A careless gesture, a sudden breeze or a moment of thoughtless fun are sometimes all it takes to turn a happy event into a tragedy.

Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, an anniversary get-together or a formal wedding banquet, there’s often a need to make compromises between the look and atmosphere you wish to create and the safety and comfort of your guests. As health and safety laws across the country seek to reduce risk wherever possible, party planners often find their intended use of open-flame candles isn’t possible.

More and more churches, banquet halls, restaurants and bars won’t allow the use of traditional burning candles. The choice is then either to sacrifice the soft lighting effect of candles, or find an alternative solution.

Flameless battery operated candles are a popular and practical solution when you want candlelight but can’t have a flame.

Indeed, so realistic are modern flameless candles that they’re the first choice amongst savvy planners who want to relax at the event, knowing the decorations don’t cause a fire hazard amongst the guests.

Lighting is to atmosphere what music is to mood, and when you want gentle, romantic lighting that casts a cozy glow over a dining table there’s little that can match the humble candle. Unfortunately, many table centerpieces use dried or artificial components in their construction, and these are extremely flammable. You can still add the flair and romance of the candle to the dinner setting by switching the burning flame for a flameless candle.

In churches, when you want the romantic ambiance of lit candles during a ceremony or service, flameless battery operated candles find favor where real candles are shunned. There’s no danger and no mess from spilled wax but you still get the full glowing candle effect.

The elegant yet natural effect of candles will always attract us, but as laws become more restrictive and safety conscious we need to get more creative in our use of lighting effects, and be willing to experiment with new innovations.

The new breed of candle is different, but is becoming ever more popular with those who seek style as well as safety.