Trends in Lighting

Lighting can play a huge part of transforming any location into the wedding and reception venue of your dreams.  There are many types of lighting options that can work together to create something simply exquisite and beautiful.  Let's go over the different types of lighting that you can use for your wedding.  
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Pin Spot

This is probably the most common type of lighting used at most weddings.  It is a spot light highlighting a particular spot in the room.  Typically you will find a Pin Spot over a cake table, ice sculpture, or sweetheart table.  Most venues provide a basic pin spot for your cake as a part of the overall package. However, you can also do pin spots over centerpieces, altars and virtually any area that you would like to emphasize.  

Pin Spot over cake table and color splash pattern under tent!

Pin Spot - Altar

Gobo 

This is one of my personal favorite lighting options.   Gobo lighting takes an image and projects it onto any surface.  The most common use for gobo lighting is the use of a wedding monogram projected onto the dance floor. This is a real show stopper and will give you some definite ooooooo's and ahhhhhh's as guests enter the room.  It is a great way to carry the theme of your wedding monogram through the entire wedding.  It can also be projected on any surface, not just the dance floor.  So let your imagination run wild! 

Up Lighting

Up Lighting is a type of lighting that adds a splash of color to the walls, not to be confused with wall washing which changes the color of the entire wall.  For up lighting cannisters are placed strategically through out the room to add pops of color in a V shape to the wall.  This can dramatically change the color and overall mood of the room.  This is a great way to add a little glitz and glam!  Wall washing is the same premise only the entire wall or area is blanketed in the same color or a pattern.  

LED

LED (light-emitting diodes) are quite popular for weddings these days for a number of reasons.  #1 - They are very green!  They use significantly less electricity.  #2 - They can also be wireless, therefore much more discreet and did we mention GREEN.  #3 - They emit less heat than regular lights which can be a good bonus, especially for those lights over the centerpieces or at the dining table.  We don't want your guest sweating while they are eating...that's reserved for the dance floor.  LED lighting can be used for any type of lighting; Pin Spot, Up, and Gobo's - they simply replace the regular bulb with a LED bulb.  

Who can do your lighting?  Start with your florist first. Most of the time they do their own lighting and can assist you with the overall lighting of the room as well.  This means one less vendor to coordinate with. Your florist can't help, your next stop will be to contact a lighting specialist in your area.  Invite them to your venue and discuss your vision for your wedding.  Tell them about any obstacles or eye sores in the room and they may have an solution to camouflage them.  Expect to spend 5-10% of your budget on a complete custom lighting package.  It may seem pricey, but lighting is a sure way to transform a typical wedding venue into something extraordinary and special. 

Cues from The Oscars 2010: Trends in Decor - Lighting & Crystals

Last night the 82nd Academy Awards took place at Los Angeles' Kodak Theatre.  Originally I set out to write about the beautiful dresses we saw last night and the influence they will have on wedding gowns this season.  However, I thought...been there done that from the Golden Globes.  So as I watched, I decided, instead, to write about the beautiful stage design and how every year, the stage design becomes more elaborate and glamorous.  

This year the stage was designed by architect and designer, David Rockwell, who also designed the Kodak Theatre.  This is his second year as stage designer for the Oscars.  I can imagine that every year it gets a bit more difficult to outdo the previous year.  

This stage featured a 60 by 100ft Swarovski crystal curtain.  The curtain also added an additional 16in of topaz and pear shaped crystals.  Just so sparkly!  The colors were topaz, brown, gray and platinum.   Beveled and frosted mirrors added not only added dimension to the stage, but also reflected the brilliant lights in the crystals.    

Lighting this beautiful is not just reserved for the Oscars.  You can bring the glamorous, sparkly feel of last night, to your wedding.  Lighting for a wedding and reception can completely transform a room, leaving it absolutely gorgeous.  Great lighting can truly set the tone and mood for the wedding.  Lighting can also be used to camouflage an eye sore or obstacle in a room that would normally take away from the decorations.  The use of crystals have also become extremely popular over the past few years and this is one trend that I don't see going away....Everyone loves a little sparkle.  

Here are some of my favorite transformations using both lighting and crystals.  

Preston Bailey:

Daniel Villa, Lighting Designer 

Colin Cowie

The Crystal Tree

Tomorrow, we will highlight the different types of lighting (e.g., pin spot, up lighting, LED).  

Enjoy! 

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