Wedding exits are a great way to put a bookend on your ceremony or reception. Typically, a wedding exit is performed at the end of the reception as the newlywed couple makes their “getaway” to their honeymoon. One great option for this is to perform a sky lantern wedding exit as a couple, small group, or involving everyone at your celebration.
Traditionally, couple’s prefer to use items like rice, birdseed, or even wedding sparklers to signify the send-off. However, sky lanterns can be a great option as well! Imagine your guests lighting and releasing a lantern at the same time. It’s a fun night, and it makes for fantastic pictures! However, there are a few ways to go about it, as well as some key tips to keep in mind. For all of you with questions, we’ve put together this definitely guide to performing a sky lantern wedding exit to make things as easy as possible.
What Types of Exits Can I Perform?
The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern sinks back to the ground. In China, Taiwan and Thailand, sky lanterns are traditionally made from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame. The source of hot air may be a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material.
Depending on your preferences, there are 3 main types of sky lantern wedding exits that you can perform. We will go over each type to make it as painless as possible on your big day.
Couple’s Release
Find paper lanterns in all shapes, sizes, and colors, from mini lantern strings to giant paper globes. Share Night Lights: Sky Lantern Festival - Maple Grove Raceway with your friends. Save Night Lights: Sky Lantern Festival - Maple Grove Raceway to your collection. Sat, Jun 5, 4:00 PM. Sky Lanterns (also know as Chinese, Wish, or Kongming Lanterns) are small hot air balloons. They were invented way back on 300BC in China, and have been used in festivals for centuries. Traditionally, people write their wishes, and messages of hope on them before releasing them into the sky as part of celebrations. In Lanterns Dice: Lights in the Sky, players act as artisans, decorating the palace lake with floating lanterns and launching fireworks to light up the sky. The player who earns the most honor has made the best impression on the emperor and wins. In more detail, roll dice and choose which colored lanterns players can fill on their scoresheets.
Releasing a single sky lantern as a couple is a great way to keep things simple and inexpensive. Coordinating a release by just the couple is easy logistically, plus you only need one lantern. Some people even argue it’s the most meaningful way to do it. Simply gather your guests around while you light and release it for a touching and memorable way to end your evening.
Wedding Party Release
Inviting just a few people to join you in your exit can be a great option as well. Usually, couple’s choose to involve their wedding party for this type of situation. You only need to get white sky lanterns for half of the group since using two people is much easier than going solo. Some couple’s choose to involve their parents or grandparents as well, just remember to order enough to supply everyone.
Including All of Your Guests
Lastly, a more ambitious approach is to include everyone at your wedding in the exit! That means a lot of sky lanterns to buy, but it also makes for an unbelievable aerial showcase. You’ll also need to organize and coordinate all of those people, and that can be a challenge. Your best bet is to delegate someone to be in charge of the exit such as your attendant, wedding planner, or another close friend you can trust to do it right. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can even decorate your sky lanterns before the release as a great reception activity!
How Do I Coordinate My Sky Lantern Wedding Exit?
Coordinating your sky lantern wedding exit can be the most difficult part of the entire process. Depending on what type of release you’ve decided to do, arranging everyone and getting them ready to go simultaneously is a daunting task. The key is to put one person in charge, ideally your wedding planner or personal attendant. Walk through the whole process verbally before handing out the lanterns. Then, pair up your guests, give them a sky lantern, and let the fun begin. Make sure everyone has plenty of room and an ignition source. When everyone releases them at the exact same time, you’ll get the best effect and the most memorable photos.
How Many Do I Need?
The number of them that you need will be based on how many people will be involved in the release. For instance, let’s assume you have 150 guests participating which is a fairly normal sized event. If you pair people up for the release, it would mean that you need 75 sky lanterns for this purpose. Similarly, if only the wedding party will be involved, you would need one for each pair of bridesmaids and groomsmen. The easiest and least expensive option is to release a single lantern as husband and wife. Just figure out the number of participants, divide that number by two, and you know how many white or color sky lanterns that you need to buy.
Are Sky Lantern Wedding Exits Legal?
This particular item is a tricky one to nail down. Your best bet is to contact your local state government to find out all of the laws. But generally speaking, they are considered to be a “novelty” and shouldn’t be an issue as long as they are legal according to your state’s laws. If your state allows aerial items, you are almost certainly okay. The main issue is what happens to the “waste” from a lantern. However, all of our sky lanterns are 100% biodegradable, so that isn’t really an issue at all.
Why Is Quality Important?
Choosing high quality products for your sky lantern wedding exit is vital. Cheaply made versions will not work properly, and that makes coordinating your release even harder. We supply a high quality product, and they perform the same every single time. Don’t trust your special day to questionable sources. Choose a brand that has been serving the industry for over a decade.
Sky Lantern Legal
Sky Lantern Buy
Overall, performing a sky lantern wedding exit is a pretty easy addition to your celebration. Obviously, the fewer people involved the easier it is to coordinate. However, the larger the group is, the better the display. Only you can decide how large you want your wedding to be, but this guide should serve well for events of all sizes.