Thanks to Lexi Photography for posting such vivid images giving me an opportunity to see how beautiful this color combo looks at Willowdale. I designed the lantern layout and color scheme to match with the overall design of Laura and Brian’s wedding, but since I was attending another wedding that night, I sent in a few of our talented techs to install it. I think this color combo came out as beautiful as I could imagine for them.

Enjoy!

http://lexiphotography.com/blog/2010/08/boston-wedding-photographer-willowdale-estate-wedding-laura-brian/

We do so many great weddings it is hard to keep up with images and postings on our own blog , so any time we  see our work somewhere else it is fun to read and check out.

Here are a few postings we have come accross that have images of a past wedding, or highlighting our services in one way or another….

Brian Phillips Photography – http://www.brianphillipsblog.com/june-boston-harbor-hotel-wedding/

Leah Haydock Photography – http://leahhaydock.blogspot.com/2010/04/vendor-spotlight-uplighting-more-boston.html

Person & Killian  Photography – http://www.personkillianblog.com/person-killian-photographers/2010/7/15/colonnade-hotel-mia-torins-boston-wedding.html

Joyelle West Photograhy – http://www.jwestwedding.com/blog/2010/07/annie-gopal-at-the-intercontinental-boston/

Glenn Livermore Photography – http://glennlivermore.blogspot.com/2010/04/emrick-and-john-boston-harbor-hotel-nov.html

Pink Orchid Weddings – http://pinkorchidweddings.blogspot.com/2010/06/wedding-at-taj-hotel-and-china-pearl.html

Lisa Rigby Photography – http://www.lisarigbyphotography.com/2009/11/erica-mike-boston-wedding-photography/

14 Stories Wedding Planning – http://www.14stories.com/_blog/Weddings_Redefined/post/It’s_All_in_the_Lighting/

Person & Killian – http://www.personkillianblog.com/person-killian-photographers/2010/6/22/part-ii-ar-boston-indian-wedding-photographers.html

Allegro Photography – http://allegrophotography.com/blog/2010/01/30/jackie-scott-new-years-eve-wedding-boston-intercontinental/

Jenifer Lyn Photography – http://jeniferlynphotography.net/lake-view-pavillion-foxboro/

And you can also check us out on Wedding Wire for some great reviews from past weddings we have been part of – http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/boston-uplights-north-reading/f0b5ec8f89bd7a83.html

I have been to more then a few destinations, such as the Caribbean, and have seen some amazing sunsets and scenes. But nothing even comes close to what I witnessed a few weeks back at Belle Mer in Newport.

The day I was there happen to be the fourth of July, and as with any couple getting married Rebecca and Edward were hoping for a beautiful day. The view from the Island House ( one of two venues at Belle Mer ) is so beautiful, and when it’s the fourth of July the skyline is even more amazing with fireworks you can see across the waterway. But even when you hope, and you plan, and you have this “vision” of what your perfect day would/could look like, nothing could prepare them for what they were about to witness.  

What this lucky couple got was a scene so truly spectacular it literally stopped the wedding on two separate occasions, making guests walk to the edge of the water to take-in what seemed to be truly unbelievable. 

Here is what we all got to experience; The only way I can describe how it felt to be at Belle Mer on this one night… surreal.

Check out our main site for the full Belle Mer Gallery located in the “Newest Venues” Section.

Dmitriy Dribinski, their talented videographer, posted a great segment that beautifully highlights the Fairmont Oval Room and the affect of our lighting.

Special thanks to Dmitriy for such great work, he is a true professional that has great artistic style.

Check it out here… http://www.adreampicture.com/wedding_website/Leanne_Nick/index.html

And check out more of their work here… www.adreampicture.com

I happen to capture a few images while I was there… 

The Renaissance is a newly developed and recently opened (2010) venue focused on events of any kind ranging up to 250 guests. It is spacious and neutral in tone allowing for a wide range of flexible lighting designs and color schemes to be incorporated. One of the key elements I loved was the crown molding ledge half way up the wall surrounding the entire space. That was the perfect spot for our new “Candle Concepts” Candlelight Systems. The combination of color from both uplighting and candlelight creates a simple yet striking result.

This space is perfect for us to light, and will allow us to incorporate not only all of our current concepts, but soon-to-be launched new light systems and  designs related to these new systems. It is a space waiting to be transformed and we are proud to be part of the elite vendors they have chosen to work with.

If you have questions regarding this new space, you should email Trish DeSantis ( trishd@renaissancegolfclub.com ) their event manager. She has years of experience and will be more than happy to give you a tour of this amazing new facility.

Now for a few images, visit our main website to view more.

Over the past two years we have grown exponentially within the same areas of lighting, design and development we built the Boston Uplights company on, and will continue to expand into new lighting related technologies and concepts that break new ground and start new trends. Our goal when forming Boston Uplights was to solve lighting design and technical problems that prevented couples from obtaining lighting services for their wedding at a reasonable cost. But at the same time, we were equally determined not to cheapen the lighting industry and the incredibly talented and knowledgeable people within it. In fact, if at any time I see, read or hear of another wedding vendor offering lighting in a way that distorts the value and expertise of dedicated lighting professionals, it makes me even more driven to go above and beyond to show what is possible when someone is truly in love with and dedicated to professional lighting and design.

