Congratulations, you’re planning a wedding! But, the all-important question is, how many string lights are going to display at your wedding reception?
This is an entirely subjective question, as you might detest string lights and not want a single one! It also depends entirely on the size of your space – you could have anything from a few dozen to tens of thousands of string lights. It’s entirely up to you, your supplier, and the space available.
Read on to learn more about wedding receptions, and the interesting things you can do to make the space more attractive.
Decorate To Your Heart’s Desire
There’s something inherently beautiful about twinkling string lights, and that’s the driving reason behind their often over-abundance at weddings. They’re also remarkably cheap and make for a seriously affordable way to make a space more attractive.
Most commonly, you’ll see string lights featured above the wedding reception space, regardless of whether it’s inside or outside. In most cases, the decor supplier will stretch string lights from the walls to the center of the ceiling, creating an overhanging blanket of sparkling lights.
If the wedding reception is taking place outside, the supplier may erect stationary poles that serve as anchors for the string lights. Then, a taller, central pole will serve as the midpoint, creating a ‘big top’ of string lights that is sure to impress the guests in attendance – this is known as a ‘maypole’ design.
Of course, it doesn’t just end there, as there are dozens of other uses, styles, and practices to consider when pushing for a display of string lights at your wedding reception. There are several factors you’ll need to discuss with your supplier to outline your ultimate vision.
For example, are you looking for traditional ‘warm white’ string lights, or brighter, whiter LED string lights? Would you prefer to have a mini-bulb design, or traditional pin-spot LED string lights?
Perhaps you want to take it a step further, opting for multi-colored lights that brighten the space up to unimaginable levels. It also depends on the season in which your wedding takes place, as certain string lights will have a different impact than others depending on the current time of year.
If you’re hosting a fall wedding reception, then you might prefer to opt for a more rustic style of string lights, featuring bigger, rounder bulbs. Alternatively, if it’s a winter wedding, you might prefer twinkling, sparkling, white lights that potentially mirror the snowfall outside.
Let’s Talk Numbers
So, once you’ve settled on the design and style, you’ll need to talk about the number of lights. It’s an extremely subjective point, as it depends entirely on the space you have available, the budget you have for lighting, and potentially, the creative vision of your supplier.
After all, in some cases, less is more.
If you just want to brighten up some foliage, you can lace string lights through them and use no more than a few dozen. However, if you want to put a ‘V design’ in place, and illuminate the entire ceiling, then you’ll need thousands of string lights.
There are so many factors that go into determining the end number of your string lights, from how spaced out the lights are, to how big the individual bulbs are. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to give a ballpark figure for the number of string lights you’ll need for your wedding reception.
As we’ve already mentioned, the number of string lights you have for your wedding reception also depends on your budget. Thankfully, in many cases, string lights come quite cheap, regardless of whether you’re renting them or purchasing them.
If you’re using a decor supplier, they will almost certainly feature string lights as part of a package or deal. As a rule of thumb, you can likely source a ten-meter length of string lights for around twenty dollars per piece.
There might be a better value when you buy in bulk, of course, and any reputable supplier should offer plenty of choices and customization options when you book with them. So, whether you want a single strand of white lights or five hundred meters of colored bulbs, you’re covered.
Ultimately, unless you’re really keeping costs low, it’s advised to work with a supplier on anything decor-related. You’ll want the space to look as perfect as possible while doing as little work as possible, and that’s where a good supplier comes in.