Lighting is easy to overlook while you are choosing flowers and linens, but it shapes how everything looks after dark. The same room can feel bright and flat or warm and inviting depending on how it is lit, and your photos will show the difference. A little planning helps you decide what your venue already has and what you need to add.
Start with sunset
Look up the sunset time for your wedding date before you plan anything else. In North Carolina, summer sunsets can be well after 8 p.m., while in late fall and winter the sun can set before 5:30 p.m., so much of the reception may happen in the dark. That timing affects when you schedule the ceremony, when your photographer wants couple portraits, and how much lighting you need for the rest of the night. Our wedding day timeline guide covers building the day around the light.
See the venue at night
If your reception runs past dark, visit the venue in the evening or ask for photos from a night event. Ask what is included, such as dimmers, chandeliers, string lights or landscape lighting, and whether you can turn off harsh overhead lights. Some venues have rules about open flames, hanging items from beams or bringing in outside lighting vendors, so confirm those before you buy or rent anything. Our list of questions to ask a venue is a good place to start.
Types of wedding lighting
- String and bistro lights: warm bulbs strung over a patio, lawn or tent. They are a North Carolina favorite for barns and outdoor receptions.
- Uplighting: small fixtures placed on the floor that wash walls, columns or trees with color. Soft, warm tones or a color from your palette work best.
- Candles: pillars, votives and tapers on tables add warmth and flattering light. Many venues require flames to be enclosed in glass, and LED candles are a good substitute where flames are not allowed.
- Pin spotting: narrow beams aimed at centerpieces or the cake so they stand out in a dim room.
- Monogram or pattern projection (gobo): your names, initials or a pattern projected on a wall or the dance floor.
- Dance floor lighting: colored or moving lights for the party, often provided by the DJ or band.
- Path and safety lighting: lanterns or lights along walkways, stairs, parking and restrooms so guests can get around safely.
Who provides the lighting
Lighting can come from several places, and it helps to know who is responsible for what:
- The venue may include string lights, dimmers or uplighting in the rental fee.
- Your DJ or band often offers uplighting, dance floor lighting and monogram projection as add-ons.
- Rental and decor companies rent string lights, chandeliers, lanterns and candle holders, and some offer installation.
- Your florist may provide candles and holders as part of the table design.
- A tent company usually handles lighting inside a tent. Our tent wedding guide covers what to ask.
Bundling services with one vendor can save money, but compare quotes. Our rentals guide covers what else you may need to rent.
Power and setup
- Ask how much power the venue has and where the outlets are, especially for outdoor sites and tents.
- Check whether you need a generator, and who rents, fuels and runs it.
- Confirm when vendors can arrive to install lights and when everything must be removed.
- Ask who turns lights on at the right time and who adjusts dimmers during the evening, usually your coordinator or DJ.
Lighting and your photos
Talk to your photographer and videographer about your lighting plans. Warm, even light is flattering, while very dark rooms or strong colored uplighting can make skin tones look unnatural. Ask them to point out spots that need more light, such as the cake table, the head table and where toasts happen, and plan your first dance where the light is good.
Lighting on a budget
- Pick one or two areas to light well, such as the dance floor and the tables, instead of the whole space.
- Use lots of inexpensive votive candles for warmth, if the venue allows them.
- Turn off overhead lights and use lamps, string lights and candles instead.
- Ask your DJ about a lighting package bundled with music.
- Schedule the ceremony so key moments happen in natural light.
When you are ready to compare vendors, you can browse rentals and decor, DJs and venues, or search the directory by city.