Good wedding cake lighting takes a few minutes: one small pin spot, aimed well, plus a little color around the table. The cake is one of the most photographed details of the reception, yet it often ends up in a dim corner once the room lights go down. This guide covers the light itself, placement, how many you need and how to light the room around the cake.
Key takeaways
- A pin spot is a small, focused light that makes the cake stand out in a dark room.
- One spotlight suits an average cake, and a large cake of 18 inches or more across looks best with two.
- The batteries last 6 to 8 hours, and the lights ship pre-charged with a charger.
- Uplights or a backdrop behind the cake table turn it into a photo spot.
Why the cake needs its own light
A wedding cake is a centerpiece of the reception, and the cake cutting is a moment guests gather to watch and photograph. When the room is set for dinner and dancing, the light over the cake table is often no brighter than the rest of the room. A dedicated light pulls the eye to the cake and gives the photographer something to work with.
Wedding cake lighting with a pin spot
A pin spot, also called a cake spotlight, throws a narrow beam onto one object. Rent My Wedding’s cake pin spot is battery operated and comes with a remote control, so there are no cords running across the cake table.
Setting it up is simple:
- Place it on the table. Set the light on the cake table, off to one side or at the front, where it won’t be in the way of the cake cutting.
- Aim it at the cake. Point the beam so it covers the tiers you want to show off, then step back and check from where guests and the photographer will stand.
- Switch it on with the remote. The whole process takes less than a minute.
You don’t have to keep it on the table. The cake light is magnetic, so you can also mount it on a ceiling light fixture and aim it down at the cake. Adapter mounting is available as well, which helps when the table is crowded with flowers or a cake stand.
How many pin spots do you need?
| Cake | Pin spots |
|---|---|
| Average cake | 1 |
| Large cake, 18 inches or more across | 2 |
With two lights, aim one from each side so the front of the cake is evenly lit. If you also have a dessert bar or a groom’s cake, give each its own light.
Light the room around the cake
A pin spot makes the cake glow, while the area around it sets the scene.
- Uplights behind the table: uplights placed on the floor against the wall behind the cake table wash it in color. You can choose any color with the push of a button, so they can match your flowers or palette.
- A backdrop: a drape behind the cake table hides a plain wall and frames the photos. Backdrops come 8 or 10 feet tall in any width.
- A monogram: a monogram light can project your initials or names onto the wall behind the cake.
If you’d like all of this in one order, the Cake Table package on the all packages page includes 2 cake spotlights and 3 wireless uplights. You can add a monogram backdrop kit, with one custom monogram light and a lighting stand, a linen backdrop kit of 12 feet wide by 8 feet tall, or a cake canopy kit.
When to switch it on
The batteries last 6 to 8 hours, and the lights ship pre-charged, with a charger included. Switch the pin spot on shortly before guests enter the reception so it stays lit through the cake cutting and the rest of the night. If you test the light before the day, recharge it afterwards so the battery is full for the event.
Beyond the cake
Once you have the hang of it, the same light works on other details. Pin spots are used for centerpieces, signs, guest books, favor tables, dessert bars and photo ops. The spotlights page shows all the options, including wireless lights and flexible mounting.
Delivery and return
Rentals are scheduled to arrive at least two days before the wedding, which gives you time to test the light on a table at home. The rental lasts 5 days. After the event, repack everything in the same box, attach the prepaid label and take it to a physical FedEx location within two days. Never leave it in a FedEx drop box.
That’s all it takes to light the cake: a small light, a good angle and a little color behind the table. For more on room lighting, see our guide to wedding uplighting colors.
Want the cake table to glow?
Tell us the size of your cake and your colors, and the team can suggest the right lights.
FAQ
How long does a cake spotlight battery last?
The batteries last 6 to 8 hours. The lights ship pre-charged and come with a charger.
How many cake spotlights do I need?
One spotlight is enough for an average cake. For a large cake of 18 inches or more in diameter, two spotlights give the best look.
Do I need lighting experience to set up a cake spotlight?
No. You place the light on the table and aim it at the cake, which takes less than a minute. It can also be mounted with a magnet or an adapter.
People Also Ask
What is wedding cake lighting?
It is a dedicated light, usually a small pin spot, aimed at the cake so it stands out once the room lights are lowered. Uplights or a backdrop behind the cake table can add color around it.
What is a cake spotlight?
A cake spotlight, or pin spot, is a small light with a narrow, focused beam. Rent My Wedding’s version is battery operated, comes with a remote control and sits on the table or mounts with a magnet or adapter.
