
Whether it's a wedding or a birthday, a pool can be a great decorative feature for an outdoor celebration. Floating candles are a popular way to decorate a pool, with many options available, including flameless LED candles, floating flower candles, and regular tea candles inside small glass globes. To make your own floating candles, you can place lanterns in a shallow, flat-bottomed plastic container, adding fishing line and weights to keep them in position. It's important to ensure the candle wick doesn't get wet, as this will affect the burn time. You can use a multipurpose lighter with an extended arm to light the candles, and they will typically burn for 5-10 hours, depending on their size.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of candles | Floating candles |
| Candle placement | Placed in the water with a dry wick |
| Candle size | 3" floating candles |
| Number of candles | 72 for a large pool |
| Candle holders | Glass globes, small plastic containers, paper lanterns, or floating flower candles |
| Candle placement ideas | Place in corners, or use fishing line and weights to keep them in position |
| Other decorations | Jewels, flowers, balloons, or a bridge with a gazebo |
| Lighting | Multipurpose lighter with an extended arm |
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What You'll Learn

Floating candles
When placing the candles in the pool, ensure that the wick does not get wet, as this will affect the burn time. You can place them gently by holding the wick from the sides of the pool or have someone enter the pool and carefully place them. Once the candles are in the water with dry wicks, light them with a multipurpose lighter with an extended arm. Floating candles have long burn times, ranging from 5 to 10 hours, depending on their size. If your event concludes and the candles are still burning, simply blow them out.
You can purchase floating candles from various retailers, such as Armadilla Wax Works Candle Store, which offers a range of floral-themed floating candles, including the WaterLily Candle, Sunflower Floaters, and Hibiscus Candle. These candles are designed to float in ponds, pools, or birdbaths and can also be used as table centerpieces.
Alternatively, you can make your own floating candles. One idea is to use small glass globes with tea candles inside, allowing you to choose your preferred colours and scents. You can also create floating lanterns by following package directions, adding batteries, and placing them in shallow flat-bottomed plastic containers before setting them in the pool. Adding fishing line and weights will help keep them in position.
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Use of lanterns
Lanterns are a great way to decorate a pool, especially for an evening event. They can be used to create a magical and romantic atmosphere. Here are some ideas for using lanterns to decorate a pool:
Floating Lanterns:
One option is to use floating lanterns on the surface of the pool. These can be simple paper lanterns or LED lanterns to avoid the risk of fire. Floating lanterns create a soft and romantic glow, reflecting light onto the water. You can also add fishing line and weights to keep them in position or let them float freely for a whimsical effect.
Submerged Lanterns:
Another idea is to submerge lanterns under the water, creating an enchanting underwater display. Use waterproof LED lanterns or battery-operated lanterns and place them at various depths to add dimension. You can also attach them to the bottom or sides of the pool to create a unique underwater lighting effect.
Lanterns with Candles:
Combining lanterns with candles can create a warm and inviting ambiance. Use lanterns with small tea lights or floating candles to illuminate the pool area. Place them around the edges of the pool or on tables surrounding the pool to cast a soft glow across the water.
Coloured Lanterns:
Introduce a splash of colour to your pool decoration by using coloured lanterns. Choose lanterns in your theme colours or opt for a variety of hues to create a rainbow effect. Coloured lanterns will reflect vibrant hues onto the water, adding to the overall aesthetic.
Lanterns with Flowers:
For a more natural and whimsical look, combine lanterns with flowers. Float flower petals or place flower centrepieces near the lanterns. This combination will create a romantic and organic atmosphere, especially for weddings or garden parties.
Remember to consider safety precautions when using lanterns and candles around the pool, ensuring that flammable materials are kept at a safe distance and that open flames are carefully monitored.
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Flowers and petals
For a more subtle look, opt for flowers in muted shades, which can adorn the edge of the pool. This can be a cost-effective way to decorate, as you can use the same flowers for both the ceremony and the poolside reception. You could also use floating flowers, which can be made by sticking the stems through bubble wrap, and anchored with a weight and fishing line to keep them in place.
For a whimsical and elegant touch, oversized swan balloons are a fun idea, or you could use floating flower wreaths made from fake flowers. For a more natural look, fresh flowers can be arranged in a half-circle with foam as the floating device. If you want to avoid flowers altogether, you could use paper flowers, like those seen floating on a pond in Vietnam.
If you're feeling creative, you could make your own floating candles with flowers or petals, or even use jewels at the bottom of the pool, which would reflect the light.
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Candles in glass globes
Once you have your glass globes, you can fill them with water and add floating candles or flowers. If you want to get creative, you can use coloured water or add scents to the candles. You can also choose to use regular tea lights or flameless LED candles, which are a safer option.
To make your glass globes float, you can attach fishing line and weights to keep them in position. Measure the depth of the pool where you want the globes to sit and cut the fishing line to double that length plus a bit extra. Insert the fishing line through one hole, add a weight, and then thread it through the hole on the opposite side, securing it with a knot. This will ensure that your glass globes stay in place and look elegant floating on the pool's surface.
For a more romantic touch, consider hanging glass globes with candles from trees or structures around the pool. The reflection of the candles on the water will create a magical atmosphere. You can also place the globes with candles directly on tables or the ground around the pool to create a cozy and inviting ambiance.
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Preventing wax mess
If you're looking to decorate your pool with candles, floating candles are a great option. They are easy to use and are not dangerous to the pool or its filter system. The wax does not drip out of a floating candle, and even if it spills, the wax will harden and can be easily caught by a skimmer or pool cleaning net. However, to avoid wax overflow and spillages, ensure that the pool level is maintained at about a third of the container. Additionally, always make sure that the wick does not get wet, as this will affect the burn time.
To further prevent a wax mess, you can place the candles inside small glass globes before placing them in the pool. This will act as a barrier between the wax and the water, making it even less likely for wax to spill into the pool.
If you're concerned about wax dripping onto the area surrounding the pool, avoid using floating candles on windy days, as this can cause the flame and wax to move. Additionally, ensure that the candles are regularly monitored and kept away from any flammable materials.
For an extra layer of protection, you can soak the candles in a strong saltwater solution after purchasing. Create a strong saltwater solution by heating up water and adding salt until it no longer dissolves. Soak the candles in this solution for two hours, then remove and dry them. This will help prevent dripping and reduce the chances of a waxy mess.
By following these tips, you can enjoy the beauty and ambiance of pool candles while minimizing the risk of wax messes.
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Frequently asked questions
You can make floating pool candles by placing lanterns in a shallow, flat-bottomed plastic container. You can also add fishing line and weights to keep them in position. Ensure the wick is dry before lighting the candle.
When placing the candle in the pool, hold it by the wick to avoid getting it wet. If you are lighting the candle from inside the pool, use a multipurpose lighter with an extended arm.
You can use floating flowers, jewels, paper swans, balloons with weights, or flower wreaths. You can also project your monogram into the pool using a gobo projector.
Floating candles are not dangerous to the pool or its filter system. The wax does not drip out of the candle, and even if it does, it will harden and can be easily removed with a skimmer or pool cleaning net.











































