Let there be light

“Romantic, dreamy lighting is one of the biggest trends we see [in tented events],” says Sarah Miller of Caplan Miller Events in Austin, Texas. “I love ‘layering’ lighting by incorporating chandeliers, pendants, and sconces with functional lighting such as pin spots and Lekolites.”

“Lighting in general can really dial up an event,” says Jim Gallagher, CEO of Partytime-HDO Productions Inc. in Niles, Ill. “You can come in with an uplight gel in soft pink that gives a nice reflection on a fabric liner.

“We have done lighting projections through gobos,” he continues. “For a wedding, we projected the family crest and name on the dance floor. We’ve also projected a corporate logo on the ceiling of a tent.”

Gallagher, however, points out that gobos are no longer cutting edge, as they were 10 years ago.

“From what I am seeing, LEDs have taken on a life of their own. You’re able to change the color of a space with the flip of a switch. Guests come into one tent for cocktails, go into another tent for dinner, and then come back to the cocktail tent for an after-party. You’re using the same tent and decor; the only thing different is the lighting. You can transform the whole feel of the tent from formal to party vibe.”