When you first start planning your wedding, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel — literally! From the catering and bar to the florals and stationery, there are so many overwhelming decisions to make. Not to worry, though — your HauteFetes team is here to help light the way and make the wedding planning process as seamless and hassle-free as possible! This includes everything from behind-the-scenes logistics to your wedding design and decor.
And when it comes to your wedding décor, you’ll want to think beyond the flowers. Your lighting is a big part of that. Although it’s often an afterthought or worse, overlooked, lighting is a key element to building the design aesthetic — for both indoor and outdoor weddings. Lighting sets the mood, enhances the guest experience, and helps highlight all of the key wedding details you’ve worked so hard on.
Generally, a combination of lighting techniques will be used, from decorative lighting to wash and accent lighting and even safety lighting. As such, lighting installations are typically handled by a professional lighting designer, which your wedding planner will bring in.
So many factors will determine what lighting treatments will be used on your special day, including the layout and design of your venue, the size of the space you’re illuminating, your style and aesthetic, and your budget. The good news is that there are lighting techniques to suit any bride’s preference — and every purpose!
Whether you’re looking for a soft, romantic glow to light up the aisles of your ceremony or you want to encourage people to party it up on the dance floor, there are so many options to choose from. Here are some of our favorite wedding lighting techniques and how to use them to take your wedding to the next level!
1. String Lights (Twinkle Lights)
String lights, also known as fairy lights or twinkle lights, are a classic choice! These lights provide a warm glow to your reception that are perfect for creating an intimate, cozy atmosphere that gives off fairytale wedding vibes!
A lighting designer can drape string lights across ceilings and wrap them around columns. When it comes to outdoor weddings, you can string them between trees and from tent ceilings.
Where to Use: String lights are perfect for outdoor weddings, barn weddings, and any venue with high ceilings.
Pro Tip: Consider combining string lights with florals or greenery to add a romantic touch to your wedding reception.
2. Chandeliers
Are you looking for a timeless wedding lighting technique? As a luxury wedding planner, I always recommend chandeliers to couples who want to elevate the look and feel of their reception. Whether your wedding reception will be held in a ballroom or a rustic barn, chandeliers add a touch of elegance and grandeur.
Where to Use: Chandeliers can be added to ballrooms, elegant outdoor tents, or venues with high ceilings.
Pro Tip: Coordinate with your lighting designer to use a dimmer switch with chandeliers. You can use it to adjust the light intensity during your reception, setting the perfect mood for dinner, dancing, and more.
3. Uplighting
Uplighting is a wedding lighting technique that involves placing lights on the floor around the perimeter of the venue to cast light upward. It adds a pop of color to your space, accentuates floral arrangements, and highlights architectural details. Uplighting allows for customization, making it a perfect way to incorporate colors from your wedding color palette.
Where to Use: Uplighting is a great way to add some color to walls, columns, and other unique architectural features in indoor venues.
Pro Tip: When it comes to uplighting, the colors you choose matters. They can set the entire mood and tone of your wedding. Soft, warm colors can help create a romantic feel, while bold, vibrant colors can make for a fun, party atmosphere!
4. Gobo Lighting
Gobo lighting is a unique lighting treatment that involves placing stencils or cut-out patterns over a light to project images onto surfaces. It can be a great way to personalize your venue with your monogram or wedding date.
Where to Use: Gobo lighting can be used on dance floors, entryways, walls, or ceilings. One great place to use it is behind the sweetheart table.
Pro Tip: Coordinating your gobo designs with your wedding theme or motif can be a great way to pull your wedding décor together.
5. Candlelight
We can’t think of anything more romantic than the soft glow of candlelight! Whether you opt for votive candles, tea lights, or pillar candles, candlelight is an elegant and timeless wedding lighting option to create a warm, intimate atmosphere.
Where to Use: Candlelight makes the perfect addition to table centerpieces, pathways, and window sills. It can also make gorgeous decor when used as altar decorations for your wedding ceremony.
Pro Tip: Consider using flameless LED candles in place of real candles for safety reasons. This is ideal for venues with strict fire regulations.
6. Pendant Lighting
Pendant lights hang from the ceiling and come in a wide variety of styles, ranging from modern and industry to vintage and rustic. This wedding lighting technique is great for creating focal points over specific areas in the venue. Pendant lighting can provide depth and dimension to your venue space, while complementing your wedding décor style.
Where to Use: We suggest hanging pendant lights over the bar, dessert stations, head table, or sweetheart table.
Pro Tip: Use matching pendant lights if you’re looking for a more streamlined appearance, or consider mixing and matching various pendant styles to create an electric or layered look.
7. Market Lights (Bistro Lights)
Market lights, also known as bistro lights, are very similar to string lights. Since they feature larger bulbs, they’re generally used to create a festive, outdoor cafe vibe. They provide a warm, inviting glow, which makes them perfect for lighting up outdoor evening receptions!
Where to Use: Market lights are the perfect lighting treatment for outdoor weddings. We advise them for lighting up patios, gardens, and courtyards!
Pro tip: To create a magical canopy of light above the dance floor, ask your lighting designer to crisscross market lights above the space. This can create a romantic feel and look stunning in your first dance wedding photos!
8. Spotlighting
Spotlighting uses intense beams of light on specific areas or objects to draw attention to them. It helps create drama and emphasis, ensuring that important details stand out at your wedding reception.
Where to Use: Spotlighting is a great lighting technique to use for cake tables, sweetheart tables, and unique décor pieces.
Pro Tip: Have your lighting designer use colored gels on spotlights to match your wedding theme and enhance the overall aesthetic.
9. Neon Signs
Neon signs are such a trendy wedding lighting technique right now — and for good reason! They’re so fun and playful! You can customize neon signs with phrases, quotes, your names or surname, or “Mr. & Mrs.” to add a fun pop of colorful light. Neon signs can also be a great way to reinforce your wedding theme.
Where to Use: We suggest using neon signs at the wedding entrance, near the dance floor, or behind the sweetheart table.
Pro Tip: For a striking contrast, consider pairing neon signs with greenery or floral backdrops!
10. Lanterns
As a luxury wedding planner, I always recommend lanterns to my clients who want a lighting treatment that will add a whimsical or rustic charm. Paper lanterns, glass lanterns, and metal lanterns all provide a soft, ambient light that creates a romantic feel on your wedding day.
Where to Use: Lanterns are a great wedding lighting option for outdoor spaces. You can hang them from trees, line aisles or pathways, and place them on tables.
Pro Tip: Incorporating lanterns of various shapes and sizes can add depth and texture to your wedding décor, increasing that whimsical feel!
How Much Does Wedding Lighting Cost?
Wedding lighting costs can vary significantly, depending on the size of your venue and techniques employed, so it’s important to think about allocating an appropriate budget to lighting during the budgeting process as part of your overall design so you’re not surprised later.
Typically, when considering adding lighting to your decor, it’s not just one element but rather a combination of lighting techniques that will be used to light up your special day. Larger installations may also require additional outlets and if you’re illuminating an outdoor space, your lighting tech will likely add a generator, too. Accordingly, lighting can be priced at $10,000 to well over $100,000.
Unique lighting techniques can turn even the most ordinary event space into a wonderland of moods, shapes, and colors! Carefully curated lighting offers endless design possibilities and wow-worthy moments that will thrill your guests, leave you with so many memories, and look fabulous in your wedding photos! We look forward to talking more about the ways that wedding lighting can illuminate your special day as we help you plan your happily ever after at HauteFetes!