I get LOTS of questions about lighting, do we really need it? Isn’t it an unnecessary expense if we have candles? The answer is you ABSOLUTELY need lighting. If you have gorgeous centerpieces that no one can see, there is absolutely no point! Candles make a simple soft glow from the bottom, and pretty much leave the flowers dark. All you see is the candles.
That said, you don’t have to go crazy with lighting at all. Pinspots on the arrangements are a minimum, but some other things that really add a lovely touch are uplights around the room in a soft color, and a wash of color on the ceiling is always nice. And some do a leaf pattern on the ceiling or dance floor- looks so elegant! If you look at my next post, they did a pink color wash on the ceiling of the Ellis Island Museum- really made a big difference!
Here is a flower arrangement that I did at Ellis without lighting, and the same arrangement with pinspots. That is the only difference. Amazing, right?
Photos by the wonderful Robert Wagner
