In case you hadn't already guessed from the oh so obvious title of this post, this afternoon we'll be discussing the joys and jubilations of good lighting design at weddings. I'm not sure whether it's the gradually fading Summer light and the fact that the nights are drawing in but increasingly my thoughts have turned lately to the importance of lighting schemes at weddings particularly during the late Autumn and Winter months.

Lighting.

I've said it before and I'll say it again... I implore you to consider this crucial element when planning your wedding decor.

I'm guessing that the majority of you possess a seemingly endless wedding 'decor' checklist all of which needs to be covered by a rather stretched wedding budget and lighting really doesn't feature all that highly.

I get it.

Honestly I do.

Is adding the most fantastic light display that the world has ever seen absolutely essential?

Perhaps not. But a carefully thought-out lighting design is the key to successfully creating mood and atmosphere within your reception venue.

Lighting is your best friend - in more ways than one. Luminary devices subtly help to influence mood and signify the beginning and end of different stages of the wedding day. Plus I can guarantee that an excellent lighting layout will have your photographer praising you from the rooftops.

You can never have enough candles.

Never. Never ever.

Don't believe me. Well let me try to persuade you of their virtues...

They create the most glorious atmosphere whilst being gentler on the pocket than the other artificial lighting schemes and can be used in a myriad of ways.

Think beyond the conventional and traditional. Just about anything can be used as a vessel for a tealight - try hanging old jam jars from trees or float candles in water filled mason jars. Proof that style doesn't have to cost the earth. Equally galvanised steel or concrete buckets filled with a dozen dining candles in each one makes for interesting and modern table centrepieces.

Play with different heights too; extra long tapered candles clustered together in large numbers create a focal point in key places in your wedding venue. Alternatively create height differences by using steps or logs stacked on top of one another to your advantage.

I'm a sucker for a candlelit aisle. Yes I know it's been done a million times before but I still smile when I see a wedding complete with a softly glowing pathway. Don't limit the success of this look by allowing your candle placement to become too regimented - keep it loose and organic.

Pendant and statement lighting are two new trends that have pushed their way to the fore this year. The Edison bulb is currently enjoying a moment in the 'Interiors' world in general so it's gorgeous to see them crop up in wedding set-ups too. As with candle lighting, the greater the number of pendants you have the better and height varieties are crucial too.

Again it's easy peasy to create the mood you're after as well. Mirrored pendants and miniature chandeliers reflect the light and are the ultimate in glamour luxe whereas bare bulbs and rustic lanterns lend a more homemade feel to the proceedings.

We all know and love the appeal of supersized glowing letters, often using the married couple's initials or spelling out key words such as 'love' or 'bar'. Frankly I don't see them going away any time soon and that's ok because they're pretty flipping special. I like the fact that symbols such as stars, ampersands and hearts are beginning to crop up too; variety as they say is the spice of life.

We've also seen the advent of coloured paper lanterns - you know the type you can buy for pennies from Ikea - which look amazing strung up in their multiples and can so easily merge with your chosen colour scheme to create the ultimate decor statement. I'm also a sucker for old lampshades too - they just look so cool and will make your great aunt Enid feel right at home.

We've seen the popularity of festoon lighting surge tenfold in the last year or so. I'm not sure why this is, perhaps it's because this type of lighting is much easier to get hold of these days. Whatever it may be it's clear that you folks think that festooning is awesome.

Best utilised in spaces that are essentially blank canvases such as marquees or in barns the majority of the inspiration pictured here uses LOTS of light strands in some shape or form.

Despite the fact that this type of illumination is just SO pretty, festoon lights create instant ambience whilst throwing out light left, right and centre. If you're concerned that light strands don't strike quite the right note of luxury for you, try combining them with chandeliers or Moroccan lanterns for variety and glitz.

Alternatively suspend your strands from a single point so that they radiate down to the floor below at the end of an aisle for example or drape them radially to create a faux big top tent impression.

Now folks, I want to hear all about your lighting choices on your big day.

Is this something you've even considered or have you decided that you're going to prioritise elsewhere?

And where are you lot getting married - we love to hear all about your venue choices. Is there a venue that you feel simply must be on our Love Lust List that we don't know about yet?

All my love Lolly xxx