Lighting has become almost as important to the design of a wedding as the flowers or the other decorations.
It can be used to create a mood, add a dramatic accent, as well as highlight special features while obscuring less desirable ones.
This is what you need to know about designing stunning lighting for a ballroom wedding.
Many ballrooms do not have any windows, so you will have total control over the lighting scheme.
If your ballroom has fabulous crystal chandeliers, by all means keep them lit and integrate them into the rest of your lighting design.
On the other hand, if the ballroom has ho-hum light fixtures, feel free to dim those and let your custom lighting create the ambiance for the room instead.
You will definitely need a lighting specialist for your wedding.
These professionals often have a background in theatrical lighting, and will be familiar with all of the various types of lighting available, as well as the special effects that can be created, how to design the right mood, and the technical details, such as how much electricity will be required.
The lighting specialist should coordinate with your wedding or event planner, if you are using one, as well as with the manager of your venue to go over what is permissible in their ballrooms.
A good place to start is by deciding what areas you wish to draw attention to.
These special things can be highlighted with pin spots.
Typically, they will be used on the centerpieces and cake, just to name a few areas.
You may also wish to use lighting to showcase any special aspects of your venue, such as ornate columns or other period details.
Uplighting can be just the thing that you need for that.
Ballroom weddings are often very formal, with brides in elaborate gowns and ornate bridal jewelry sets.
If this sounds like your reception, be sure that you design a lighting scheme that is as fabulous as the rest of your wedding.
One absolutely fabulous effect is a stencil that projects your monogram on the dance floor or a wall in light.
This is becoming a must-have for any formal wedding.
Colorwash lighting is another wonderful addition to a ballroom reception.
Most ballrooms are quite vast, and there is plenty of wall space to project colored lighting against.
A good lighting specialist will come up with a whole palette of colors that can be used at different times of the evening.
Options range from exotic purple to feminine pink to beautiful shades of blue.
Just be careful to avoid any colors that will cast an unflattering glow on your guests, such as pea green.
One more type of lighting to think about is LED lights.
They have become very popular for weddings because they can be cordless.
LED lights are most often used as accent lights because they can go just about anywhere - even underwater! Drape twinkling sets of LED light strands around the ballroom to look like glittering bridal jewelry for the ceiling.
Or place a pink LED light in a clear vase filled with crystals to make a stunning base for floral centerpieces.
These lights are so versatile that they can be used in a huge number of ways.
A great lighting scheme will help to elevate your ballroom reception from good to magnificent.
Lighting gives you incredible opportunities to create a mood and to customize your venue.
With good reason, lighting has become an indispensable part of many weddings.
It can be used to create a mood, add a dramatic accent, as well as highlight special features while obscuring less desirable ones.
This is what you need to know about designing stunning lighting for a ballroom wedding.
Many ballrooms do not have any windows, so you will have total control over the lighting scheme.
If your ballroom has fabulous crystal chandeliers, by all means keep them lit and integrate them into the rest of your lighting design.
On the other hand, if the ballroom has ho-hum light fixtures, feel free to dim those and let your custom lighting create the ambiance for the room instead.
You will definitely need a lighting specialist for your wedding.
These professionals often have a background in theatrical lighting, and will be familiar with all of the various types of lighting available, as well as the special effects that can be created, how to design the right mood, and the technical details, such as how much electricity will be required.
The lighting specialist should coordinate with your wedding or event planner, if you are using one, as well as with the manager of your venue to go over what is permissible in their ballrooms.
A good place to start is by deciding what areas you wish to draw attention to.
These special things can be highlighted with pin spots.
Typically, they will be used on the centerpieces and cake, just to name a few areas.
You may also wish to use lighting to showcase any special aspects of your venue, such as ornate columns or other period details.
Uplighting can be just the thing that you need for that.
Ballroom weddings are often very formal, with brides in elaborate gowns and ornate bridal jewelry sets.
If this sounds like your reception, be sure that you design a lighting scheme that is as fabulous as the rest of your wedding.
One absolutely fabulous effect is a stencil that projects your monogram on the dance floor or a wall in light.
This is becoming a must-have for any formal wedding.
Colorwash lighting is another wonderful addition to a ballroom reception.
Most ballrooms are quite vast, and there is plenty of wall space to project colored lighting against.
A good lighting specialist will come up with a whole palette of colors that can be used at different times of the evening.
Options range from exotic purple to feminine pink to beautiful shades of blue.
Just be careful to avoid any colors that will cast an unflattering glow on your guests, such as pea green.
One more type of lighting to think about is LED lights.
They have become very popular for weddings because they can be cordless.
LED lights are most often used as accent lights because they can go just about anywhere - even underwater! Drape twinkling sets of LED light strands around the ballroom to look like glittering bridal jewelry for the ceiling.
Or place a pink LED light in a clear vase filled with crystals to make a stunning base for floral centerpieces.
These lights are so versatile that they can be used in a huge number of ways.
A great lighting scheme will help to elevate your ballroom reception from good to magnificent.
Lighting gives you incredible opportunities to create a mood and to customize your venue.
With good reason, lighting has become an indispensable part of many weddings.