Types of lighting for weddings??

Just wondering the types and how much lighting is appropriate for a wedding
100 - 150 people

Thanks, Dean

That really depends on what the client wants. Some weddings they ask for no lighting. I use just basic chase dance floor lighting. Some lighting systems are pretty complex.

Just depends on the client.

Some clients also prefer uplighting, recently as posted by other members here they have received lots of success with using LED par cans mounted on blocks shining up on key locations. Of course the same effect can be achieved with smaller par cans, even elipsoids.

I was driving around with my buddy sunday night, went by a persons house we knew, they have money, and there was a huge tent in their huge front yard. We turn around and kinda ruberneck lol. A nice metalic custom gobo with the initials of the bride and groom. Very classy, lots of baby blue up lights accenting the trees.

Minimalistic for me is 2 moving heads.

Max for me 16 units and is standard most shows. I don't consider myself better for doing it. I'm very overboard as far as typical wedding setups go in my area. Most gigs I get are referrals. There are brides who like it.
8 pars incandescent
4 LED pars
2 movers
2 strobes
2 Qroll 250's

My standard wedding lighting included at no additional cahge with all wedding packages consit of:

2 Martin Raptors and 1 Marin EFX 600

I offer a lighting upgrade: For an extra $100

Currently:

2 Raptors, 2 EFX 600, 4 Flat Mirror Scanners, 4 LED Pars.

I'm planing on adding 4 Moving Heads to my aresonal for 2008 I will change my upgrade package accordingly.

I just purchased a vue III for ceiling/back walls, and two colorbank led's for color wash on floor.

I am wanting to add two more fixtures for floor, and maybe one more "centerpiece" item.

Looking at vue II, adj spectrum, and ??

Next wedding isn't for a while, so I have some time.

Typical is mirror ball and vertigo. If the client wants more of a club feel i'll add a 4- par 28 T-bar and light chaser. (Soon to bee DMX LED light panels)
If they want full on club (which in 29 years has not happened)....I'd bring in the 10 foot crank up truss and hang the Martin Punisher, AMDJ Warp, 2-Vertigos, 1-Waterfall effect, 2-DJScan 250's and whatever else I have in the warehouse..... :)

Minimalistic for me is 2 moving heads.

Max for me 16 units and is standard most shows. I don't consider myself better for doing it. I'm very overboard as far as typical wedding setups go in my area. Most gigs I get are referrals. There are brides who like it.
8 pars incandescent
4 LED pars
2 movers
2 strobes
2 Qroll 250's

Ditto

It's amazing how two decent sized moving heads can fill up a room, spotlight the cake/dances/head table, strobe....whatever you need.

My Martin Acrobat will do all I need at any wedding and almost any other event with the one light and I can even trick the controller into a mirror ball effect and a snow effect. Hands down the best coverage of any single unit within and much above its price.

In our experience, most brides don't want lighting effects. So we'll dim the lights and let 'em dance. :)

Gobos are quite nice, low-key effects. Sometimes the B&G are receptive to a mirror ball effect. The Vue III or moonflower is nice as well.

In our experience, most brides don't want lighting effects. So we'll dim the lights and let 'em dance. :)

I think this is true on occasion but only for two reasons...

Reason #1: The bride doesn't know any better.
Reason #2: The bride doesn't want to pay extra for lights.

If the lights were included free of charge and the bride got a chance to see what they could do, I doubt that there would be any bride alive that would turn down a pair of Sparkles to enhance the dance floor.

mine are included at every event and have yet to have a bride say Turn those damned lights off.

Thanks, Steve.

We don't charge extra for lights because we don't offer what many in this biz would call a light show. I'd hardly call a Sunray and a Vue III a light show, lol. :)

That being said, we have had many brides book who don't want lighting of any sort. Some want it, others do not. We try to accomodate when we can.

I think this is true on occasion but only for two reasons...

Reason #1: The bride doesn't know any better.
Reason #2: The bride doesn't want to pay extra for lights.

If the lights were included free of charge and the bride got a chance to see what they could do, I doubt that there would be any bride alive that would turn down a pair of Sparkles to enhance the dance floor.


I have included lighting for free at my last 150+ weddings.

Not once has anyone ever said they do no want it.

