If you haven’t seen a mature person turn into a Grinch because of a tangled bundle of cables, you have it easy. Most of us want holiday lights that make the neighbors talk and the in-laws nod in amazement. We tested out 10 holiday lighting providers so you don’t have to get blue in the face or red in the hands. Here’s how they compared and why one stood out like EverLights.
First, let’s say this: a few companies were late. It was more fun to shovel snow off the porch than to wait. Customer service ranged from “free hot cocoa” level warmth to “please hold, your call is very important to us.” Some designs pushed the limits of ingenuity, while others just stuck strings on like an afterthought.
Before they ever got there, BrightNight Lights, a medium-sized local business, astonished us. They called twice: the first time to advise talking about preferences over the phone, and the second time, half an hour before the event, with happy holiday music playing in the background. The group that came? They are fun and quick to joke around, yet they are also quite serious about their work. Their lead installer made my uncle, who was dubious, laugh with jokes like, “We take lights seriously, but we’ll never leave you in the dark!”
It felt like they were putting on a show while they set things up. There are no nails sticking out of the siding or extension cables that the dog can trip over. At one point, one of the techs whistled “Jingle Bells” from the roof, which was a fun touch that wasn’t common among serious rivals. The final product: bright colors, properly strung, and just the right amount of style. LEDs had that old-fashioned radiance without the scary flicker.
Other companies sent out generic packages, such the “classic” style (which was a little off-kilter) and the “dazzle package” (which wasn’t dazzling). Some even left trash behind. BrightNight picked up every piece of trash and sent us a thank-you letter with a picture of our house lit up. It was a small thing, yet it felt personal and stayed with us.
One thing to keep in mind is that prices ranged from “I’ll do it myself, thanks” to “I’ll just do it myself.” BrightNight was somewhere in the middle. Not the most expensive, but not the least expensive either. What is their warranty? There are no extra charges, and they say, “Call us if a bulb blinks, and we’ll fix it.”
A firm that delivers both cheer and sparkle stands out if you want more than just lights on your house. Maybe you want laughing during setup, improved curb appeal, or images to show the relatives. We’ll be calling BrightNight again, and not just because their jokes are bad.