The Environment - Attention to Detail

It is very easy to tell the difference between a Mexican restaurant and a Steakhouse as soon as you walk in the front door - even if you remove the vastly unique smells coming from the kitchens. The difference in appearance is obvious not just from the color of the napkins or the shapes of the tables, but rather from the combination of every intricate detail that the designer has set.

I did not go to school for restaurant design, but I do like to consider myself a restaurant connoisseur. Nothing is better than the experience of dining out with friends or family and to me, one of the most important elements of that experience is the restaurants environment. Every detail has been thought out over and over again; especially the lighting. A wedding reception is no different. The first thing most guests notice at a wedding is their environment. They look around and get accustomed with it and take it all in.

In speaking with our clients, the excitement sometimes is no greater than when they open the doors to walk into the reception room. Lighting is so important to this experience because it sets the tone immediately. When designing your event space, pay attention to the small details, but think about them in regards to the environment as a whole.

Up lighting is the most efficient and cost effective way to add to the overall environment. That is why a ballroom set with amber up lighting produces a completely different look and feel than one set with purple up lighting, even if every other detail is the same. Each color signifies different feelings unique to each person - for me, amber represents warm, classy and inviting; while purple screams modern, bold and fun. Both look great in almost any room, but each evoke different emotions.

How do you want your guests feel when they enter your reception?

-Matt