Many couples spend over 50% of their wedding budget on the reception and a big slice of this money pays for the décor of the reception area. Whether your celebration takes place in a classic ballroom, a renovated antique barn or your backyard – consider lighting as your top priority. We see so many weddings where thousands of dollars are spent on silk screens and tablescapes, yet the lighting is left up to the janitor who turns on the lights that morning. Just take a look at your nearest club or bar…it’s the lighting that makes the look and feel of the venue, not necessarily how much they spent on monogrammed napkins! Consider lighting a top priority when you’re designing the picture-perfect reception.
Great point!
Also when designing your lighting it is often nice to have a mix of brighter and lower key areas. I’d also advise having control so the lighting can be adjusted. Try to be in the venue near the day of your reception at the time of the reception to see how the day lighting works. I was at one wedding where there was a great west view but the curtains needed to be drawn at dinner time so half the guest were not blinded by the sun.
Great advice and the pictures are really telling — I’m going to make sure I have my planner recommend a lighting company so we can have that “wow” factor.
Thanks for the idea!!
This is really true. We decided to go with up-lighting underneath the tables and it changed the entire look of the room. For a small amount of money we were able to give the room an elegant unique look.
agreed, lighting is key. i like the blue one in the post. looks like everyone is underwater.
How true. The lighting seems to set the mood without guests even knowing what hit them, similar to music in a movie. You suddenly find yourself feeling vulnerable enough to show a tear or two at the couple’s first waltz or comfortable enough to get up and dance with everyone else! Great advice to make it a top priority.
This is so true .. for my wedding I decided to go with candle centerpieces, with petals. Also adding other candles around the room. I think it makes for romantic atmosphere.
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