Lighting the Way to ‘I Do’: A Guide to Lighting on Your Big Day!
- Alana's Love
- 22 hours ago
- 7 min read
This month, we've teamed up with some amazing fellow suppliers to chat all things lighting for your wedding day!
If you're new to the world of 'Alana's Love', check out our other blogs to find out more! or head over to our website or socials.
From that first glow-up in the morning to the final twinkling lights on the dance floor!
Lighting plays such a crucial role throughout your day. It sets the mood, helps your make-up artist work their magic, creates the perfect party vibes, and, of course, ensures your photographer captures every moment in the best light.
In this blog, we’ll hear from:
• Me ('Alana’s Love') sharing the dos and don’ts of light up letters and how to get the most out of them.
• The lovely Florence Wear MUA on what lighting works best for flawless wedding make-up.
• The talented Lisa Jade Photographer on how lighting can shape your wedding photos from start to finish.
Let’s get glowing!
Let's start with my babies, large light up letters! I'm just going to run through, in no particular order, some of the most important points when using large light up letters for your special day…
Avoid placing light up letters directly behind the top table:
This is a request I get quite often, and while it can look gorgeous in person, it’s not the best idea for photos. Strong backlighting from the letters can leave you and your guests in shadow, especially during key moments like speeches.
That said, there are exceptions! If your venue has lots of natural light, such as an orangery or a bright, airy space then this setup can work. Light up letters LOVE light (who knew, right?). The brighter the room, the better your photos will turn out.
A better option? Place your letters around the outside of the room, especially if your venue is a little darker. This way, they’ll complement the atmosphere and photograph beautifully.
Get that shot with your new surname in lights:
You’ve just said “I do”... now imagine a stunning setup with your surname in glowing light up letters, topped with a mini “MR(S) & MR(S)” or “THE” sign. It’s one of our all-time favourite setups! And you can't deny it looks pretty darn epic!
Top tip? Don’t wait until your first dance to get this photo. By then, the room is usually dark and full of guests, lovely, but chaotic! Instead, steal a quiet moment with your photographer in the daylight to grab that perfect shot. It’s also a beautiful chance to sneak in a romantic breather together before the whirlwind of the evening kicks off.
Using your light up letters as a selfie station?
If you want your light up letters to double as a photo backdrop, location is everything. Place them in a well-lit area where guests can stand in front without becoming silhouettes.
Avoid setting them up in dark corners, or your guests might look like shadows with stilettos!
Bring the party vibes:
Dinner’s done, speeches are wrapped, and it’s time to dance! Light up letters are the perfect way to dial up the energy and set the party tone. They instantly warm up a space and bring that fun, celebratory glow that just makes people happy.
Having them on the dance floor will really get the party going! Just consider the DJ or band when setting up as they will often have their own lighting too.
Need more light in your venue:
Some wedding venues are beautiful but can be a little on the dark side. That’s where large light up letters come in handy! They’re not just decorative but can actually add much needed light to your space, making the room feel brighter, warmer, and more inviting.
So, hopefully that’s given you a few helpful things to consider when planning your big day! If you’ve got any questions about using large light-up LED letters for your wedding, feel free to pop them in the comments below… I’m always happy to help!
Now, let’s dive into the world of wedding make-up and hear what Flo MUA has to say when it comes to lighting and creating that flawless bridal glow!
Lighting is one of the most important, yet often overlooked elements of the wedding morning, especially when it comes to makeup. The way light interacts with the skin can completely change how makeup looks, so getting it right is essential to achieving that flawless, photo-ready bridal glow.
Natural Light vs. Artificial Light:
• Natural Light: This is the holy grail for makeup artists. Natural daylight gives the truest representation of colours and textures, which is crucial for blending, colour matching, and overall accuracy. Setting up near a large window or in a naturally bright room makes all the difference.
• Artificial Light: While artificial lighting (like ring lights or illuminated mirrors) offers consistency, it doesn’t always reflect colours accurately. When natural light isn’t available, I recommend using lighting that closely mimics natural daylight to avoid any surprises when the bride steps outside later in the day.
Understanding Colour Temperature:
Different light sources give off different tones.
