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

Love! So much more to come…

XO

Vendor Love:
Photos: William Tangorra Photography
Venue: The Crane Estate on Castle Hill
Cinematographer: Boston Wedding Films
Catering: Vinwood
Cake: Jenny’s Wedding Cakes
Band: Kahootz
Makeup: Joya beauty
Hair: Hair that Moves
Flowers: Lyndsey Loring Design
Linens: Table Toppers
Chairs: Rentals Unlimited
Transportation: MBT Worldwide

We all know that while planning a wedding, some things are easier than others, and some parts are just more fun than others. Well, one of the fun parts (for Nicole and Chris anyway) was finding the band. These two are seriously into music. Chris works as a DJ, so he knows his stuff when it comes to the entertainment. We all just knew that this would be a big decision for them.

I sat down with Nicole and Chris recently to chat about what they were looking for in terms of music, and what their dream entertainment would be. Somewhat surprisingly, givin Chris’ DJ background, these two, as Chris told me, “always knew from day one that we wanted to have a band. That was important to us. And have a DJ in between. We just think that with live music, people get more involved, more excited.” I totally agree. While a good DJ can really keep a party going and play any song you could ever imagine, there’s something about a band (especially a really good band) that can bring your party to the next level.

As Nicole puts it: “The two biggest things for us have always been the music and the food. We just want people to enjoy themselves, have a good time! That’s our top priority just to see everyone having the best time. Whatever it takes to make that happen.”

Well. I can assure them, people will enjoy themselves. Everyone will have a good time. I love the decision they made on the band. They chose Night Shift!!

Let me tell you. These guys are seriously good. Like, OMG I can’t believe they play weddings kind of good. They are so charismatic and have such a good time doing what they do that it’s infectious and every single one of your guests will love them – from your grandmother to your best friend from college – everyone will be impressed. I love when clients work with Night Shift (for selfish reasons) because it just makes the night that much more fun…. even for me, and I’m at work during weddings!

So, excellent choice, Nicole and Chris. Now I’m REALLLLLY excited for your wedding!

Brides – check out Night Shift’s website for lots of photos, video of the band in action and more!

XO

The Blogging the Bride Team (so far):

Here with us today to share their professional opinion on the signature cocktail is the team from Our Favorite Catering Company, East Meets West! I’m so happy to have them here with lots os tips on signature cocktails, why to do them and how (recipes below!):

Boston Hearts Weddings: I’ve been seeing so many signature cocktials at weddings lately! Why do you think they continue to become more and more popular?

East Meets West: Currently, we see signature cocktails at weddings for a couple reasons:

2.) It’s personal-a signature drink can be unique to this bride and groom. Perhaps they share a favorite drink that they want to feature. Or it goes with the theme, décor, color palette of the wedding. For the caterer, a signature drink is great because it’s easier to portion when you place limitations like this. Also, if it’s a large wedding, you can premix, shake and stir and attendees get a yummy, cold beverage quickly. Think less congestion at the bar.

BHW: I totally agree that the bar is a great place to tie in the decor of the wedding! The bar menu is a good place to carry over any branding the couple has done (monogram, special fonts, personalized cocktail names etc), the bar can always have a linen that coordinates with the wedding colors on it, and even the color of the drinks themselves can tie in with the rest of the event! I also love when couples choose fun glassware for their cocktails. Is there an art to choosing the perfect glass?

EMW: We choose glassware based on the drink type, theme, and décor of wedding. Say you have an Asian-inspired wedding. We might suggest a ginger lemon martini ganished with lemongrass or a sugar rim or even candied ginger slice…this would work really well in a stemless cosmo glass. If we are doing a wedding with a vintage feel, we might do a champagne cocktail and put it in a period champagne coup as opposed to the tradition flute. You can really have a lot of fun with this! Also, bubble glasses are fun for mojitos, sangarias and punchy beverages with ice. A Tom Collins glass can give a sleek look and a mason ball jar gives a casual country feel.

East Meets West suggests doing a vodka based drink as you can mix a lot more flavors with vodka and it appeals to a broader audience. But definitely get creative, lots of flavors, colors and garnishes that one can work with!

Boston Hearts Weddings: I know sometimes choosing what to serve as a signature cocktail is tricky for the bride and groom. Are there any fun drink recipes that you’ve used at weddings recently that were a hit at the bar?

