Uplighting vs. String Lights for Weddings and Events
Uplighting and string lights are the two most popular DIY lighting choices for weddings and events. They create very different looks, work in different venues, and cost different amounts. Here is an honest comparison to help you decide which is right for your event, or whether to use both.
Quick Comparison
| |
Uplighting |
String Lights |
| Effect |
Color wash on walls and ceiling |
Warm points of light overhead |
| Best for |
Transforming a plain room with color |
Adding warmth and charm to outdoor or rustic spaces |
| DIY rental cost (typical event) |
$170 to $340 (10 to 20 lights at $17 each) |
$200 to $600 (depends on length, usually purchased not rented) |
| Professional install cost |
$800 to $2,000 |
$1,000 to $3,000+ |
| Setup difficulty (DIY) |
Easy. Place on floor, plug in, pick color. 10 to 15 minutes. |
Moderate to hard. Requires hanging at height, ladders, hooks, or zip ties. |
| Color options |
Any color (digital display, millions of combinations) |
Warm white only (most models) |
| Indoor/outdoor |
Both (outdoor models available) |
Both (most are outdoor rated) |
| Photography impact |
Strong. Adds color and drama to photos. |
Strong. Creates warm bokeh (blurred light dots) in backgrounds. |
| Power needs |
1 outlet per 8 to 10 lights (linked together) |
1 outlet per strand (limited by strand length) |
When Uplighting Is the Better Choice
-
Plain or dated venue.
Uplighting transforms a white banquet hall, community center, or plain reception room into something dramatic. The color wash hides imperfections and makes the space feel intentional.
-
Color matters.
If you want to match your event palette (blue, purple, amber, pink, etc.), uplighting lets you choose any color digitally. String lights are locked to warm white.
-
Easy DIY setup.
You place the lights on the floor and plug them in. No ladders, no hanging, no hooks. Setup takes 10 to 15 minutes.
-
Budget conscious.
A set of 10 to 16 rental uplights ($170 to $272) covers a typical reception room. That is less than most string light installations.
-
Indoor events with low ceilings.
String lights in a low ceiling room can feel cramped. Uplighting keeps the ceiling open and adds vertical depth.
When String Lights Are the Better Choice
-
Outdoor tents, barns, and patios.
String lights draped across a tent ceiling or strung between trees look natural and inviting. The overhead glow fills the space without competing with the sky.
-
Rustic or bohemian aesthetic.
String lights (especially Edison bulb styles) match barn venues, garden parties, and farmhouse themes in a way that colored uplighting does not.
-
Already decorated venues.
If the venue has beautiful architecture, woodwork, or built in decor, string lights add ambiance without changing the look. Uplighting would tint the existing colors.
-
You want warm white only.
If your vision is simply warm, romantic lighting with no color, string lights deliver that look more naturally than setting uplights to warm white.
When to Use Both
Combining uplighting and string lights is common and effective. They serve different purposes and do not compete with each other:
-
String lights overhead + uplighting on the walls.
The string lights provide ambient glow across the room while the uplights add color to the perimeter. This gives you the best of both.
-
String lights in the ceremony space, uplighting in the reception.
Many couples use string lights for the outdoor ceremony (trees, arbor, aisle) and uplighting indoors for the reception dance.
-
String lights on the patio, uplighting inside.
If your venue has an indoor/outdoor flow, use string lights for the outdoor seating area and uplights for the indoor space.
Cost Breakdown
DIY Rental Uplighting
| 10 uplights (small venue) |
$170 |
| 16 uplights (medium venue) |
$272 |
| 20 uplights (large venue) |
$340 |
| Shipping |
Free both ways |
| Setup |
You do it yourself in 10 to 15 minutes |
String Lights (Purchase)
| 100 feet of string lights |
$40 to $100 (depending on bulb style) |
| 200 feet of string lights |
$80 to $200 |
| Hooks, zip ties, extension cords |
$20 to $50 |
| Setup |
You do it yourself, requires ladders and 1 to 2 hours |
Professional Installation (Either)
| Professional uplighting (10 to 20 lights) |
$800 to $2,000 |
| Professional string lights (installed at venue) |
$1,000 to $3,000+ |
| Professional both |
$1,500 to $4,000+ |
The biggest savings come from doing the uplighting yourself with a rental. You get the same professional lights that a DJ or lighting company would use, at a fraction of the cost, because you set them up yourself.
Which Is Right for You?
-
Pick uplighting if:
you want to transform the room with color, you want the easiest possible setup, or you are working with a tight budget.
-
Pick string lights if:
you want warm white ambiance in an outdoor or rustic setting, or your venue already looks great and just needs a soft glow.
-
Pick both if:
you want a layered look with color on the walls and warm light overhead, or you have separate indoor and outdoor spaces.
Ready to Rent Uplighting?
Browse our
uplighting rental options
starting at $17 each with free shipping both ways. Not sure how many you need? Check our
room size guide.