Patio Lights for Weddings & Events Video

Zach has been working to create new videos for our new sites! Here is a video breaking down the different types of patio lights that we carry on AAChristmas.com and ChristmasLightsCentral.com. We're hoping to create even more of these videos in the future so like, subscribe, and share on twitter, facebook or pinterest!


Thanks for watching and if you have any ideas for future videos leave us a comment!

Patio Lights video, Learn about G30, G40, G50 bulbs.

Here's a video we made a while back about the difference between Patio lights. Since it's starting to be the time to prep for weddings we thought it'd be a good time to share it again. So watch the video above to learn about G30, G40, G50 Globe bulbs and more!

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Zach

All American Christmas Co. 

Valentine's Day Lights

Valentine’s Day is upon us and it is time to decide how to decorate this year. Lots of people like to have parties or some type of fun event around Valentine’s Day and there is no better way to decorate than with festive lighting.

Mini Lights - There are so many options for mini lights in colors that will match any Valentine's decor. Using red, pink and white on white wire to light up some of your centerpieces or table settings would be a great touch.

Themed Light Displays - With options like, double hearts, heart with cupid’s arrow and Cupid, you can find things to hang in your windows or even on the walls of a venue for a Valentine’s day party. Fun, festive and simple to install.

Traditional Christmas Light Bulbs - These come in a variety of colors and styles. You can get C7 or C9 bulbs in red, pink and white. These are available in a transparent style or in a opaque style. The opaque style will give you a softer light glow for a more romantic feel.

LED Globe Lights - Like the traditional bulbs, but come in 2 different bulb sizes. These also come in more color options. You can find these in red, pink and white. You could hang them across the ceiling for an outdoor patio look.

Starlight Spheres - These light spheres are just as whimsical and romantic as they sound. The are little balls of light. You could make a cluster of these in different sizes in the corners of your venue. It would be a great background for photos. You can get these in 3 different sizes in red, pink and white.

These are just to mention a few of the great products that would be perfect for your Valentine's Day party.

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.

11S14 Patio Lights at All American Christmas Co.

All American Christmas Co. has carried "Globe" Patio lights for many years but as the popularity of using these decidedly old school lights grows we've chosen to start carrying the classic style S14 Patio Lights. S14 are just as common for patio lights as their rounder counterparts but have a few benefits over their globe cousins. They are an 11 watt bulb with E-27 Medium Base, they have the circular style filament for traditional appeal that is rated for approximately 8,000 hours.

These new patio lights come in most common transparent colors, a satin frosted white, and a handful of ceramic (opaque) colors. Since they are all medium base (same as a house hold light bulb) they require our larger commercial light line, like our Molded Commercial Light Strings. Even though these S14 bulbs are in our patio lights section they are popular for many uses, a lot of sign companies use them to light/outline signs, they are great for hanging across streets to get a European look, and they are incredibly popular for lighting up weddings!

Check out our Patio Lights page to see all the great S14 and Globe bulbs available.
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Zach Broyles

Lighted Wedding Backdrop

We have all seen the pictures with those beautifully lit backdrop, using Christmas lights and fabric. We might have even been a little envious that we cannot all have one at our wedding or event. Well now with all the DIY projects out there, you can have the photos you've always dreamed of and you won;t have to break the bank for it. I know some people are out there thinking, what lights would I use? How would I attach them? Well that is exactly what we are here for. There are a few perfect lighting options for this project.

Curtain Lights

Curtain lights are great for a project of this sort. They have a uniform look, which is great for backgrounds of head tables and cake tables at weddings. Most people won't want too much going on behind them as far as a pattern of light goes. Simple is better.  These look stunning when draped with a little sheer fabric to soften the glow just a bit. Curtain lights come in white, green and black wire with white (clear) lights.

Globe Lights

Globe lights are a wonderful choice if you want something a little more outside of the box. These lights are something that you could use for a background of a photo booth or even for a wedding ceremony. Since globe lights come in different sixes, you could even consider mixing them up a bit. Try using G40 and G50 bulbs alternating on the string for a whimsical feel. You also might try using clear and pearl white to give your lights a little more depth. These look great hanging in front of sheer fabric or even just right against the wall.

Fairy Lights

Fairy lights, the faithful light string. These are a tried and true form of lighting for all occasions and events. These would make a great background if you wanted something that was much easier to customize. You can buy as many strings as you like and hang them in any pattern you choose. There are many lengths and colors to choose from. There would be something for every budget and decor. These look great in front of or behind fabric.



