It seems that the first question wedding couples ask when planning their wedding is "How much does wedding lighting cost?" The reality is that lighting can be very reasonably priced compared to what it provides for your wedding and your wedding photos. Wedding lighting can range from very complex custom lighting installations to simple uplighting around the perimeter of your ballroom. Prices for wedding lighting can also vary from $800 or as high as $10,000. Figuring out what your budget should be for lighting is a complex problem because different venues and event spaces might require different scale lighting installations.
Let's break it down into different lighting styles. Of course, you can mix and match lighting options for a more complex and more personalized feel to your wedding. Lighting has the ability to transform a simple event space into something breathtaking. Take a look at the below photo of a simple barn wedding turned into a Pinterest-worthy wedding.
Q: How much does wedding lighting cost?
Plan to spend between $800 and $4000 on average for custom lighting decor for your wedding depending on the complexity of the options you choose.
Cost of String Lights for Weddings
There are a few different styles of string lights that couples want for the weddings. There are
Bistro String Lights (typically 2" diameter incandescent bulbs spaced about ever 12") Bistro String Lights are very versatile. They can be dimmed to help set the mood for both dinner and dancing. As with any lighting- you need to consider how much power you have available onsite. Most bistro string lighting installations require 2–20-amp circuits. Most tent and barn bistro light designs range in price from $1,400 to $2,500.
Twinkle Lights (think those small Christmas lights- tiny, pointy, incandescent bulbs spaced about every 4-6") The great thing about twinkle lights is that you can create a much denser look and design with this style of lighting. These installations also require a bit more power- typically about 5–20-amp circuits for larger designs. These installations are much more labor intensive and therefore are much more expensive. Dense twinkle ight designs norally range between $3,000 - $5,000 based on the size of space and design.
Edison Bulbs (Those very ornate funny shaped bulbs with the glowing elements). Edison bulbs tend to be used in one space to draw attention over a head able or above the dance floor via being strung for 100's of feet on a strand. Edison Bulbs can be used as an eyecatching focal point in your lighting design. We have installed them over head tables, above the bar or dance floor. Edison bulbs take about 40w each so power draw and heat radiating from the installation can be significant. We always recommend installing dimmers on these installations to lower light output, power consumption, and heat.As Edison Bulbs are typically used as a special highlight, you can expect this ad-ojn to rance from $800-$3,000 depending on the complexity and scale of the design.
Wedding Uplighting- a great way to add color to your wedding background. This type of lighting works great in both barns, museums, and ballrooms. With today's LED uplights- there is the convenience of it being battery powered, wirelessly controlled for both color changes and dimming capabilities. Professional uplights range from $250 to $500 per light and most wedding uplighting installations require between 16-30 fixtures. That means, for a typical uplighting installation in a wedding ballroom event lighting companies will bring in around $10,000 worth of gear (plus labor), so expect to pay between $800 to $1600 for uplighting your wedding.