About 25% of the time they buy more lighting.

And once I had a bride make me write custom programs so that nothing but Orange Green and White Lighting was used.

This is an interesting thread...

This IS an interesting thread and full of good information. What would you guys recommend for a new DJ just starting out? I don't want to spend a fortune and I'd like something that's fairly easy to transport and set up. Thanks

Check out the "I'm new, what should I get" thread in the lighting forum.

We take everything that we have and use whatever will fit into the room space given us.

Only 1 Bride has asked for us not to bring the whole arsenal. She justs wants some "static" colors as the flashing and pulsing of lights makes her sick.

We'll do what she wants.....as she's the "boss".. :D

We try to market to the client that wants a "production" type wedding or party.

Most of our Weddings and Parties are booked with major light shows as well as video screens. There is a whole market out there that want this type of show and will pay top dollar for it.

Bride has asked for us not to bring the whole arsenal. She justs wants some "static" colors as the flashing and pulsing of lights makes her sick.

Rick has a cure for that :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

This IS an interesting thread and full of good information. What would you guys recommend for a new DJ just starting out? I don't want to spend a fortune and I'd like something that's fairly easy to transport and set up. Thanks


IF I was picking one light only, right now, I think it might be a Vue III.... assuming you have a limited budget of under $300 for one light.

I've always believed that some kind of color wash on the dance floor is a good start. Either incandescent or LED pars do a great job.

Then add effect lighting (DMX or spin & pukes) to taste.

Rick has a cure for that :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

yes he does and it works!

I've always believed that some kind of color wash on the dance floor is a good start. Either incandescent or LED pars do a great job.

Then add effect lighting (DMX or spin & pukes) to taste.

Please nothing that spins. Except the good old mirror ball 1 rev per min (would like even slower but can not find motor any slower than 1 rev, dimmer does not work any suggestions)? I built a custom Light stand that holds a 20" ball with two arms for pin spots (next gig I will take a pic, will amaze and might be good for a laugh) add 4 pars a beat light a water effect and shazam.

Although I have a great sound system, complete music library, and consider myself a moderate inter-active MC / DJ , my light show has been the lynchpin of my act for over 30 years! I have personally done over 600 weddings, and every one of them had my light-show.

Once the bridal party has been introduced, I dim the house lights and turn on my intelligent scanners and pan them on the Bride & Groom as they are introduced and come into the reception. Once they have arrived on the dance floor, the house lighting comes back up, and I use just color wash.

I run just basic color wash for most of the reception. No flashing or glitter. I'll often put a gobo on the wall or ceiling, changing the color every few minutes or so.

I do not dim the house lights again until after the cutting of the cake. Then its PART TIME! The house light go dim, and the whole light show takes over!

http://stevecie.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album14/DSC02018.jpg

http://stevecie.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album14/PICT0209.jpg

http://stevecie.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album20/Grabbed_Frame_62.jpg

http://stevecie.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album20/Grabbed_Frame_67.jpg

Yes Yes Yes to all that Steve. Nice philosophy.

By the way this is my first post in over 3 months or so.

I'll still be stray, but I'll hopefully get back on here a few posts at a time.

Busy times, but good times.

Was just thinking I sure miss JT but know hes got a handful with a new family addition and the rest of that happy but fast growing Nichols team.

Thanks Steve Cie for the great pics and seasoned advice.

Sorry for the hijack....

Thanks Jon.

i'm missing you guys, but my head is way under water right now. Thanks all.
i'll be rockin' in the summer on here more for sure.

12 gigs in may, teaching full time, 4 kids all under 8!
Plus I've incorporated and am a reseller for a bunch of cool crap....LCD's, Plasmas, HiFi, LoFi.

I know some of you know this well!

We use mood lighting or no lighting for cocktail hour & dinner. But after all of the main events are done... we bust out the dance lighting including our Revo III. My wife and I have never had a bride and groom say "no lighting". In fact, we usually get asked if there is lighting.

I agree, Carolyn. I have noticed that many clients, especially the higher end clients, want little or no lighting. It also depends on the venue, If you are working at, for instance, a high end golf club with vaulted ceilings and huge picture windows and big views and you are working there at the end of June when it won't even be dark until 10:00 PM, what tis the point?