One of the best parts about a wedding is the reception! The reception is a great way to showcase the personalities of the bride and groom and really tie the whole wedding together. A fun reception idea from one of the weddings here at the Twickenham House is the releasing of wish lanterns!
Wish lanterns originated in Thailand, the tradition was started in order to release any worries you have into the sky, bring good luck, and to make wishes for the future! At least one, if not all of these reasons are applicable to weddings, which makes this one of the most up and coming symbolic reception ideas!! Now that you know the story behind these lanterns you're probably wondering how they work, it is a simple concept, and the best part, they won't break your bank!! Most wish lanterns can be purchased in packages of ten or more for a reasonable price, whats not to love?! Wish lanterns (shown above) are similar to hot air balloons. They mimic hot air balloons because they have a fuel source at the bottom, that when lighted, causes air to fill the bag allowing the bag to float in mid-air when released. The average time span these lanterns float is 12 to 15 minutes so no need to worry about any fire mishaps, they burn out relatively fast, yet still provide enough time to watch them float into the distance! These lanterns look best if done at night time because the light can be seen easier, however, they are a great idea for an afternoon reception too!
Safety Tips for wish lanterns:
- Make sure to release them in a safe, outdoor environment
- Do not let children light their own lantern
- Designate someone to be in charge of the lanterns, this way you can insure supervision so that everything goes smoothly and is one less thing for you to worry about!
- Have a fire extinguisher near by (just incase!)
- Be aware of the wind, how fast and which direction it is blowing
Further ideas to do with your wish lanterns:
 |
| Bride and Groom releasing wish lantern |
- Use them as favors for the guests
- Write a short poem on the outside of the lantern
- Do a bride and groom releasing, followed by the rest of the wedding party, then the remaining guests and watch them float out in consecutive groups
- Have sharpies set up beside the lanterns so that the guests can write their wishes for the bride and groom on them
These are a beautiful addition to any wedding reception and are a wonderful way to create even more memories with your guests!! More information on wish lanterns and where to purchase them can be found in the link below. Check it out to see how you can make your reception really glow!
