We have been providing decorative lighting for weddings since 2006. We certainly know the designs that look best, and the ones to stay away from. We wanted to share a few tips for any couple that is looking to set their reception apart from the rest with creative lighting designs.

1. The first tip doesn’t require you to spend any extra money. And it is the easiest. When it comes time for dinner and dancing, turn the room lighting down. Nothing kills the ambiance of a great event more than an extremely bright room. Most venues have their lighting on dimmers, so it is easy to turn it down, especially for dancing! You will have to discuss this with your photographer and videographer so they can be prepared, keep that in mind.
2. If you don’t have much of a budget and want to know just one thing that will make your enhance your wedding, spend the money on up lighting. It provides depth and ambiance to any venue. Usually, your DJ or band can provide it affordably.
3. Don’t forget about lighting for the ceremony! Many times the room that you’re hosting the ceremony in is not very well lit. You’re going to want a lot of photos of the ceremony, so adding some up lighting around the perimeter of the room, pin spotting on the floral arrangements and/or illuminating the stage will make a HUGE difference.
4. Change colors! Most lighting fixtures today are LED, making it very easy and accessible to change the look throughout different parts of the night. So why not create a few different color schemes as the night transitions?? Now, you don’t want the lights changing all the time, but 2 or 3 small color fades would look great and match the mood dynamics!
5. If you’re going to hire a lighting professional, you may want to ask your DJ or band to leave their lighting at home. It’s best that your lighting professional and DJ or band talk prior to the event to make sure everyone is on the same page. Some bands do have a choreographed light show, and this is important for the lighting professional to know.
6. Don’t forget to have some kind of lighting for the dance floor. And not lighting that is moving all over the place and changing colors. That will just look silly. Instead, opt for lighting that illuminates the focal points of the first dance, toasts, parent dances, etc. People want to see you! And the photographer and videographer will want the area nicely lit so their work comes out great. The next time you are at a wedding, take notice of how dark the dance floor is for all those special moments.
7. Make the lighting move! Even though we just said moving lights would look silly, when you hire a professional lighting company and a lighting designer, your lighting will be programmed and controlled for the entire night. The lighting designer can create beautiful colors and patterns for different songs. This will really set your wedding apart from all of your friends’!
8. Look up! Many venues have a fantastic ceiling that can be illuminated with different patterns and colors. Take advantage of that blank space and make it come to life, adding depth and style to a part of the room that is usually overlooked.
9. Market lighting is BRIGHT. Everyone wants to incorporate market lighting into their wedding these days, but keep in mind, it is very bright – so you don’t need a lot of it. And make sure it is dimmable!

We would love to talk to you more about this, as well as so many other ideas we have when it comes to lighting design for your wedding. Give us a call and let us show you how easy we are to work with and how beautiful your wedding can look!