The party guests in Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, released the balloons along with wishes that they hoped would come true. But residents in the surrounding area were shocked by the sight of the illuminated globes in the sky, mistaking them for an alien invasion.
Central Scotland Police said they received more than a dozen calls in half an hour from locals who thought the balloons were interstellar craft.
A spokesman said: "We've had call, after call, after call, saying it's UFOs. It turns out that there's a party going on and they are letting off balloons with candles on. They make a wish and then release them into the sky." (Sky News Sunday 3rd August 2008)