Wedding Reception Forum

Lighting ideas/suggestions

Our reception venue is essentially an indoor basketball court (no bleachers), with no windows.

Originally, I had thought about stringing Christmas lights & lanterns along the ceiling (in addition to centerpieces with candles) so we could have low light instead of annoying, harsh, florescent lights.  There is no dimmer on the lights, and I don't want to use them, period.  However, we went to check it out (hadn't seen it in years) and I vastly underestimated how high the darn ceilings are - which means my original idea probably won't work without some serious acrobatics. And 'd rather not do any serious acrobatics. 

We're planning on making a light backdrop behind the guest table, and string lights under the tablecloths for the cake table, bar, punch table, etc.  There will be votive candles on the tables, along with centerpieces that are vases w/floating candles. Maybe stringing a few horizontal lines of lights on the walls too. 

Any thoughts on if that will be enough lighting, or are our poor guests going to be eating in the dark?  The DJ will have some lights going as well, I expect.  Or, some other creative light ideas you may have used before? 

Re: Lighting ideas/suggestions

  • it sounds like you will need more light.  Photographers typically hate low-light conditions, and it does sound to be too dark for elderly guests to move around/eat dinner, etc.

    I agree about uplighting - we had a golden tone to our room and it was so pretty.

    could you still string lights from wall to wall across the room -- just lower than the ceiling?  sort of to this effect: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehV09q5mX-E/Tab_fQhz9uI/AAAAAAAAAtA/V2Gd347G6XA/s400/patio-string-light.jpg
  • Are all of the lights on 1 switch? Sorry if that's a dumb question but a lot of large rooms have multiple switches and you could play around with turning on 1 or 2 sections. They would still be florescent but not so bright.
  • Unfortunately, all the lights are on one switch. 
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_lighting-ideassuggestions?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:7047433b-8b07-4c24-ae8e-f137f23cc1ccPost:4e554d47-b45e-454f-b90e-97f2148fe939">Re: Lighting ideas/suggestions</a>:
    [QUOTE]it sounds like you will need more light.  Photographers typically hate low-light conditions, and it does sound to be too dark for elderly guests to move around/eat dinner, etc. I agree about uplighting - we had a golden tone to our room and it was so pretty. could you still string lights from wall to wall across the room -- just lower than the ceiling?  sort of to this effect: <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehV09q5mX-E/Tab_fQhz9uI/AAAAAAAAAtA/V2Gd347G6XA/s400/patio-string-light.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ehV09q5mX-E/Tab_fQhz9uI/AAAAAAAAAtA/V2Gd347G6XA/s400/patio-string-light.jpg</a>
    Posted by gymbugmj2k[/QUOTE]

    That would actually be great, I'm just wondering how it would work indoors?  I wonder if attaching it wall to wall would be too big of a distance?

    Maybe tall poles/beams placed equi-distant around the general eating/seating area, and then have the lights pre-attached so we could make them tall? 
  • I would try https://www.diyuplighting.com. They seem reasonable and the lighting may transform the room in addition to providing additional light.
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