Tag Archives: Event Lighting

Bistro Lighting

Bistro Lighting Styles for Weddings, Corporate Events & More

Bistro lighting is one of the most popular wedding lighting options, and The Lighting & Sound Co provides every style of bistro lighting you may need!

Also known as string lighting, festoon lighting, or cafe lighting, what we refer to as bistro lighting, is an individual strand with bare lightbulbs dangling down at even intervals.  Bistro lights provide a classic, timeless look with a warm glow. The lights are often hung over a reception area, but can also go over a dance floor, patio, or entrance area. Typically, our technicians will install multiple strings of bistro at an event site, arranged in a particular pattern.

One of the best features of bistro lighting is that it can be used nearly anywhere. We commonly install bistro light strings in tents, but have hung them in barns, over open fields and courtyards, in hotel ballrooms, on top of swimming pools, and around food courts and skating rinks. It also neatly complements other types of lighting including uplighting and chandeliers.

Styles of Bistro Lighting

Following are several styles of  lighting installations. This is by no means an exhaustive list but includes our most commonly-provided services:

Tracing Bistro

Typically installed in a frame tent or other space with exposed rafters, this style follows the roof supports. This style uses simple bistro which, while not as bright as classic bistro, offers a great look when used for tracing, and is great for shorter tents.

 

Tracing bistro wedding Lighting

Tracing bistro lighting on a tent for a wedding at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

Fanning (or festooning) Bistro

Often used outside, all of the strands of lights fan out from one point, on a building or other support structure.

Festooning bistro lights wedding

Festooning Bistro Lighting for an Event at Tredegar Ironworks in Richmond, VA.

Traditional (or Zig-zag) Bistro

Our most common service which provides a classic glow in any space, be it a ballroom, tent, or open field. If there is no place to hang the bistro from, we will bring appropriate support structures that don’t distract from your event.

Gathered Bistro

Commonly used to gather all the strands together over a key spot like a dance floor.

Gathered bistro cafe lights outdoor

Gatherered Bistro Lighting for an outdoor event. 

Parallel Bistro

Effective where there are balconies, buildings, or roof structures that create a long rectangular area.

Bistro lighting paper lanterns dance floor

Parallel bistro lighting with paper lanterns over a dance floor. 

Crossing Bistro

An excellent style for tents, because some tents are shorter than others. A stylish way of hanging bistro lighting, great for frame tents and long but thin indoor or outdoor areas.

Crossing bistro lights chandeliers

Crossing Bistro Lighting with chandeliers at a networking event for Richmond Weddings.

 

Bistro Arch

Also good for shorter tents, but works in any tent; bistro strings follow the angles of the roof to leave plenty of headroom for guest.

 

Bistro event lighting

Bistro Arch inside a tent for an event at Tredegar Ironworks.

 

 

Richmond Weddings Expo Fashion Show Lighting

Richmond Wedding Expo Fashion Show

Richmond Weddings just released this amazing video from the Richmond Weddings Expo Fashion Show we provided production for back in July. If you’re getting married in Richmond, you need to be familiar with these folks.

You can check out some photos of the show below!

All photos by Third Eye Studios:

beautiful high definition wedding chandelier gobo

Our beautiful high definition wedding chandelier gobo!

fashion show uplighting gobos

Uplighting gives the stage a great look.

Fashion show uplighting gobo chandelier weddings singer lit chairs fashion show blue uplighting dancing wedding

 

Total Room Transformation

To show the power of event lighting, we set up some of our most popular wedding lighting services in an abandoned basement. This helps to give a better idea of what wedding and event lighting can do to completely transform a room for your wedding reception, ceremony, or any event or party you have at all.

While all the individual pieces that make up the perfect wedding or event are equally important, lighting is the only one that can change how everything is perceived. Lighting can change the look and feel of the entire event, from the mood, to the color the place setting appear to be, make sure you have the right team handling your event. You can learn more by checking out our informational article on wedding and event lighting. Take your event lighting to the next level.

Check out a full display of our services here.

Conditions Pop Punk Lighting at the Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia

Conditions Anniversary Show

Local pop-punk legends Conditions reunited on the 5th anniversary of their album Florescent Youth. Richmond, Virginia locals that are familiar with the band might have attended their disbandment show at the National in Richmond in July of last year, where The Lighting & Sound Co. provided concert lighting, giving the band a proper send-off. We once again coordinated with Conditions, in association with Syke, on their anniversary show to provide a show four times as big. 

Check out Brandon Hambright’s awesome photography at the Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia!

 

 

Conditions Concert Lighting Design The canal Club

Photography by Brandon Hambright

Conditions custom concert lighting rig:


6 x Elation Platinum Beam 5R
4 x Chauvet Intimidator 350
6 x Elation Design Wash 60
2 x DTS Jack Spot
6 x ADJ MegaFlash
4 x Chauvet Slim Panel 24
2 x ColorTran 1000W Floods
2 x Chauvet Funfetti Confetti Cannons
1 x Chauvet Nimbus Low Fog Machine
1 x Look Solutions Unique 2.1 Hazer

ETC Ion 1000 Control Surface
20x Fader Wing
2 x 19″ ELO Touch Screen

 

Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting Conditions Canal Club Richmond Virginia Custom Concert Lighting