Wedding lighting can make or break the ambience of your big day. Whether you’re looking to create a whimsical fairy tale setting or a chic, modern vibe, the right lighting can transform your wedding venue into a magical space.
In Australia, where many couples opt for outdoor weddings, lighting plays an essential role, especially during evening ceremonies.
Here’s a guide filled with wedding lighting ideas to help you light up your special day.
Let’s get straight to the point
Wedding lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood and ambience.
Popular options include rice paper lanterns for a relaxed vibe, custom neon signs for personalisation, greenery chandeliers for rustic elegance, and rattan lanterns for boho chic.
Bistro lights, Edison bulbs, and marquee letters create magical effects for both indoor and outdoor venues.
Candle aisle markers, pillar candles, and mason jar chandeliers add romantic and rustic touches.
For outdoor weddings, using eco-friendly solar and LED lights is ideal, while indoor events offer more flexibility. The right lighting can transform any venue, making your special day unforgettable.
Rice Paper Lanterns: A Laid-Back Vibe
For those planning a more relaxed, casual celebration, such as a barn, garden, or beach wedding, rice paper lanterns are a fantastic choice.
These lanterns come in various sizes and shapes and can be strung together to create a stunning visual effect. Hang them over the dance floor to establish a multi-dimensional focal point.
This lighting idea suits Australian weddings perfectly, as it complements the natural beauty of the country’s outdoor settings.
Whether you’re in a beachside town or a rural escape, rice paper lanterns will add a soft, romantic glow to your venue.
Custom Neon Signs: Personal Touch to the Venue
The neon sign trend shows no signs of fading. It’s a modern, fun way to make your wedding unique.
Custom neon signs can display anything from your family name to a quirky message, making for an instant photo backdrop behind the head table or on the dance floor.
Neon signs are a fantastic option for couples looking to personalise their event space with a stylish and bold feature. Plus, it gives guests a memorable spot to snap photos during your reception.
Why Choose Neon Signs?
- Great for a modern, urban vibe
- Doubles as a backdrop for photos
- It can be customised to suit your theme or personality
Greenery Chandeliers: Nature-Inspired Elegance
For couples going for a more natural, rustic vibe, greenery chandeliers are an elegant option.
Whether you’re hosting an exquisite rural wedding or aiming for a romantic aesthetic, these chandeliers always look stunning.
Work with your florist to choose foliage like eucalyptus, smilax, or seasonal evergreens that complement your overall wedding theme.
This Australian wedding lighting idea works particularly well for outdoor settings, as greenery chandeliers blend beautifully with the lush surroundings.
How to Incorporate Greenery Chandeliers
- Best for outdoor or barn weddings
- Ideal for creating a natural, organic look
- Works well with other natural elements like wood or stone
Rattan Lanterns: Boho Chic Ambience
If you’re aiming for a boho-themed wedding, rattan lanterns are a must.
These lanterns exude a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere, perfect for outdoor garden weddings. Complement them with plants and floating candles to enhance the mood.
Australia’s outdoor locations are perfect for this style, as the natural beauty of rattan pairs well with sandy beaches or rustic gardens.
Wooden Beaded Chandeliers: A Modern Twist
For a modern, airy look, swap out traditional crystal chandeliers for wooden beaded chandeliers.
These boho-inspired chandeliers come in shades of white and ivory, offering a light, serene feel to your wedding lounge.
If your venue has high ceilings, these chandeliers add height and dimension, drawing attention to the spaciousness of the venue while contributing to a cohesive boho theme.
Love Signs: Bold Marquee Letters
Bold and beautiful, marquee love signs are another popular option for Australian weddings.
These giant, illuminated letters spell out “LOVE,” creating a stunning backdrop for your ceremony or reception.
Guests will love posing in front of this eye-catching feature, and the signage adds a touch of glamour to both indoor and outdoor events.
Candle Aisle Markers: Romantic Simplicity
Nothing says romance quite like a candlelit aisle. Whether you’re planning an outdoor ceremony or an indoor ballroom affair, candle aisle markers bring warmth and intimacy to the occasion. This is one of the simplest and most timeless wedding lighting ideas.
For outdoor weddings, particularly in gardens or along beach paths, candles in hurricane lanterns provide just the right amount of soft light, guiding your guests and adding an enchanting glow.
Bistro Lights: Creating a Fairy Light Canopy
Bistro lights (also known as fairy lights or string lights) are a versatile option for wedding lighting.
These can be strung above the dance floor, over the reception tables, or around trees to create a beautiful canopy of twinkling lights.
In Australia, where outdoor weddings are popular, bistro lights are a magical way to transform a backyard or garden into a romantic space under the stars.
Tented Light Strands: Illuminate the Night
If you’re hosting a wedding in a clear-top tent, consider adding LED string lights for a glamorous, starry-night effect.
The combination of clear tenting and lights will make your guests feel like they’re dancing beneath the stars.