• Warm Light (yellow/orange) can throw off how makeup looks — it might seem too golden or washed out.
• Cool Light (blue/green) can make skin appear ashy or dull.
That’s why I always aim for neutral or daylight-balanced lighting — it’s the most reliable for accurate makeup application.
Avoiding Harsh Shadows:
Harsh lighting can cast strong shadows across the face, making makeup look uneven or exaggerated. Using diffused lighting — like softbox lights or filtered sunlight through sheer curtains — creates soft, even light that flatters the skin and enhances features naturally. This is especially important for contouring and highlighting.
Considering the Venue:
• Indoor Weddings: If I’m in a bridal suite or prep room with limited natural light, I’ll always try to set up by a window. If that’s not possible, I bring my ring light to ensure consistent, flattering light throughout the morning.
• Outdoor Weddings: These are a little trickier, as the natural light changes constantly — especially with that classic unpredictable British weather! I adapt to wherever the light is best at the time of application.
Lighting on Your Wedding Day with Lisa Jade Photography:
Lighting is one of the most important elements in wedding photography, affecting everything from the mood of the images to the clarity and detail captured. The weather, your venue, the room we’re shooting in, the size/shape/position of the windows, the colour of the walls, the light fittings and even the light bulbs themselves will all play a part in the level and tone of light in each moment.
Throughout the day, lighting changes and given our Great British weather, there are never any guarantee for the perfect conditions. Here are some lighting aspects to take into consideration on your wedding day;
Morning preparations:
Soft morning light creates dreamy portraits. Getting ready in front of or as close to a window as possible is the best place to guarantee those flattering photos. But when this isn’t possible, a well positioned ring light with the colour temperature set as close to natural as possible is a great help! Avoid harsh overhead down lights - these create the worst kind of shadows.
Indoor ceremonies:
Churches and traditional barns often have lower available light and much warmer tones. Flashes are far too much of distraction whilst you’re trying to repeat your vows so if a little lighting help is needed, an off camera constant light source is a great way to brighten up you I do’s. However, embracing the ambience is absolutely the way to go with candle light adding a romantic, moody feel to your photos.
Outdoor ceremonies:
Midday sun can be harsh and unflattering, causing strong shadows, so a shaded area or a later ceremony time would work best. Overcast skies diffuse light beautifully for soft, even tones. Your wedding day is the one time I’ll say that clouds are the dream!
Couple & Group portraits:
Similar to an outdoor ceremony, your couples photos are best captures under cloudy skies. If the sun is too harsh, finding a shaded yet open area helps avoid squinting and harsh shadows. When directly sun light is unavoidable, having it behind you can create a dreamy and sometimes dramatic glow effect.
The Golden Hour: before sunset is the winner, giving the most flattering, warm, and romantic lighting for portraits.
Evening reception: DJ lights can create a fun vibe and obvious transition into your evening celebrations but as the sun sets, additional lighting may be needed for clarity and clear, crisp images.
In addition to the above, you really can have some fun and get creative with lighting. Fairy lights add a warm twinkle and soften the atmosphere of any room whilst sparklers bring a sense of magic and romantic fun to a wedding. They’re perfect for entering into your first dance, additional couple portraits or a grand exit at the end of the evening.
A huge thank you to the wonderful Flo MUA and Lisa Jade Photography for sharing their expertise and helping us shine a light (literally!) on how to make your big day even more magical.
If you have any questions about lighting, light up letters, or want to check availability for your wedding date, just drop us a message or leave a comment below, we’d love to chat!
All our love from this small family business, Alana’s Love and Penelope’s Parties,
Charlotte, Chris, Alana, Penelope, Rory and Madison XXxxxx
‘Alana’s Love’ & ‘Penelopes Parties’ - lighting up weddings with our large light up letters in Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds & Beyond!
"Amazing people to work with! Communication was perfect, result was absolutely gorgeous, would recommend". - Bethany
Shout outs to suppliers and venues featured in the images:
Lisa Jade Photography - Florence Wear MUA - Elmore Court - Tunnels Beaches - The Swan Hotel - Pat Partridge - Ampersand Memories - Squib Photography - Matara
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