2010 – Another year of Invention and Innovation

So here we are about to pass into our 3rd year and as I look forward I can say for sure this will be a year remembered as a game changer for us as well as the wedding industry we specialize in. We are about to launch three new light systems that will push forward the capabilities of our current services, and/or completely re-invent and make accessible to many a lighting service you have always dreamed of having. We are excited to say that instead of expanding into areas that we are not specialist in, we are 100% focused on developing and designing new lighting concepts and services not available to many couples due to budget constraints, set-up time limitations and venue design limitations.  In short, we will launch what many will see as visually and technically ground breaking, highly affordable, and a super creative use of cutting edge new lighting technologies.

We invite you to check back often over the upcoming months to see what, how and when we will launch these new lighting systems and services.  We are about to once again change the way you see, experience and remember your day through the use of light and color.

Here is a sneak peak at what is to come. This may look like nothing you recognize, but once you experience it you will be visually, mentally and emotionally moved by it.  Check back for more details in the upcoming months!

Elegance Defined…  In the world of wedding and event design the term “elegant” is used quite often in many ways. The word itself is a general term so when it’s used to describe something such as the atmosphere at an event it can be so overdone it becomes a useless term. After all, what is elegant? The word simply means “of high grade or quality”, but how can that be demonstrated in an image, or better yet try to verbally describe it to someone and you will soon find that one persons vision of elegance is very different then the next person.

When I was thinking of what to call this post it was very difficult to use the word elegant since I am not a person that likes anything I describe to sound outdated or confusing in any way. So to set the record straight I want to outline what it means to be “elegant”, and how this term is used by us to describe the atmospheres we created at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

“Elegance” created with the use of light happens when the perfect balance of color, intensity and placement (what the “lights” are illuminating)  are all working together to achieve a very specific “feel” to the space you are in. As you can imagine, you can’t “feel” light as much as you feel the “result” of the visual atmosphere light creates… such as the warm glow of candle light reflecting off the face of the person sitting across from you. So what we as designers allow you to see, and in which way you see it, completely controls how it “feels” to be in that particular space. So in a nut shell, when I use the word “elegant” I am referring to an atmosphere that has been created due to a perfect balance of light, color and intensity allowing you to sense, see and feel the space in a very specific planned way.

So now you know why true visual elegance with the use of light is not easy to achieve, and why in the past lighting companies and Designers were utilized only for the elite events in the world. Understanding the challenges involved to create the same amazing look for every wedding and event we are part of,  it is easy to see that consistent beautiful results can only be obtained when the person responsible for creating that “look” has the expertise, lighting knowledge and vision to create exactly what you want. As with all other aspects of your planning, such as your wedding dress design and floral designs, perfect lighting results do not happen by accident. Someone has to care enough to try, and know enough to get it done. As for us, we love lighting and the amazing atmosphere it creates, and that alone drives us to strive for perfection. When you love something, you want others to be affected by it in the same way you are. So in short, lighting design is about creating an atmosphere that is so amazing, so visually stunning it can emotionally move you. It will draw you into it, make you want to stay in it, and allow you to remember it forever. That for many… is the definition of true elegance.

Boston Harbor Hotel… Over the past weekend we were at the Boston Harbor Hotel and had the opportunity to light their grand ballroom. As I stood there taking in the scene in the same way guests would soon be, it made me think of the different ways people view elegance. It reminded me once again that what these guests are about to experience is a total “look” created by many elements that have to come together to be perfect. Room layout, floral designs, table linens, candle light and of course the lighting has to all mesh to achieve one cohesive design.

The Boston Harbor Hotel has all the elements I love. Tall ceilings, neutral color scheme, good built-in general lighting and last but not least… pillars. Yes pillars!  Pillars change how light and color can be spread out helping to balance the space in many ways. It adds a whole different dimension to what is possible when pillars are in the middle of a space.

We would like to thank Dana Markos Events for referring us to Emerick and John. We feel our coordinated efforts to achieve the exact “elegant” high-end look and feel they hoped for was beyond successful! We hope you enjoy the finished results. Visit our website for more images located in the Boston Harbor Hotel image gallery.

First… the requested warm & inviting “theme look”.

And now the more dynamic looks…. Notice the use of slightly different hues such as dark blue/light blue or various shades of pink within the same color scheme to achieve depth. This is a powerful demonstration of how wireless programmable lighting can create instant custom looks not normally possible with more simple lighting technologies or services.

The Commons is a beautiful two story wedding facility that has gone through an incredible transformation since Kristi and Frank Martino purchased the building. Their plans to develop it into a totally unique space in every way have come true making it a top pick for couples looking for a venue that is elegant, warm and inviting.

