Side-mountable semiconductor light emitting device packages include an electrically insulating substrate having a front face and a back face and a side face extending therebetween. The side face is configured for mounting on an underlying surface. An electrically conductive contact is provided proximate an edge of the substrate on the back face of the substrate and/or on a recessed region on the side face of the substrate. The contact is positioned to be positioned proximate an electrical connection region of the underlying surface when the semiconductor light emitting device package is side mounted on the underlying surface. A conductive trace extends along the front face of the substrate and is electrically connected to the contact. A semiconductor light emitting device is mounted on the front face of the substrate and electrically connected to the conductive trace.