tealights or votives?

It really depends on the candle. My mom is a consultant for PartyLite (candles and accessories) and all of their wax liquifies completely...but because of the way they are made the wax is consumed completely as well by the time the candle is done burning. The tealights are in a little plastic holder so it's not an issue but the votives HAVE to be in a votive holder.

If you are doing lanterns, I would recommend using votives for the light factor or even pillars. Pillar candles can be a little bit more high maintenance but they are meant to burn on their own without a holder. The amount of light you get will also depend on how big the lantern is.

I'm attaching a pic of a lantern display in her catalog. The bigger sizes have the pillars in them, which would give more light, and the smaller one has a votive in it.

My wedding planner said to use votives not tea lights. He experience (and mine for another wedding) is that tea lights will burn out before the end, but votives should last.

We used votives. Our venue provided them. They stayed lit the entire reception - four hours.

I would put the candle in a glass container in the lantern so it was not so much of a mess and a hazard. I would worry the candle would shift without a container or make the lantern hot.

Depends on the length of your event and if you are going to need to return the lanterns or if they are yours. If they are yours go for a votive cup and use that. If you are responsible for cleanup and need to return them tealights are way easier to clean