We have found a great DIY backdrop frame blog too. It's simple, very easy to understand and it is very inexpensive. This is great project for those that want to build their own instead of renting one, which could end up costing hundreds of dollars! Check out, Dandelions on the Wall.

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Hannah
All American Christmas Co.

Wedding Light Inspiration

Yes folks, it is wedding season again. This is such an exciting time for so many people across the country. Young brides are abuzz trying to decide on the perfect decor for their big day. We want you to be sure and not forget about a very crucial part of your wedding day. The lighting. Now we understand that in these times so many people are trying to plan on a budget. We totally understand, lighting might not rank very highly on the "to purchase for wedding" list. We just think you should consider one thought; A well-lit space, a space that utilizes a very carefully thought out light design is key to achieving the right mood and atmosphere for your wedding and reception. The right lighting can be your best friend. It can actually compliment your decor, while still being an element all of its own.

With that being said, lets move on to a few ideas to make the best of your venue with the perfect wedding lighting.

Light Your Patio With Patio Lights

Lighting up your patio or outdoor living space can really increase the appeal of your backyard. Just use some bistro lighting to create a fun and inviting outdoor area. With summer coming you are going to want to spend more time in these outdoor spaces, socializing and enjoying cool summer evenings. Luckily we are here to help find the perfect patio lighting that will meet your needs.

Globe Lights will Hang Like Stars in the Night Sky

Try using Patio lights to brighten your patio area, creating a sparkling night sky effect or use bright colors for summery party lights. Spring and Summer patio lighting ideas might include, wedding celebrations,  graduations, summer holidays, and birthdays. Try using them along decks and overhangs, between trees and other natural landscapes and even from wall to wall. 

Choose your bulbs, globe lights come in a variety of sizes and colors. After you have chosen your bulbs, decide on your stringer. These are available in white or green and have many lengths and socket spacing. Choosing the right one for you is just a  matter of decorating taste. 

• Colors include: 
• Clear
• Pearl White
• Satin Multi - Red, Blue, Green, Pink and Orange

• Sizes Include:
• G30 (C7 and C9 Base)- 1 1/8" Diameter
• G40 (C7 and C9 Base)- 1 1/2" Diameter
• G50 (C7 and C9 Base)- 2" Diameter

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Hannah

All American Christmas Co. 

New Globe Light Cases.

New Globe Light Cases

All American Christmas Co. is proud to offer Globe lights in smaller cases. Previously we had carried all of our globe lights in cases of 500 bulbs but our most recent purchase was shipped in cases of 250 bulbs so they are smaller, easier to ship (many 500 count shipped oversize), and give you a big savings over buying individual boxes.

Our G30, G40, and G50 Globe light bulbs are great for use on Patios, hanging in Christmas tree lots, Restaurants, and for Weddings. Apart from offering a wide selection of in stock bulbs and wire and light strings. We carry the Christmas light style strings, the Molded Wire, and the twisted wire with ceramic style sockets.

Visit our Globe Lights page to check out all our new Globe light cases and strings.
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Zach

Globe lights for Weddings

Globe Light Bulb on C9 wire.

Globe Lights for Weddings

All American Christmas Co. carries a wide variety of light strings and bulbs that can fit in to about any application or holiday. One of the most popular "Christmas Light" bulbs for use during other events are Globe lights, these round bulbs are a classic style bulb that don't appear at all Christmas-y. These have skyrocketed in popularity in the past few years for us in weddings because almost any theme can find a place for these lamps. This blog will again cover Globe bulbs and their uses in Weddings.

New C7 LED Globe Lights

We are big fans of Globe lights here at All American Christmas Co. and over the past few years they have become more and more popular for year around applications but just in time for the 2012 holiday season we have got in new LED C7 Globe lights in G40 and G50 size.

These LED Globe bulbs are the same basic size as their incandescent counterparts except you get all the great LED benefits of very low wattage, bright vibrant colors, and ability to string a seemingly endless number of bulbs together.

We have both C7 and C9 LED Globes now and they are great for all occasions, they look great for  parties, proms, weddings, events, holidays, anytime and with LED you don't have to worry about the bulbs breaking and can run around 600 max if need be!

Visit our LED Globe lights page to check our all the great new LED Globe bulbs we carry.

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.
www.aachristmas.com
www.allamericanchristmas.com

Globe Lights

Globe lights come in such a large variety of sizes and the names they use, G30, G40 and G50, do not give you any idea of what size the bulbs actually are.A rule of thumb for remembering the sizes is, the larger the number the larger the bulb diameter. G50 is the size bulb that most people think of when they hear, traditional globe lights. All globe lights come in either C7 (candelabra) base or C9 (intermediate) base. This way they will fit in any socket that you have around the house from old light strings.

