Wedding decorations set the tone and mood for you wedding. On top of that, lighting also plays a big role on the wedding overall look. Given any venue, if you have the right pairing of decorations and lighting, you can turn the feel and ambience of the venue around. Now the details of wedding lighting can get technical and tricky, so today’s blog post aims to help you navigate through all the necessities so you can better plan the lighting at your wedding. Let’s begin.
[From: After A 580-Day Wait, This Couple Finally Tied The Knot In A Luxurious Neutral-Themed Garden Wedding / Photo: Evelyn Chan]
Wedding Lighting Terms You Need to Know
Color Wash – This refers to lighting that generally fills the entire room evenly. This is the most basic kind of lighting.
Gobo Lighting – This lighting makes use of a customized template through which the light shines. This creates a pattern, design, on the floor, walls, or ceiling. Couples that have a wedding logo or monogram, commonly use this lighting on the dance floor or on the backdrop.
Texture Lighting – Texture lighting is similar to gobo lighting because it makes use of a template and pattern. The difference is that the pattern is usually more generic, like leaves, starry night sky, and the like.
[From: This Couple Spent Time Taking More Photos In Their Chinese Attires During Their Wedding / Photo: Honeybird Production]
LED Light – This refers to the type of bulb used for lighting. It’s more cost-effective, it lasts longer, and it’s more vibrant. Venues and lights vendors will offer you LED screens as better option to a screen and projector.
Pendants – Pendants are also called drop or suspender lights. They’re individual hanging lights that are places across the ceiling.
[From: A Romantic Blue Wedding Overlooking the Mountains / Photo: Mary Ann Art & Photography]
String Lights – Do you know the lights commonly used for Christmas trees? These are called string lights, a very popular choice for outdoor weddings because they’re cost-efficient and easily light up any space. They’re also called fairy lights, twinkle lights, or cafe lights.
Pinspot – Pinspots are tiny lights that are used to focus light on small areas. They create some depth to the room and can be dramatic.
Uplighting – Just as the name suggests, this kind of lighting points upward. They’re usually used to accentuate walls and decorations.
[From: This Bride and Groom Let Their Fun-Loving Personalities Shine During Their Wedding / Photo: Jeff Lee Pictures]
Questions You Should Ask
Let’s say you have chosen your wedding lighting already. The next step is to ensure that your lights vendor and venue are aligned so that you don’t encounter any problems come installation. Here are some questions you should ask your lights vendor and your wedding venue.
Lights Vendor
- How can we maximize or incorporate the venue’s current lighting?
- Will the venue’s current lighting clash with our chosen design?
- How much time do you need to set up and take down the lights?
- How much power will you need for the entire lighting setup?
- Will the lights technician be on-location during the wedding for operation and/or maintenance concerns?
- Will you be needing any kind of support from the venue during ingress and egress?
[From: A Stylish Travel-Inspired Wedding at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong / Photo: Hin Production]
Venue
- What type of lighting is already provided?
- Do you have a preferred or partner lights vendor in case I want to add on to the current venue lighting?
- Do you have any particulars for bringing in a lights vendor in on the wedding day?
- Where are the outlets located?
- How much power can the built-in outlets accommodate?
- Are there any types of light sources that are prohibited, such as open-flame candles?
[From: A Classy Modern Wedding at The Upper House / Photo: Film Komolebi]
Cost-Efficient Lighting Tips
- If elaborate lighting isn’t within your wedding budget, that’s okay. There are other ways you can still light up your wedding without having to break the bank. Here are some of them.
- Choose a venue with large windows that allow natural light to seep in. If you can take advantage of the sunset’s natural colors, this can already add romance to your day.
- Use candles for your aisle and reception tables. Using candles is inexpensive solution romantic wedding lighting.
- Maximize the venue’s existing lights or choose a venue with good in-house lighting. This way, you may not need to hire a lights vendor.
[From: Well-Thought-Out Details Made This Garden Wedding Stand Out / Photo: Hyvis Tong]
If you encounter things outside of what we tackle here, do not hesitate to speak with your lights vendor. Surely, he or she will be more than willing to sit down with you and work towards that dream wedding look.
