how can create dramatic lighting at my wedding reception without paying a fortune?

Answer 1

candles.lots and lots of candles! also you could try fairy lights.you know the tiny ones people put around the place at christmas

Answer 2

There are two weddings that I have attended that come to mind when I think of "dramatic lighting".

Both were indoor events. The first was in a building where the main lights were turned off, and small white garden/Christmas lights were wrapped around the arch, fake trees, and isle rails/posts. The tables and "altar" also had either candles floating in glitter water in cut (or beveled) glass holders OR regular candles set in glitter in the glass holders. There was also white lights in a flexible plastic tube that lined both sides of the isle way.
The second wedding with cool lighting had white gauze hanging from the center of the ceiling in a circle (a cheep chandelier from a garage sale that was then spray painted gold and wrapped in white garden lights hung at the center covering the ends of fabric) that "swooped" down a foot or two and then back up to the edge of the ceiling (where it meets the wall) with more white garden lights behind the fabric on the ceiling and walls. They also had candelabras and votive holders on all tables.

Most people I know borrow lights and other decorations form family members or pay a small rental fee for them.

Hope that was explained OK.

Answer 3

Rent or purchase in bulk some white only string lights or christmas lights (usually very cheap JUST after christmas, on clearance). You can also get these lights at any craft supply store (michaels, hobby lobby, etc) and they wont say christmas lights on them but they tend to be cheaper than some of the "christmas lights" are depending on the time of year you purchase them.
Add to this Candles (also best bought in bulk.... try http://www.orientaltrading.com in the wedding dept. They have plain white votives for pretty cheap IN holders already.) Then set those candles on mirrored tiles (can be rented (party planners, party supply rental shops, cake decorators, check around.... or ask your reception venue, youd be surprised at the supplies they often have that you can use for FREE, or purchased in bulk from a hardware or home improvement store... or even from ebay). The mirrored tiles reflect the candlelight this way.

Good Luck

Answer 4

At the last wedding I was at, they hung white christmas lights all around, up and down all of the columns and around all the door frames, and in vertical lines all along all the walls. Then, over top, they put some sort of sheer, white fabric. The effect was beautiful.

Christmas lights are very cheap, especially if you wait to buy them until end of December or January (if you can, depends on when your wedding is), and since no one's really going to be touching the fabric (except to hang it) you can buy the rougher stuff, cause in my experience, it's been cheaper.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 5

Candles are very pretty when there are a lot of them. Putting them on mirrors or something reflective makes it look like there are twice as many, making it very intimate. Also white strings of lights (think X-mas) strung over and around things will also soften and brighten the place up.

Answer 6

Candles, rope lighting is soft too, and cheep. Its out in the Christmas decorations at any major store, Nice soft light.
just like candle light.

Answer 7

What about buying some cheap lampshades and painting the shade so the color kinda shows in the room?

Answer 8

white christmas lights and tons of them.......We used them and that was the only light that we had while everyone was dancing. It was simple, inexpensive and very beautiful.

Answer 9

Paper china balls, they are inexpensive, provide a lot of light and look amazing when you have a lot of them.