| Lighting is often overlooked when discussing wedding | | | | fade, etc throughout the course of the night to |
| decor. This is unfortunate because lighting can have a | | | | create different moods. This can create some truly |
| significant impact on the look and feel of your | | | | dramatic effects as the walls of your venue change |
| wedding for a relatively small investment. The proper | | | | from one color to another as cocktails end and dinner |
| lighting can transform an ordinary room into a | | | | begins and then again when the dancing starts. The |
| stunning work of art. In addition to transforming the | | | | downside to LED lighting is that it is often more |
| room, different types and colors of lighting can | | | | expensive to rent as the lighting fixtures cost |
| create different atmospheres and moods throughout | | | | substantially more than traditional ones. Another |
| the course of the evening. | | | | drawback is that LED fixtures have trouble producing |
| The first step in lighting for a wedding is to turn off | | | | some colors well. |
| any fluorescent lighting in the room; you are at a | | | | The two biggest factors in determining which type of |
| wedding, not in an office building! After the | | | | uplighting is right for you are; which colors are you |
| fluorescents are gone it is time to create your | | | | using and how much power is available at your venue. |
| elegant lighting design using gobos, uplights, pin spots | | | | Contact a lighting expert and give them an idea of |
| and intelligent lighting. | | | | what you are looking for and they will be able to tell |
| Gobos | | | | you which type of lighting would work best for you. |
| When using lighting as part of your wedding decor | | | | Color Wash |
| the first element you should consider is having your | | | | Another popular effect is to use a pattern gobo on |
| name in lights. Having your wedding monogram or | | | | the dance floor and wash the dance floor in |
| names projected onto the dance floor or a backdrop | | | | coordinating color. A wash is a lighting term that |
| has the biggest "wow" effect for the least expense. | | | | means to fill an area with light. Washing your dance |
| It is a very chic and glamorous decoration that will | | | | floor will make it really stand out and a focal point of |
| amaze your guests as they first walk into the room | | | | the celebration. You may also wash walls, ceilings, |
| and it makes for great pictures. | | | | entryways or any areas you want to highlight. |
| This is done through the use of a specialized lighting | | | | Pin Spots |
| fixture and a gobo. A gobo is a special metal or glass | | | | If you have elaborate floral arrangements or |
| disc that goes into the light fixture to produce the | | | | centerpieces on the tables, pin spotting is usually a |
| desired pattern wherever the light is projected. | | | | great idea. Pin spotting is where light fixtures are put |
| Gobos come in pre-made patterns or you can have | | | | up throughout the room to provide "mini spotlights" |
| one custom made for you with whatever artwork | | | | for the centerpieces. Pin spotting is a very dramatic |
| you would like. In addition to having your names | | | | effect and will really accentuate your centerpieces |
| projected gobos can be used to project patterns | | | | and show them in their full magnificence. Your florist |
| corresponding to your wedding theme onto the | | | | will love it and it makes for great pictures! |
| dance floor or the walls. Read more about gobos for | | | | Intelligent Lighting |
| your wedding here. | | | | If you are planning for a wild party later on in the |
| Uplighting | | | | evening and want more of a contemporary edge to |
| The second element in wedding lighting is usually | | | | your wedding you should consider intelligent dance |
| uplighting. Uplighting consists of placing lighting fixtures | | | | floor lighting. |
| around the perimeter of the room pointing up onto | | | | Many DJ companies carry intelligent lighting but the |
| the walls or other architectural fixtures. The uplights | | | | quality varies greatly so you should always ask to |
| create columns of light going up the wall and bathe | | | | see at least a video of their lighting system in action. |
| the room in a beautiful glow. The uplights are color | | | | Intelligent lighting is a step above your normal DJ |
| coordinated with your wedding color scheme to tie | | | | lighting. The light fixtures can be programmed either |
| everything together. The amount of uplights required | | | | by a special controller or using computer software. |
| depends on the size of the room and the desired | | | | The functionality and abilities of intelligent lighting go |
| effect. | | | | far beyond that of ordinary lighting and are only |
| There are two major categories of uplighting | | | | limited by the users imagination. With the use of the |
| fixtures; Conventional par cans and LED. LED uplights | | | | controller the lighting designer can control the |
| are the newest technology and offer several | | | | patterns, speed, color and many other functions of |
| advantages over traditional conventional fixtures. | | | | the light fixtures. In addition, they are often brighter |
| LED fixtures consume far less power than the | | | | and have more vivid color and more color |
| old-fashioned par cans. Many times all of the uplights | | | | combinations than ordinary lighting. Intelligent lighting is |
| can be run off of a single electrical outlet which is | | | | the type of lighting you would see at nightclubs and |
| very important in venues with limited power supply. | | | | concerts. These lights can add a lot of energy and a |
| Traditional uplighting fixtures can become hot and | | | | real "wow factor" to your event. |
| pose a risk to small children who like to touch the | | | | There are a wide variety of other lighting options |
| lights. LED lights remain cool to the touch throughout | | | | available to make your wedding truly stunning and |
| the entire event. LED lighting is often "intelligent" | | | | unique. For more information contact the Chicago |
| which means it can be programmed to produce | | | | wedding lighting professionals at MDM Special Event |
| millions of colors from a single unit and can be | | | | Lighting. |
| controlled to vary color, intensity, speed of color | | | | |