These are so pretty, and such a nice size for a table centerpiece or out in your yard! I purchased them for table centerpieces for my mother's 90th birthday party. Rather than candles, I purchased battery operated tiny lights with a remote. There are remotes for every string, but one remote works for every string! The string for the lights is very slight, and they have a battery pack which I was able to wire to the lid of the lantern due to the little holes on the lid of the lantern (If you need to know more, just ask me!) While sitting at the table the pack is not visible...just the lights. (We cannot have candles at our venue) The handle on the lantern will hold a bouquet of balloons over each table. The lantern will sit upon a mirror with gold, rose, clear, and dark pink glass "beads"....the flatish ones in all of the floral departments! Can you picture the settings? All sitting on a white table cloth to the floor...gold place mats, etc.... After the party, the lanterns will come out for every yard party I have! They can be hung in trees on hooks, be set on tables, etc. I also plan to use them to line the drive way and side walk at Halloween and Christmas...providing there is not rain or snow. The lights I got to go inside the lanterns have a dimmer and 8 different light shows.....we'll use solid lighting for meal time, and when it is time to dance, I'll pull out the remote and light the lanterns on a jazzy light show as a queue to get up and dance!!!...who knows....at least that is the plan. :) Don't worry, we'll put the lights back to something more subtle and relaxing after a minute or so of the wild light show! One last thing, because of the wired lights I have in the lanterns, I won't ever keep the lanterns outdoors, but I think they may be able to be out of doors....not really sure about this. Candles of many sizes would work in them as well.