Category Archives: wedding planning details

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. 

wedding reception lighting costs

Wedding Reception Lighting Costs: Everything You Need to Know

When you think of a planning a wedding you probably immediately think of the wedding dress you will need to pick out, the location of your wedding and wedding reception, the venue, the food, and the drinks.

These are all valid thoughts to think about for your wedding night, but have you given any thought to the lighting that you want at your wedding reception?

If not, you really should! With such a huge connection between psychology, lighting, and mood, you will want your wedding reception lighting just right!

Not sure about the cost? Read on to learn about the types of professional lighting you could have at your wedding and wedding reception lighting costs.

Types of Lighting

Depending on the type of venue that you choose for the wedding reception, the lighting options differ. For instance, you could choose to have tent lighting in your tents if you have an outdoor reception, or you may want to set a specific mood with barn light wedding at your venue.

You need to ask yourself what type of mood you want for your wedding night. If you want a moodier, more romantic feel, you may want to go with bistro or cafe lighting (otherwise known as the string lights you see in some people’s backyards or at restaurants at night).

Are you looking for a more elegant feel? You may want to choose chandelier lighting to add just the right amount of lighting with the look you’re going for. And the best part is that chandelier lighting can go in just about any type of wedding venue!

And, of course, if you have something you want to spotlight like the cake or a specific area, pin lighting is a must.

Planning on a Budget: Wedding Reception Lighting Costs

Adding in professional lighting may seem like it will be too costly or out of your wedding budget. However, bundling lighting with other services for your wedding can actually save you money.

Instead of going to a separate profession lighting service, adding it to your Chicago DJ service or photobooth service is the way to go.

With the bundling of services, you can also be sure that you are getting the most amount of services for the money you are spending. Instead of spending thousands just on lighting, you are getting much more for the same price.

Have the Wedding of Your Dreams

When it comes to one of the best nights of your life, you don’t want to be worrying about costs or things going wrong.

If you’re in the Chicagoland area, choosing to work with us here at an Enchanted Evening will be your best decision yet! We’re an event planning site with professional lighting advice and services.

Ready to speak to one of us professionals to get started? Contact us here to set up a meeting about ours services!

beautiful summer wedding with lighting and beautiful dance floor

9 Amazing Wedding Themes You’ll Love

Planning a wedding reception requires a good wedding planning guide and, in some cases, a wedding theme list. The latter is incredibly helpful if you’re a couple who wants to use a theme to start creating an atmosphere with details that are completely and entirely you.

Jazzy

We’d be remiss as Chicago wedding professionals if we didn’t include this nod to Chicago’s heritage on our wedding theme list. A jazz wedding theme can be as modern or as vintage as wanted. A more modern take may include record accents, unique lighting, and a jazzy playlist. For a more vintage wedding, consider reproducing the atmosphere of an old jazz club—even going as far as to recreate a speakeasy with card and poker tables.

Nautical

A nautical or lakefront wedding theme is the perfect opportunity to enjoy all the perks of being on the lakefront. Picture a wedding at a popular lakefront venue, marina, or yacht club filled with an atmosphere in line with a day on the water. A nautical wedding theme is an opportunity plan the ultimate menu filled with your favorite local tastes and seafood dishes.

Retro/Vintage

A retro or vintage wedding theme is a throwback event, complete with touches and a playlist reminiscent of a different era or time. This is a theme that can be as unique as the era you choose—especially when choosing your favorite touches from that period. Best yet, this wedding theme lends itself to a wedding dance filled with your favorite songs from that era. (Hire a wedding DJ or band that can make that happen.)

Romantic

This is the perfect wedding theme for a Valentine’s Day wedding or for an intimate wedding reception. A romantic wedding theme can be as unique as the couple planning it: a neutral affair with upscale floral bouquets or late-night reception filled with roses and candles.

