Ever look at pictures of a wedding and find yourself blown away by both the details of the space and the intimate, romantic vibe of the event? You have uplighting to thank for that. Though uplighting isn’t a standalone solution for making a reception pop, it is an integral part of the overall lighting design package that will emphasize your décor elements and bring out the beauty of your venue.
What Is Uplighting?
Uplighting is the placement of individual light sources at the base of architectural details or points of interest, typically around the perimeter of a space, to draw attention to those details. If done properly, it gives a sense of depth and background to your photos and videography. Uplighting, when used in an indoor or covered reception during the evening, will add drama and elegance, but it will also indicate points of interest in your venue and help guide guests to areas of the event they’ll be interacting with, such as the bar or photo booth.
Uplighting is not as necessary during a daylit event, or in a basic square room with four white walls where there is little to call attention to. For that reason, an outdoor wedding in an open field will similarly not require uplighting, as there will be nothing for the light to bounce off of. There are other questions you should ask, for example, is there enough light to see the pathway to get to a bathroom? It is often a good idea to light trees, bushes, and sides of buildings to uplight, so the light can bounce back into the space.
How Much Does Uplighting Cost?
Our uplighting packages starts from about $300, but DIY users can also rent the equipment on a standalone basis. Nothing beats professional installations, but if you are on a budget, please let us know. We are here to help you guide through what you need.”
Uplighting Tips
- Have a plan – communicate with the event designer, florist, photographer, and videographer ahead of every wedding
- Use LEDs when possible – LEDs, are a better option because they don’t heat up the way traditional filament bulbs do, so there’s no risk of anyone burning themselves or a décor element such as drapery catching fire. Most of our LED units are battery-operated, which means you can eliminate the clunky look and trip hazard of cables.
- LEDs used for uplighting outdoors should be waterproof.
- Know the difference between pin-spotting and uplighting. Uplighting lights around the room and change the color and feel of a space. A pin spot, on the other hand, is a concentrated beam of light – similar to a flashlight – that highlights something specific like the cake, a piece of décor, or floral centerpieces. While uplighting comes from below, pin spots typically come from above.
- Don’t forget about drapery. Uplighting and drapery often go hand in hand for more formal events. “Uplighting adds to the texture by emphasizing the folds and bringing out the pleats and scrunch at the top,” says Toner.
- Color choice: Amber is the most universally flattering LED shade for wedding uplighting, as it adds a romantic yet still formal glow. Uplighting can also be used to unify the color scheme of a wedding. If you’re doing a very pink wedding, you could uplight the room in pink and tie it together. Deep purple and blue uplighting should be used more sparingly, as they can lend a nightclub vibe to an event. That works to amp up guests for the dance party portion of the evening, but may not be right for cocktail hour or dinner, which will involve more intimate conversation and sentimental moments. Whatever you do, DON’T use green it makes food and people look sick.”