• Home
  • ABOUT US
  • Events
    • Luxury Planning
    • Weddings
    • Corporate
    • Social
  • Blog
  • Contact

Effortless Events

Effortless Events Planner

  • Home
  • ABOUT US
  • Events
    • Luxury Planning
    • Weddings
    • Corporate
    • Social
  • Blog
  • Contact

Lighting In Your Venue Space

Lighting isn’t always the first thing you think of when you start planning your wedding day. However, it can have a huge impact on the way your guests feel in a space. You can use lighting to make the atmosphere warm and inviting, and make your guests look stunning in photos.

From key lingo to choosing a vendor, we have it all laid out – plus some words of wisdom from a lighting professional. 

Lighting Lingo

Before diving into the how and why, first there are a few key lighting terms that will be helpful to understand. 

Pin Spotting – a soft-focused beam of light that shines directly on to the centerpiece of a table. 

Bonus tip: If the budget allows, we recommend to always pin spot tall centerpieces. Those tall pieces are there to be noticed, and when the lights go down for dancing you could lose them in the dark.

beautiful centerpiece
Main Lights On
beautiful reception design
Main Lights Off

Color Wash – a blanket of soft light covering an entire wall/area to create a mood or soften a look.

Gobo – a circular stencil that is put over a light to project a design, image (ex: leaves), or wedding monogram onto a ceiling, wall or dance floor.

Dance Floor Wash – a gobo or general colored wash over the dance floor. This is what softens the area for that warm and inviting feeling, and what makes your guests look even better.

pink orange color wash
Color Wash
flower gobo
Gobo
dance floor lighting
Dance Floor Wash

 

Choosing Your Lights

When choosing which lights you may want to use on the big day, it’s important to find lighting that will match your venue, style, and budget.

A venue often has someone on-site that is familiar with that specific venue and its’ lighting capabilities. We suggest consulting with that person first, and deciding from there if you would like to hire an outside vendor that may provide more options.

It may also benefit you to visit the venue at the time of day your event will be held, so that you know how much natural light you may or may not have to work with.

Types of Lighting

Once you know the capabilities of the venue or vendor of your choice, the next step is choosing the lighting details. This is often where lighting combines with decor. The florist can get involved heavily as they provide things like lanterns and votives.

candle center pieces
Glass Hurricanes With Pillar Candles
rustic chandelier
Chandelier
hanging glass orbs
Hanging Glass Orbs
lantern decor
Lantern

Glass hurricanes with pillar candles –  taper candles are hot right now and they look beautiful encased in a glass vessel. Whenever using candles, we suggest candles of varying heights for more of a statement.

Chandeliers – you can have your lighting professional hang them over a bar, the dance floor, or even in the bathroom. This adds an elegant ambiance to any space. Don’t forget you can even hang them outside!

Hanging Glass Orbs – they can draw attention to any area and add an element of creativity, and the spherical shape can give a whimsical vibe to the decor.

Lanterns – may be used as table decor, floating lanterns, or hanging from trees outside. Using different sizes can add dimension and create a more compelling look.

light up hearts
Light Up Hearts
rustic string lights
LED Lights
layered curtains with string lighting
String/Bistro Lighting

Light up letters/sign – Spelling out ‘love’ in letters can work in any space. You can place a light-up sign under the head table backdrop. 

LED lights – the good thing about LED lights as opposed to regular light bulbs is that they do not get as hot as regular lights. They are also flexible to whatever area you would like to place them in because they can be laid out or hung up in any shape, and their wires are more discreet.

Neon signs– neon signs are super popular right now, and they’re a great way to get creative and customize what you would like the sign to say.

String lighting, bistro lighting, or twinkle lights – these types of lights can create a magical effect or highlight a specific section of the venue. The lights themselves are fairly inexpensive but the labor to string them is where the costs come in.

string lights behind sheer curtain
String Lights and Sheer Drape
neon wedding sign floral backdrop
Neon Sign
tree outlined in string lights
String Lights Outlining a Tree

Bonus tip: if you have a few strands of twinkling lights behind your head table and hang a sheer drape over the twinkling lights, it creates a beautiful and soft backdrop.

For outdoor events: highlight trees that are already there in string lights to make more of a statement.

We asked lighting professional John Strzalkowski from Atmosphere Events Group for a few pointers on incorporating all of the different aspects of lighting.

Q & A With John

What do you think are the top most impactful lighting pieces a couple can use if on a budget?

Uplighting tends to be the overall most cost effective and impactful method of lighting for a whole room if on a budget. However, not every uplight is created equal. In other words, some lights can’t recreate the colors that you may want. For example; warm whites, cold whites, and some pastels/variations of colors cannot be achieved with “budget fixtures”. 

Bistro/string lighting tends to be very popular as well and can also be just as cost effective, depending on the space. At the same time, it takes more design time and knowledge of safely installing overhead lighting. This can make it more costly, but the effect is greater in my opinion. I would also always recommend making sure the lighting is on a dimming system, as you want to be able to set the perfect mood for each “scene” of the night.

What options do venues usually have for lighting? What are some benefits for hiring an outside vendor?

