So, I've given you some rules for using lighting in a previous post, but how can you incorporate lighting in your event to give it that extra wow factor? Three possible ways; pin spotting, gobbos and intelligent lighting! Simple and efficient ways to light up your space and set a mood of your choice! But what are they and how can you incorporate them?
Pin spotting
Pin spotting is the use of one or more extremely narrow beam lights to illuminate individual centre pieces from overhead. Pin spotting is a more subtle way of lighting features that may get lost in the darkness when lights are dimmed, and is not used when creating a dramatic lighting effect specifically for impact or wow factor. Pin spotting over centre pieces creates a low-level party ambience throughout a room, causes the object below to softly glow from within and provides guests with just the right amount of light to see each other and feel comfortable in the space.
Gobbos
A gobo is a lighting option which light and shadow projects through a generic or custom designed pattern to create a picture effect on walls, floors, ceilings etc. Commonly made from etched steel cut outs, gobos are placed in front of the light source, and appear in whatever colour has been selected to shine through it. Below is a selection of images where gobos have been cut out and used as important, mood enhancing décor elements.
Intelligent lighting
Intelligent lighting is a versatile, automated system of lights that is able to quickly and mechanically change colour, intensity, and effect, at the click of a button. Usually prepared and controlled from an electronic programming platform, intelligent lighting is a practical and easy way to create lighting displays that are capable of changing the overall mood of an event almost instantaneously.
Intelligent lighting used at a Fire and Ice theme wedding
Intelligent lighting can be used to create the dramatic change between a fire and ice theme wedding mid-way through the evening.
Ice: In the first half of the evening, the intelligent lighting program could colour wash the walls in blue, while using gobos of white light to cast falling snow flakes upon the blue background. Beautiful ice sculptures around the room are uplit in blue, making them appear like icy characters from a frozen palace. Pin spotting with white light over table centre pieces creates just enough light for guests to see all of the beautiful décor items, as well as each other. The room feels cosy yet magnificently icy.
Fire: Half way through the evening guests are entertained by an entourage of fire jugglers bathed in white, orange and red spot lights, who conclude their act by breathing fire around the room and appearing to change the whole appearance of the décor, setting it alight. At this point the intelligent lighting system is set to suddenly colour wash in vibrant reds and oranges, and the delicate falling snowflakes change to licks of flames climbing up the walls. Pinspotting around the room remains the same, but the ice sculptures are now uplit in a ripple affect of red and orange, making the ice appear as if on fire.
Have a go experimenting with lighting! You may just create something amazing!