Orthodox Wedding Candles

Handcrafted Orthodox wedding candles with personalised gold lettering for Greek, Serbian, and Macedonian Orthodox ceremonies in Australia.

Orthodox wedding candles (lambades)

In an Orthodox wedding the bride and groom each hold a decorated candle through the service. The pair are called lambades. They are held during the crowning and while the priest leads the couple around the table three times, the Dance of Isaiah. Afterwards they go home with the couple, and many families light them again on anniversaries.

I make the pair to order, at home in Australia, and post them anywhere in the country.

The candles I make

Neutral wedding candles with gold lettering

  • Colours: grey, silver, white and nude tones, made as a matching pair
  • Lettering: your names or initials in gold, one name per candle
  • Cross: each candle carries an Orthodox cross
  • Price: $250 AUD for the pair

They are used at Greek, Serbian, Macedonian and Russian Orthodox weddings and other Eastern Orthodox services. There is no separate version for each. The service is the same and so is the candle.

What I can change

  • Lettering: names, initials, or the wedding date
  • Colour: ask me through the contact page before you order and I will tell you what I can do
  • Matching pieces: if you want something to sit with your theme, ask. I will say if I cannot make it.

What Do You Need for a Greek Orthodox Wedding?

For the church service itself, a Greek Orthodox wedding needs a pair of wedding candles (lambades), the stefana crowns, the rings, and koufeta (sugared almonds) for the guests. The koumbaro or koumbara, the couple's sponsor, usually provides the crowns and often the candles too. Your priest will tell you if your parish asks for anything else.

The list most couples work from:

  • Wedding candles (lambades): a matching pair, held by the bride and groom. This is the part I make, $250 AUD a pair with your names or initials in gold.
  • Stefana: the two crowns joined by a ribbon, swapped over the couple's heads three times during the crowning.
  • Rings: blessed and exchanged at the start of the service.
  • Koufeta: sugared almonds, usually in odd numbers, given to guests as bomboniere.
  • A tray or dish: to hold the crowns and rings on the table in front of the priest.

I only make the candles. The rest comes from your church, your koumbaro or a Greek wedding supplier. Anything specific to your parish is a question for your priest, not me.

Orthodox wedding traditions

Greek Orthodox wedding

The Greek service includes the crowning, where the couple wear two wreaths joined by a ribbon, the stefana. The candles are held throughout, including the walk around the table.

Greek couples use a pair of lambades, one each, and the koumbaro or koumbara usually buys them along with the stefana. Lettering is normally first names or initials, one name per candle, and the pair is made to match.

Serbian Orthodox wedding

In a Serbian wedding (venčanje) the candles sit alongside the crowns through the whole service. Serbian couples also carry a pair, and the kum traditionally provides them. Send me the exact spelling you want. If you would like it in Cyrillic, ask me first, and I will confirm the lettering with you before I start.

Serbian families also come to me for the slava candle, made to order for the family's saint day.

Macedonian Orthodox wedding

Same pair of candles, same crowning. The kum usually buys the pair, and the neutral and gold lambades above are what Macedonian couples order from me. Tell me the names exactly as you want them written and I will confirm them before anything is made.

Russian Orthodox wedding

A Russian Orthodox wedding follows the same crowning service, with the bride and groom each holding a lit candle through the betrothal and the crowning. The crowns are often held above the couple's heads by attendants rather than worn, but the candles are the same: a pair, one each, kept afterwards.

My neutral and gold lambades are used at Russian ceremonies too. If you would like the lettering in Cyrillic, ask me before ordering and I will tell you what I can do.

What the candles stand for

The lit candle stands for the light of Christ in the marriage. Two flames, two people, one service. Your priest can take that further than I will. What I can tell you is that the candles get kept, so I make them to last past the day.

Why order from me

  • Made by hand in Australia
  • Names or initials in gold included in the price
  • Posted Australia-wide
  • 5-star rated on Etsy

When to order

Order at least 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding. That covers confirming the lettering with you, making the pair, drying time and the post.

How to order

  1. Open the Etsy store
  2. Choose the Orthodox Wedding Candles
  3. Add the lettering for each candle in the personalisation box
  4. Check out

Questions

Need a rush order or something not listed? Contact me and I will tell you whether I can do it in time.

Planning a christening as well? See the Orthodox christening candles and gifts.