The use of photonic crystals (PCs) for realistic light emitting diodes (LEDs) is discussed, given the constraints of planar semiconductor technology. A viable route for the fabrication of high-efficiency high-brightness electrically injected LEDs is presented. The starting point is a top-emitting microcavity using a single Alox Bragg mirror. The active area is surrounded by two-dimensional PCs, namely arrays of air rods etched through the top layers; injection of the electrons is achieved through the crystals. Design rules for PCs as efficient out-couplers are detailed. The building blocks are assessed experimentally, and we show that promising results are at hand.