Event String Lights: An Ultimate Guide (2025)

Last updated on March 22nd, 2025 at 04:41 am

Now think of this, you’ve got a cool, warm summer, with everyone laughing and feeling excited, and the stars are up there, forming this perfect atmosphere that leaves you in awe. Now that’s the power of event string lights!

Okay, now you know.

In this ultimate guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about selecting the best event string lights tailored for your 2025 celebrations. Without wasting much time, let’s get into it.

What are Event String Lights? And What Do They Do?

They can be placed anywhere, across ceilings, around pillars or ornamental trees, along fences, or arranged in any pattern to perfectly suit the occasion. You would find these lights at weddings, birthday parties, special occasions, outdoor gatherings, and even in some homes.

These lights are on another level, they can be easily installed, removed, or even rearranged, making them a perfect lighting solution for event decorators and professional planners alike.

Types of Event String lights

When it comes to event string lights, there are a variety of options available to you. There are actually lots of them, but in this guide, we’ll cover the most important ones. The infographic below highlights them:

We shall look into this one after the other.

LED Lights

Photo credit: Freepik.

These are energy-efficient lights that use some kind of special technology to create light without getting hot. These lights are one of the most powerful lights you could ever get out there, and they are our go-to for most events we’ve consistently coordinated in the last couple of years. These lights aren’t just great, they are energy-efficient, cool to the touch, and they last forever. Plus, they come in a rainbow of colors, and you can never get enough of them. The table below shows the pros and cons of this light:

Incandescent Lights

These are the traditional light bulbs that have been around for a very long time. They work by heating a small wire inside until it glows, kind of like how a campfire gives off light.

So if you want something a bit more classic than LED lights, for real, you need to consider these incandescent bulbs or lights. They give off that warm, nostalgic glow that you or your guest simply can’t resist. But I need to warn you first – these lights can get hotter than my ex-girlfriend. I’m not joking. Here are the pros and cons:

Globe Lights

Source: Pinterest.

They are round light bulbs often used to create a soft, warm glow, and they look pretty when strung together. They are big, bold, and glaringly beautiful. Remember those bad boys (back-benchers) in high school who make a difference once they step into class? Now you imagine a day without them in school. That’s exactly how boring or unappealing your event may be without these globe lights. Do check out their pros and cons below:

Fairy Lights

Source: Pinterest.

Next, we have fairy lights. These lights are super cool, delicate, and dreamy, helping you create a thoughtful and perfect atmosphere. We love using these for indoor fairy lights. Or you could simply wrap them around trees just to give you that fanciful touch.

Bistro Lights

Bistro lights, also known as cafe lights, are great for any kind of party. These lights are usually bigger bulbs strung in a line, giving you that cozy and welcoming atmosphere. They are the Gen-Zs, envied by the older generations, cos of the fact they give the chic vibe. They’re perfect for creating a loving and fulfilling experience.

Coolest Event String Light Trend for 2025: This Will Blow Your Mind!

Now getting into one of the coolest trends I’ve seen in 2025, it is what we call smart, app-controlled event lighting.

They refer to a modern lighting system that can be operated and customized using just your smartphone or a tablet application. It is a technology on a different creativity and convenience level, I’m quite sure it’s not something we see daily.

Now this may have been available in previous years, but I do think it got more popular in 2025. Imagine changing the color or brightness of your lights at events with just a tap. Impressive, right? Just like the way your old Grandma sees you as a hero when you help her fix her phone brightness. Here is how it works:

These systems often use WiFi, Bluetooth, or other wireless technologies to communicate between the app and the lights. To make it even more interesting, some advanced systems may also integrate with smart home ecosystems, allowing you to control the lights using your voice. The infographic below shows what you can do with the smart app:

From wherever you are, you can make quick adjustments without physically accessing the lights during an occasion.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Event String Lights

Alright, now that you’re excited about all the options you have, let’s talk about how to narrow it down a bit. Say you want a new phone, you are not just entering a phone store and going, ‘Hey I want a phone. Any phone.’ Even if you do not know a lot about phones, the store manager may ask you, ‘What kind of phone do you want? What is your budget? And what would you likely be using the phone for?’

The same applies to string lights. There are key factors you should look at before getting one, and here is an infographic we thought could be helpful:

Let’s get to look into them one after the other.

1. Location

First things first – where’s the event holding? Outdoor or indoor. If it’s an outdoor kind of event, you are likely going to need a weatherproof outdoor light that can fit perfectly in this kind of situation. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than your lights breaking down during a special occasion.
If it’s an indoor event, then maybe you are safer. To some extent.

2. Light Type

This is another factor you should pay close attention to. String lights come in different styles. You’ve got options, you could choose to go for battery-operated string lights or solar-powered ones. Or even plug-in lights!

i. Battery-operated String Lights

Great for centerpieces or areas far from outlets.

