Category Archives: wedding dance checklist

wedding lighting

Using Wedding Lighting to Create the Perfect Ambiance

The wedding lighting that you select for your big day is important. Not only does it light the way for you to walk down the aisle, but it also sets the mood for you and your guests on your special day. There are several ways that you can incorporate lighting to create a unique and attractive venue.

Unique Wedding Lighting Ideas

There are several styles and decoration options for wedding lighting that you can utilize for your big day.

Hang Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns are an excellent choice for creating a soft and subtle ambiance. This type of lighting is great for both outdoor and indoor weddings. You can use paper lanterns as the primary source of light for an indoor space, creating a more relaxed and calming atmosphere. Outdoors, you can use paper lanterns for wedding lighting to define the space and provide a touch of lighting to accent the moon and stars for a more romantic feel.

Incorporate Chandeliers

Chandeliers are a great option for wedding lighting when it comes to creating a more formal and elegant party setting. Chandeliers are fancy and stunning, which can be quite jaw-dropping to see, especially when there are multiple chandelier lights throughout the venue.

Keep It Clean

If you are trying to create a more modern and minimalistic theme for your wedding, you can incorporate metal-structured lighting. Selecting fixtures that are clean and modern with a centered bulb will be the perfect addition.

Mix It Up

Always remember that there is no standard on what lighting you should have for your wedding. Lights come in all shapes, sizes, and brightnesses. Mixing up all different styles, shapes, and elements can make a big statement and truly stand out. 

Consider Your Venue

When selecting your lighting, it is important to consider the space that you are in. This can make a difference when it comes to the light that you choose. For example, if you have an outdoor tent, it may not be possible to hang a lot of big, heavy chandeliers. Instead, you could have one large fixture over your dance floor and several small lights scattered around. If you are indoors, it may be overwhelming to have a lot of bright, white lights concentrated in one space. 

If you would like to explore the different lighting options available for your big day, consider contacting our experts. We can review all of the different styles available and help you choose the perfect lighting for your event.

Contact Our Professionals in Chicago for Help

Since 1998, our team at An Enchanted Evening has performed at more than 6,000 events throughout the Chicago area. Over the past decade, we have received over a dozen industry awards, including the Knot’s Hall of Fame Award. We have also won the Wedding Wire’s Couples Choice Award and The Knot’s Best of Weddings award nine times each. You can trust that we will do everything in our power to ensure you have the most magical experience ever for yourself and your guests. To get started, contact An Enchanted Evening to schedule a personal consultation to discuss the options that are available to make your event magical. 

7 Preps for an Awesome Wedding Dance

wedding guests dancing at great wedding reception after you gave all your information to the DJTo steal an old expression, awesomely over-the-top wedding dances are not born, they’re made. We admit to taking some liberties with that saying (pretty sure “awesomely over-the-top” was not part of the original saying), but you get the gist: it takes some thought and prep to plan a memorable night that your friends are talking about for months (and even years) to come. Everyone’s been to a dance; it’s the small and unique touches that set a wedding dance apart from the rest.

Take dance lessons.

You choose the dance (i.e. first dance, father-daughter, mother-son, etc.), then up the ante with a specific dance selected and choreographed for the occasion. Think carefully about song selection; you don’t want your big dance to turn from a special to awkward performance (your DJ can recommend and make helpful suggestions that put it over-the-top). For maximum impact, keep the dance a secret until you start busting a move.

Hire the ultimate entertainers.

An incredible wedding reception needs an incredible leader to plan and lead the evening. Choose the right emcee carefully; the right entertainment (DJ or band) has the experience and expertise to keep the dance floor packed and coordinate special moments with other vendors (like your photographer or a surprise guest). The right band or DJ can make sure you get an incredible shot of your first dance, make recommendations for an unforgettable evening, and use your input to deliver a unique reception.

Decide whether to have a cash bar.

An open or a cash bar is one of the fundamental decisions a couple has to make; there are no wrong decisions, as the right decision depends on the budget and reception tone. Whatever decision is made, for a packed dance floor, make sure the beverages are located close to the dance floor. Your guests’ll appreciate the location as they grab a cool one before they head back to the dance floor.

Make sure there is a large enough dance floor.

This is a prep that needs to happen fairly early in the wedding planning process. As you tour the wedding venue, ask about the guest capacity of the overall venue and, specifically, the dance floor. Just like the Goldilocks fairy tale, the right dance floor isn’t too big (it’ll appear empty) or too small (nobody wants to be jostled around).

Tackle difficult wedding dance decisions.

Sometimes the father-daughter or mother-son dance is not always as clear cut as it seems, especially when your family doesn’t fit the traditional mold. Unfortunately, there is no right guideline for these situations; the right decision depends on the situation. Whatever is right, make sure that everyone is involved is aware of the decision prior to the wedding reception.

Make a list of must and must nots.

Nobody wants to hear songs that elicit the “nails on a chalkboard” reaction, and everyone wants to groove to their favorite tunes. Before the wedding reception, make a list of “do play” and “do not play” songs (use these tips to craft an awesome reception song list) for the wedding entertainer (be wary of a wedding DJ that doesn’t ask for the lists).

Think about surprises.

The best surprises take preparation. Decide what the right surprise for the occasion is (use this list of wedding reception surprises) and make the appropriate steps to make it happen. Make sure the emcee for the evening is on the surprise so they can make a big splash and coordinate the event with other vendors.