We are so happy and lucky to have Paul of Boston Uplights with us today with lots of helpful info on lighting, how and why to choose a lighting designer and his incredibly in-depth approach to event lighting design.
Lighting… At the leading edge of décor
Over the past few years the wedding industry has been transformed by cutting edge new technologies now available to professional Lighting Designers and companies. What used to be considered “ultra high-end” and out of financial reach of many, professional lighting has now become affordable and customizable to accommodate different styles and budgets.
The rapid increase in popularity is due to the way lighting transforms the look and feel of any venue regardless of style or stature. The most basic venue designs can be elevated to the level of high-end, and the most amazing spaces can be highlighted in ways that draw attention to its beautiful architecture while simultaneously lighting the event.
The simple fact that many weddings take place at night makes lighting the single most powerful visual décor element available. For newly engaged couples, it is becoming clear that if their reception is in the evening, the use of professional lighting will have a huge impact on the look of the event. Surprisingly, the basic concept that lighting is a “need” at all night events has taken many years to catch up to the wedding industry.
For as long as we can remember, lighting has played a major role in every other industry related to event design, restaurant design, even cityscapes. Lighting has always been an absolute in all of those industries, but the wedding industry has for the most part relied on the venue’s built-in lighting to create the perfect setting for your wedding. Unfortunately, many venues were built in a different era when this level of lighting was not even invented yet. The need to supplement what the venue has to offer is easy to understand once you take a few seconds to notice what makes every evening event on earth look truly amazing…. professional lighting and design!
So how do you pick what is best for your particular taste and wedding style?
First… In the same way you pick a photographer or other wedding related vendor, you need to look at images of past events, ask for advice from industry professionals such as lighting designers, and try your best to establish a budget range that the lighting designer can work with. As with any creative person, if you leave it to their imagination they can easily design well beyond your financial means, so your input and guidelines are important to us.
Second… Remember, if lighting can create the perfect setting, it’s easy to understand how the wrong lighting can destroy the same setting rendering it tacky, cheap or simply inappropriate. If your vision is a soft intimate setting, and the lighting is set up by someone that has intentions related closer to “club effects” or has no understanding of lighting design, your vision will not happen. Don’t underestimate the need for experience and lighting knowledge. Hire a professional lighting designer or company.
Third… Remember that lighting is an important part of your wedding but it is only one part. For a complete and perfect “look” to come together, all other supporting elements such as venue lighting control and candle light, even the influence of the sun all have to work together. So the goal of your lighting designer is to understand and take all factors into account and make sure one is not diminishing the effect of the other. In the end, what you see, feel and experience should be remembered as flawless, amazing and unforgettable!
Visit our lighting design blog at bostonuplights.com/Blog/ for more in-depth articles highlighting weddings throughout Boston and New England. Or visit our website at www.bostonuplights.com to see extensive images of our work at past weddings.
Paul Therrien ( Lighting Designer/ Owner ) Boston Uplights
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