This February, we were so gracious to welcome Nashville Event Lighting to our collection of StudioWed exclusive vendors.  We asked Liz Bok from NEL to elaborate on the importance of lighting at weddings and how it fits into the grand scheme of your big day. She also provided some fantastic ideas and tips on current trends and ways to make your lighting both functional and ambient! Get your questions answered on this week’s….

Lighting makes a huge and subtle impact and weddings – seems like an oxymoron, I know – but it’s true!  Whether it’s a pin spot to highlight a fantastic wedding cake, a glamorous chandelier over a dance floor, or ambient uplights around a room, lighting can transform a space with the flip of a switch.  It really is amazing to see before and after photos, and it’s something not everyone appreciates before understanding what it can do!

Some of the most basic lighting elements that provide ambience at weddings are uplights, lighting on the dance floor, and a highlight or pin spot on the cake or dessert table. Whether it’s a rustic venue with brick walls or beautiful draping from floor to ceiling, uplights soften a space and also provide functional lighting around the perimeter.

It really depends on the look you’re going for, and choosing colors is something we often help clients decide!  You want to stay away from greens and blues onto skin tones, and pale pinks are a nice way to highlight a bar or food station.  Pops of color are fun to incorporate, and if the budget allows, having the lighting in a room change color throughout the night can completely change the ambience.  A soft amber to provide a candle-lit glow for dinner and toasting that fades into a purple or pink for dancing can completely change the vibe!  It all depends on personality & flow – you want lighting to compliment, not compete with the reception.  And – sometimes it’s not about using a ton of color, but about chandelier placement or Italian string lights!

Chandeliers, specifically custom chandeliers have been very popular lately.  Whether it’s a glamorous crystal chandelier or a more industrial Edison bulb look, brides and grooms love to put their unique twist into their reception and more and more are doing that with custom lighting pieces & configurations.  Keep your eyes peeled for some unique chandelier placement coming from NEL this spring! :)  Italian String Lighting is also popular and fun, especially in different designs than seen last year!