Wedding Reception LightingIf you want to transform your wedding reception decor from ordinary to incredible, think about using wedding reception lighting as a major part of your decor. Lighting creates a mood. It can make everything including your wedding flowers, cake, and even your guests look better when it's done well. Ask your wedding planner or florist if they do special effects lighting. If not, they may know a lighting expert to refer you to. You may have a friend that can do this for you or do it yourself to save money if your venue is not too elaborate. 
Wise Wedding Planning: The Perfect Theme Wedding At Any Price - This Ebook Is All About Making The Dream Wedding Possible Without Spending Too Much Or Going Into Debt. Start saving money today! Be sure to visit your site on a day prior to and at the time of your reception. Are there areas that will need special lighting such as walkways? Look around the room to find the outlets and lighting fixtures. Can the focus be set to your needs? Will you need extension cords? Ask if the site has dimmers for their overhead lights. If there's any florescent lighting, keep it turned off. Also, make sure there won't be any service doors kept open, which could flood the space with light and ruin the effect. These are the types of lighting commonly used at weddings. Spot Light - A focused beam of light that shines directly onto an object, like a centerpiece or wedding cake, as a highlight effect. Use spot lighting to focus a beam of light directly on you and your new spouse as you dance your first dance. It can be controlled to follow you along the dance floor while the other lights are turned down low. Color Wash - There are a few different types of light fixtures that can create a wash, which is basically a blanket of colored light covering an entire area. This may have to be done by a professional. It requires special lighting equipment. 
Templates – Stencil templates can be placed over a light to project a design or pattern. Popular designs are monograms, dates and wedding motifs. If you want to display a monogram, you can have it projected in light onto a wall or the floor. A stencil with your initials cut out is placed over the light. When the light passes through, your initials are beamed onto a surface. The complexity of the design will directly affect the cost. Led - Popular for weddings because they use much less electricity and don't get as hot as regular light bulbs. They can be battery operated so they're even more discreet. LED lights are great for color changes and vibrant colors. They're also common in strands and good for accent lighting. Candles - are beautiful lighting accents for any occasion, especially a wedding. The flames glow and flicker, so you'll get sparkling beams and soft shadows. If you place candelabras or other candle centerpieces on the tables and use dim electrical lighting for the rest of the room, you'll have a cozy, romantic atmosphere.
The layout of the room can determine how you'll need to use lighting techniques. You can use a color wash to set apart the different areas such as the dance floor. If your reception site has tall ceilings, use a ceiling canopy with lights to make the room more intimate. Use spot lighting to focus on the cake or other special decor.
Outdoor Lighting Lighting for an outdoor wedding can serve a lot of purposes. If you have electrical outlets available at your outdoor location, it is best to have several lights on all night long. If your reception is under a tent or canopy, place lights in all corners so that people can see the entire space. Keep decorative lamps on each table for mood lighting, and light any walkways so that people can see where they are going. Work with your lighting designer to figure out which type of lighting fits your budget. Again, if you can manage to do most of it yourself, you can save a lot of money. Be sure to ask the venue's manager about options that may be provided or if you can use a professional lighting company. Wedding reception lighting can set the mood at your event. Whether you choose battery or electrical lighting or want to enhance your decor with candles, you can achieve any look you are going for.
Wedding Centerpieces
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Consider making a bold statement with color and unconventional lighting fixtures. Use dramatic lights like large globes or rows of vertical lighting. Strings of vertical lights behind a wall of tulle can be a spectacular backdrop for the head table. Use clear containers with glass marbles for centerpieces and small battery-powered colored lights to give an interesting glow to each arrangement.
