Q: I want to illuminate my centerpieces with tea-light candles, but I'm looking for ones that burn for more than four hours. Most seem to die down after an hour or so. Any suggestions to keep my guests out of the dark?

A: Adding candlelight to your centerpieces is a great way to create an elegant and romantic glow around the room, but it's likely that your candles will burn out too early. Try a longer-burning candle, such as a votive, which usually burns for four to six hours. Just make sure your candles aren't too close to your arrangements.

Another option is to use battery-operated tea lights, which are safe and reliable. They come in a variety of colors, and you or your florist can even place them inside of the arrangements to create a soft glow.