Paper Lanterns For Your Wedding Reception

How to Find Paper Lanterns With Lights for a Wedding Reception

Paper lanterns for a wedding reception are easy to find through online shopping or through a visit to a home décor or crafts store. Let your decorative plans for the event dictate your purchases, as paper lanterns can be found in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and lighting styles. Finding the appropriate style of paper lantern is essentially a matter of understanding what options are available.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide if the reception will be held indoors or outdoors. Paper lanterns are sufficient for indoor celebrations, but most are not designed to be exposed to the elements.

2. Consider how the lanterns will be in use during the reception to determine the type of lighting needed. Smaller lanterns with less illumination are suitable for centerpieces, for example. Many retailers sell battery-operated paper lanterns with lighting fixtures installed for hanging or for tabletop use. However, most lanterns are sold separately from their lighting fixtures.

3. For paper lanterns that do not have lights already installed, choose battery-operated floral or craft lights for centerpieces or for shorter amounts of time (five to seven hours). For hanging lanterns or longer use (up to 20 hours), choose battery-powered LED lights.

4. Estimate the size of the lanterns that will be necessary for the décor. When installing lights, a single LED hanging battery terminal should be sufficient for lanterns up to 14 inches in diameter. A triple LED hanging battery terminal is sufficient for lanterns up to 36 inches in diameter.

5. Visit your local home, garden or craft store to purchase paper lanterns or look for online stores offering lantern products. If you are looking for a specific combination of shapes, colors or patterns, you may find the widest selection online.

For more wedding decor ideas visit Liane McCombs Wedding & Event Planning