How to Plan Games for a Candle Party

Like all party games, candle party games serve to break the ice and encourage conversation. They also can be used to generate sales or attract club members. Plan to succeed: We all like to feel included, and when you bring together a roomful of friends or strangers over a game of White Elephant or Pennies from Heaven, your party and your sales will start to cook.

Things You'll Need

• Game reference
• Playing pieces required by chosen game

Instructions

Prepare to Play Games for a Candle Party

1. Buy prizes and set up for your games before guests arrive. Create a playful atmosphere with some peppy background music and bite-sized snacks or appetizers.

2. Wrap or decorate prizes with raffia or ribbon. For a twist, wrap a gift in several layers of different paper or graduated boxes.

Play White Elephant

1. Play White Elephant and everyone wins. Wrap several more prizes than you have guests. Hand out as many ordinary playing cards as you have prizes to the guests.

2. Draw cards from another deck and call numbers. Guests may choose a gift when their number is called. They may choose from a stack or take one from another guest, prompting some good-natured and lively rivalry.

Play Pennies From Heaven

1. Decorate as many small candles as you have guests and place them in a fish bowl or other container. Give guests a shiny new penny and tell them they have the chance to save or to spend.

2. Exchange pennies for prizes in the bowl.

Tips & Warnings

• Candles as prizes are the way to go.

• Plan games to pique interest and get people talking to each other. Games where small gifts get passed or opened are always conversation starters.

• Time is tight at a candle party. Fun and games have to share the bill with candle sampling and sales, so don't plan complex games where you have to keep score or the game drags on. (Monopoly is NOT your game!)

• Consider your audience. Physically active games may not be best for some groups, and don't choose Truth or Dare or any other potentially risqué games unless everyone at the party knows each other very well.