The Importance Of Lighting At Your Wedding 

When most people think about wedding planning, the first things that come to mind are the dress, the decorations, and the food. 

However, one of the most important aspects of any wedding is the lighting. It can set the mood for your wedding and create a romantic atmosphere. It can also make your guests feel more comfortable and help them see what is going on. 

In this blog post, we will discuss some of the different types that you can use and how they can enhance your big day. We will also provide tips on choosing the right kind of lighting for your wedding. 

So if you are currently planning your wedding or are just curious about this aspect of weddings, keep reading.

How to Use Lights?

There are many different uses for lights at a wedding. One of the most important is to properly light the area, bringing the decor to life. For your guests to have an enjoyable time, they should see everything that is going on and what is being served at the wedding. 

At most weddings, there needs to be lighting above each table. This ensures that guests can see their plates, napkins, silverware, and other dining essentials.

Another important use is to create a calm or festive mood. For example, the lighting at a wedding reception may be dimmer than normal to set a romantic mood. On the other hand, if it is New Year’s Eve, it may be brighter to reflect the festive spirit.

Finally, you will want to ensure that your event is safe by providing lights along the walkways and other areas where it might be dark. This helps guests stay on track as they traverse the venue. It is also important to ensure that they don’t bump into tables or other guests.

Highlighting Features or Objects

You’ll want the wedding lighting to highlight specific features or objects. The most common examples are having string lights decorating trees and bushes at an outdoor wedding. While this is a very simple way to add some festivity to your big day, it can also effectively highlight the beauty of the natural environment.

Making a Lit Backdrop

Some couples choose to have a lit backdrop. This is usually a white or light-colored partition that serves as a backdrop for the whole wedding party. It is an impressive way to add more glamor and drama to your photos and really give them something special. 

While it may seem like a luxurious feature at first glance, these types of backdrops are relatively easy to make. All you need is some string lights and a white piece of fabric, which can easily be procured at any large department store. Again, this is a great opportunity to play with different colors.

Lighting Up the Walls

If you are looking for a more fundamental way to add some decoration, try highlighting the walls. This is especially helpful if your venue has little natural light or is somewhat dark. It can be difficult to see the details in the environment when there are shadows everywhere.

However, when you have lights on the wall, it brings everything back into focus and allows your guests to take in all the elements of the space.

Types of Lights

There are many different types that you can use at your wedding. For example, there are decorative lights like strings and paper lanterns. However, these are not the only options that you have. You can also use uplights or the up-down type to create a dramatic effect or color wash for more festive schemes.

Before you buy, you need to determine what your wedding will be like. Your needs will help dictate the type that you should use. For example, if your reception is at a museum or art gallery, having strings would not be an effective choice. 

LEDs

LEDs are one of the most energy-efficient options that are available today. Therefore, if you plan to rent some for your wedding, this would be a good option to consider.

LED fixtures are slightly on the more expensive side, but they look luxurious and are energy-efficient.

Adding these can be complicated if you don’t have any experience. For this reason, it’s best to hire an event lighting company to handle the entire process. This allows you to focus on other aspects of your wedding while they care for the lights. This is a good choice for couples who want to add some extra beauty and drama but do not have the time or resources to make it happen.

Table Lighting

Another popular way to light your reception tables is by using string lights. They are quite versatile since you can hang them around the perimeter or center of the table. This allows you to highlight specific elements on the table while also creating a festive look.

If you go with this option, make sure that your venue will accommodate it. For example, most venues will require advanced notice to hang strings around tables without damaging anything. The same goes for adding candles or anything else that’s outside the original lighting the venue offers.

String Lights

String lights are a great choice for any wedding. You can use them to highlight the dance floor, the cake table, and almost anywhere else you choose. This makes it easy to light up your reception while giving all of your guests a chance to take in the beauty of their surroundings.

Projection Lighting

Projection lighting is another option to consider if you’re going for a theme-based wedding. For example, if your reception is set in the woods or some other outdoor setting, you could project images on the surrounding trees and plants. This can add a cute and rustic factor that will make the party more memorable.

Just make sure to get permission from the venue before you do anything like this. Some venues won’t allow guests to make any alterations and require you to use what they gave you. This is only true for outdoor ceremonies and receptions, though. If your reception is held inside, then more than likely, it will be fine for you to add some projection lighting.

Color Wash Lighting

A color wash is where you use a single color to light your reception instead of the normal white lighting that most venues offer. This can be done in several ways, such as having uplighting on the walls or ceiling or adding colored glass filters over the lights to get the desired effect.

This is a great option for couples who want to use the colors of their wedding in a unique way. For example, if you’re using a red and gold theme, you can have red for most of the reception. Then when it’s time for the bouquet toss or garter toss, you can change to gold. This adds an extra layer of excitement and beauty to any moment you want to draw attention to.

Updown Lighting

Updown lighting is where you light an area from the ground up instead of the ceiling. This typically means putting lights underneath a covering or arch to shine upwards towards the center.

This will have a similar effect as projection lighting, but it’s more subtle and not as likely to draw unwanted attention. It can also create a nice effect if you use it with other effects. For example, maybe you want to project rainbow colors onto the wall while using uplighting to get an ombré pattern on your decorations.

The trick to this is finding a way for the lights to be bright enough to be noticeable but not so bright that it’s harsh on the eyes. The most common way to do this is by using a dimmer to have full control over how bright everything is.