How Venue Lighting Affects Wedding Pictures
When it comes to planning your wedding, thinking about centerpieces, cake, and décor can be daunting, but what about your lighting? Lighting your wedding space correctly can take your photos from looking like they were taken on a phone to looking like pure magic. How your pictures look completely depends on how you choose to light your venue. Making sure you understand the effects of venue lighting is essential for creating those picture-perfect wedding moments you will cherish forever.
Why Your Lighting Matters:
When it comes to photography, being able to use lighting to one’s advantage is a superpower. Using lighting correctly can convey the mood of the event through a single shot. When it comes to weddings, photographers rely heavily on the venue space and the lighting provided to best capture your special day. If they don’t have the right lighting, the most beautiful setup and venue can look dull and without character. Lighting truly has the power to shift a space’s atmosphere.
Natural Light vs. Artificial Light:
Natural Light:
If you’re choosing you get married during the day, soft, natural light will best enhance skin tones and give off a romantic glow to your space and pictures. If you’re taking pictures outside or with a space covered in windows, use golden hour to your advantage to create the dreamiest photos with a warm glow.Artificial Light:
Getting married indoors or at night heavily depends on artificial light setups - chandeliers, string lights, or candles will help enhance your space. Having the perfect balance will help create a magical ambiance and add the right touch of drama to your pictures. Don’t go crazy with your lighting options - you can quickly create a harsh environment and cause unnatural shadows that will make your pictures not turn out.
How Different Lighting Can Affect Your Pictures:
Warm Lighting: Warm lighting will help create an intimate space with the perfect golden hues. This makes your space feel cozy and comfortable.
Cool Lighting: Cool lighting will give a more modern feel to your space. If having a clean cut space with a crisp, minimalist feel, use blue and white tones to help achieve this aesthetic.
Colored Uplighting: Having colorful lighting can seem daunting, but it can add personality to your space. Be careful not to use too much color so that it overpowers your guests or your décor.
Candlelight and Fairy Lights: Using candles and fairy lights will add some extra movement to your space. Soft lighting with a twinkling effect can sprinkle some extra magic on your special day while creating stunning effects in your pictures.
Extra Tips:
Consult your photographer: Figure out what lighting is best for them with your venue. Utilizing what setups they prefer best will give you the best end results.
Visit your venue at the time you want to get married: Visiting at your desired ceremony time will give you a great understanding of what the space will look like with the natural lighting. This will help you better plan for what lighting to bring in and add.
Layer your lighting: Mix and match what lighting combos you think will work together. It will give your space more dimension.
Test lighting options with your décor: Before landing on your perfect lighting choices, test out different variations with the details you’ve chosen. This will give you a better understanding of what blends well together and what doesn’t.
How you choose to light your venue will set the tone for your big day and plays a huge role in how your wedding is captured. Paying attention to the venue’s lighting options and bringing in lights of your own will directly impact how your pictures reflect the mood and memories you make on your big day. Schedule a tour with us at the Empire Room so you can see what lighting options we offer and discuss how we can bring your lighting visions to life to create your picture-perfect day.
Empire Room
Step into timeless elegance at one of Omaha’s most luxurious event and wedding venues. With antique furnishings, sparkling chandeliers, a grand stairway, and a spacious patio overlooking Turner Park, Empire Room offers the perfect setting for weddings, receptions, corporate events, and social gatherings. Accommodating up to 300 seated guests or 500 cocktail style, this Midtown Crossing gem is designed to impress.
Located in Midtown Crossing, Omaha | Weddings • Corporate Events • Special Gatherings
Contact us to schedule a tour and see why The Empire Room is one of Omaha’s premier event and wedding venues.