How To Decorate With Lighting For A Wedding

You have chosen your colors, tasted dozens of cakes and entrees, debated about the benefits of linen over satin chair coverings and now you think you are almost done. But, wait just a moment!

Consider that while you have set the stage for a lovely wedding you need just the right lighting to create the mood and make you look like the glowing bride you have always dreamed. How to decorate with lighting for a wedding can be easy and fun if you consider all your options.

Candles

Candles have many benefits including making the how to easier when decorating with lighting for your wedding. The premier benefit is that they make you look absolutely gorgeous with near perfect skin. That beats lighting every flaw under fluorescent lights any day. The options for candles are numerous but some of the more popular choices include tapers, tea lights, floating candles, pillars and votives.

Tapers are the long thin candles often used at churches in the candelabra or in lighting a unity candle. Most churches will require that any tapers you use be drip less. The lighting of candelabra during the ceremony can be a lovely way to begin your ceremony as well as provide a soft glow.

Tea lights are especially useful for table decorations as accents in glass containers and placed on mirrors. These small flat discs are usually surrounded by a metal holder and can be scented or unscented and come in a variety of colors.

Tea lights are generally quite inexpensive which makes using a lot of them easy and economical. Floating candles can add a serene romantic atmosphere and come in a variety of shapes and colors. Another advantage to using floating candles is that you often do not have to use many to make an impact.

Pillars are great to use in groupings as centerpieces. Use a variety of heights and widths to make your arrangement more interesting. Pillars are also easy to decorate, and you can add a subtle fragrance if you use scented pillars. Votives are small yet versatile. They make wonderful favors, and if you group them together or use them as accents on tables they also make lovely decorations. Use them in etched glass containers to catch the light.

Outdoor Lighting

A romantic atmosphere can be quickly and inexpensively obtained by using torches and paper lanterns outside to decorate with lighting for your wedding. The torches will give a tropical feel to your ceremony, and can usually be lit using citronella oil if bugs are a concern.

String up paper lanterns or hang them on garden hooks. The paper lanterns will provide a soft glow as well as add color and interest to your ceremony. Choose colors and shapes that accent your flowers and other decor.

Rope Lights and Christmas Lights

Rope lighting is an easy and inexpensive way to light aisles in the evenings as well as provide indirect lighting using shelves and recessed areas. Placed behind a ledge or on high shelving, rope lighting can provide a lovely soft and indirect glow. You can also reuse the lighting in your own home, and it can be purchased in a variety of lengths and colors.

Christmas lights are another way to add small tinkling lights. They wrap around greenery especially well, and using Christmas lights to decorate a wedding can add a touch of whimsy and fun or fantasy to your occasion.

Use caution if you choose to use colored lights keeping it monochromatic unless you are looking for a Mardi gras or Las Vegas flavor. Stay away from lights that strobe or chase as they can be distracting and even dangerous for some guests.

Choose your lighting style and then make sure that you will be appropriately framed and that the darker corners of your ceremony and reception space are lit well enough to prevent accidents. Also, make sure if you are using candles or torches that you have taken safety precautions with fire extinguishers and a readily available water source.

Decorating with lighting for a wedding can be fun and easy as well as a great way to set the mood and make you look your glowing best.