Wedding Uplighting Info
Q: Is all uplighting the same?
A: Nope. Not even close.
That's why it's important to know what you're getting when hiring an uplighting vendor.
On this page, I've put together some info to help you learn about the different types of uplighting and the differences between them. The main questions to ask are:
1) Is the vendor is using LED or halogen bulb par cans?
2) If they use LED lights, how bright are they?
A: Nope. Not even close.
That's why it's important to know what you're getting when hiring an uplighting vendor.
On this page, I've put together some info to help you learn about the different types of uplighting and the differences between them. The main questions to ask are:
1) Is the vendor is using LED or halogen bulb par cans?
2) If they use LED lights, how bright are they?
LED vs. Halogen Bulb Par Cans
Generally speaking, there are two types of lights that are used: LED and halogen bulb par cans.
Most companies have stopped using halogen bulbs for several reasons. Halogen bulbs get extremely hot within seconds of turning them on. I've been to venues where large holes were burned in the curtains, because someone set the lights too close. This is especially dangerous if children will be attending your wedding, as they tend to wander over near the lights to touch them.
Another drawback is that they consume a lot of power, so you can't plug very many halogen bulb fixtures into the same circuit. Also, the bulbs require color gels, so the color cannot be changed very easily. The biggest benefits for using halogen bulb fixtures is that they are significantly cheaper than LED lights, and they are also very bright. This doesn't necessarily mean it will be cheaper to rent halogen type lights; it simply means that the vendor didn't have as big of an investment to purchase them.
There are numerous reasons why many companies are now using LED lights. They draw significantly less power, they don't get hot, and the color can be changed with the press of a button. Also, there are no bulbs to change. But not all LED lights are equal.
LED Brightness / Color Mixing
The main thing to be aware of when using LED fixtures is how bright they are. I used to own lights that are similar to what most DJs and lighting companies are using, and I sold all of them for lights that are three times brighter. This can make a huge difference on how your room looks.
First of all, brighter lights mean that you can make a better impact using fewer lights, which keeps your venue looking cleaner than having several dozen lights all over the place. It also allows, in many cases, for the overhead lights to be turned off and the uplighting to be used as the only light source in the room. Secondly, the brighter lights I use now can be seen even when there is daylight, whereas my old lights were hard to see when there was other light in the room.
Finally, the brighter lights can reach much higher heights, which is important if you're having your reception in a room that has tall ceilings. Lights that aren't quite as bright may not even reach all the way up the wall very effectively in addition to not being very bright. As you can see from the photos taken at the Fairmont, the lights I used easily reached the ceiling, which was nearly 30 feet tall.
A secondary factor with LEDs is how well they mix colors. For instance, my lighting uses tri-color LEDs which do a really nice job of mixing colors. With tri-color LEDs, the color is mixed within the bulb. Many fixtures, however, have separate LEDs for red, green, and blue, and therefore the color mixes after the light passes through the lens. This will usually create a "rainbow" look toward the bottom of the beam for colors that require a combination of red, green, and/or blue.
How do you know how bright the lights will be?
The best thing is to meet the vendor at your venue and have them show you what one of the lights will look like. I offer a free lighting consultation to all potential clients before they decide to hire me. If you can't meet up with your vendor in person, you can always ask him what the lux rating of the lights they are using. Many guys are using the cheaper LED lights that have a lux rating of about 1,500 to 3,000 lux (@1 meter). By contrast, the lights I use are 9,600 lux! Just be aware that if the lights are only rated between 1,500 to 3,000 lux, they are not likely to very bright. It will be difficult to see them if there is daylight in the room, and you will need to use quite a few lights to create the "wash" effect that most brides are going for.
Generally speaking, there are two types of lights that are used: LED and halogen bulb par cans.
Most companies have stopped using halogen bulbs for several reasons. Halogen bulbs get extremely hot within seconds of turning them on. I've been to venues where large holes were burned in the curtains, because someone set the lights too close. This is especially dangerous if children will be attending your wedding, as they tend to wander over near the lights to touch them.
Another drawback is that they consume a lot of power, so you can't plug very many halogen bulb fixtures into the same circuit. Also, the bulbs require color gels, so the color cannot be changed very easily. The biggest benefits for using halogen bulb fixtures is that they are significantly cheaper than LED lights, and they are also very bright. This doesn't necessarily mean it will be cheaper to rent halogen type lights; it simply means that the vendor didn't have as big of an investment to purchase them.
There are numerous reasons why many companies are now using LED lights. They draw significantly less power, they don't get hot, and the color can be changed with the press of a button. Also, there are no bulbs to change. But not all LED lights are equal.
LED Brightness / Color Mixing
The main thing to be aware of when using LED fixtures is how bright they are. I used to own lights that are similar to what most DJs and lighting companies are using, and I sold all of them for lights that are three times brighter. This can make a huge difference on how your room looks.
First of all, brighter lights mean that you can make a better impact using fewer lights, which keeps your venue looking cleaner than having several dozen lights all over the place. It also allows, in many cases, for the overhead lights to be turned off and the uplighting to be used as the only light source in the room. Secondly, the brighter lights I use now can be seen even when there is daylight, whereas my old lights were hard to see when there was other light in the room.
Finally, the brighter lights can reach much higher heights, which is important if you're having your reception in a room that has tall ceilings. Lights that aren't quite as bright may not even reach all the way up the wall very effectively in addition to not being very bright. As you can see from the photos taken at the Fairmont, the lights I used easily reached the ceiling, which was nearly 30 feet tall.
A secondary factor with LEDs is how well they mix colors. For instance, my lighting uses tri-color LEDs which do a really nice job of mixing colors. With tri-color LEDs, the color is mixed within the bulb. Many fixtures, however, have separate LEDs for red, green, and blue, and therefore the color mixes after the light passes through the lens. This will usually create a "rainbow" look toward the bottom of the beam for colors that require a combination of red, green, and/or blue.
How do you know how bright the lights will be?
The best thing is to meet the vendor at your venue and have them show you what one of the lights will look like. I offer a free lighting consultation to all potential clients before they decide to hire me. If you can't meet up with your vendor in person, you can always ask him what the lux rating of the lights they are using. Many guys are using the cheaper LED lights that have a lux rating of about 1,500 to 3,000 lux (@1 meter). By contrast, the lights I use are 9,600 lux! Just be aware that if the lights are only rated between 1,500 to 3,000 lux, they are not likely to very bright. It will be difficult to see them if there is daylight in the room, and you will need to use quite a few lights to create the "wash" effect that most brides are going for.