Should couples consider additional lighting for their wedding at The W-Loft?
The W-Loft
The W-Loft (Brooklyn, NY): The W Loft boasts elegant waterfront views of the Manhattan skyline, as well as the surrounding boroughs. As a result, the glass walls making up the interior allow for guests to keep comfortable and still enjoy the view, no matter what the weather is like. Therefore, The W-Loft is a perfect wedding venue and it can be enhanced with additional lighting.
Is The W Loft in Brooklyn the Right Wedding Venue For You?
Choosing a wedding venue is arguably the most critical decision in the planning process. It sets the tone for your entire celebration, dictates your guest count, and often influences your budget more than any other line item. If you’ve been scrolling through Brooklyn venue options, you’ve likely stumbled upon The W Loft—a scenic, modern space in Williamsburg that often tops the lists of “most Instagrammable” wedding spots.
But pretty pictures are only half the story. You need to know if the logistics match the look. Is it big enough for your family? Does the vibe match your vision? Here is a breakdown of what makes The W Loft special, along with a few considerations to help you decide if it’s “the one.”
Breathtaking Views That Speak for Themselves
The undisputed star of The W Loft is the view. Located on the Williamsburg waterfront, the venue boasts panoramic vistas of the Manhattan skyline. For many couples, this is the selling point. The rooftop terrace allows you to exchange vows with the Empire State Building and the East River as your backdrop.
This isn’t just about the ceremony, either. As the sun sets and the city lights flicker on, the atmosphere transforms. It provides a built-in “wow factor” that requires very little extra decoration. Your wedding photos will naturally feature one of the most iconic skylines in the world, saving you the trouble of finding a separate location for portraits.
A Modern, Minimalist Canvas
If you are looking for a venue dripping with gold leaf, heavy drapes, or rustic barn wood, this probably isn’t it. The W Loft is celebrated for its sleek, industrial-chic aesthetic. The interior is defined by white walls, large windows, and an airy, open feel.
This minimalism is a massive advantage for creative couples. It acts as a blank canvas, allowing you to bring your specific vision to life without fighting against existing carpet patterns or dated wallpaper. Whether you want a jungle of greenery, a disco-ball-filled dance party, or a stark, high-fashion monochrome theme, the space adapts to you. It’s particularly popular for couples who want a non-traditional wedding that feels more like a chic party than a formal banquet.
Indoor and Outdoor Versatility
Weather in New York is unpredictable, which makes indoor/outdoor venues highly desirable. The W Loft offers a seamless flow between the climate-controlled interior and the wraparound scenic rooftop.
A common flow for weddings here involves hosting the ceremony on the roof to capitalize on the view, followed by a cocktail hour that utilizes both spaces, and finally moving inside for dinner and dancing. This flexibility ensures that guests don’t feel trapped in one room for six hours, and it provides an excellent backup plan if the weather decides not to cooperate.
The Ideal Guest Count
While the loft feels spacious, it is best suited for intimate to medium-sized weddings. Zola notes that the capacity is roughly 80 seated guests or up to 150 for a standing, cocktail-style reception.
This makes it a perfect fit for the “micro-wedding” trend or for couples who prefer a tighter guest list of close friends and family. However, this is where logistics come into play. If your invite list is pushing 150 and you want a formal sit-down dinner with a large dance floor, the space might feel squeezed.
Some past couples have noted that with maximum capacity seated at tables, the dance floor area can become intimate. If you are planning a rave-style dance party, you may want to cap your guest list closer to 80 or 90 to ensure everyone has room to move.
Flexibility and Personalization
One of the biggest praises from past couples is the ability to customize the experience. Unlike hotel ballrooms that often require you to use their in-house catering and standard linens, The W Loft is generally more flexible.
This openness allows for unique catering options—think food trucks parked downstairs or family-style dining from your favorite local restaurant. It is a space that invites personality, allowing you to curate a vendor team that matches your specific taste and budget. Reviews frequently mention positive experiences with the venue staff, who are helpful in making these personalized dreams a reality.
The Verdict
So, is The W Loft right for you?
It’s a perfect match if:
- You want a modern, non-traditional wedding.
- The NYC skyline view is a top priority.
- You have a guest list under 100 people.
- You want a blank slate to design your own aesthetic.
You might want to keep looking if:
- You are planning a massive wedding with 200+ guests.
- You prefer a venue that is “all-inclusive” with on-site catering and rentals included.
- You want a rustic or highly traditional ballroom aesthetic.
Ultimately, The W Loft offers a quintessential Brooklyn experience: stylish, scenic, and a little bit cool. If that sounds like you, it’s definitely worth a tour.
The Main Room: Lighting options for a Wedding at The W-Loft
STRING LIGHTS IN ZIGZAGGING PATTERN
- Zigzagging String Lights is a timeless lighting pattern. Therefore, you should consider hanging a simple arrangement of String Lights suspended in a zigzagging pattern. Furthermore, string lights will enhance the look of a wedding reception at The W-Loft. In addition, an arrangement of hanging string lights is visually appealing and supplies “more bang for fewer bucks.”
