A wedding is already full of white: the dress, the linens, the flowers and often the drapes behind the head table. Under a black light, all of that white starts to glow. A black light wedding reception keeps the elegant look for dinner and turns the dance floor into a glow party later in the night. Here is how to plan one with rentals from Rent My Wedding.
Key takeaways
- One black light covers a space up to 60 by 60 feet, and most clients use 2 to 4.
- Setup takes less than a minute per light: place it on a table, plug it in and aim it at the center of the room.
- Almost anything white or fluorescent glows, including white clothing, linens and neon party paint.
- The Glow Party Package pairs a black light with 8 uplights, a custom monogram light and a tripod stand.
Why black light suits a wedding
A black light gives off ultraviolet light, which makes white and fluorescent things glow in a dark room. The black lights page puts it simply: almost anything white or fluorescent will glow, from white clothing and linens to neon party paint and highlighter markers.
That makes a wedding an easy fit. The white dress, a white shirt, white flowers and white napkins all pick up the glow, so the couple stands out on the dance floor without any extra decor.
Plan the switch from dinner to dance
Most couples will not want the whole evening in black light. Toasts, dinner and the first dance usually look best in normal light, with color from uplights on the walls. A good plan is to switch on the black lights when the dance floor opens, or for one song you choose as the start of the party.
Set the black lights in place and aim them before the reception, then plug them in when the dance floor opens and dim the house lights. Ask the venue how the room lights are controlled, and pick one person to handle the change.
Black light wedding reception decor that glows
White drapes. The black lights page recommends white drapes for glow parties, because they add a bright glow under the light. A white backdrop behind the head table or the DJ glows with the room. The backdrops come with the frame, tripods and drapes, and the drapes can be rented on their own.
White chair covers. The spandex chair covers come in white or black. White covers on every chair turn the whole reception into part of the glow.
Neon details. Glow necklaces, neon face paint or highlighter-bright signs give guests something fun to wear or read in the dark. Hand them out when the black lights come on.
A monogram on the floor. A monogram light projects your names or initials onto the dance floor or a wall. It works with a fully lit room, but it looks best in a dim room, so it suits the glow part of the night. Our wedding monogram ideas post has design inspiration.
How many lights and where to put them
One black light covers up to 60 by 60 feet, and most clients use 2 to 4. Place each light on a table, plug it in and aim it at the center of the room or anywhere you want the glow. It takes less than a minute per light. Our black light party setup guide goes deeper on room sizes and aiming.
Mix the glow with color. Uplights along the walls keep the room from going completely dark, and our guide to uplighting colors helps you pick shades for the evening.
Packages that include a black light
The packages page lists two Dance Floor packages with a black light:
| Package | What’s included |
|---|---|
| Glow Party Package | 1 black light, 8 uplights, 1 custom monogram light and a tripod stand |
| Glow + Dance Package | 1 black light, 1 moving head DJ light, 8 uplights, 1 custom monogram light and a tripod stand |
The moving head DJ light follows the beat of the music, which adds motion to the glow.
A simple timeline for the night
- Ceremony and cocktails: normal light, with uplights adding color to the walls.
- Dinner and toasts: keep the room bright enough for photos and speeches.
- First dance: a monogram on the floor and soft color from the uplights.
- Open dancing: switch on the black lights, dim the house lights and hand out the glow necklaces.
A black light wedding reception works best when the glow is a planned moment rather than the whole night, so guests notice the change and the dance floor fills.
Delivery and returns
Black lights are delivered 2 days before your event, and the rental period is 5 days. Each rental includes setup instructions. After the wedding, repack everything in the boxes it came in, attach the prepaid return labels and take them to a physical FedEx location within two days. Never leave them in a FedEx drop box.
Keep dinner classic, then let the white in the room do the rest when the music starts.
Want a glow hour at your reception?
Tell us the room size and the guest count, and the team can suggest how many black lights and uplights you need.
FAQ
Will a white wedding dress glow under a black light?
White clothing is on the black lights page’s list of things that glow, along with linens, neon party paint and highlighter markers. Fluorescent details glow too.
What is in the Glow Party Package?
It includes 1 black light that covers 60 by 60 feet, 8 uplights in any color, 1 custom monogram light and a tripod stand. The Glow + Dance Package adds a moving head DJ light.
Do white drapes work with black lights?
Yes. The black lights page recommends white drapes for glow parties, because they add a bright glow under the black light. The backdrops come with the frame, tripods and drapes.
People Also Ask
What is a glow-in-the-dark wedding reception?
It is a reception where black lights make white and neon things glow, usually for the dancing part of the night. Dinner stays in normal light, and the black lights switch on when the dance floor opens.
What are some glow-in-the-dark wedding ideas?
Use white drapes and white chair covers, hand out glow necklaces or neon face paint, put your monogram on the dance floor and keep a few uplights on the walls for color.
