order to be burnt as a votive offering for religious ceremonies but is now used even for decoration purposes. The standard votive candles are two inches high and have a diameter of 1.5 inches. The traditional votive candles are supposed to be pure white, but now there are candles that are available in various colors as well. In old Roman Catholic churches the votive candles are placed before the statue of either Jesus or of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and very often, in older churches, they are placed only before the side altar. Besides the votive candles the tealight candles were also used. They are generally placed in front of the statue. It can be placed either in the candle holder or on the platform provided in front of the statue. The third kind of candle that is used in religious ceremonies is the long taper candles that are placed in special holders.

On the other hand in the Eastern Orthodox Churches the candles are generally lit before the icons, mostly of Jesus Christ or the Holy Theotokos. These churches usually use only the orthodox thin candles which are placed in round containers which have an array of sockets that can keep the taper candle in place. Some of the churches where the votive candles are widely used are the Anglican churches. The votive candles are generally offered as a prayer. These candles are used by millions everyday as they symbolize prayer. These candles are widely used by many people in weddings to symbolize harmony and peace. They make offerings of several of these candles and make a special prayer, and it is widely believed that it would bring more harmony and strength to the bond. Speaking about the cost, votive candles are not very expensive especially when they are bought in bulk. They can also be given as gifts since votive candles come in varying shapes, sizes, colors and you can even get scented candles. The traditional ones are plain white, however the ones used today may be either smooth or textures. They are usually found in the cylindrical or square shape like pillar candles.

The burning time of the candle depends on a lot of factors, most importantly its chemical composition. If it's a good quality candle and of a moderate size it could burn up to ten to fifteen hours. So it is very essential to choose the right brand while buying the votive candles. The ones that burn for longer may cost a little more but considering the amount of time it would stay lit for, it is would be a wise buy. You can buy them as glass votives or as just votives alone. You also get special stands for these candles. And they are also available in special packages that make an ideal gift. The number of candles in each package can vary from 10-15 or perhaps more depending on the availability.