The candlelit ceremony is one of the most beautiful, romantic wedding scenes I can imagine. Are candles eco-friendly? That depends on these three things:
- Materials used to make the candles. Use beeswax or soy candles, not paraffin candles. Paraffin candles are oil-based; beeswax and soy candles (and candles made from other natural oils) are made from renewable sources.
- Transportation of the candles from the factory. Choose locally-made candles and avoid the carbon impact from transporting the candles across the country or from overseas.
- Reusing old candles. Ask for old candles from churches. Some churches use new candles for every service, and end up with lots of candles that get thrown out. These candles can have many hours left in them, and reusing them keeps them out of the landfills.
It’s hard to beat the candlelit ceremony for sheer romantic impact, and you can minimize the environmental impact by following the three tips above.
Check out:Â “Green wax” from The New Scientist
