Looking for that wow factor on your wedding day? You may be surprised to find that it’s as easy as switching on the right lights.
Forward-thinking brides are taking a shine to professional lighting to achieve the look and feel they envision for their big day. Colorful, statement-making lighting is a great way to turn a plain reception hall into a posh venue and set the mood for the entire event.
Lighting can make more than just the dance floor look inviting. “When we provide lighting services for a wedding, we’re incorporating it into the entire venue space,” says Shawn Plante of Instant Request, a local lighting design and disc jockey entertainment company. A lighting professional can ensure that architectural features like arches and pillars are illuminated and décor elements (think draping, centerpieces and cake) are in the spotlight.
Reinvent your venue
Lighting can also dynamically transform a space, which is appealing to couples with a popular wedding venue guests may have seen before. “Lighting allows you to customize a venue and make it a ‘new space’ for you and your guests,” says planner Nicole Walesch of b.inspired.
For many couples, the element of surprise is priceless. Guests may be expecting the typical hotel ballroom, and are instead greeted with a striking palette upon arrival. Walesch continues, “A bride had her wedding at a country club, and many of the guests who were members had been in the space countless times before. One wedding guest told me ‘Wow! This is something totally unexpected. I was just at a wedding here last month and the room looks completely different!’ ”
Tie it all together
The customization and flexibility of color, texture and movement makes lighting a particularly attractive option when you’re working with a theme. For one Lake Minnetonka bride, it was important that her blue/water theme carried through to all aspects of her wedding. Beautiful blue and white centerpieces were highlighted with pin spots (see “Lighting Lingo”), and the ceiling projection lighting provided an amazing effect of motion—like sun, sand and waves—against the draping.
How do you know what lighting is right for you? Access your wedding style. A great place to start is by incorporating your own wedding colors. For a cozy, intimate feel, brides may select amber tones to accompany candlelight. Dramatic lighting of blues, purples and reds is energizing and can create a club-like atmosphere, perfect for guests to get their party on.
Cost considerations
Lighting can get elaborate, but Plante equates it with floral: “When are too many pretty flowers a bad thing?” Prices start at a few hundred dollars and can exceed well over a couple grand. For the highest impact, intelligent lighting is the way to go, as it allows for the flexibility to use a variety of colors, patterns and textures, completely outfitting a space with custom lighting designs.
For those on a smaller budget, a little lighting can go a long way. Uplighting—even just highlighting an entryway to the reception room—is a simple way to add an extravagant element. Some DJs offer lighting as part of bundled package, providing additional savings.
The structure and layout of a venue is the most important aspect when deciding on lighting. Venues with high ceilings and minimal natural light are ideal for accent lighting. Make sure, however, that the venue has ample power for both lighting and the DJ or band, as well as space for equipment.
Lighting can play a powerful role in your wedding event. To ensure you get the most bang for your buck, consult a wedding planner or lighting expert who can outline options that fit your look and budget. Learning the types of lighting (see “Lighting Lingo”) will also help you take an enlightened approach when it’s time to hire a pro.
Lighting Lingo
- Uplighting can be an effective option with an affordable price tag. The lights sit on the floor and shoot up, accentuating the venue architecture.
- Pin spots, from spotlight to task lighting, focus on specific items. Consider illuminating centerpieces, cake tables and other décor items that you want to really stand out.
- Color wash adds a “veil” of vivid color over an entire space. This option adds drama to your space.
- Intelligent lighting is the most sophisticated option, involving customized colors, patterns and movement.
- Gobos are stencils placed over lights to project a design, commonly used for casting monograms or motifs on the dance floor.
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