Weddingbee boards

I SO want to do this!!n Not sure about environmental issues or even where to find them but too cool and fits perfectly with our candlelight wedding theme. :)

@aruka11: Can you tell me where you got them? I would love to do it too :) Can you write on the balloon part? I thought that it would be awesome to have each person write their blessings/wishes for our marriage on them, snap a picture and then send them into the sky

@SoontobeMrsA: No?

Oh! You know, I just thought of something. We want to give our daughters little diamond rings to represent the merging of our family (myself and the girls) with him. Doing it before we send the balloons off would be the perfect time :)

@aruka11: What are they called?

Nevermind they are called sky lanterns!

I am going to have to find a location to do it after our supper because we are having the ceremony around 3 then going to a restaurant. Oh well the two sets of parents can get into a car and follow us! lol

@Ms Hedgehog: Bah I am going to find a park right in the middle of Toronto. previously chosen to ensure that there aren't any crazy powerlines etc around and send them off there!

Can anyone tell me if you can take these out of the packages and paint on the sides before folding them back up again?

@SoontobeMrsA: I will have to rent it then!

This is GORGEOUS!!!

These are super cool.. I read a website that said they are 100% biodegradable and flam retardant..

that looks awesome! I totally want it!

But I found this article about the potential environmental impact - maybe it's not such a good idea :(

@bookworm88: Check out ebay. I found 15 lanterns (which is more than I need) for $25.00 and free shipping. There are places that offer them in bulk, 100 or 200 at a time for around a dollar a lantern.

@thesejoys: The article is scary, especially when someone is planning on sending up a hundred or more of them. I am only sending up 8 so I am not that concerned to be honest.

Actually, I was thinking of using these.  I wanted a small number, about 20.. then I read this article:

http://ruscombegreen.blogspot.com/2010/07/sky-lantern-sets-fire-to-tree-in.html

There are many more out there like this.  These things are on fire.  If the wind is right or they are set off wrong, they can get caught in trees, on porches, or just plain hit anything flammable and catch on fire.  Here is someone's first hand experience about one catching fire on a tree:

"I was at a party where lanterns were released. One launched normally, but it decided not to follow the rest straight up and proceeded to drift sideways at a height of 20-30 feet. It climbed upwards very slowly, but soon encountered a very large chestnut tree into which it got trapped some 50 feet up. The tree was two hundred meters from us and it seemed almost impossible that a lantern would stay low enough to hit it. Yet it did. Below the tree was a range of stables, etc with livestock bedded down for the night. Luckily the lantern burned itself out without drama, but I was sure the tree was ready to conflagrate at any moment and I've never been so scared in my life. Never again."

"Launching a flaming aerial device in an urban area and completely uncontrolled is mind bogglingly foolhardy. These 'toys' are just as dangerous as fireworks if not more so. The flaming wick burns with 2 foot long flames and is impossible to put out. Once released, they may go upwards or drift sideways and there's absolutely nothing you can do if they misbehave. Sheer common sense says they should be banned under health and safety regulations. Any benefit to UFOlogy is purely coincidental."

That is from:  http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread539996/pg1

Honestly, you need to check your state's fireworks laws because these things fall under those.  Also, I wouldn't light these things near any forest, urban or suburban area.  I would only do it over a large body of water, and my venue doesn't have that.  Again, check the laws of the state/county/country you inhabit before sending these up or you might have the cops crashing your reception as well.

@Ms_Smitten: Just checked on the deal with fireworks in Toronto.  I hate to be a downer, but I believe setting off sky lanterns in a park is illegal unless you obtain a permit:

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_608.pdf

Page 7 says: 

§ 608-5. Fireworks.
While in a park, no person shall ignite, discharge or set off firecrackers, rockets or other fireworks except as a fireworks display authorized by permit.

Might want to look into that if you haven't already. =)