Some venues offer in-house lighting, which mostly includes uplighting and bistro lighting. Others offer it but use an outside vendor to provide equipment and set up/remove it. If a venue doesn’t offer lighting options, most of them are pretty “blank” and can be a great canvas for lighting.

Hiring an outside vendor has a few advantages. This includes the quality of equipment being much better. With AEG for instance, we try to invest into the upgraded or industry standard version of the equipment we purchase. This means higher quality products and more features, and typically more reliability than your budget fixtures/equipment.

We typically provide an overhead lighting plot that shows how the lighting should look and illustrates the placement of the fixtures. If we don’t have photos of the exact lighting setup, an overhead lighting plot certainly helps visualize.

What tips do you have when it comes to using lighting along with natural light?

Managing what to expect from lighting in a naturally lit environment will keep you happiest in the long run. The biggest tip I have is with natural lighting is that you can’t compete with the sun. If there is a bunch of natural light around, there is not much you can do with the lighting that will have a large impact visually.

Nevertheless, the bistro lighting bulbs will still have that glow of the filament, twinkle lights will still be visible, and chandeliers will still sparkle. These elements still add something visual to the decor, but won’t provide “functional lighting” which, in a natural environment, is not necessary.

Lighting during the daytime/sun-lit environments is typically mostly for decor. There are lights bright enough to provide effects like a pattern wash or spot-lighting in brighter environments, however, they tend to be more costly and usually push the limits of budget-oriented clients.

Share With Friends:

More Posts You'll Love:

Wedding Signage & Chicago Calligrapher Tips
To Serve or Not To Serve: Cake and Coffee
wedding favor signage The Quick & Easy Wedding Favor Guide
This lustrously adorned wedding table aesthetic ex This lustrously adorned wedding table aesthetic exudes classic charm and grace through mesmerizing detail and intentional design. Every decoration has been attentively placed to bring a sense of serene beauty and joy to this celebratory event. 

Each detail, from the refined floral arrangements to the delicate crystal glassware is nothing short of spectacular, elegantly complementing one another in perfect harmony. This enchanting moment of beauty provides all those gathered with a sense of admiration, bringing endless sophistication and romance to the special day.
Every love story is unique, and your special day e Every love story is unique, and your special day encapsulates all of the joy, love, and beauty that your relationship holds. Your wedding day should be a day like no other and intentionally tailored to your tastes and desires.

As industry professionals, we see the value in creating personalized wedding designs with unforgettable atmospheres to provide all guests with unparalleled levels of service and satisfaction. We ensure that every detail of the design and decor will be crafted to enhance your unique vision and create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
Exploring the vibrant landscape of Australia, we d Exploring the vibrant landscape of Australia, we discovered a wealth of creativity and remarkable craftsmanship. 

While in Melbourne, we were enamored with these gorgeous custom-made dresses. The skillfully crafted embellishments and fabric drew us in, demonstrating the incredible workmanship and creativity of the local artisans. The attention to detail was truly remarkable!

The intentional artistry in dressmaking truly was a joy to see. It gave us a new appreciation for the intricate details of creating something so special for a bride on her special day. We were awed by how delicate handiwork could be manipulated into beautiful masterpieces; a reminder that even the littlest gestures can result in truly remarkable creations.
Planning a wedding is about connecting with those Planning a wedding is about connecting with those you cherish, moment by moment. Often times brides come to us and feel overwhelmed with the process. At our core, we believe that wedding planning should emote feelings of love, gratitude, and happiness. We also understand that it is more than just planning - 

It is about making meaningful connections and remembering why you said "Yes" to one another. 

It is about creating a new path toward love and commitment that will last forever. 

It is about using the moments along the way to deepen your connections with the people close to you.

It is about reflecting and honoring the strength, care, and commitment of those who continue to support you throughout your life.

As wedding planners, we view the planning process as an experience, not a task. We know that with the right approach, wedding planning can become an adventure shared between each couple. It is our goal to take the stress out of planning and allow each family the opportunity to enjoy and celebrate this special time instead of focusing on the nitty-gritty details.
Thoughtfully arranged blooms of the highest qualit Thoughtfully arranged blooms of the highest quality, alongside elegantly curated foliage, created a look that gracefully complimented our bride's modern style. 

The bouquet's intricate beauty will stand the test of time, as it serves as a beautiful memento to commemorate the special day. With carefully selected blooms and a timeless color scheme, this stunning bouquet is perfect for completing any bridal look with simple refinement and graceful poise.
When planning a wedding, couples are often looking When planning a wedding, couples are often looking for ways to honor their values and cultures. Whether it be merging traditions from both backgrounds or finding innovative ways to highlight those cultures in the decorations, menu, or ceremony, ensuring cultural values are encapsulated in the big day is an essential touch reflecting how special the moment is. 

Creating an opulent experience that celebrates who you both are as individuals, as well as your relationship, can be just as meaningful and memorable as saying "I do".
Corporate Weddings Social

Check out our sister company, Bellissimo Bar

Chicago’s First Vintage Mobile Bar

(630) 416-5056 info@effortless-events.com
© 2023 Effortless Events | a doodle dog website and brand