ZephyrTents » Lighting

A Grand Wedding at the Menlo Circus Club

Jen Owsley — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:55:41 +0000

In mid-August, we had the pleasure of working at the Penninsula’s Menlo Circus Club for an incredible wedding with Cay Lemon of Zest Productions and Jeffrey Adair of J. Floral Art. We installed a 64′x124′ tent (our largest) on the polo field to accommodate 400 wedding guests. In order to create a seamless and elegant entry into our tent, we designed and built a custom wood structure, 80 feet in length, that coordinated with our tent’s wood poles. J. Floral Art draped sheer white fabric over the top of the covered walkway, then gathered each section at the support poles with roses. He completed the approach with two beautiful floral arrangements flanking the entrance.

During the daylight hours, the interior of the tent was designed with shades of white with pink accents, including custom pennants on each tent peak. As night fell, Zephyr Tents pattern-washed the canopy and dining room in pink swirls creating a dramatic atmosphere for the after-dark festivities. As a personal touch, we projected the bride and groom’s monogram on the center of the white dancefloor.

The guests enjoyed a late-night dj lounge in the club and were treated to a pink spotlit exit from the bride and groom as they drove away via Rolls Royce. A grand ending to a beautiful event.

A Beautiful June Wedding on a Geyserville Ranch

Jen Owsley — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:24:36 +0000

On a perfect early summer day, the bride readied herself beneath a small canopy at her family ranch in Geyserville. Guests sat on hay bales for the exchange of vows under a large Oak tree surrounded by vineyards. Horse-drawn wagons transported guests to cocktails at the barn adorned with a beautiful wreath and garland created by Valerie Arelt. There Jimtown Catering served delicious hor d’oeuvres and signature cocktails. The bride and groom welcomed everyone to the tent to dine at farm tables tastefully decorated with ivory runners and gorgeous persimmon roses. Guests danced late into the evening under the glow of Japanese lanterns and uplighting on surrounding trees. We were so honored to be a part of creating another beautiful celebration!

A Russian River Wedding with Moroccan Flair

Jen Owsley — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:38:03 +0000

Along the Russian River, there’s an unassuming location, perfect for a couple with a vision. Parker’s Resort is a campground in Guerneville and rents out for private events. The bride and groom chose a Moroccan theme – the dinner tent was adorned with Moroccan hanging lanterns (rented from Raj Tents) and colorful paper lanterns were hung in the blue star lounge tent complete with Moroccan furnishings. The guests danced into the wee hours al fresco under a canopy of bistro lights. Just another testament to our tents’ ability to transform a space and act as a blank canvas for a variety of motifs.

An Orchard Wedding in Winters

Jen Owsley — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:50:33 +0000

Together with our tents, a rustic barn and a working orchard created a simply elegant setting for this small farming town wedding. The reception space surrounded a dance floor draped above with Italian bistro lights. The tents were lit with orange and natural japanese lanterns. Our farm tables adorned with simple centerpieces of fresh fruit and flowers were the perfect fit with the couples’ theme…’farm chic’, of course.

Pretty in Pink – A Summer Celebration in Lake Tahoe

Jen Owsley — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:46:46 +0000

For this grand event, we built sisal covered decks on the beach for our tents. We also made some custom staging to accommodate the band and the various circus acts. It was an amazingly creative party complete with contortionists performing both in the trees and in our tent. Paula LeDuc Fine Catering executed the incredible food – the whole roasted pig being the stand out. And of course, the extraordinary fireworks display was the perfect finale to the pinkest party in town.

Project Wedding – Real Wedding of the Week

Jen Owsley — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 04:16:42 +0000

Check us out on Project Wedding – we are featured in the “Real Wedding of the Week” for Shannon and Jay’s gorgeous Angel Island Wedding. Photos by Lisa Lefkowitz and wedding coordination by Grace Lee.

A Midsummer Evening Wedding on the Russian River

Jen Owsley — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:04:35 +0000

We thought we would share some photos from a wedding at Dawn Ranch this past weekend. This 15 acre guest ranch is a sweet little spot in Guerneville on the banks of the Russian River. Alison Hotchkiss and Kelsey Sheofsky of Alison Events planned a fun three days of events for the guests. Zephyr Tents provided the tenting, japanese lanterns, farm tables, benches, and Adirondack furniture. Alison put together a great team with decor by Loop Flowers, event lighting by Refraction and catering by Grapevine Catering.

The Outdoor Wedding Dilemma: Under the Stars or Under a Canopy?

Jen Owsley — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 04:25:21 +0000

Often a couple wrestles with this question when planning an outdoor wedding on the west coast. Back east you haven’t really a choice, there’s no predicting the weather so you better take cover. However, in California it rarely rains in the summer. But what some folks forget is that once the sun goes down, no matter how hot a day it is, the evenings are cool.

If it’s cold, you’ll lose your guests. Lose your guests and there goes the party. Our answer to the dilemma – how about both?

Dine at long tables under a canopy of Italian Bistro lights connecting to a dance tent for boogieing and late-night lounging. Your guests will stick around ’til the wee hours in the comfort of a cozy tent. Just think of all the stories the next morning at brunch…

The Importance of Lighting

Jen Owsley — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:27:29 +0000

The importance of lighting is often overlooked when planning weddings and special events. The client has so many other decisions to make – decor, food, flowers, linens, tables… – that when it comes to a less-understood element such as lighting, they have run out of gas, not to mention money. But here is why you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of lighting.

Lighting is essential in setting the mood for your event. Whether the atmosphere wants to be romantic and natural or colorful and fun, the right lighting will enhance these intentions. A leaf pattern gobo achieves the effect of soft, romantic moonlight filtered through the trees and colored gels can bring any boring space to life.

Safety for your guests is also something to consider when planning your outdoor event. A site visit to the property at night will reveal how extensive and safe the existing outdoor lighting is for a large event. Most permanent landscape lighting provides enough guidance for just a few people to meander through the property. With a wedding or special event, the lighting needs to be adjusted accordingly – stairs, pathways to the restrooms and parking, and any changes to the landscape should all be high-lighted.

Many event sites have beautiful trees and structures that, when lit, add drama to the property at night. The details that make this site special to you should be given special attention. When up-lighting a home, focus on the unique details of the architecture and give them depth. When guests stroll the property, they’ll enjoy the character of the home and landscape. We love how dramatic a redwood tree looks lit up at night.

Lighting may just be the final element you need in creating that unforgettable setting. I’ve been witness to too many events where everything looks so beautiful during the day but the moment the sun goes down, the décor is lost in darkness. Bottom line – you’ve spent a lot of your time and money on choosing just the right flowers, food, decor, linens, and location – now light your event properly so your guests will enjoy those details.