Fairy Tale

A fairy tale wedding brings the wonder of your fairy tale to life. This is your chance to make guests feel like they stepped into a vintage story book or a more modern version. In addition to wonderful décor, this is also a chance to incorporate the theme into the wedding dance with a royal wedding entrance and a fairy tale first wedding dance. (Your wedding DJ may have ideas as well, just ask.)

Rustic

A rustic wedding can be as modern or as country, and as formal or casual, as you prefer. This wedding theme is filled with natural elements that exemplify the rustic atmosphere: wood, greenery, floral accents, and atmospheric lighting.

Urban

An urban wedding deserves a modern wedding venue with a completely urban feel. The planning should continue with every detail that lends to a feel of the wonder of the urban landscape.

Winter

A winter wedding includes the wonders of the season—what those wonders are is different for every couple. This is your chance to select your favorite parts of the season and incorporate it into a beautiful wedding atmosphere. The result can be a neutral affair that exudes a winter wonderland or a cozy setting with tones of the season.

Spring/Summer

A spring or summer wedding is an atmosphere with fresh details: floral, greenery, seasonal menu dishes, and all the beauty of the season. This is an occasion where fresh blooms and ingredients are expected and celebrated.

Don’t procrastinate! 4 Wedding Vendors You Shouldn’t Wait to Book

wedding bride and groom surprising guests with balloonsWe’ve all procrastinated a time or two (or three or a hundred times), but here are 4 wedding vendors you shouldn’t wait to book if you want a fantastic wedding reception.

Venue

Why you shouldn’t wait: Your wedding venue is THE biggest detail of your wedding day.  You can’t hold a great party if you don’t have a venue to hold it in.  Plus, you have a lot of other details that you can’t set in stone without having a venue.

How to find a good one: Once you’ve decided on the location of your big day (i.e. destination wedding, hometown, city where you met, etc.), narrow down your options by deciding on your style, budget, and the size of your guest list.  Choose a venue that checks off all three boxes and any other unique wants and needs you want, such as a venue that allows you to bring in your own caterer or has no sound limitations for a fantastic late-night party.

When to book: Book your wedding venue about 12-16 months before your wedding date.

Caterer

Why you shouldn’t wait: You don’t want to leave your wedding guests with a bad taste in their mouths.  If you wait too long, all the good caterers are going to be booked and you’re going to have to settle for ho-hum cuisine.

How to find a good one:  Ask your friends and family for their recommendations or ask your venue for suggestions for a quality caterer.  Back your research up by checking out local reviews on social media or review sites.  Once you have a short list of caterers that are perfect for your big day, ask them for a quote and any other specific details you want for your big day.  Make sure you set up a tasting with your preferred caterer to sample the actual dishes you want on your wedding day; don’t book a caterer until you’ve made sure they live up to your standards.

When to book:  Sign the contract with your caterer 12 months before your wedding date.

Entertainment

Why you shouldn’t wait:  Don’t book a great venue and confirm a wonderful caterer only to leave your guests bored after dinner.

How to find a good one:  Decide whether you want a band or DJ (tips on how to choose the perfect wedding entertainment option here).  Once you’ve decided which option is your first choice (for you and your budget), ask your friends or family for recommendations and check the local review and social media sites for other couples’ opinions.  Make sure you ask these questions and look for entertainers that coordinate special moments with other vendors (i.e. photographer, videographer, venue, etc.) for wonderful memories that you can look at for years to come.  If you want to offer more fun for all ages, book a photo booth or bring out yard and table games for an entertaining wedding reception.

When to book:  Book your entertainers 14-18 months before your wedding date.

Videographer & Photographer

Why you shouldn’t wait: A bad videographer or photographer is going to leave you with less than stellar memories of the most important day of your life.

How to find a good one:  Ask your friends and family for recommendations, visit local wedding fairs, and let your keyboard do the searching.  Back your research up with review sites and reviews on social media sites to make sure you are booking the best.  Ask your prospective videographers and photographers for samples of their work before you sign on the bottom line.

When to book:  Book your videographer and photographer 12+ months before your wedding date.