Category Archives: wedding dance planning

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. 

Bride and groom sharing a special moment at the wedding leaning with their heads close together before their wedding dance

10 BIG Tips for Hiring (Great) Wedding Vendors

Hiring wedding vendors for your wedding reception is a multi-step process that can turn into a maze—but it doesn’t have to! These tips get you the best wedding vendors that make you feel lucky to have the “one(s).”

Wedding Vendors to Hire for the Reception

Once you’ve talked with your fiancé about the style, budget, and guest list, it’s time to start checking items off your wedding planning checklist. The wedding venue is the logical first step, especially because it is the foundation of every wedding detail. Your wedding venue sets the backdrop for your big day, while the wedding vendors provide the “frontline” services that guests notice: the food, wedding reception entertainment, and décor. As such, you should look at hiring:

  • Wedding caterer
  • Wedding music (band or DJ) and entertainment (i.e. lighting, photo booths, etc.)
  • Photographer and/or videographer
  • Florist

When to hire…

Wedding Vendor Months Before Wedding
Caterer 14-18 months
Wedding DJ 14-18 months
Videographer 9-12 months
Photographer 9-12 months
Florist 6-9 months

Tips for Hiring Wedding Reception Vendors

When hiring wedding vendors…

  • Watch for red flags that signal the vendor is an amateur or unscrupulous, such as if they ask for payment in full up front or won’t return your calls or messages.
  • Be cautious about hiring wedding vendors that don’t have a location to meet with you.
  • Research wedding vendors on review sites and social media to ensure that they are trust-worthy and have satisfied other couples.
  • Have a list of questions for every wedding vendor, such as about their availability, if they carry insurance, and any additional fees (i.e. overtime costs, travel fees, etc.)
  • Don’t forget to ask about every wedding vendor’s cancellation policy!
  • Ask wedding vendors if they have a contingency plan in case of emergencies (such as the wedding DJ in case a DJ gets sick or equipment breaks down).
  • Make sure you have a full list of fees and costs before signing a contract.
  • Always read through all the fine print in the contract before signing on the dotted line.
  • Be wary of DJs that don’t ask about songs you want played and not played (tips for crafting an awesome wedding playlist are here).
  • To save time, look for wedding reception vendors that offer more than one service, such as a caterer that offers equipment rentals or a wedding DJ that offers lighting.

Wedding Reception Dance Planning Checklist

collage of pictures from epic wedding dancePlanning a big wedding dance party comes with a million decisions—and, luckily, a guide to get you the wedding reception of your dreams! This step-by-step guide can take you from the first wedding reception idea to dancing the night away with all your friends.

___Select a wedding date.

___Set a budget. (Tip: use this wedding budget worksheet.)

___Decide on a desired wedding atmosphere.

___Choose a wedding venue. (Tip: if an epic late-night dance is a priority, ask the venue planners about curfew times and volume limitations.)

___If the venue is outside, make a plan B in case of inclement weather. (Tip: if the dance is outside, make sure the venue meets your band or DJ’s electrical needs.)

___Set a timeline for the wedding reception and program (i.e. toasts, dinner, dance moments, etc.) (Tip: customize this sample wedding reception timeline and share with key vendors, such as the entertainer and photographer.)

___Choose the best wedding music entertainment: band or DJ. (Tip: When interviewing DJs, ask them these questions to weed out the sub-par DJs. A good DJ uses a custom play list that fits with the couple’s style.)

___Sign a contract with a quality band or DJ. (Tip: use these tips for navigating through the fine print.)

___Draft a venue layout with spots for the cake, interactive tables or tasting stations, and strategically-placed entertainment. (Tip: to keep the dance floor packed, plan for a beverage table or bar near the dancing.)

___Book other entertainment, such as a photobooth or one of these other fun wedding entertainment ideas.

___Plan out the logistics and location of any interactive tables or tasting stations.

___Set a wedding menu play list and coordinate important details (i.e. announcements, wedding party pronunciations, etc). (Tip: to avoid any songs that make you cringe, choose a wedding DJ who honors your ‘Do not play’ list.)

___Choose dinner & cocktail background music (Tip: if you don’t have major preferences AND trust your DJ, ask the DJ to choose songs.)

___Select songs for the traditional wedding reception dances (if included in the reception).

  • ___ Wedding party entrance music
  • ___ First dance
  • ___ Father-daughter dance
  • ___ Mother-son dance
  • ___ Bouquet & garter toss songs
  • ___ Dance songs

____Plan surprises if you want to add them to the wedding reception. (Tip: use this list of wedding reception surprises for inspiration and don’t forget to include your DJ in on the fun.)

___Purchase favors that fit with atmosphere.

___Enjoy!

17 “Must Ask” Wedding Reception Dance Questions

Wedding planning involves an endless list of questions. It can be overwhelming—unless you remember that every decision gets you one step closer to busting a move at an epic wedding reception dance (and so do these wedding dance tips). We’ve met and talked with many engaged couples facing big decisions about their wedding reception; that’s why we’ve crafted a list that helps soon-to-be newlyweds make the decisions that puts them one step closer to an impressively-planned and memorable wedding reception dance.

If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to put the proverbial shoe on the other foot; use this list of questions to interview your wedding entertainment (DJ!) and get one dance step closer to an unforgettable wedding reception.