Photo: McLellan Style

Nothing sets the mood for your wedding quite like lighting. From twinkling string lights and sparkling chandeliers to luminous pinspotting, the right lighting is more than just functional — it also carries out your wedding style and creates an unforgettable ambiance. Illumination is everything when it comes to elevating an ordinary space to something extraordinary.

The options are endless when it comes to perfecting and customizing that special glow. Having a modern wedding? Consider adding decadent hues to your reception space with sleek and colorful uplighting. Hosting a rustic affair? Drape the wooden ceiling rafters in your venue with hanging bistro lights. Tying the knot in a church? Flickering candles will complement a religious ceremony. From the expected to the unexpected and the chic to the whimsical, the choice is yours.

When selecting your lighting, or working with a lighting designer if you decide to take that route, keep in mind that it not only contributes to the wedding's atmosphere, but also acts as décor. Take a cluster of sophisticated chandeliers, for example — in addition to brightening the reception tables, they also serve as an elegant overhang. There's no need to splurge on wedding flowers or other decorative accents to adorn your reception venue's ceiling when you can kill two birds with one stone!

Lighting can also help to define the extra décor you do include. Think pinspotting, which uses narrow beams of light to highlight and accentuate certain details — like those centerpieces your florist worked so carefully to design.

Good wedding lighting can also help your photographer capture the most stunning details and moments of the big day — from snaps that showcase the mood of your wedding to stills of the gorgeous intimate details to romantic portraits of you and your groom lovingly silhouetted against flickering lights.

We're head over heels for these photos of twinkling backdrops, light bulb pathways, and fun, vibrant paper lanterns — and we know you will be, too. Click here for radiant lighting set-ups to get some inspiration for your own big day, and don't forget to pin your favorites to your wedding inspiration board.