There are definitely some elements of a wedding that will ALWAYS draw the đ first. The fashion, the flowers, the fondant and frosting â yes, as in gorgeously-hand painted floral buttercream masterpieces. But, for us, we also focus on the thing that makes these stunning photos and how warm, inviting, visceral feelings come to fruition, and that is, 100 percent, lighting. Not sunlight, either (although natural lighting and golden hours are everything), but actual purposeful illumination for the day be it from bulbs, fixtures, candles, sparkling strands, or real life sparklers.
Good lighting doesnât just make a statement, it shows guests and reminds couples just how thoughtful they were when they were curating their days â because, the greatest finishing touch is the lighting â we consider it the icing on the epic cake that is the wedding day itself. So, whether you go about your glow with candles, canât tear yourself away from the tear-worthiness of twinkling fairylights, or feel the need to celebrate your nuptials with none other than neon signs, youâll be adding a signature touch to be talked about forever.Â
Now, before we shed some light on our own oh-so-lit products, we thought itâd be a great time to gloss over all the wedding lighting options that set our hearts aglow.Â
In any iteration, candle light is by far one of our favorites, especially if youâre going for a soft, romantic, charming wedding canon (cue the dynamic ensemble of candles lighting up your aisle). You can float candles in glass holders for a modern, clean look, use antique candleabras for a major touch of elegance and fairy tale feel, really trim and tame your tablescape with tapers, or keep the đ„to a flicker with tea lights and votives bestrewn throughout garlands on your tabletops.
A little bit extra, sure, but still such a nice âofficialâ way for the newlyweds to see their new last name in lights! Work with a lighting/entertainment company or even sometimes with your band or DJ to set this up, and, really, you use your venue as your canvas! You can project a motif or color on the wall, floor, and/or ceiling with a custom wedding gobo design that, again, draws all the đđđ. Doing so with your names, a monogram, or family crest on the dance floor or right in front of your sweetheart table has a super impressive effect â and the photos are SO good!Â
Anything that can be hung â from rattan and pendant lighting to greenery-laden and floral chandeliers and/or lantern lighting â counts as a hanging fixture. These looks are extremely trendy, they do the most to dress up lounge areas, and they photograph flawlessly. Plus, you can really look to your venue to dictate these kinds of lighting cues. Industrial/warehouse settings, tented affairs, and beach/destination digs have aesthetics that lend themselves well to hanging motifs.Â
Arguably one of the biggest trends in weddings over the last few years, these luminescent signs are loved up and then some. You can find them at independent neon dealers (where you can inquire about custom orders, quotes, lyrics that might be meaningful) or vintage rental studios, and these signs do so much to spotlight various vignettes on your wedding day (the getting ready scene+bridal suite, the photobooth, cake cutting, etc.) along with important hallmarks like your new last name or hashtag.Â
Youâve probably seen this glistening kind of genius at every destination event, backyard fete, or tented evening of love â and itâs not without reason. These lights can create different vibes in all of their variations â bohemian, classic, modern, romantic, rustic, vintage â and they look like fireflies dancing through the night. Using string lights can bring a sense of intimate resolve to even the most festive, frenetic (and we mean that in only the most endearing way) parties.
Just as string lights are to outdoor ambiance, uplighting is to indoor ambiance. This is essentially lighting that comes from strategically-placed light casting units around the perimeter of the room. It bathes the reception place (hotel ballrooms, country clubs, museums/conservatories, private estates, etc.)Â â walls, trees, etc. â in prismatic color that lasts throughout the night. Kind of a cocoon of color and whimsy detail.Â
Luckily, âgetting the lookâ of all these fun lighting alternatives isnât hard, and we can help. Our Style Me Pretty shop is flush with illuminating items to make your special day shine. Here are just a few to get you started!
Flowers always make for the best centerpieces, but the look is so much more elegant and romantic with supporting taper candles and mixed media votive candles and tea lights (meaning different heights / different vessels+candle holders â metallic vs. ceramic). We love our blush and gold color combinations, particularly if you have a lot of soft cosmetic colors and greens already in your wedding palette. And our unique tapers are actually ombre, so you can add two-tone color to your tables!
Neon signs will always be electric at your wedding event. Whether you want to doll up your dressing area to get ready with the girls (we like our âBut First, Drinksâ sign, it goes well with bellinis and BeyoncĂ©), pretty up the photobooth with a sign that just oozes all the love, or raise the bar on a basic bar setup, youâll have everything you need with our personalized neon signage. Extra points for the easy hang
Shop with us now for everything you need to light up your night! If you want to take things literally, too, weâre soooo here for it . Are thoseđĄgoing off in your head yet?! #justbrilliant.
Danielle Halibey is a writer, editor, and publicist living in New Jersey. She has been immersed in the world of weddings since planning her own whimsical, romantic affair in 2014. And isnât that what they always say, âthose who canât do, teach?â Well, once her nuptials were over, she still had stuff in the âI Doâ industry to do. She writes regularly for top wedding blogs including Style Me Pretty and Wedding Chicks, and has garnered millions of press impressions for brands in the wedding space: fashion, beauty, wedding talent+tastemakers and more.Â