EMW: Yes of course! Below are a few recipes that have proven popular with our clients recently:

1½ oz. super premium vodka (such as Skyy or Grey Goose)
¾ oz ginger simple syrup
1 oz. limoncello
Garnish Choices: Lemon twist, blade of lemongrass, sugar rim or candied ginger
Directions
Prep: 5 minutes Serves: 1
1. In a cocktail shaker, mix vodka and ginger simple syrup.
2. Add limoncello and shake well with ice; strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish.

YUM!

Brides: What are you serving as your signature cocktail?

XO

Nicole, Chris and I sat down recently to talk decor. As it is for most people, this is always my favorite part. I mean, the decor for their wedding is really what girls dream about… colors, details, flowers, it’s all fun.

We talked a lot about colors, overall vibe of the day and key elements that are musts for the two of them when it comes to the design of their wedding day. We poured over lots of photos, talked about how to work with the design of their venue, The InterContinental Boston, and how to transform Nicole and Chris’ every day style into their wedding day style. This is what we ended up with:

Nicole and Chris are a traditional couple with a modern flair. They want drama, but nothing “too crazy”, rather, they aim for simple and classy. Their venue is modern, and they’d like to stick to that vibe without creating a room that is too streamlined and stark. They want a little bit of romance! They definitely want their dancefloor to be a highlight of the room, and would love to see a room filled with candles and a little bit of sparkle. The colors are still a bit up in the air, but platinum and silver will definitely be incorporated somehow.

My next step is to show them a few ideas, which is where you come in, dear readers! The way I see it, there are a few different ways we can tweak Nicole and Chris’ vision to create something spectacular, and I would adore your input!

Option One: We could create something modern and simple that is softened and warmed with natural accents. We will bring the outside into their ballroom using elements such as natural wood and feathers, but still keep everything a little glimmery and sparkly using lots of candlelight, crystals and pops of silver. The overall palette will read as silver and platinum, but mixed with hints of pale pink and soft purple:

Option Two: We could bring up the drama with lots of added sparkle, and a little more modern feel overall. This option is very chic and stylish, very dramatic. Lighting and other non-floral decor elements paly a huge role in this decor option. The vibe is a bit more streamlined, a bit less soft. The palette is heavier on the platinum tones, contrasted with bright whites. I’d love to see lots of lucite and mirror elements in this room.

Option Three: A halfway point between the first two options, this option would be very modern, but with traditional, romatic elements mixed in. We would still incorporate lots of sparkle, and soften it with lots of candle light, and other soft ambient lighting and natural elements for contrast. The floral arrangements would be a bit loose and natural in this look, but would be created using chic, modern options such as orchids and calla lillies.

What do you think? Vote below to help Nicole and Chris make their decision!!

Stay tuned for next week’s episode… Finding the Dress!

The Blogging the Bride team (so far):

Lately I have been loving color palettes that are mostly very soft and a bit washed out, but then have pops of a brighter color for contrast and interest, like this board I put together with a buttery yellow, sky blue and raspberry palette:

Photo credits: row 1: table scape photo by Margaret Singer, Ceci New York invitation, cake via Martha Stewart Weddings. row 2: tent via Sperry Tents Seacoast. row 3: florals via Carolyne Roehm, bouquet via MS Weddings, Oscar de la Renta dress photo by Elizabeth Messina.

I would love to see this wedding in a garden on the water under a (Our Favorite!) Sperry Tent – so gorgeous and ethereal, I can just see butterflies flitting around as every guest just enjoys being at an outside party for the first time this year. Such a breath of fresh air!

XO

PS. Can’t WAIT to share MY spring color palette with all of you!!

Well, Boston brides, I have really, really great news. Ceci New York’s White Label is now available right here in our fine city! If you haven’t had a chance to check out their work, oh boy are you in for a treat. These invitations are majorly gorgeous. Insanely beautiful papers printed with the prettiest designs a girl could ever hope for. I’ve seen and touched many an invitation, and these take the cake every time.

There are so many really wonderful things about the Ceci New York White Label. As you can see there’s something special for just about any wedding, each suite is totally customizable to fit you perfectly and each suite has matching day of pieces like menu cards, table numbers and programs to make branding your wedding super easy (and totally chic!).