The sizes are as follows: G50 - 2 Inch Diameter

                                           G40 - 1 1/2 Inch Diameter

                                     G30 - 1 Inch Diameter

Globe bulbs are also available in LED's! These bulbs come in G50 size with a C9 base. LED globe lights are gaining popularity due to the low power usage and long life. LED globe bulbs are rated for around 50,000 hours and use around one watt of power.

Globe lights are used for a variety of projects. One of the most popular uses is for outdoor lighting around decks and patios. G50 bulbs as wedding and party lighting is a inexpensive way to get a very dramatic lighting effect. These globe bulbs used along with a Christmas light controller is a great way to achieve a chasing window display lighting. These bulbs are even a great prom or theater productions.

More than just the varying size of globe bulbs, the wattage varies also. G30 and G40 with a C7 base bulbs are 5 watts, whereas G50 with a C7 base bulbs are 7 watts. You will have to take wattage into consideration when doing your lighting projects so that you do not overload your wire.

Hopefully this has given you a little insight on globe lights sizes and various applications. Check out our selection of globe lights.

Kringle Garland, a neat alternative to traditional Garlands

Kringle Garland is a cool type of lighted Garland that you can easily integrate in your current decor. Kringle lights are a 9 foot light string with a combination of normal mini lights and mini lights inside iridescent globes for a really unique look. There are great for putting in Wreaths, or wrapped in more traditional Garland. It's also great for outdoor lighting, you get the combined look of globe lights and mini lights, so they are great for hanging out doors for parties, weddings, or just for general lighting. As with all lights we sell your only limited by your own creativity so they could be used for anything you come up with!

Check out some more pictures of this cool light string.

 

Click here to check out our Kringle Garland

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.
www.aachristmas.com
www.allamericanchristmas.com

Globe Lights for Proms and Formals

While we've talked about how great Globe Lights are for weddings and other functions we've not spoken much about how they are also great for Proms and Formals. Globe bulbs are so easy to string up and are such a cool look they are perfect and remain classy for any function.  These also come in a variety of colors to match a theme or motif. 

Globe Lights are great for hanging around walkways heading up to an event, you can use the lights as a way to direct people and "rope" off other areas people don't need to go. My personal favorite look for these lights is hanging them back and forth across a ceiling. This creates a really cool effect, you can mix and match the sizes of globe lights and put a fabric below to have a starry night effect. You're only limited to your imagination when it comes to decorating, one thing I tell all of our customers that ask for tips for decorating is take a step back for a sec and look at your location. Brainstorm ideas, put it on paper, doodle a picture, and get a plan of a attack before you commit to X number of bulbs. ALWAYS measure your location, measure it again after you measured it the first time to double check, nothing is worse than running out of materials at the last minute.

Now I don't claim to be a expert on proms or formals. When I was in high school I was more concerned with playing guitar in my punk band and didn't wan't to do anything what I considered "all too normal" like Prom. And when I was in college the most exciting part of my day was walking to my car which had been baking in the sun for hours and begin my drive home. I always envisioned Proms and what not to be something like the "Enchantment Under the Sea Dance" like in Back to the Future complete with raucous versions of Johnny B. Goode.

Head to our Globe Christmas Lights page to see what Globe lights we have to offer

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.
www.aachristmas.com
www.allamericanchristmas.com

Globe Light Size Comparison + Calculating Amperage

Globe lights come in a variety of sizes, and I'll be the first to admit that the designations G30, G40, and G50 do not give a clue as to the size of the bulbs! Just remember the larger the number, the bigger the bulb. G50 are the globe bulb that most people think of when they think of globe style light bulbs, these are a large 2" diameter bulb. These styles of bulbs are available on both C7 (candelabra) base and C9 (intermediate) Base, we have some options for Medium base which is the size of a household light bulb but you'll have to call or email us for info on those bulbs.

More than just the size varies with Globe light bulbs, wattage of bulbs varies as well. G30 and G40 with a C7 (candelabra) base are 5 watts, where as C7 base G50 bulbs are 7 watts. You have to take this into consideration when decorating with globe lights because you DO NOT want to overload your wire. Speaking of which, here's the math on calculating amps for wire:

(Bulb Wattage) x (Number of Bulbs) = Total Wattage
(Total Wattage) ÷ 110 (Volts) = Amps

Example; Standard SPT-1 Wire handles 7 amps, so you do not want to exceed this, lets say you have 100 G4 Globe bulbs that are 5 watts a piece, your calculations should look like this

5 Bulb Wattage x 100 Bulbs = 500 Watts

500 Watts ÷ 110 Volts = 4.55 Amps

So as you can see, 4.55 amps is below so you can safely use 100 Globe bulbs on SPT-1 Wire. Most stringers we carry are SPT-1 unless noted and our spools of light light is available in both SPT-1 and SPT-2 options.

