Floating lanterns?? HALP. PLS.

What?! They go where ever you want them to...it's your wedding. Maybe in the sky is the appropriate answer to this question?! Where else would a floating lantern go? Make sure if you use them you buy the biodegradable version so they degrade when they land. And if you want to spend your wedding night chasing lanterns to clean them up more power to you. Again buy the biodegradable kind and they will disappear with the next rainstorm.

@Davistobe lol I live in the desert, we get about 8" total precipitation year round. I'm just worried about lanterns strewn about the morning after and the environmental impact. ETA: even so-called "biodegradable" lanterns have metal wires that would take years to decompose. Is there a such thing as a sky lantern vendor that would include cleanup?? I guess I need to do some more research.

Http://www.justartifacts.net/premium-eco-wire-free-eclipse-sky-lantern-white-psl010001.html?gclid=CjwKEAiAn7HEBRDHwNqitoWqsQcSJAADWmI2t4bpovbIf7XNf6m4ubLEEB-3GJ0naYtSHnEoi2cjOBoCkTLw_wcB

They make wire free that are truly biodegradable. The paper breaks down with the first good rain.

And no there is no sky lantern vendor that cleans up. It's as unpredictable as the wind and the rain and they could be scatter for miles in every direction. It's just not logically possible to track them all down.

Thank you for the link!! Again, the problem with that is I can't remember a September in all the 20 years I've lived here that it's rained :/ but I'll look more into it and pray for a miracle if we decide to go with the lanterns!

Read the link. It gives you all the info about how long it takes to break down etc. it will break down without rain, the rain just speeds up the process. As it does with most environmental degrading processes.

They are pretty, when they work.

They are difficult at best (trust me, we've tried).

Also they may not be allowed by your venue.

And yeah, "it's your wedding" is not the answer to all problems and whims.

They end up in oceans and kill sea life

You would be launching fire. Try to re-think it.

My sister attended a backyard wedding, with fire lanterns, and one ended up in a neighbors backyard. Their landscaping caught fire; the fire company was called, the police came with them, the reception was shut down, and the couple was fined. (Permits, noise ordinance ...)

I know it's not quite the same thing, but is there a small pond at your venue that you could float some candles/lanterns in?

Then you wouldn't have to worry about them flying into the neighbors yard, but it would still look pretty!

Following! I want to do them too but my wedding/ceremony is on the beach and I don't want to leave trash

I would verify that your state allows sky lanterns some states have very strict laws against them if you are anywhere near residental areas.