Good lighting has a way of transforming even the blandest looking spaces, and most times, it requires as little effort as a lantern or a set of fairy lights. Consider the traditional Christmas tree – despite all the ornate decorations we place on its branches, it only really comes to life when the lights are switched on. And when it comes to your wedding venue, the importance of effective lighting is no different.

And while there are many kinds of lighting to look into (check out our venue lighting guide), no other lighting is as dreamy, romantic and wedding-appropriate as fairy lights. Some local venues offer it as a package, saving you some work, but you can also take charge of your décor and dive into a fairy light DIY project. Here are some stunning set-ups for inspiration.

1. Under the night sky

John Labbe on Huffington Post

The majority of Maltese weddings take place during spring and summer, so setting up an outdoor wedding venue with a blanket of fairy lights under the night sky is simply perfect, budget and venue permitting. However, given the choice between this gorgeous set-up and another hors oeuvres on the menu, the choice is simple.

2. Drape the Marquee

Helen Lisk Photography

A dramatic marquee for an indoor winter wedding is show-stopping in itself – add a few strings of fairy lights to all the draping and you’re looking at a marvellous backdrop. Not only will your wedding venue sparkle, but so will your photos once the lights have been taken down.

3. Light in a jar

Pegasus Lighting

The mason jar trend dominated wedding décor in recent years, but rather than using them for cocktails or candles, you can use them instead of lanterns and connect them with a string of fairy lights. Hang them from trees, place them on food tables or use them as centrepieces at your seated wedding.

4. A sparkle in the garden

OliveinLove.com

Garden weddings are catching on, as are small dos in private properties rather than large, sprawling palazzos (as beautiful as those are too). A smaller wedding affords you more budget on wedding décor and lighting, so you can hang fairy lights from the trees, wrap them around bushes and drape them over the backs of chairs – the options are endless.

5. Less is more

When it comes to fairy lights, you can afford to go to town – the lights are dim and intended to create an ambience rather than as a primary source of lighting. However, if you can only spare so much money on achieving the effect you desire, don’t fret, as the beauty of these lights is that they’re effective in large and small quantities. Less is more applies here too, and you can achieve a stunning set-up whatever the budget.