I recently did a guest blog for My Sweet Wedding Company. The original post for this can be viewed at http://mysweetwedding.wordpress.com/page/2/ LED lighting in the decor industry has been a long time coming and it is most definitely here! Lighting used to be that you had to carry around large cans for backdrops, string lighting for tables and finding the best way to conceal lengthy cords. The other issues with the lighting of the "dark ages" is you had to worry about the high heat that the lights were emitting, there is always the fear of fire especially when using with linens. Placement of the under table lighting could be uncomfortable for your guests just from the heat they put off alone. Have you ever tried to work with net lighting? I did once for my Christmas tree and let me tell you, once up they only lasted the one-year because I was so frustrated with trying to get them untangled. What a mess! Many Event Decorators sing those same sentiments. While yes, the light looks pretty once up, it is a nightmare to work with sometimes consuming up to an hour of your time just for the lights. Decorators need to be in and out when setting up/taking down for an event without the hassle of untangling and it doesn't matter how well you pack them, you will always be faced with a tangled mess that will prolong your setup.
Moving forward many banquet facilities and churches are saying no to open flames, as it is a liability, one innocent accident can lead to a disaster. Today we have a large variety of battery operated novelty lighting to choose from. Don't let the "novelty" scare you, because when it comes to centerpieces or accent lighting these novelty lights are the way to go. From a planners perspective they are affordable items to bring into your inventory and can be reused over and over. For do-it-yourself brides they are affordable without the high costs of rentals and can be doubled as gifts given away during the wedding or even taken home and recycled into fun displays when hosting dinner parties. After working closely with event decorators I find that the Floraytes are the most fun to play with. The submersible line can be used in water applications, which can help to create stunning centerpieces that can be set up a day in advance so as to alleviate the stress of a big setup on the day of. The batteries that come with these lights help keep them illuminated for a full 48hrs before noticing a dim. I personally kept a light on to see how long it would last and it was over a week! Now mind you the brightness of the light dimmed over the course of those 7 days but impressive...YES! Submersible Floralytes can be submersed in water applications such as vases, water beads, ice sculptures and anything else you can imagine. While the Floralytes I & II can be placed in bouquets, strung from trees put in lanterns and are small enough to fit down the narrow neck of an eiffel tower vase. The other fantastic thing about these lights is the range of colours you have access to. You also get a truer glow as opposed to working with spotlighting. When I say "truer" this means when you work with a spotlight the light seems to focus on the spot it is aimed and doesn't do much to fill out, but when working with the LED Floras it emits a constant glow circling around the light and spreads out to create a softer fuller glow. You can transform any event with the right lighting and having access to 10 colours makes it easy. Floras are fun, but they are not the only wireless lighting to help illuminate an event. Play with mini spotlights to accent trees, plants, and larger centerpieces. Kismet carries a fantastic little spotlight that comes on a pivotal stand and can be aimed and locked into place, again this item comes with its own set of batteries and it is sure to last the duration of your event. Eluminators are also a fun way to light your centerpiece; they come in 4", 6" and 8" with upto as many as 31 bright LED's some even come with an RGB mode. Perfect for adding a bit of height and some light by infusing it from the bottom up! Wireless LED wall washers are fantastic to light backdrops of head tables or anywhere you need a punch of light, they even work well under tables and because of the pivotal head they are easy to aim and lock into position. Coloured gels are currently in production to be placed over the white lights to create whichever colour that works best with the décor you are trying to achieve. This is another option that makes these lights versatile and a great investment if working within the décor industry.
Flameless Candles are another safe way to light your event. Once seen as a tacky novelty item, Flameless Candles have evolved into a desirable décor light. They are fantastic for adorning paths, windows, tables or stairs. The timers make it a great light to add to those hard to reach areas as they will come on and go off at the same time you set it to each night. They make a great addition to any table setting whether it is a special event or simply adorning the dining table of your home or favourite restaurant; they give the illusion of an authentic candle from being hand dipped in wax to the realistic flicker of the light that mimics the dance of a real flame. Most importantly they are safe, release zero heat or toxic emissions and they continue to give light some as long as 350hrs per set of batteries. You never have to worry about the kids running around, the wag of a pets tail or going out and forgetting to turn them off. The piece of mind alone makes these candles a fabulous investment.
The costs involved with weddings and galas can be exuberant so if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on table linens and chair covers you can still achieve a stunning ambiance from the lighting alone. LED Novelty lighting is affordable, reusable, versatile and so much fun for the user. You do not have to be a professional to use them and you are only limited by your imagination!
Cindy Meghu owner of Kismet Candles
