High Impact, Low Cost...Lighting makes a difference!

There are many details (read: things to spend money on) when you get married.  If you're trying to stay on a budget, one decor item you can make a big difference with and not break the bank is with lighting!  Lighting adds ambiance, color, design, etc...and usually doesn't take up too much space, either!  We were fortunate to have found a venue (Gallery J) who already had a lot of lighting in place already, but we did add some of our own.

Cafe Lights
These are a big nicer, in my opinion, than regular old twinkle lights.  These were already in place for us...score!

Cafe lights on the railing of the loft space. 

Twinkle Lights

These are less expensive than the above mentioned cafe lights.  You can find them anywhere, and you probably have some that you use for holiday decorating.  These were also already installed by our venue!

Twinkle lights on the lattice on either side and around doors.

Candles

The ultimate tool for upping the romance factor at any event.  Cheap and easy to come by in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and even fragrances, these are an awesome addition to any decor at your wedding!

Floating candles in vases with orchids surrounded our altar space.  Floral design by Flower No. 5.

Spotlight and Gobos

These, you'll definitely have to rent.  A spotlight is fairly cheap and easy to set up and operate.  Some DJs will have these already, but double check to be sure.  It's great for when you're doing your first dance, toasts, and other special moments (garter toss, cake cutting, etc). 

Gobos are these nifty little things that slide over a special light (again, must be rented, but not very expensive) that project an image or text onto a wall or floor.  These are a great way to personalize your wedding without spending a lot.  We rented the light and purchased a custom gobo with our names on it. 

Uplighting

This is a fantastic way to add color and serious drama to your event space!  We didn't use this at ours because, as you can see, our space had enough drama all on it's own!  However, if your using a 'blank canvas' sort of space, it can add a lot of color without a lot of fuss.

Photo from rdedj.com 

All photos, unless otherwise credited, are from Norman Yu Photography.  Event location (except for last photo) taken at Gallery J in Winter Springs, FL.