If planning the company holiday party has landed on your desk again, you already know the trap: the same banquet room, the same buffet, a night nobody really remembers by January. If you want something the team actually looks forward to this year, a candle-making experience at Cork & Candles in Ardmore is an easy win — festive, hands-on, simple to plan, and every person walks out with a candle they made.

It's right in the heart of the Main Line near Suburban Square, it fits neatly into a workday afternoon or an early evening, and it gives your team something to do together that isn't just standing around with a drink. Booking early — even now — locks in the date before the December calendar fills up.

Why candle-making works for a holiday office party

The best holiday parties give a team something to do together — not just a meal where everyone sits by the people they already talk to all day. Candle-making puts the whole team on equal footing: nobody's an expert, nobody's bad at it, and everyone ends up with something a little different.

It's also genuinely festive. Seasonal scents — think warm vanilla, spiced woods, fresh evergreen — make it feel like the holidays, and the finished candles double as a take-home gift that's a lot more thoughtful than another branded mug. For a December event, it hits the mark without the stiffness of a formal sit-down.

What happens at a holiday team session?

Here's the flow so whoever's planning can picture it.

When the team arrives, everyone gets settled and introduced to the scent library — 60 fragrance oils organized by category, including seasonal blends that lean right into the holidays. A Cork & Candles team member guides the whole experience, so there's no guesswork and nobody feels lost. Each person mixes a custom scent, chooses a vessel, pours, and labels their candle.

The session runs about 90 minutes — easy to fit into a half-day, a long lunch, or an early-evening party after work. The Ardmore studio is BYOB, so you can bring wine, beer, and seltzers for an evening celebration, or keep it alcohol-free for a daytime event. Either works, and we can help you plan the timing.

Book early — December fills up fast

The single biggest mistake with holiday parties is waiting until November to plan them. Prime December dates — especially the Thursday and Friday evenings teams love — get claimed early. If you have a window in mind, even a rough one, it's worth locking it in now. Reserving your date months ahead means you get the slot you want instead of squeezing into whatever's left, and it takes the whole thing off your plate well before the busy season.

We plan the whole thing with you

Most company holiday parties are bigger than 15 — and that's exactly what we're built for. For a team larger than 15, just fill out our large-party form with your headcount and a target date, and our events team gets in touch to plan the whole thing with you: timing, holiday scent themes, food and drinks, and any custom touches you want. We walk you through every step, so it's genuinely off your plate — no spreadsheets, no chasing details, no stress.

Every experience is private to your group, with your own dedicated instructors, and groups of 50+ can buy out the entire store for a full private celebration. Larger parties are priced as their own category — typically a group minimum plus per-person pricing — and our team handles all the setup, guidance, and cleanup so the organizer gets to relax and be part of the party. (Smaller teams of 15 or fewer can also book directly online.)

Getting the team to Ardmore

Ardmore is easy to reach for teams across the western suburbs — Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Narberth, Wynnewood, Conshohocken, and King of Prussia — as well as from Center City by SEPTA Regional Rail. The studio sits near Suburban Square and along Lancaster Avenue, with straightforward parking and plenty of restaurants nearby if you want to pair the session with a team dinner. That central location is part of why it works so well for company groups: people can get there without a long drive, and you can build a whole evening around it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can you accommodate for a holiday party?

Most company holiday parties run larger than 15, and those are booked as a private event — just submit our large-party form and our events team reaches out to plan it with you start to finish. Teams of 15 or fewer can book online, and groups of 50+ can rent the entire store. Either way, every experience is private to your group, with your own dedicated instructors.

When should we book a December party?

As early as you can — prime December dates fill up well in advance. Booking months ahead is the best way to secure the date and time you want.

Is the studio BYOB for company events?

Yes. Bring wine, beer, or seltzers for an evening celebration, or keep it alcohol-free for a daytime event. Light snacks are welcome too.

How long is the experience?

About 90 minutes from start to finish, and everyone leaves with a finished candle — a built-in holiday gift.

Do we need any candle-making experience?

None at all. Every session is fully guided and designed for complete beginners.