Best Use Cases

1. Temporary installations.
2. Remote locations without power
3. Emergency lighting
4. Portable decorations

ii. Solar-powered Party Lights

Perfect for eco-friendly outdoor events.

Best Use Cases

1. Outdoor events
2. Eco-friendly lighting
3. Gardens and patios
4. Long-term outdoor installations.

Plug-in Lights

The most reliable option you could ever get.

Best Use Cases

1. Indoor events.
2. High-brightness needs.
3. Long duration events.
4. Professional lighting setups.

3. Colour Temperature

Here is the warm and cool of it all. Let’s look at the following:

i. Warm White String Lights (Best Use Cases)

1. Cozy, intimate settings.
2. Rustic or traditional decor.
3. Residential spaces.
4. Weddings and romantic events.

ii. Cool White LED Lights (Best Use Cases)

1. Modern, clean aesthetics.
2. Commercial spaces.
3. Task lighting.
4. Winter-themed events.

iii. Multicolor Party Lights (Best Use Cases)

1. Energy-efficient installations.
2. Long-term use
3. Professional environments.
4. Tech-themed events.

4. String Light Length

String light and bulb spacing should also be taken into consideration. You don’t want a situation where you have some dark spots or some sort of tangled mess, I’m certain no one would love that one. Not even the furniture that does not talk.

Installation Techniques and Safety Tips for Event String Lights

We’ve learned a lot so far, but to be sincere, this lecture wouldn’t be complete without talking about the safety aspect. Here is an infographic I thought would be helpful:

PRO TIP: Do not expose naked wires! You shouldn’t even have naked wires in the first place, but just in case you have one or two, you should consider putting tapes around the exposed parts or hiding them strategically.

Budgeting for Event String Lights – All You Need to Know

Now in the past months, I’ve had a lot of people ask me how expensive string lights could be, and whether they need to spend a lot of money to get the best ones. While a lot of people believe that the most expensive ones are the best in the market, I do not completely agree with this.

We’ve used some expensive ones in the past, and I could surely tell you some of them only performed fairly better than the average ones. Some didn’t even match up.

Now here’s how to get the most bang for every dollar you spend.

1. Compare costs- We’ve heard a lot of people complain about how pricier upfront LED lights could be, but trust me, they’ll save you in the long run on energy costs and replacements, compared to the other alternatives you have.
2. Would you rather rent or buy? It all depends on you or the kind of event you are hosting. If it’s a one-time event, you should probably consider renting, cos what would you do with those lights after the event? But if you’re an event planner or frequent event host, renting might not be a great choice. If you have the budget, why not invest in your lights? So you could use them whenever you want, saving you money in the long run.
3. You’ve got DIY (Do It Yourself) options. If you are ever feeling crafty. There are tons of budget-friendly DIY string light ideas out there. Pinterest might be a great place to see some things out for yourself. Just make sure you’re not sacrificing safety for savings.
4. Consider long-term use: If you’re in the event planning biz like us, think of quality lights as an investment. They may not be paying for themselves now, but over time, I can assure you they will.
5. Hire professionals: They would likely charge you if you are hiring them to install these lights for you, so you may need to factor in installation costs. If you are not super confident in yourself, you may need to get an expert to do it for you to avoid broad-day disasters.

How to Store and Maintain Event String Lights

We’ve come so far in this guide, from different string light options available, to trends, and budgeting. How do you keep your lights in shape for your next event? Here is how you should do it:

1. Clean them gently: A soft, dry cloth is all you need here. You don’t want to have water or any other liquid on the electrical components.

2. Store them properly: A cardboard would do here! You can simply wrap them around a piece of cardboard so they won’t tangle when next you want to use it.

3. Check for burnt-out bulbs: Sometimes, due to high voltages or power surges, bulbs may get burnt. All you have to do is replace them promptly to keep your lights looking their best. If you don’t know how to do this, you can hire a professional to do it for you.

4. Know when to let go: If the wires are frayed or the plugs are damaged, maybe you should think of getting new lights. Safety comes first before you can even talk of savings.

5. Follow manufacturers’ guides: There are specific sets of instructions laid down by the manufacturers. They aren’t just there for reading’s sake, take time, check them out, and see the things you may already be doing wrongly.

Conclusion

Having the perfect string lights at your event can transform what may be an ordinary gathering into what, we at Emora, call an extraordinary experience.

And there you go. We’ve successfully covered everything you need to know about event string lights – light type, power source, installation methods, trends, tips, and budgeting.

Okay! Did I miss anything? Now I’d love to hear from you. Did this guide in any way spark new ideas for your next event? Which string light recommendation is your favorite? Let us know! Leave a comment and share it with the people you love. See you in our next post. Bye!!!