Based on my years as a special events planner, I know one thing to be true. Lighting has an influence on a party’s success. It can alter the mood of party guests as well as affect the health of some of them. With that said, I thought that I would share a few of my Fourth of July lighting ideas with you. Here they are:
Red, White and Blue Rope Lights
You might want to consider incorporating red, white and blue rope lights into your Fourth of July lighting plans. The rope lights can be connected to picnic tables, porch railings, trees, roof gutters, clothes lines and just about anything else you can think of. A 150 foot roll of the rope lights will tend to lighten your wallet by $116.
Red, White and Blue Strobe Lights
If you are looking for a night club type of atmosphere, I’d suggest investing in a few strobe lights. I used strobe lights a lot during my special events planning days. Strobe lights vary greatly in price and design. In my experience, a strobe light that can be mounted to a stationary object is best because the light bulbs tend to be very fragile. I’d also recommend that you select a strobe light that has manual as well as automatic light patterns. If you can only afford to purchase a small strobe light, I’d suggest pointing it at a mirror. Doing so tends to help expand the amount of light patterns in the room. You’ll also want to make sure you party guests are not photosensitive.
Red, White and Blue Candles
When it comes to candles, there are multiple options that you may want to consider. If you want to add height to a table, I’d recommend going with a pillar candle. If your tablescape doesn’t need height, a votive or floating candle might prove to be a better option. If you do decide to go with the floating candles, you may also want to think about coloring the water or adding colorful glass beads to the bowl. In my experience, either option will work well. I just wouldn’t recommend doing both on one table. It tends to make the light display look too busy.
Stars and Stripes String Lights
Novelty string lights with a stars and stripes motif are always an option. I have found that some of the best places to find such novelty lights are stores that cater to RV users and campers. Sets of novelty lights tend to cost $20 or more depending on the retailer and the light’s design.
Luminaries
Red, white and blue luminaries are another way to light up your Fourth of July backyard barbecue. They tend to give off a subdued light and work well around walk ways. If you can’t find a set of luminaries at your local home improvement store, you may want to consider making your own. All you’ll need are some tea lights, play sand and paper bags.
Spheres and Lanterns
Lastly, you may want to consider using red, white and blue starlight spheres or paper lanterns as lighting for your party. I find them to be quite festive at night. Both items tend to be available through novelty lighting stores. Sometimes you can also pick up the paper lanterns at discount stores and party supply warehouses.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys summer sports and recreation. She is also a former special events planner.
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