STRING LIGHTS WITH PAPER LANTERNS
- Consider hanging a combination of paper lanterns and zigzagging String Lights for a wedding reception in the main room at The W-Loft. Our paper lanterns are evenly spaced along our Zigzagging String Lights. Therefore, the paper lanterns make a beautiful enhancement to hanging string lights. As a result, it is an excellent upgrade to an arrangement of string lights for a wedding at The W-Loft
UP-LIGHTING AGAINST WALLS
- Our company is a huge fan of up-lighting placed against walls, and this venue is no exception. Therefore, we strongly support using Warm White Up-Lights at The W-Loft. As a result, Up-lights greatly enhance the space by providing an accent light against the walls. Therefore, consider placing Warm White Up-Lights around the perimeter walls of the main room. Furthermore, consider putting Warm White Up-Lights at the base of the two center columns.
LARGE HANGING FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS
- Highlight a sizeable hanging floral arrangement with a spotlight. Hanging floral arrangements are almost always a conversation piece. Therefore, any sizeable floral arrangement should be highlighted with additional lighting to remain visible after dark. Fortunately, there are better options than the in-house track lights included with the venue for illuminating hanging florals. As an alternative, consider including spotlights provided by our company to highlight any large-scale hanging floral arrangements. Alternatively, at a minimum, consider hanging string lights with your sizeable floral arrangement to ensure they remain visible after dark.
LARGE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS (set on the bar)
- Sizeable floral arrangements are always a conversation piece. Therefore, consider providing a spotlight for them to ensure they remain visible after the sun has gone down. Thus, highlight any sizeable standing floral arrangements or sizeable florals on display on the main bar in the rear section of the venue. Similarly, highlight any sizeable florals that are on display on tables.
BAND MEMBERS
- Seeing the members of a band is a crucial part of their performance. Therefore, consider providing a spotlight to highlight their performance area. Therefore, members of your band will remain seen after sunset. Additionally, their movements and facial expressions are visible. As a result, your wedding at The W-Loft will benefit significantly from additional lighting for your band.
- Furthermore, you can also consider using a set of color-changing lights to highlight your band members. Usually, dimmable warm-white lights are appropriate. As an alternative, you can consider color-changing lights for your band as an upgrade from warm-white lights. However, a person must operate a controller to change the colors during the band’s performance.
THE BAR
- The main bar at The W-Loft is a celebrity in popularity. As a result, the main bar usually becomes a gathering place where guests exchange conversations and laughs while waiting to receive their drinks. For this reason, you can consider highlighting the main bar with a set of spotlights. Nevertheless, consider using the in-house track lights to illuminate your bar. Consequently, it requires you to focus the track lights at your bar. Nevertheless, the track lights will typically provide sufficient light for your bar without installing additional lights.
WEDDING CEREMONY LIGHTING AT THE W-LOFT
- During the fall and winter months, sunset will arrive early in the day. Therefore, your ceremony area may appear dark. As a result, viewing your ceremony and the quality of your wedding photos may be affected. For this reason, highlighting your wedding ceremony at The W-Loft with additional lighting is usually essential during these months. Hence, adding additional lighting will ensure your wedding ceremony at The W-Loft remains visible at sunset.
WEDDING CAKE LIGHTING AT THE W-LOFT
- After dark, your wedding cake may require additional lighting at The W-Loft. Therefore, pin-spot lighting is essential to highlight your wedding cake after dark.
CURTAIN OF VERTICAL STRING LIGHTS
- Vertical Strings (or String Lights hanging horizontally with multiple swoops) is an excellent addition to the wall behind your ceremony area. Therefore, consider suspending a curtain of string lights vertically against the wall behind the ceremony area.
The Outdoor Terrace: Lighting options for a Wedding at The W-Loft
STRING LIGHTS IN ZIGZAGGING PATTERN
- String Lights hanging above a NYC rooftop with the NYC Skyline in the background is a timeless look. Therefore, you should consider hanging a simple arrangement of String Lights suspended in a zigzagging pattern above the outdoor terrace. Furthermore, string lights will enhance the look of a wedding reception at The W-Loft. In addition, an arrangement of hanging string lights provides general lighting for guests in this area after dark.
STRING LIGHTS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE OVERHANG
- Consider hanging String Lights along the edge of the overhang along the side of terrace for a wedding at The W-Loft. Our String Lights will help add additional lighting for the Terrace after dark. As a result, it is a cost effective alternative to suspending string lights overhead for a wedding at The W-Loft
Popular (Dance Floor) Lighting Options
Mirror Ball w/ Motor & Spotlight
Sound Activated / Color-Changing Wash
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Approximate Total w/ NYC Tax, Setup, and Delivery
Delivery $75 / NYC Tax (8.875%)