Paper Lanterns...battery or not? Which style?

My MOH, when she got married she used the battery operated ones from walmart. they came like 3 for $10 i think. they were just white tho. but they were gorgeous, the cast a pretty, romantic glow all over the whole tent. plus they were up high enough so no one noticed the battery thing. plus once ppl start drinking lol they didnt really care if the lanterns were batttery or not.

but anyways, i want them too. i think they are so gorgeous! I think she strung hers up with fishing line, too...so it looked like they were floating. it was really neat.

Http://www.save-on-crafts.com/tealights.html

6 for 4.99

They have reasonably priced paper lanterns too.

Http://www.save-on-crafts.com/lanternlight.html

Or these... these might light up better. Special for $1.69/each.

We ordered our lanterns from www.save-on-crafts.com they have great prices. And we purchased the battery operated lights to hang inside from JoAnn's Fabrics and Micheal's they are suppose to last up to 8hrs. We will be using them on the 22nd, so I will update you and even attach a photo or 2

Thanks ladies! Salita, I can't wait to see!

Be aware that although Save-on-crafts.com has great prices on items, the shipping can be horrendous!

Try also asianideas.com

I had an outdoor garden party using both battery operated smaller paper lanterns and large paper lanterns that I purchased lights for....they really looked beautiful! It gives such a great feeling the space....I agree with Carly that the battery part is not noticeable once the party is going...and it was really easy to switch them on. The lights I purchased were simple to install and actually lasted longer than the battery powered latterns...they were still glowing days later! (I left the latterns outside after the party for a few days)

I'm not a fan of battery powered.

A. Not very bright.

B. I haven't found rechargeables, so the battery is thrown away after. Those square battery powered ones take an odd battery.

I actually wrote an article on lighting options for paper lanterns. The ones that came as battery-powered lanterns burnt out well before the end of our reception. There are lots better lighting options.

While LenW is correct...we have recently started using battery operated lantern lights that have about a dozen white LED lights that are very bright and we are extremely pleased with. They do take 3 AAA batteries, so you can use rechargeable batteries if you like. They retail for around $5, I don't know if you can find a place that rents them locally like we do, but that would save you quite a bit!

You will find the one's you buy at local craft stores (with 1 or 2 LEDs) are not bright enough and you will most likely be disappointed. They will also most likely not last long enough. The lights we are using are still nice and bright for well over 12 hours and even after 24 they were brighter than the craft store lights started.

Hey there,

I had an outdoor party this summer and I LOVE Paper lanterns. I did buy the Pier 1 battery ones and I have Ikea plug in ones in my house.

If you like bright lanterns I would go the plug in route. If you go with the batteries get standard batteries, not rechargeable ones. I hate to say it because I am an eco freak, but the rechargeable batteries are very very dim. Regular batteries were much brighter.

So overall I say plug in, that and you can use them else where in your house or where ever

~Lindy

Http://www.paperlanternstore.com/

Here's the website I plan to use to buy ours, but I haven't bought them yet so I have no idea as to quality, shipping time, etc. We plan to use LED.

@2nd bride--great article. Thanks for doing the legwork!

I got mine on asianideas. I've found great deals on save-on-crafts, but the shipping actually costs more than the products! That's not for me. I am curious about the battery life on the battery-operated lights. For me, it's those or none at all. It does seem like it will be a pain to have someone go through and turn them all on. If we end up being able to afford, it we probably will.

The battery ones we used (once) lasted a very long time, like 14 hours. But I wouldn't buy them again because of the low output, and the lack of rechargability.

I'll look into those others with the AAA batteries, but most of the time, we're hanging lanterns at 8AM or even the day before and 15 - 30 feet in the air, so batteries would be useless anyway.