We approached Frank and Kristi with a proposal to install our newly developed Hanging Light/Decor System. The promise was that we could install a system that would be invisible when not used, but could be utilized by us when needed to hang our custom light systems. This was no small task since the building has a solid ceiling made out of plaster. Never before has anyone ever been able to hang decor from their ceiling. Our vision was to utilize our hanging system to completely change what is possible in terms of lighting and event design. Our ability to hang votive candles, lighted paper lanterns, as well as other decor items that compliment event themes would instantly transform The Commons from a two-dimensional facility, into a customizable 3-dimensional modern facility. We not only can light the venue from the ground up with great uplighting, we can visually break the space into “zones” by hanging our lights systems in many configurations, and at many different and varying heights. We have full control of how intimate and soft we make it feel simply by customizing the placement, height, size and color of our hanging designs and concepts.

To say this new system has added a new “feature” to the Commons would be an understatement. From a lighting design standpoint, this type of hanging system is on the same level as making a single story building two stories, or breaking down walls making the venue larger. It has instantly changed what every future wedding can look like, feel like, as well as how your day is remembered and captured. We are proud to say we are the developers and designers of this cutting edge hanging light/decor system and we are overly excited to see what we will design for future couples.

The possibilities are endless… Color and size, height and placement are all customized to how you are utilizing the venue in regards to table and dance floor placement. We installed 120 individual hang points allowing us to configure the design perfectly to your needs and style.  We hope you become as excited about this system as we are. If you are from another venue and would like us to evaluate your facility for possible installation just give us a call. We can modify solid ceilings, aluminum tents, as well as drop ceilings allowing for unlimited creative freedom in terms of  hanging light/decor concepts.

The Results… Here are some of the first amazing images we have captured. We hope this changes how you envision your day, we know for sure it will make it a one of a kind event!

What are your wedding colors? The Commons is all yours… inside & out. Make it reflect you in every way.

Due to the time of year the design concept was a fall wedding so the details included a very warm-tone color scheme. The goal was to transform Granite Links, taking a two story space and making it feel more soft and intimate. We were confident we could create this exact look and feel by utilizing our hanging decor systems as well as programmable LED Uplights.

To stay coordinated with Heather we first needed to create a very specific look to match her planned design, and then adapt that look to the changing events throughout the night. So what started out as a perfectly coordinated color/design scheme transformed over time into a trendy party that complimented the personal style of Gina & Sean. The second goal was to adapt our lighting color schemes to match their live entertainment which had brought in lighting for themselves. Live entertainers add a much higher level of energy to a wedding over the standard DJ, so our ability to stay in sync and compliment that changing atmosphere became an important factor in the overall success, value and look we were able to achieve and maintain throughout the night.

Thanks to Heather Minicucci for a flawless design, and thanks to Gina & Sean for trusting we could create the exact look and feel they wanted.

Here are a few images to check out, for additional images visit our Venue Image Gallery on our main website and click on “Granite Links”.

Halloween is such a great time of year. It’s not just a day of the year as you know, it has a time frame that last about a month making it possible to host events, have parties, and in this case when the day lands on a Saturday night it allows for some amazing weddings to be planned around it.

Erica and Mike came to me wanting to create a very unique atmosphere for their guests. Definately not the typical wedding reception flow. At the time they were beginning to plan around the idea of having it in a clear tent that would allow them to see the night sky. But as I listened to Erica and Mike describe what they really wanted I suddenly had a more clear vision of what they should do. Looking at the location, the guests count, and style of wedding they wanted I recommended for them to skip the tent and move indoors. Pine Manor College where they chose to have their wedding, has a beautiful main house that can host events. Their fear was the guest count which was higher then the main dining room could handle. I assured them based on the flow of guests through the house, and how they would disperse at specific times, it would be the perfect size and layout for what they wanted. They decided to go with my suggestion and completely change the direction and planning of their wedding.

I am so glad they trusted my design judgment enough to change their plans. It was a lot to ask of them since they were not expecting me to offer a completely different suggestion about the location of their reception, but I truly believed that not only would the style of the wedding be more suited to their personal taste but the cost would be substantially lower and the result would be even more spectacular then they could imagine at the time.

So we fast forward to the day… Let me say that few Brides I meet are this creative and artistic. My posts are normally focused on the lighting and architectural aspects of an event, but in this case the bride herself had a large part to do with some ( more like all… every last detail ) of the design elements incorporated into her reception making this a unique night on many levels. As you will see in some of the images below, everything from the centerpieces to the monogram backdrop was designed and created by Erica. As a bride, you have to be seriously determined and creative to pull these projects off for your own wedding, and obviously Erica has both of these qualities.

Ok, back to the visuals… Normally I focus all imaging on the lighting, venue and decor, but today something happen that really made me take notice.  About 3 minutes before Erica was to walk down the isle it was windy, cloudy and on the verge of raining. Just as she moved forward getting ready to walk, all of a sudden the sun broke through the clouds and struck the area they were having the ceremony. As a lighting designer, that sudden change of light and color as well as how it changed the feeling of the moment really caught my attention. Not to get to sappy, but this falls in the category of “fate”,  and the warm light of the sun made it very clear to me that this moment was meant to be. 

I decided to capture a few images of the ceremony that really allows you to take in the moment. For the reception… Erica and Mike asked for trendy, modern, and fun… we hope they loved what we created for them.

The Results…

Erica & Mike – Ceremony at Pine Manor