This is actually the sentence my boyfriend chooses to mimic my Northern accent. Apparently it comes out ‘I laak laats’. I don’t believe him but I do like lights and do say it often. In fact I love them and have fairy lights in my bedroom all year round: a set with shades of blue twine lanterns hanging from my bookcase and a set placed in a fish bowl which looks really rather pretty. And when it comes to Christmas the tree gets over 600 of them!
Lots of lights
Anyway, I believe lighting is really important at weddings. Rather than have bright lighting at a venue I think it’s far nicer to create a much more romantic setting with the use of softer lighting such as paper lanterns, fairy lights, chandeliers, projected lighting and candles for those places that allow it. Even sparklers, although only alight for a short time, offer attractive illumination which can look amazing if captured on camera (I’ve seen some awesome images of this which I’ll post at a later date).
My love of lighting may well pop up on several occasions on this blog but today I am just going to focus on paper lanterns. Apparently these lights were initially used by the Chinese to ward off bad spirits. Although they’re now mainly just used for decoration it couldn’t hurt if they did really work in warding off bad spirits at your own wedding right? Magical powers or not I love these papery balls of light and have collected a few images to show you how pretty they can look:
Awesome images courtesy of:
I love all these images but especially like the cluster of different shaped lanterns hanging from a tree just above the couple’s first dance: beautiful. And the last one looks like a piece of art, a truly awesome image.
Lantern Ideas
- If you’re unsure of what lantern colour and type to use for your wedding play it safe and opt for white round lanterns
- Match the lanterns to your theme colour
- If you’re having a colourful wedding go for colourful lanterns. You don’t have to stick to one colour.
- Space them apart on a string (image 2)
- Cluster them in key points at your venue such as above the tables or the dance floor (image 9)
- Choose different shapes in the same colour (also seen in image 9)
- Cover the entire ceiling with them (not cheap but very pretty)
- Pick battery operated ones to save having those messy wires everywhere
- You don’t need to stick to the simple lanterns. If you like them and can find them why not go for something fancier such as those in image 5. And if you can find them please let me know where so I can share!
- I think they would even look good on the floor such as lining the aisle (they don’t necessarily have to be lit to offer decoration) or surrounding the dance floor
The Hanging Lantern Company
For the simpler lanterns I’ve discovered a company called The Hanging Lantern Company. I contacted them and a lovely lady called Aimee let me know more about the company:
The Hanging Lantern Company is the UK’s leading supplier of high quality paper lanterns and Chinese lantern accessories. We are the UK arm of The Paper Lantern Store in the US and the great thing is, we actually own our own factory in China!
Here are some more facts:
- They hold approximately 100,00 lanterns in stock at any one time!
- They stock oval, round and kiwi lanterns.
- They have sizes from 8″ lanterns to 20″ ones, the next shipment from the factory will also contain lanterns up to 48″ in diameter.
- The lanterns are available in fuchsia, white, ivory, turquoise, lime green, yellow, orange, red and black. They also have a few styles of lantern in baby pink, brown and silver. The next shipment contains lilac and dark purple lanterns.
- They offer Nylon hanging lanterns to ensure the British weather does not get the better of you and your celebrations!
- They work closely with a professional lighting company should customers want their lanterns installed.
Aimee also informed me that paper lanterns have appeared in lots of films and so I decided to track down a couple of images for you:
The Time Traveller’s Wife (I thought the book was better –nice lanterns though!)
Twilight (I do not understand the Pattinson attraction. But I do want a dance floor like this at my wedding)
The Hanging Lantern Company are also due to offer a rental package available from the end of 2010 hopefully making it even easier to afford these pretty bubbles of light at your own wedding.
Debs
Vendor Details:
The Hanging Lantern Company
Email: contact@hanginglanterns.co.uk
Telephone: 0845 465 5585 (09:00 – 17:30 Monday – Friday)
Tags: lighting
Such an inspiring post – I love love the blue sea background one with the white lanterns.
Thanks Annemarie! That’s a favourite of mine too.
Ooooooh I like lights to….so romantic!
It’s a good job you like lights! My mum has her eye on one of your stunning lamps now : )
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