This look is particularly effective when combined with sailcloth or marquee tents, adding both elegance and whimsy to your wedding venue.
Edison Bulbs: Industrial Chic
If you’re after a modern, industrial look, Edison bulbs are an excellent choice.
These hanging lights offer a warm, inviting glow, ideal for minimalist or urban-themed weddings. Edison bulbs work especially well in warehouse venues or loft spaces, where their vintage appeal shines.
How to Use Edison Bulbs
- Suspend them from the ceiling for a dramatic effect
- Works well in industrial venues or modern settings
- Pairs beautifully with wood and metal elements
Pillar Candle Altar: Intimate Ceremony Lighting
To make your ceremony feel more personal and intimate, consider creating an altar adorned with pillar candles.
This simple yet elegant setup will bathe your ceremony space in a warm, soft glow, perfect for evening weddings.
You can also add potted plants or greenery to enhance the natural, romantic feel of the ceremony space.
Mason Jar Chandeliers: Rustic Charm
For couples embracing a rustic wedding theme, a mason jar chandelier adds an element of whimsy and vintage charm.
Mason jars are often associated with country weddings and are perfect for barn venues or outdoor garden weddings.
Paper Luminaries: Soft Poolside Lighting
If your wedding venue has a pool, fountain, or water feature, consider using paper luminaries for a stunning floating effect.
These are great for adding a romantic, magical touch to walkways or outdoor seating areas.
Illuminated Letter Sign: Lite-Brite for Weddings
For a playful twist, consider illuminated dotted letter signs. Imagine an upgraded Lite-Brite spelling out your last name or wedding date!
These light-up signs can be customised to fit your wedding theme and serve as a great backdrop for photos.
Vintage Chandeliers: Shabby Chic Glamour
Looking for something more traditional? Vintage chandeliers with a distressed finish offer that perfect mix of elegance and rustic charm. These are perfect for shabby chic or French country-inspired weddings.
Combining LED Washes, Gobos, and Moving Lights
For a truly professional feel, combine LED washes, gobos, and moving lights. This mix can highlight architectural details, entertain guests, and set the mood without taking up too much space.
You can project your initials, wedding date, or favourite phrase on an empty wall or dance floor using gobos for a highly personalised touch.
Outdoor Wedding Lighting Tips
Outdoor events are always a favourite in Australia, but they come with their own set of challenges when it comes to lighting.
Make sure to have rechargeable batteries and solar panels on hand, and don’t rely too heavily on natural sunlight for evening events.
Also, be mindful of how weather conditions might affect your lighting setup. LED candles are a great backup if real candles aren’t allowed or the wind makes traditional candles impractical.
Essentials for Outdoor Lighting
- Solar-powered lights for eco-friendly illumination
- LED candles for a romantic glow, even in windier conditions
- Battery-powered lights for easy setup without worrying about cords
Indoor Wedding Lighting Tips
Indoor weddings give you a bit more freedom when it comes to lighting. Just remember to double-check your venue’s policy on open flames if you’re planning to use real candles.
Also, ensure you visit the venue at the same time of day as your event to assess how natural light will play into your setup.
Working with your venue manager or a local lighting company will help you maximise the lighting options for your event space.
Conclusion
Your wedding lighting can completely transform your venue, adding to the atmosphere and enhancing the overall design.
Whether you’re opting for modern Edison bulbs, rustic mason jar chandeliers, or creating a fairy light canopy over the dance floor, the right lighting choices will set the perfect mood for your celebration.
In Australia, where outdoor weddings are common, options like rice paper lanterns, rattan lanterns, and bistro lights help you take advantage of the beautiful surroundings while creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
Whatever your theme or venue, strategic lighting is key to making your wedding day shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Lights Used at a Wedding?
These include chandeliers, candles, mason jar lamps, and lanterns. Underlighting and Uplighting: While underlighting will illuminate tables or other items from below, uplighting shines light upwards-usually onto a wall.
Do I Need Lighting for Wedding Reception?
The only thing you need are a ring and a marriage license. You probably don’t need uplighting.
But if you’re having a party, you may want to look into how lighting can drastically affect your event space. Uplighting is one of the more popular wedding lighting options, and for good reason too.
Why Is Lighting Important in a Wedding?
Without the proper lighting, your photos may be dark; your guests won’t be able to see their food or find their way to the dance floor.
Sure! It’s an extra expense, but without the proper wedding lighting, the romance and whimsy of your extra special event may be lost.
How Do You Use Fairy Lights at a Wedding?
Wrap fairy lights around greenery garlands to create an ethereal and whimsical aesthetic. This soft decor feature fits in perfectly with a minimal, rustic or outdoor wedding. To incorporate this idea subtly you could place them on tables, or for a more dramatic look hang them above the tables.
What Is a Light Reception?
The word “light” is key for informing guests that a full meal will not be served. “Extras” card: for specific info your guests will need. Here, you can communicate the details for the shuttle, light reception, wedding website, etc.
