Lately I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do at our wedding ceremony as a remembrance of the amazing people that are no longer with us. I have researched everything from a candle lighting, to poems to balloon releases. My sister and Brendan actually did a balloon release at their wedding in remembrance of his sister Stacy and my grandfather and it was really beautiful.

I loved the idea of a balloon release but since we are getting married at the chapel and it’s inside I have been trying to rack my brain for something that would fit in with the actual flow of the ceremony. With the balloon release we would have to have our guests get up go outside then come back in and that just wasn’t going to work. Since nothing brilliant was coming to me I decided I would just put it on the back burner until I found something I really loved.

As most of you may know we recently did an event for a sweet boy that I am so blessed to know named Trek Atlas. We were fortunate enough to hold a benefit concert for him and his family at the Hard Rock Cafe a few Saturdays ago. During the event process I also got the pleasure of teaming up and working with Trek’s very crafty, smart and hard working Aunty Amanda. Amanda is one of the most selfless people I have ever met and together we were determined to create the best event we possibly could for sweet Trek & his beautiful family. During the planning phase Amanda came up with several different special moments for Trek and his family but she wanted to do something even more special and that’s where the sky lanterns came in. Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming Lantern or Chinese lanterns are airborne paper lanterns that are best known as a tradition found in some Asian cultures. They are constructed from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame, and contain a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy flammable material. When lit, the flame heats the air inside the lantern, thus lowering its density causing the lantern to rise into the air. The sky lantern is only airborne for as long as the flame stays alight, after which the lantern sinks back to the ground. It couldn’t be more perfect so she decided that she was going to buy a bunch of the lanterns to give to guests at the event and have them met her and the Ingram’s at baby beach at sunset to set the sky on fire for baby Trek and that’s exactly what they did!

After all was said and done and I was at home thinking about how amazing the event was it hit me…the sky lanterns would also be perfect for the wedding and our guests!! I knew Amanda had ordered extra so I texted her and asked if I could buy the remaining lanterns and she happily accepted.

I couldn’t think of anything more perfect. My Mom and Dad have actually participated in a floating lantern ceremony at magic island the last 2 years were they put them in the water in remembrance. They have done this for my uncle, grandfather, god mother as well as others that we have lost.

This was almost the same idea but a little different and I liked that. It was also fitting because the actual sky lantern festival takes place in Thailand (where we are going on our honeymoon!) Yi peng sky lantern festival San Sai is a big festival where thousands of Khom Loi (sky lanterns) are floated in to the air during a Buddhist ceremony that is held north of Chiang Mai in Thailand every October. We won’t actually be there for the event but we do hope to someday go and see it.

With all that being said I would like to invite all of our wedding guests to participate in our sky lantern event on Thursday August 23^rd. We will be walking down to the beach at sunset after our welcome BBQ to set the sky on fire. You can join us in remembrance of a loved one or you can make a floating wish. We would love to have you all by our sides while we light our lantern and celebrate life, love, remembrance and our soon to be happily ever after.