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With summer just around the corner, here at Stressfreehire we can’t wait to start bringing out some of our favourite summer stock. However, there is one simple item that never fails to make a huge impression – we’re talking, of course, about the humble hanging lantern.

Thanks to our fantastic collaborators at The Hanging Lantern Company we’ve used lanterns countless times over the years to create some stunning looks, and found their versatility truly endless. Whether you want to keep things understated with white and ivory, go crazy with colour, create a spectacular clustered centrepiece or simply give your space some low-lit atmosphere, lanterns will never let you down!

In this blog post, Stressfree | The Venue Transformers looks at just a few ways you can use lanterns to “wow” your guests as part of your wedding and venue styling.

Colourful Canopies

Coloured lanterns can be just the thing if you already have a colour scheme you want to compliment. Soft pastels, bold primaries and everything in-between look fantastic in a canopy over the main event space, and help to bring all your decorations together by drawing the eye upwards! Lanterns work especially well in marquees, especially when combined with glass chandeliers for a truly classy affair!

Overhead paper lantern canopy and wall draping at The Hurlingham Club, London wedding venue

Overhead festoon canopy with paper lanterns, fairy lights in trees, willow archway and trellis screens at Devonshire Terrace, London wedding venue

Striking Set-Pieces

Lanterns can be used with hundreds of other items to create fun focal points at your event. A cluster of lanterns above a cake stand or sweets bar can give your food station an extra stylish touch, as we found out here at Upwaltham Barns in Sussex with our rustic barrel bar! And, below, we created a canopy of artificial wisteria mixed in with white and vintage-style lace lanterns for some gorgeous, summery ceiling decoration.

Rustic barrel bar for a sweet display with pretty lace lantern cluster overhead at Upwaltham Barns wedding venue Surrey

Lanterns and Lighting 

Hanging lanterns are also perfect for attaching to lighting features, such as a pealight canopy or festoon strings. This way you can create some delightful outdoor canopies with nylon hanging lanterns (perfect for transitioning summer parties on into the evening), or have some super-pretty, atmospheric lighting over a dance-floor, to give your guests a truly spectacular setting in which to dance the night away!

Overhead festoon canopy with paper lanterns, fairy lights in trees, willow archway and trellis screens at Devonshire Terrace, London wedding venue

Let’s bring your wedding or party to life!

If you’re ready to be blown away by the look of your venue, then we’re brimming with ideas.

To discuss how to dress-up your wedding or party using lanterns …

Call us on 020 7610 1060

Email info@stressfreehire.com

We’d LOVE to work with you.

For more ideas for dressing your wedding

And if you are exploring alternative ways of using pops of colour, you will love this post too!

Venue credits:

Northbrook Park

Hurlingham Club

Devonshire Terrace

Farbridge

The Brewery

Photography credits:

Joshua Tucker Photography

Hannah Mia

Phil Drinkwater

Soven Amatya Photography

Marianne Taylor Photography

Cotton Candy

Allister Freeman

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