Monogram & gobo lighting. Your names or a pattern in light.
A custom gobo projects your names or a pattern onto a floor or wall. I coordinate the artwork and placement, and the details are confirmed in your quote.
Key takeaways
- A gobo is a stencil inside a focused light. It projects your names, your date or a pattern onto a floor or wall.
- I coordinate the artwork and the placement, and I send a proof before the design is locked.
- It pairs with uplighting, and it stays off during dinner.
- Details are arranged for your event and confirmed in your quote.
What a gobo actually is
A gobo is a small stencil that sits inside a focused light. The beam comes out carrying a shape instead of a plain circle. Cut that stencil to your initials or first names and it becomes a monogram light.
It puts your actual identity into the room, which colour alone does not. It also gives photographers a clean, repeatable focal point to shoot all night. I read the room first, because the right surface is what makes a monogram look intentional.
- Focused light
A fixture directs a beam toward a surface.
- Custom stencil
The gobo shapes the light into initials, names or a pattern.
- Projected design
The pattern appears on a floor or wall.
Names, a monogram, or a pattern
| Custom | Pattern | |
|---|---|---|
| What it shows | Your first names, your initials as a monogram, your wedding date, or all of it together | Foliage, geometric texture or soft shapes, with no text |
| How it reads | This is us | Atmosphere |
| What you send | Your wording or a rough design idea | Nothing, or a look you like |
I coordinate the artwork, and you see the layout before it is locked.
Where it lands in the room
One fixture can project onto the dance floor, a feature wall, behind the head table or in the entrance or foyer. I choose the surface on our planning call and include the placement in the lighting plan. The dance floor usually reads better because guests naturally face it.
A high gloss floor washes out crisp edges, so I angle the light toward the most matte section. Once the room is dark, it takes about two minutes to dial in the monogram, so your photographer gets a steady focal point.
Uplighting washes the walls in your palette, and the monogram is the focal point. I plan them together so they read as one look. See wedding uplighting.
Skip projected imagery if you like simple lighting, or if your venue restricts extra lighting equipment.
Monogram and gobo FAQ
What is a gobo, and what is a monogram light?
A gobo is a stencil inside a focused light. It projects names, a date or a pattern onto a floor or wall. A monogram uses the same fixture with artwork cut to your design. Both are arranged for your event and confirmed in your quote.
Where does the monogram project, on the floor or the wall?
I choose the surface and placement for a crisp, level image. The dance floor becomes a centrepiece guests dance over; a clean wall or space behind the head table reads large in photos. Either way, I pick the surface on our planning call so the image sits level.
Can I have our names and date, or only a pattern?
You can use first names, initials as a monogram, your wedding date, or a decorative pattern without text. Send your wording or idea; I coordinate artwork cut to match before the day. Text-free patterns include foliage, geometric textures and soft shapes.
How much does monogram or gobo lighting cost?
I quote it with your package. Custom artwork is the main variable, since a custom-cut gobo is a different job from a generic pattern. I give you the quote on a short call once I know your design, venue and how much of the day is covered.
Does the monogram light pair with uplighting?
Yes. Uplighting washes the walls in your palette; the monogram provides a focal point on the floor or behind the head table. Both are arranged for your event and confirmed in your quote, with colour and image planned together. I plan the colour and the image together, so they read as one look.
Do we have to design the gobo ourselves?
I handle the layout. Tell me your names and any date you want included, plus any look you like. I send you a proof before the design is locked in, so you see the layout first. You do not need to draw anything or design the stencil yourselves.
What if our venue does not have a big blank wall?
The dance floor usually reads better because guests naturally face it. A clean wall or the space behind the head table also works, and I choose the surface for a crisp, level image. I check the room on our planning call and tell you what will work best.
Will the light be on all night during dinner?
It stays off during dinner. I cue it up as the room shifts into dancing, and we agree the timing on our planning call, so the cue is planned before the night. Your guests see it arrive as the dance floor opens.
He met with us beforehand, arrived early, and ran the night flawlessly: ceremony, timing, and his MC intros all perfectly placed.
A 50% deposit holds your date, and the balance is due 2 weeks before the wedding. Full terms are on my standards and booking terms page.
The setup travels with your DJ booking across Ottawa, Gatineau and the valley. Farther out, travel is built into your quote.
Keep reading
Send me your design idea.
Include your initials or a rough sketch and your venue so I can coordinate artwork and placement.