I hope this cleared up the confusion on bulb size of Globe lamps and let you have a little insight on how to decorate safely by calculating how many amps your number of bulbs are going to use.

Please visit our Globe Lights Page today!

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.
www.aachristmas.com
www.allamericanchristmas.com

Globe Lights

Globe Lights

Globe lights are instantly recognizable and synonymous with festive lighting. They can be seen at restaurants, on patios, around pools, lighting at weddings, the list goes on and on. Many customers are so surprised we carry globe lights, but we carry a very large selection of  Globe lights! We have multiple sizes of bulbs that fit Candelabra, Intermediate, and Medium Base bulbs!

There are different designations for sizes of Globe bulbs, they start with G and are followed by a number. We carry the following sizes:

• G8 - These bulbs are 1" in diameter and are very small! Cool for small sign style displays
• G30 - These bulbs are 1 1/4" in diameter. 
• G40 - These bulbs are 1 1/2" in diameter.
• G50 - These bulbs are 2" in diameter. G50 are the size that people typically associate with Globe lamps.

Globe bulbs come in a variety of colors, but they are different than traditional C7 and C9 bulbs. They are usually a satin color and are often painted on the inside of the bulb. This type of paint inside the bulb gives the bulbs a soft glow when lit. Multi-colored packs are very popular but Pearl White and Clear reign supreme. 

I hope this post gives you a little more info on Globe Lights, please go to our Bulb page and see what we have to offer. Click here (Globe Lights are at the bottom of the page).

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.
www.aachristmas.com
www.allamericanchristmas.com

Wedding light ideas

     There are a ton of great products to use for a Wedding ceremony and/or reception! I've gone on and on in previous blogs about how popular Curtain lights are and how great they look for weddings. I'll get to them but first I'm going to give some details on some other great lights for weddings.

White Wire Mini Lights

Click here to see our Mini Lights

     White wire mini lights come in a variety of bulb spacings and bulb colors! Bulb spacing can vary from 2.5 inches apart all the way up to 8 in some cases, and Mini light bulbs come in all the standard colors; Clear, Frosted White (show), Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink, Purple, Amber, Teal, and Multi. Mini lights are a great way to accent the colors of wedding party and a great for table decorations. Mini lights are also great for hanging from the ceiling creating a swag effect!  Mini light strings vary in bulb counts from 20 all the way up to 150 lights per string so unless you're lighting a football stadium chances are mini lights will meet your lighting needs!

Globe Lights

Click Here for Globe Bulbs
They are on the bottom of the C7 & C9 Page

     Globe lights are pretty common for decorators, they are the quintessential outdoor decorative light! They come in a variety of colors and sizes but it's hard to beat a clear or pearl white color Globe lights especially for a wedding! These lights go in either C7 or C9 light line which you can custom cut from a spool to fit almost any need. Globe lights are perfect for hanging outside outdoor tents and are killer for lighting walkways if you're doing a dusk/nighttime wedding. The standard size is called G50 and can fit into either C7 or C9 base,  G50s are approx. 2" in diameter. Some people complain about price (around 16 bucks for 25 bulbs) but these bulbs will last a long time if maintained.

Rope Light

Click here to view our Rope Light

     Rope light is a great form of accent lighting. It's compact, attractive and easy to decorate with! Rope lighting is great for going down walk ways or aisles, for wrapping columns or hand rails. Rope light comes in spools of 150' with all the accessories you would need to make multiple runs of rope light for your special day. Just like mini lights rope lights are great to make swag lights.

Curtain Lights

Click here to view our Curtain Lights

     Curtain lights for weddings are super popular! Many decorators and the like rent out curtains lights but if you're a do it yourself-er like many of us are and want to save and buying your own to use and reuse on other holiday projects. We offer a smaller light curtain thats around 5 feet tall and a larger one that's around 9.5 feet tall! Like the picture on the right shows these curtains are great for going behind tables at a reception, they are great behind the bridge and groom during the service. A great effect is had by putting the light curtain behind some sheer fabric, this hides the wires slightly and looks great!


If you have any questions please visit the site or give us a call Mon-Fri 8-5 CST

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Zach
All American Christmas Co.
www.aachristmas.com
www.allamericanchristmas.com