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Anyone have experience with paper lanterns?

Nati05Nati05 member
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in Wedding Reception Forum
I want to hang paper lanterns over the dance floor. There will be a 6x6 tent covering the whole dance floor area. If it were up to me, it would look like this



Buuuut my wallet says otherwise so there will be much less. I'd still like to achieve a somewhat clustered or at least a well spaced out look but I have no idea how many lanterns that requires. My venue lady isn't much help either because she's never done it before. I'd like lanterns in purple, red, pink and white and in various sizes. Here are other looks we like:







However this is a look we want to AVOID:


The lanterns are so spaced out that IMO it's just not working.
 
So the question is, how many lanterns are enough? What sizes look best? If getting different colors, how many of each? Also how many of each size?

TIA!
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Re: Anyone have experience with paper lanterns?

  • Nati05Nati05 member
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    Okayy so since I posted this, I began looking at prices again and I don't know how doable this is going to be. I found an inspiration pic of hanging tissue paper poms mixed with paper lanterns.. and well it doesn't look too bad.


    But even if I were to do this the same questions still stand... how many lanterns are enough? What sizes look best? If getting different colors, how many of each? Also how many of each size?

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  • chickenbut143chickenbut143 member
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    My venue is providing 20 lanterns, ranging in size - mostly clustered around the dancefloor.  Like you, i'm worried that it'll look odd b/c it won't be enough; it's what the budget will allow.  :)   
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  • Nati05Nati05 member
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    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_anyone-experience-paper-lanterns?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:f94e3cf1-0f36-4ece-be74-402948aa8ac3Post:1b62bf77-18f2-4edd-9612-c240c94a16ab">Re: Anyone have experience with paper lanterns?</a>:
    [QUOTE]Where have you looked for lanterns and how much are they?
    Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

    Oh I've looked at lots of sites, orientaltrading, asianideas, paperlanternstore are just a few off the top of my head. The little ones are fairly cheap, 8" for about $1 something each, 10" coming close to $2 each... but I'm thinking those are probably too little and will get lost. The bigger ones 24", 36" are closer to $4 something to $5 each! I feel like that's a lot once you start adding them up. So I'm lost.

    Chicken, what sizes would you say your 20 lanterns are??
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  • JeremyHeartTrenaJeremyHeartTrena
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    If you can't get too many, how about make it a focal point? Create a "chandelier look" over the center of the dance floor or in the center of the tent. I think it would be much more impactful than the spaced out look that neither you or I like haha. Plus, its nice on your wallet! For a 6x6' tent, I think a center bunching would be very effective.

    When you have only a few, something like this would be much more beautiful than spreading them out: http://pinterest.com/pin/183169909814063471/ This isn't exactly what I've seen before, and I can't find those pics right now, but it gives you an idea...

    As to how many, It depends on what end look you decide on. If you do a focal point type, I would consider from 8"-15". You don't want too large in a fairly small tent that might not have a very high ceiling. Even as few as 20 of varying sized would fill it well I would think with the bunching in the middle.
    I hope this helps!
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  • Nati05Nati05 member
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    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_anyone-experience-paper-lanterns?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:f94e3cf1-0f36-4ece-be74-402948aa8ac3Post:dafa881b-9201-435a-b00f-a692e7725040">Re: Anyone have experience with paper lanterns?</a>:
    [QUOTE]If you can't get too many, how about make it a focal point? Create a "chandelier look" over the center of the dance floor or in the center of the tent. I think it would be much more impactful than the spaced out look that neither you or I like haha. Plus, its nice on your wallet! For a 6x6' tent, I think a center bunching would be very effective. When you have only a few, something like this would be much more beautiful than spreading them out: <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/183169909814063471/" rel='nofollow'>http://pinterest.com/pin/183169909814063471/</a> This isn't exactly what I've seen before, and I can't find those pics right now, but it gives you an idea... As to how many, It depends on what end look you decide on. If you do a focal point type, I would consider from 8"-15". You don't want too large in a fairly small tent that might not have a very high ceiling. Even as few as 20 of varying sized would fill it well I would think with the bunching in the middle. I hope this helps!
    Posted by JeremyHeartTrena[/QUOTE]

    That helps a ton! I haven't seen pics like that before and I like the idea a lot. Having just one small tent I think bunching them will be just as effective, if not more. Thanks so much! :D
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  • JeremyHeartTrenaJeremyHeartTrena
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    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_anyone-experience-paper-lanterns?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:f94e3cf1-0f36-4ece-be74-402948aa8ac3Post:5ddce302-3872-441f-b7d8-6b8bc63330e8">Re: Anyone have experience with paper lanterns?</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Anyone have experience with paper lanterns? : That helps a ton! I haven't seen pics like that before and I like the idea a lot. Having just one small tent I think bunching them will be just as effective, if not more. Thanks so much! :D
    Posted by Nati05[/QUOTE]


    You are very welcome!
    And I found another picture. It is not with lanterns, but balloons, but I think you could get a very similar effect with the lanterns, and this is actually more what I was thinking too: <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/50947039504212288/" rel='nofollow'>http://pinterest.com/pin/50947039504212288/</a>

    Good luck planning! :D
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  • seesawgirlseesawgirl member
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    Not sure if youre still checking this thread or not, but you should google yarn lanterns. Its somewhat the same effect, you can paint them whatever color you want, and its much cheaper. You just have to make them yourself...
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  • Chicago Lighting DesignChicago Lighting Design member
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    We do lanterns all over.  How many depends on how high they'll be hung, budget, etc.  The higher the ceiling, the bigger the lantern you should have.  Since you want them fairly densely hung based on those pix, I would use 16" - 24" range, and figure one per roughly 12 - 16' square feet of area that you want to cover. 
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