Uplights wash the walls of a room in color, and once you have picked the color, the next choice is how the lights get their power. Wireless uplighting runs on built-in batteries, so there are no cords to run across the floor. Here is how the wireless and standard uplights from Rent My Wedding compare, where each one fits and how many you need.
Key takeaways
- Standard uplights use power cords, and wireless uplights have built-in batteries.
- Standard uplights have buttons on each light to set the colors, and wireless uplights come with a remote control.
- Standard uplights cost less to rent, and up to 40 of them can link to a single outlet.
- Several packages include wireless uplights, including the Ceremony Kit, the Cake Table package and the larger Head Table packages.
What uplights do
Uplights are small circular lights that sit on the floor and aim upward. The beam runs up the surface behind them, so walls, backdrops and pillars glow in the color you choose. Color-changing event lights like these are usually built from many small light-emitting diodes, which is why one light can switch between so many colors.
With either type you can set the lights to any color, and setup takes less than a minute per light. Our guide to uplighting colors helps you pick shades that suit your venue and your photos.
Wireless uplighting vs standard uplights
Rent My Wedding rents two types of uplights. The main difference is power: standard uplights use power cords, and wireless uplights have built-in batteries. The way you set colors is different too. Other than that, the uplighting page says, everything else is the same.
| Standard uplights | Wireless uplights | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 10-foot power cord | Built-in batteries |
| Setting colors | Buttons on each light | Remote control to program colors |
| Linking | Up to 40 lights on one outlet | No cords to link |
| Rental cost | Lower | Higher than standard |
When wireless uplights make sense
Wireless uplights are the easy answer anywhere a cord would be hard to run or hide.
- Around a ceremony canopy. The Ceremony Kit pairs a canopy or chuppah with 4 wireless uplights, so the structure glows without cords across the aisle. Our post on what a chuppah is explains the tradition.
- At the cake table. Every Cake Table package includes 2 cake spotlights and 3 wireless uplights. See our guide to wedding cake lighting for placement.
- Behind a head table. The midsize Head Table package includes 5 wireless uplights and the large package includes 7, along with a white backdrop and a swag. The packages page lists every option.
- In the middle of the room. A pillar, a dessert table or a photo spot away from the walls may have no outlet nearby.
- When you would rather not press buttons on each light. Wireless uplights come with a remote control to program the colors.
The uplighting page does not say whether either type is meant for outdoor use, so ask the team before you plan lights outside.
When standard uplights are the better pick
Standard uplights are a good fit when the lights stand along walls with outlets nearby. Each one comes with a 10-foot power cord, and you can link all the lights together using a single outlet, up to 40 uplights per outlet. They are also the budget choice, because standard uplights have a lower rental cost than wireless ones.
If your event runs long, ask the team about battery life before you choose wireless.
You can also mix the two: standard uplights around the walls of the room, and wireless ones at the canopy, the cake or the head table where cords would get in the way.
How many uplights you need
The uplighting cheat sheet gives a quick starting point by guest count:
| Guests | Uplights |
|---|---|
| Up to 75 | 10 |
| 76 to 150 | 16 |
| 151 to 225 | 24 |
| 226 to 300 | 32 |
| More than 300 | 40 |
For spacing, place uplights 10 feet apart for a beautiful look or 5 feet apart for a dramatic look. You can light the whole room or only key areas, such as the head table wall or the registration table. For a custom number, ask for a quote with your venue details.
Setup and timing
Setup is the same for both types:
- Choose any color, with the buttons on a standard light or the remote for wireless lights.
- Set the lights on the floor, up against the wall.
- Aim them up toward the ceiling.
Rentals arrive at least two days before the event, and the rental lasts 5 days in total. Each rental includes setup instructions, and 24/7 phone support is available if you have questions. After the event, repack everything in the same box, attach the prepaid return label and take it to a physical FedEx location within two days. Never leave it in a FedEx drop box.
Choose wireless where cords would be in the way, standard where outlets are close, and let the color do the rest.
Not sure which uplights you need?
Tell us the venue, the guest count and where you want light, and the team can suggest a mix.
FAQ
How long does it take to set up uplights?
Less than a minute per light. Set the light on the floor against the wall, aim it up toward the ceiling and choose a color. Standard uplights change color with a button on the light, and wireless uplights with a remote.
How many standard uplights can I plug into one outlet?
Standard uplights come with 10-foot power cords, and you can link up to 40 of them to a single outlet.
Which packages include wireless uplights?
The Ceremony Kit includes 4 wireless uplights, every Cake Table package includes 3, and the midsize and large Head Table packages include 5 and 7.
People Also Ask
What are wireless uplights?
They are uplights with built-in batteries instead of power cords, so they can stand where there is no outlet nearby. Rent My Wedding’s wireless uplights come with a remote control to program colors.
Is wireless uplighting worth it for a wedding?
It is worth it where cords would be hard to run or hide, such as around a ceremony canopy, at the cake table or behind a head table in the middle of the room. Along walls with outlets, standard uplights cost less to rent.
