Wedding Party Lighting – 5 Tips for the Perfect Mood

1) Not too bright, not too dark

Light that's too harsh kills the party mood, while too dark feels unsafe. The best option: dimmed, warm light – cosy, but still bright enough to make out faces. Feel free to talk to your wedding photographer about how the light should be for the first dance. Perhaps still bright and dark afterwards. Or maybe they work with flash and it doesn't matter. I'm happy to coordinate and sort out how the lighting should be.

2) Put the dance floor in the spotlight

The dance floor should be the brightest and most eye-catching spot in the room. That way it naturally draws guests in. All around it, things can be a little darker.

3) Use colour deliberately

With a little colour in the lighting you can shift the mood: soft tones for dinner, livelier colours for the party. When it comes to ambient lighting, my view is that less is often more – pick one or two colour moods and stick with them. Pink, for example, is tricky in photos.

4) Small lighting effects – big impact

A few LED spots, LED sticks or a simple disco ball effect are often all you need. It's better to use a few highlights deliberately than to have everything flashing at once. 

5) Coordinate with the DJ or venue

Ask your DJ or the venue what lighting is already there. Is there equipment you can use free of charge? With a little coordination, the party immediately looks much more professional. Is there a way to dim part of the lighting in the evening? Who takes care of that – ideally, raise it in advance.

In short: start warm & cosy – then build it up with colour & effects. That way your wedding feels romantic at first and properly like a party later on.