Individual side-emitting LEDs are separately positioned in a waveguide, or mounted together on a flexible mount then positioned together in a waveguide. As a result, the gap between each LED and the waveguide can be small, which may improve coupling of light from the LED into the waveguide. Since the LEDs are separately connected to the waveguide, or mounted on a flexible mount, stress to individual LEDs resulting from changes in the shape of the waveguide is reduced.