Wedding Lighting Tips

From Lume Hire

Florals and lighting are the two main pillars of wedding atmosphere. When they work together, the space is stunning. When they work against each other, it's like they're competing for attention. The good news: with a bit of communication between your florist and lighting designer, they complement beautifully.

The conversation starters. Your florist should know your lighting plan (warm white, where uplights are positioned, where festoon hangs). Your lighting designer should see florist sketches or photos so they understand where tall arrangements are and can light around them. Neither needs to design their part in isolation. A 15-minute call between them prevents awkward surprises.

Height coordination matters. If your florist is planning 1.5m tall arrangements on dining tables and your lighting designer places overhead festoon at 2m, the flowers partially block light reaching the table. If your florist knows where lights are, they can adjust arrangement heights or position flowers to the side of light fixtures. If your lighting designer knows tall flowers are coming, they can space lights to provide gaps for visibility.

Colour temperature affects how florals look. Flowers designed for warm white light (2700K) might look different under cool light, or under fluorescent venue lighting you didn't plan for. A good florist designs for warm light and knows which flower colours photograph beautifully in warm tones (reds, corals, cream, gold-toned florals look stunning; some purples and blues can look odd). If you're using warm white lighting (which you should), tell your florist so they design around that.

Uplighting and floral placement. If you're uplighting a wall or feature behind the sweetheart table, ensure your florist knows so they position tall arrangements where they won't block the light or cast shadows across faces. Conversely, if the florist is placing tall arrangements, the lighting designer can position uplights where they won't shine directly through flowers or create distracting shadows.

Accent lighting on centrepieces. Some venues position small subtle uplights or accent lights specifically on dining table centrepieces to make them glow. This is gorgeous when done intentionally with the florist's knowledge. If your florist is using reflective elements (mirrors, metallic accents, certain foliage) they'll shine beautifully when lit. Darker, matte florals might need brighter accents to stand out.

Fairylights and florals are a classic pairing. If you're weaving fairy lights through floral installations—around the arch, through garland, along centrepiece frames—the florist needs to plan for that. Some arrangers are experienced with integrating lights; others aren't. Discuss this clearly. It's technically easy but needs planning so the lights are secure and the florals look intentional rather than retrofitted.

Timing of floral installation and lighting setup. Ask when your florist is setting up and when the lighting crew is installing. Ideally, florals go in first, then lights are positioned around them. Or, agree on positions in advance and coordinate so both teams can work simultaneously without interference. On the actual wedding day, you don't want your florist and lighting crew stepping on each other.

Photographing the combination. Once florals and lighting are in place, take a photo during golden hour or dusk (whenever your ceremony/reception is happening) so both your florist and lighting designer see how they look together. If something feels off—the flowers disappear in the light, or the lighting reflects in a weird way off the arrangements—it can usually be adjusted quickly. This quality-check conversation is invaluable.

Budget coordination. Some couples budget heavily for florals and light on lighting, or vice versa. The best results come from balanced investment. If you're spending $3,000 on florals, invest at least $1,000–1,500 in lighting so the florals are actually visible and beautiful. If you're spending $2,000 on lighting, invest enough in florals so the space feels designed, not sparse. Talk to your wedding planner about balancing these budgets.

Seasonal considerations. Spring weddings with cherry blossoms or wisteria have natural texture that uplight beautifully. Summer weddings with lush greenery and dense florals need careful lighting so arrangements don't look like dark blobs. Winter weddings with imported florals need warm light to make them glow. Your florist should know your lighting plan so they choose flowers that look good in that light.

Trust the experts to talk. You don't need to be a technical expert. Tell your florist and lighting designer both that you want them to communicate directly. Give them each other's contact info. A short call between them (5–10 minutes) often prevents days of uncertainty and last-minute scrambling. Collaboration between vendors is how good weddings happen.

Florals and lighting are partners, not competitors. When your florist and lighting designer are on the same page, the whole reception glows—literally and visually. It's worth the small effort to make sure they're coordinating.