Let’s be honest though, MY favorite part about Ceci New York is that we at Tangorra Wedding Planning are the exclusive retailer of the White Label Collection in the Boston area, which means I get to look at and touch these beauties any time I want! I’m in love, and I promise you will be too, so contact us to come in a see for yourself!!

XO

Today, to kick things off, I thought we should get to know Nicole & Chris a little bit better. Instead of me telling you about them and their wedding plans we decided it would be better if they tell their story themselves! Click to watch below, as Nicole and Chris tell us about how they met, and their super cute engagement story:

Blogging The Bride: How They Met / How They Got Engaged from Boston Wedding Films on Vimeo.

Don’t you love that story? You can hear me in the background telling them that I sure do! Now that we’ve gotten to know the Bride and Groom a little bit, lets get down to business: The Wedding Plans.

So far, Nicole & Chris have made a couple of big decisions:

1. The wedding date – Friday, September 17 – yes, it’s going to be on a Friday, people! And it’s going to be fabulous! Not only will they be able to spend the entire weekend celebrating with their friends and family, but they will likely be able to negotiate fantastic deals with their venue and some of their vendors. Doesn’t get better than that!

2. Their cinematographers – yes, that little masterpiece above was put together by none other than Our Favorite, Boston Wedding Films! We will be working with Jason and Jim the entire way through the planning process, capturing all the key moments on film.

3. Their photographers – Our Favorite, Person + Killian!!!! Lauren and Jill will be following along with us as well! Love.

4. Their venue – but I’m not telling yet! You’ll have to tune in in a few weeks for the big reveal.

I’m so excited by all the choices that these two have made so far – love Friday weddings (I mean, seriously love, so much that my own wedding will be on a Friday. Let’s start a Friday wedding revolution people!), and couldn’t possibly love their vendor choices any more.

At this point, you’re probably wondering how this all came together – how did these two decide to have their wedding planning process blogged about for the world to see? Well, lets be honest, I kinda talked them into it. When Nicole and Chris were first engaged, Nicole found my blog, and contacted me for some advice on hiring their vendors (which I LOVED… everyone should do that! I love to promote the vendors I work with!). Once we got to chatting, this idea formed to share how a regular Boston bride plans her wedding! I mean, it’s nice to have someone to commiserate with, right? Always! There are so many emotions that pop up throughout the planning process… emotions that non-brides just can’t relate to. Well, Nicole and Chris are going through it, just like you.

I just can’t tell you enough how excited I am for this project, and I hope you are too! Let’s hear it brides – where are you in the planning process? Are you just at the beginning of your plans like Nicole and Chris? Do you have advice for these two?

Before we sign off for today, here’s a little peek behind the scenes of our video shoot:

Be sure to tune in next week when we talk budget. We’ll have lots of great insight on how to go about setting your own budget, and even some helpful worksheets from my ladies at Tangorra Wedding Planning!

XO

BTB Team (so far):

All you DIY brides will love this one too… look closely… no floral centerpieces at this beautiful wedding! Lots and lots of candles were the secret here. The barn looked amazing lit with the soft glow of pillar candles at each table.

If you don’t know Stacey Kane’s work, you must go visit her website. Trust me.

XO

Photographer: Stacey Kane
Venue: The Barn at Gibbet Hill
Planner: Tangorra Wedding Planning
Flowers: Lavendar
DJ: Robert Waldron
Transportation: First Choice Limo

Before we all head out to enjoy this gorge weather, just wanted to leave you with a few upcoming events:

Couture Event
Enjoy 10% off Melissa Sweet Couture, Platinum and Priscilla of Boston lines
Priscilla of Boston
801 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116
Call: 617.267.9070 for appointments
Through March 31

Not happening this weekend, but don’t forget to get your tickets to The Seaside Wedding Show at Our Favorite Venue, The Crane Estate on Castle Hill. I’ll see you there!

Not wedding related, but don’t forget – Boston Restaurant Week is going on now! Perfect time to check out all those places you’ve been meaning to go… and who knows, maybe you’ll find the perfect location for your rehearsal dinner or morning-after brunch!

Now go outside and enjoy this weather! Happy weekend!!

XO