LED Uplighting

KatieBryant11

My reception is going to be at a hotel, and they offer something called the Fairytale Package. They will drape the entire ballroom with a sheer white fabric that runs floor to ceiling and then place LED lights in the color(s) of our choice every 10 feet. This helps cover up extra exits (it is a ballroom with 3 sections and we are having them all open so there are a lot of exits) and can have sort of a "wow" factor (I think). We saw the ballroom draped in the sheer fabric but the lights weren't set up yet so we couldn't see that. I loved the way it looked with the draping, but I just worry about the lights. In theory it seems great and looks cool in pictures, but I worry that it will be too dark and harsh on the eyes.

My idea is that we would have purple LED lights and then the centerpieces on the tables would have a lot of candles to brighten it up. Does this sound alright? Or does anyone have any personal experience with LED-lit rooms? I also worry that it'll look more like a club than a nice wedding.

This is kind of what I expect it would look like, just with added draping around the room.

Thanks!

LeiselEB

The colored lighting can be great to wash the walls, but it will also wash out EVERYTHING in the room. So any pictures your guests take will come out kind of purple-ish. We did one room at our venue with a blue uplighting and it was VERY blue in there.

Our lighting company suggested that if you have colored lighting on the walls, you should also have the tables, centerpieces, dancefloor or other "special" areas spotlit in white from above. Then the color doesn't wash out those areas. 

Here's an example from our wedding - you can see the walls have color, but the tables don't look colored at all because they're spotlit.

mabapunta

I haven't actually seen a full room with uplighting either, but we are going to do it for our wedding. The reception venue (an old bank) is being remodeled so we only got to see the light on one wall at a time...and not even with the final paint color. The guy we're working with can change the shade/intensity of the light and I'm sure your people can as well (just make sure he writes it down once you agree). A softer shade of color should give ambiance without making it seem like a nightclub. The contrast white lighting is a good point - I hadn't thought about that. Definitely something for me to keep in mind!

kikibabe421

The contrast with the white is a great idea and will look beautiful!

WonderfulSavior

I dont know how to do the lighting...I may be doing ours at a country club or a hotel hall...both are offering us excellent deals, since its going to be in Jan...I know the lighting is HUGE right now and looks AMAZING...but it can be TOO dark too and very clubbish, as you supposed it could be...I say go with a few...maybe lights behind the head table and on the sides of the rooms...but thats it..

Sassenach1743

Another option would be to use Amber colored lights (which look like synthetic candle light). It gives the room a warm glow and will not look like a night club or Bar Mitzvah at all. 

I'm doing Amber uplighting around the perimeter of the dining room and patio of my venue to fill the room with warm colored light. I saw the demo and it looks amazing and not too dark. Plus you can leave certain house lights on as well and it won't be dark. Your guests will also not suffer from strained eyes, look terrible in pictures, or be nauseated by the sight of the food. 

If you still want to add the Purple color I would suggest asking them to uplight the entire room in Amber for the beginning of the reception and through dinner, then after everyone has finished their food you can gradually change the lights (have your vendor put them on a timer) from the Amber to the Purple. By then it will be time to dance and party and it will be a fun touch of drama to get everyone in the mood. 

Save the white pin spot for the cake table, that way you and your FI will be spot lit when you are cutting your cake. 

Just my thoughts...

KatieBryant11

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_led-uplighting?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:2592d8d5-7815-433d-be75-6f19b54a1315Post:0426d25b-b392-462a-a96a-6d54cd5582cf">Re: LED Uplighting</a>:
[QUOTE]Another option would be to use Amber colored lights (which look like synthetic candle light). It gives the room a warm glow and will not look like a night club or Bar Mitzvah at all.  I'm doing Amber uplighting around the perimeter of the dining room and patio of my venue to fill the room with warm colored light. I saw the demo and it looks amazing and not too dark. Plus you can leave certain house lights on as well and it won't be dark. Your guests will also not suffer from strained eyes, look terrible in pictures, or be nauseated by the sight of the food.  If you still want to add the Purple color I would suggest asking them to uplight the entire room in Amber for the beginning of the reception and through dinner, then after everyone has finished their food you can gradually change the lights (have your vendor put them on a timer) from the Amber to the Purple. By then it will be time to dance and party and it will be a fun touch of drama to get everyone in the mood.  Save the white pin spot for the cake table, that way you and your FI will be spot lit when you are cutting your cake.  Just my thoughts...
Posted by brita722[/QUOTE]

That's a really great idea!! I would have never thought of having amber lighting and then maybe transitioning to purple during the dance. Thanks!