Centerpiece Lighting That Lasts! Five Ways to Keep the Flame Alive

It's hard to argue with the ambiance real candles bring to any occasion. Their soft glow creates a romantic, relaxing mood that gently embraces everyone present. And real candles have long been a staple in centerpieces for holidays, weddings and other special events, dinner parties, as well as everyday dining-room, coffee-table and even meeting room-table decoration. But sometimes, the day after an event, we regret using real candles.

Why? Because your best friend's husband had a little too much to drink, knocked your dinner-party centerpiece over and spilled deep-red candle wax on your great-grandmother's antique-white tablecloth. Or your Christmas party ended when cousin Nancy's seven-year-old son used your centerpiece's pillar candle to set fire to a piece of wrapping paper—and the sleeve of the cool, new jacket you just gave him. Or the tea lights in your wedding centerpieces got blown out by the ocean breeze at the beginning of your beach-wedding reception. Whatever the reason, there are candles available that avoid these potential problems and still provide that sweet, soft glow you desire. Here are five fabulous options

Battery-operated tea lights. Like most tea lights, battery-operated tea lights are about 1 1/2" in diameter, with an easy-to-use on/off switch. And the operative words here are battery-operated—no unsightly cords or wires, nothing to plug in or trip over. These tea lights flicker to mimic the effect of a real candle, provide more than 72 hours of light from a single battery, and they come in all popular shapes, sizes and fragrances.

Battery-powered votive candles. With a light quality strikingly similar to a regular wax candle, the battery-operated votive creates the same warm ambiance as old-fashioned wax candles, and they last 48 to 72 hours on a single battery. You'll find that almost all battery-operated candles are available with a realistic, flickering light.

Battery-operated taper candles. Available in a variety of lengths and colors, some battery-powered taper candles even come with built-in timers, so you can have them turn on and off every day at the same time. These tapers have a flexible base that will work in most candleholders. Besides the standard, thin tapers, you can find battery-operated, thicker dinner candles, also in various lengths and colors.

Battery-powered candelabra. You've seen them in the frosty windows of homes decorated for the holidays, and many of these multi-candle decorations are battery-powered, with built-in timers and designed for table use, too. Use a candelabra as your base and surround it with flowers, flower petals, seasonal decorations or some other decoration pertinent to your event.

Battery-operated pillar candles. They look like regular candles, flicker like regular candles, but it is so much easier, safer and you can use them outdoors with no worries! Not only will you find round and square pillars in varying heights, sizes and colors, you'll also find some interestingly shaped pillars. All it takes is an Internet search to find lots of possibilities for easy-to-use, long-lasting candles that set the perfect mood—safely.