Light-up letters outdoors: 5 points to check

The most shared photos of light-up letters are often taken outdoors, at sunset, in a garden or on a terrace. Installing light-up letters outdoors simply requires a few precautions. Here are the 5 points our teams check before every outdoor installation.

1. A stable and level surface

The light-up letters rest on their base. A mown lawn, a terrace, paving or a floor are suitable. A sloping surface, loose gravel or sand require a spreader board. Mention the type of surface in your quote request, we bring what is needed.

2. Sheltered from the rain

The light-up letters and their LED bulbs are not made to stay out in the rain. Under a marquee, a gazebo, an awning or a pergola, they can stay installed all evening. In the open air, plan to be able to bring them inside or cover them in case of a shower. Our teams advise you on site.

3. A power socket nearby

The low-consumption LED bulbs plug into a standard socket. Provide an outdoor socket or an outdoor-rated extension lead up to the installation spot. The connection is made by our teams at delivery.

4. The wind

The 1m20 and 1m40 light-up letters present a surface to the wind. On an exposed terrace or a festival site, we place them against a wall, a hedge or a structure, and we can weigh them down. Describe your venue, we adapt the set-up.

5. Daylight and sunset

During the day, the white light-up letters are already visible from afar in a garden. At nightfall, they take on their full dimension: the warm light of the 1m20 or the neutral light of the 1m40 stands out against the darkening sky. Plan the photos of the couple or the guests for that moment, often half an hour after sunset.

Light-up letters outdoors for a festival, a village fair or a brand activation

For public events outdoors, the 1m40 is visible from afar and serves as a meeting point. We have installed light-up letters for open-air brand activations, festivals and village fairs. The name of the event or of the brand, in giant light-up letters, becomes the photo backdrop for the public.

What our teams do on site

At delivery, our teams determine the spot with you, check the surface and the shelter, align the light-up letters, connect them and switch them on before leaving. After the event, they come and collect the equipment. If the weather turns during the evening, a tarpaulin or a move under shelter is usually enough: give us a fallback spot when booking.

Garden, terrace, marquee: the right spot

In a garden, place the light-up letters facing the house or the marquee, where the guests see them from the tables, with the sunset behind them if possible. On a terrace, against a wall or a railing, they stay out of the way. Under a marquee, the back of the dance floor or the side opposite the entrance are the most photographed spots. Allow about 80 cm of width per character in 1m20 and 90 cm in 1m40.

Which size of light-up letters outdoors?

The XL 1m40 in white metal is the size most used outdoors: it is visible from afar, its neutral light stays readable at dusk and it stands firmly on a lawn. The Classic 1m20 in white wood suits a wedding garden or a terrace, with its warm light. The Mini 70 cm is reserved for cocktail tables, under shelter.

And in winter?

The light-up letters work in cold and dry weather: a sheltered Christmas market, a heated terrace or the covered entrance of a venue in December are suitable. The point to watch remains moisture: melting snow and fog require the same shelter as rain. In winter, night falls early and the light-up letters shine from the moment the guests arrive, which makes the 1m20 and its warm light particularly pleasant.

What you need to provide on your side

A socket or an outdoor extension lead up to the installation spot, a level surface, a shelter in case of a shower and a fallback spot indoors. Mention the type of venue in your quote request: garden, terrace, marquee, festival site. Our teams adapt the set-up and confirm the delivery and collection time. Nothing to carry, nothing to connect, nothing to dismantle.

The result in outdoor photos

Outdoors, the light-up letters gain depth: the evening sky in the background, the lawn or the terrace in the foreground, and the light reflected on the faces. Place them so that the photographer can step back a few metres, and avoid putting them against a dark hedge that absorbs the light. A light-coloured wall or a lit facade, on the other hand, reflects the light and visually enlarges the composition.

The questions that come up about outdoors

Do the light-up letters withstand the morning dew? Yes, if they are collected or covered after the evening, as agreed when booking. Can they stay lit all night? The low-consumption LED bulbs allow it, but we recommend switching them off after the last guests leave. Is a generator needed in an open field? A standard socket or an outdoor extension lead is enough; for a site without electricity, mention it in the request and we will find a solution together.

Still have a question about your project? Call us on 02/616.57.10 or write to info@instantled.be: our teams reply quickly, in English, French or Dutch.

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