The After Dark Issue is about atmosphere when the sun goes down. And nothing shapes the atmosphere of a wedding more than lighting. Most couples know they want something beautiful, but translating that feeling into a brief for a lighting designer is harder than it sounds.

Sarah Thorley from Out of the Dark Event Lighting starts with the question she asks every couple: how do you want your wedding to feel? Everything else follows from there. 

I think the best place to start is with the question we ask our couples the most: how do you want your wedding to feel?

“But I thought this was an article about lighting!” I hear you – but just stay with me for a second…

 Sure, you can curate the perfect Pinterest board filled with beautiful images of colour schemes and table settings, but what really makes someone say “wow” when they walk into a room? Most people can’t put their finger on it, but I’ll tell you a secret: it’s usually the lighting.

Photo by Jennifer Oliphant

Are you looking for sexy and dramatic? Think low-hanging brass orbs, softly dimmed to create a moody glow. Dreaming of something romantic? Empire chandeliers wrapped in cascading florals might be exactly what you need. Or maybe you just need enough practical lighting so your guests can make it from the dance floor to the bar without an injury report? Perfect – festoons were made for that. The type of lighting you choose doesn’t just help people see your wedding, it shapes how they experience it.

Lighting is one of the most powerful tools you have to transform a space. A plain hall can become intimate. A marquee can feel magical. A beautiful venue can be made to feel totally unique, like it was built for your wedding. The right lighting highlights the features you love, disguises the ones you don’t, and creates the atmosphere your guests will remember long after the night is over.

Photo by Corrina Louise Photo

At Out Of The Dark, this is what we do every day. We’ve helped hundreds of couples, across hundreds of venues to design the perfect “wow” moment. But we know that it’s not all twinkly lights and sparkly things – it’s a hard to navigate space. How do you ask for something that, when it’s done well, you don’t even notice it exactly? Well, I’ve put together a list of tips to help navigate the often-overlooked world of event rigging if you’re on the fence about lighting hire or maybe haven’t even considered it at all.

Professional lighting isn’t just about the lights themselves. It involves careful planning: understanding how a venue works, measuring and designing the installation, power requirements, ensuring equipment is safely rigged, being covered by the right insurance, and making sure everything is installed and removed within often very tight venue access times. Oh, and making sure what goes up doesn’t come down unexpectedly – that’s a pretty important bit!

It also means you can spend your wedding morning relaxing with your friends and family, rather than balancing on a ladder, troubleshooting extension leads, or discovering your fairy lights don’t quite reach the other side of the room.

Photo by Tessa Shannon

So without further ado, here’s my list:

Start with the areas that matter most.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to lighting every corner of your venue, focus on the spaces that create the biggest impact: your ceremony backdrop, reception ceiling, dance floor, or key architectural features.

Consider your photographs.

Your photographer will capture your wedding beautifully, but they can only work with the atmosphere that exists on the day. Thoughtful lighting ensures your images feel warm, romantic and true to the mood you created.

Talk to your venue early.

Every venue has different rules around installation, access times, hanging points and power availability. Bringing your lighting supplier into the conversation early can save a lot of stress later.

Photo by The Infinity Collective

Don’t skip the boring stuff.

Now this one is an easy one to overlook, but it’s probably the most important tip I have for you so listen up. Any supplier installing overhead lighting should be properly insured and able to meet your venue’s safety requirements.  Even if a venue doesn’t ask for this information, it’s still worth asking the question yourself…. unless you’re planning on taking out your new in-laws by dropping a chandelier on their heads. A reputable supplier won’t be surprised by these questions – they’ll likely have the paperwork ready to go and be happy to talk you through how the installation will be completed safely.

Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance.

You don’t need to know the difference between festoon lights, fairy lights, uplighting or pin spots. A good lighting designer will help you translate your inspiration images into a practical design that works within your venue and budget.

At the end of the day, the best wedding lighting isn’t about choosing the most expensive option or filling every space with lights. It’s about creating a feeling. Because years from now, your guests probably won’t remember the exact style of your chairs or the colour of your napkins, but they will remember how your wedding felt.

Header photo by Figtree Pictures

About the author: Out Of The Dark Event Lighting specialises in creative event installations – particularly everything that happens in the space above the celebration. From fairy lights, festoons and chandeliers to hanging florals, draping and custom overhead features, we design and install elements that transform venues from the top down. Find their website here and follow them on Instagram here.