While browsing through wedding photos earlier today, I noticed how much ambiance great lighting brings to an evening reception. From well-lit tables to gorgeous canopies of lights over the dance floor, unique lighting can literally brighten up your celebration in a stunning way. It adds exquisite sparkle to your night, making every moment even more memorable when cast in a soft or shimmering glow. Here are some great ideas for lovely wedding lights for inspiration:

Table Settings

Beautifully decorated tablescapes are only enhanced when you include well-placed lights in your decor. Check out these great ideas for table settings from Lemiga events:

Outdoor Lights

Outdoor lights are a natural part of any outdoor reception, but even if you host your event inside, consider decorating the patio, walkway or nearby trees with white lights for a special effect, as seen in this photo from Eventiva.

Regal Reception Ideas

There are hundreds of way to incorporate unique lighting into your wedding reception. One of the best ways to choose a lighting scheme is to select a design plan that mirrors the theme of your wedding. Are you and your future spouse all about glitz and glamour? Consider a big, sweeping tent of white lights placed over the dance floor.

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Looking for something with a little more bohemian fun and unique flair?  Opt for bold strands of brightly colored lights.

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Or you can use your lights to poke fun at yourself, as in this photo from Etsy, where a couple used empty shotgun shells to light up their humorously titled “shotgun wedding.”

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Finding the perfect venue for your ceremony and/or reception can be one of the hardest parts of wedding planning.  If you are looking for something unique, check out some of our favorite venue ideas below:

The Beach – If you are looking for a casual, but elegant affair consider holding your event by the seaside.  One of our favorite beach-side hotels is the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego (below).

A loft - If you are a city girl planning an event that is both elegant and chic consider renting an empty metropolitan loft that offers you a blank canvas to personalize with your own style.

A Vineyard - If you are thinking of planning a country-side or garden wedding, don’t rule out the idea of a vineyard.  Vineyards offer a special charm that will make your event feel extra romantic.

A Castle – Do you feel like you are marrying Prince Charming? Then fulfill your fairy tale fantasies and get married in a castle.  When I was planning my wedding, I dreamed of getting married on the grounds of Oheka Castle in New York state (below).

A popular 2008 trend according to the Knot is changing things up (your hairstyle and dress) from your ceremony to the reception. Think long formal gown and elegant upsweep then a quick switch to a short dress and your hair in romantic waves. Here are some styles that get you from ceremony to reception in a fashion flash.

For the ceremony combine modern elegance and formal style to get simply gorgeous. (Photos from left: Amsale ball gown, the Knot, St. Pucchi Silk Charmeuse dress from Elegant Bride and Reverie by Melissa Sweet from the Knot.)

Perfect party dresses: from left (White kava blouson dress by Kate Spade and Romona Keveza dress both from Modern Bride. BCBG Maxazaria Strapless Applique dress from Nordstrom.)