The Foundry

The Foundry

The Foundry (Long Island City, NY): The Foundry is a 19th Century building that has been meticulously restored.  The interior boasts 3,000+ square feet of raw space.  Also there is a lush outdoor courtyard.  Additionally a rooftop terrace with views of the Manhattan skyline.  As well as an in doors greenhouse and fully equipped industrial kitchen.

Why is Lighting Important?:

Lighting makes up one-half of the most essential elements of décor at The Foundry. Your wedding florals should complete the other half. 

A perfect balance of lighting and florals are the key ingredients needed for a visually stunning event in this space. If it is the use of candles often provided by your florist or bulbs rented from our company, a perfect balance will ensure the beauty of your florals and this venue are still visible after the sun goes down.

Here are a few lighting tips for the different locations at The Foundry:

The Main Room:

String Lights in Zigzagging Pattern

• Don’t overlook a simple arrangement of 150ft of our String Lights suspended in a zigzagging pattern across the balcony in The Main Room. This timeless lighting pattern compliments the main room at a low cost.  As a result it visually provides “more bang for fewer bucks.”
• Similarly an arrangement of 300ft of our String Lights with S14 bulbs or 300ft of our String Lights with G50 bulbs suspended in a zigzagging pattern across the balcony in The Main Room can also be considered because they are both timeless lighting patterns.

Additional Overhead Lighting Options

• A Canopy of String Lights with round G50 bulbs provide a dense collection of parallel lines overhead.  Typically there are just a few inches between each parallel line.  As a result a blanket of light is created overhead.
• Fairy Lights / Icicle Lights provide a dense collection of lights.  Each strand of light hangs down at various heights and are closely spaced.  As a result a three-dimensional pattern of hanging lights is created overhead.
• A Canopy of Twinkle Lights (Mini-LED String Lights) is similar a canopy created with G50 bulbs.  A look similar to a starry night is created because Twinkle Lights are used.
• Pendant Lamps with antique Edison bulbs.  Each Pendant Lamps hangs as an individual cord.  Therefore a single Antique Edison bulb will hang at the base of each cord.
• Chandeliers

Up-Lighting Against Walls

• Consider placing Warm White Up-Lights along the perimeter walls of both the ground floor and mezzanine level.

Spotlight on Large Floral Arrangements (First Alcove)

• Highlight a sizeable floral arrangement placed in the first alcove (between the stairway and the entrance door) with a spotlight. The in-house pin-spot suspended directly overhead in the first alcove is perfect for most medium and smaller floral arrangements. Consider including a spotlight provided by our company if you place a large-scale floral arrangement in this alcove.

Spotlight on Large Floral Arrangements (Rear Double Doors)

• Highlight a Large floral arrangement placed at the rear double doors that access the courtyard with a spotlight. Consider including a spotlight provided by our company to keep large florals arrangements visible after the sun has gone down.

Spotlight on Band Members

• Don’t forget to spotlight your band. A set of warm white lights will go far in highlighting the members of your band after sunset. You can also consider a set of color-changing lights to highlight your band members.  An individual will need to operate a controller to change the colors during their performance.

Spotlight on the Bar

• Don’t forget to spotlight your bar(s) in The Main Room. Your bar is a gathering place for guests to exchange conversation and laughs while they wait to receive their drinks.  The bar is almost a celebrity in popularity and will demand illumination. 

Spotlight for the Ceremony

• Help make your ceremony area stand out with a pair of spotlights.  Spotlighting your ceremony is especially important during the fall and winter due to an early sunset.

Pinspot your cake table

• You can consider providing a pin-spot for your cake table in the main room.

Gobo/ Monogram projected on the wall or floor

• You can consider projecting a custom gobo or monogram in the main room on the brick wall above the double courtyard doors on on the floor in the main room.
• You can consider projecting a stock gobo / textured wash on the floor in the main room

Curtain of vertical String Lights

• You can consider suspending a curtain of string lights vertically against the rear double doors that access the courtyard.  Vertical String Strings will obstruct the use of the double doors. You can consider carefully tying the vertical string lights back but there is a high risk of bulbs breaking.

Stage for a Band

• You can consider placing a stage to elevate a band. Therefore the band will have greater visibility inside The Main Room. Typically a stage is set at the rear double doors that access the courtyard or the front entrance. However, a stage will obstruct the front or rear door(s). Therefore your guests must use an alternative entry to access The Main Room.

Mezzanine Level

• The central area of The Mezzanine Level between the bathrooms and the stairway may require additional lighting.

Note: Don’t overlook the use of candles. Our company does not provide candles for decoration, but you can place an extensive arrangement of candles along the ledge on the mezzanine-level walls. Additional locations for using candles include along the ledge between the bathrooms and the entrance door on the ground floor. You can also place candles along the ledge iin the stairway between the ground floor and the mezzanine level. Finally, you can also place candles around the pool of water at the stairway’s base.

The Green House:

Illuminated Ledge / Shelf

• Take advantage of the in-house illuminated ledge along the ivy-covered walls.

Spotlight for the Bar

• Don’t forget to spotlight your bar in The Green House. Your bar will become a gathering place for guests to exchange conversation and laughs as they wait to receive their drinks. It is a frequently visited location that is almost celebrity in popularity and demands illumination.

Spotlight for the Ceremony

• Consider spotlighting your ceremony area in The Green House. Highlighting your ceremony area will always make it stand out, especially with an earlier sunset during the fall and winter months.

No other Lighting required

• Any other forms of lighting if somewhat optional for The Green House.

Note: Up-Lights are not effective in The Green House. This is because the illuminated ledge / shelf along the ivy-covered walls impede the lighting effect up-lights create.

The Albra Room:

No other Lighting required

• All forms of additional lighting is somewhat optional for The Albra Room.

Optional Chandeliers

• A pair of Circular Chandeliers w/ Votive Candles greatly compliment The Albra Room, but they are not required.

The Courtyard:

String Lights in Zigzagging Pattern

• String Lights suspended over the reception area of the courtyard are just about required for the use of this outdoor space after dark.

Note: Up-Lights are not very effective in The Courtyard. They typically don’t significantly enhance the appearance of the courtyard after dark.

Tent:

String Lights or Chandeliers

• It is best to considered suspending String lights or Chandeliers under your tent.  Additionally, you can consider suspending String Lights and Chandeliers together under your tent.  Both String lights and Chandeliers will provide a decorative source of light under your tent.  They are nicer alternative to the non-decorative lights typically supplied by the tent company.

Pinspot your table centerpiece

• You can consider providing a Pin-spot for the centerpiece on each dinner table under your tent.

Note: Up-Lights are not effective under a clear top tent or a tent with open walls. This is because the lighting effect up-lights create is only visible when projected against a solid wall or ceiling.