Lighting- An essential design element

After working on the Cape this past weekend with one of my favorite photographers, Stacey Kane, we were chatting about a few moments in the wedding that we wished I had used some lighting for. The ceremony was under a beautiful Sperry Tent at 6 pm so although it was still daylight, it was difficult to capture the remaining natural light because we had a "ceiling" over us. One of my favorite decor elements of the wedding was a life-sized sculpture of the bride and groom's dog, Tiegen. She was the showpiece for the place card table and unfortunately she was in a very dark part of the cocktail hour tent and wasn't given her full glory. So after thinking about all of the lighting we've used in the past, from our studio or from hiring our absolute favorite lighting company, SBL Lighting, I thought it would be helpful to show you some images of weddings that used lighting as an important design element as well as a few shots without lighting so you can see the difference. Enjoy the images!

SBL Lighting
The State Room
Belle Mer
Sperry Tents
Stacey Kane
Claris Photography
Nelson Hancock

The reception space in the middle of the afternoon.

Images by Claris Photography



Belle Mer with LED lighting elements in the ceiling an on the dance floor.




A stunningly dramatic cake during the day.



An image of the cake with lighting from SBL Lighting.




The entrance to the State Room with lighting elements to add drama and the client's color palate.

Images by Stacey Kane



The State Room reception before it was evening.




Uplighting in pinks and oranges with round paper lanterns

Image by Nelson Hancock


A shot from outside a Sperry tent with uplighting in oranges and deeps reds.

Image by Stacey Kane

Personalized Weddings

We have almost all of our clients wanting to personalize something in their wedding and there are couple of ways to do this. Of course, just really thinking out the details is a way to personalize your wedding. Picking some appetizers that you enjoyed as a kid, or an entree that you ate when your fiance proposed are two subtle ways to personalize a wedding. Using your favorite color or overall sense of style is another great way, one that more people will usually pick up on.

Then there is the literal personalization of items for your wedding, and there are a LOT of options to work with. Personalizing items you will be using during the actual wedding is a great way to "brand" your event. Monograms, your wedding date, first names are all great icons that can be applied to almost anything: cocktail napkins, top of your menus, favor tags or stickers, a large decal or gobo image on your dance floor, or even a design on your cake. Then there are the things that you give to your guests that they will keep forever, or at least you hope they do. Personalizing something that is taken out of the context of your wedding event isn't always the best idea, as your guests don't usually want to use something that has someone else's name on it. Classic example would be the engraved picture frame with your name and wedding date on it for your place card holder. First, people don't really have a need for a frame that is smaller than a 3 x 5, but then to have someone else's name and date on it really limits its usability. If they had a photo taken of themselves at your wedding and wanted to display that they certainly could, but I can't really think of another reason to use it. Etched candle holders with your wedding date is another passe idea, candle holders in general tend not to be too great of an option. If you're having a welcome basket or bag, personalizing the welcome letter is a great idea to help start the branding process, but personalizing the bag itself is costly and usually not as pleasing for your guests.

If the item is a one-time use product, go ahead and personalize it, but if it's something that you expect your guests to cherish and re-use all the time remembering the fantastic time they had at your wedding, I think you might need a small dose of reality :) If you really want to personalize something more long-term, I would suggest your wedding date instead of your names as it's not quite as personal. Of course, brides will do what they want in the end, just thought my two cents could help save some money and steer people away from the not-so-classic favors.


Examples of personalized favors:- labels, stickers and tags are great!

All favors from Beau-Coup Favors






Some examples of personalization from our clients:

Photos by Stacey Kane

Custom Aisle Runner, Custom Acrylic Wall Art, and Personalized Guest Book Cards





Photography by Claris Photography

Favor Tags





Photography by Kristen Conklin of Joe Mikos Photography

Monogrammed Cake and Monogrammed Menus





Photography by Claris Photography

Custom Aisle Runner, Monogrammed Bouquet, Monogrammed Napkins, Custom Drink Menus, Dance Floor Gobo Monogram, and Custom Monogrammed Cake Topper

Desserts... The Not So Traditional

Now for NOT so traditional desserts

Desserts by Marie Gerli Catering

Photos by Emilie Inc.

Pies and Bunt Cakes, oh my!




Followed up, of course, by Mini and Regular sized Gummy Bears.



Now, some people don't like Chocolate fountains... they think they're passe. These can get messy for sure, but how can you resist all of the fabulous goodies you get to smother in chocolate?

Photo by Beacon Hill Photography



A very popular option, although not cutting-edge as some people feel it still is... the candy bar. This can be color coordinated to the wedding like the one below, or it can be filled with your favorite items.

Photo by Stacey Kane Photography



Photos by Stacey Kane Photography

And for the GRAND FINALE... my personal favorite... a custom chocolate buffet. Truffles, milkshake shooters, mousse, cookies.... you name it, it's here...










Ready for dessert now?

Desserts.... The Traditional Wedding Cake

Some brides come to us with the vision of a traditional wedding which includes the classic wedding cake, complete with a topper and cutting ceremony. Others ask for the exact opposite, serving simple pies and bunt cakes. Brides are also looking for alternative desserts either to replace the wedding cake or to add to it... I have compiled some images from vendors we've worked with in the past, showcasing desserts from the Traditional to the Over the Top!

The Classic Wedding Cake... there are SO many styles to choose from- fresh flowers, sugar paste, fondant, buttercream. Check out these incredible designs!


Cakes by Something Sweet By Michelle


Photo by Stacey Kane Photography

Custom shaded purple fondant with a shimmering overlay. Sugar paste flowers and ribbon draping complete the look of this unique creation.




Photo by Claris Photography

Yes, this cake was as tall as it looked. Michelle needed a ladder to complete it on site! White fondant cake with HUNDREDS of sugar paste flowers, each sprinkled with sparkles. The cake is sitting on a custom 36" square acrylic base filled with beads for extra drama- as if the cake needed it :)




Photo by Beacon Hill Photography

Fresh flowers can provide a lot of pop to a fairly simple cake. Buttercream smoothed to perfection, with a simple ribbon border.




Photo by Michelle Turner Photography

Another masterpiece with sugar paste flowers and twigs, a fairly simple fondant cake gets a twist of sophistication with sparse flowers throughout.





Cake by Confection Art

Photo by John Santerre for David Murray Weddings

Sometimes simplicity is key. White and navy with a touch of pink clearly represented this ocean-meets-preppy themed wedding. Pink peonies at the top of the cake are sugar paste, by the way. Buttercream with simple dot work with square tiers on an angle.