Name: Matt Murphy, lighting designer

Known for: Transforming events via illumination, putting people — from brides to celebrities — in their best possible light

Where to find him: Matt Murphy Event Lighting in Southampton, N.Y. (mattmurphyeventlighting.com)

Murphy’s Laws

Hire a pro: A good lighting designer can transform a venue from seeming like a boring cafeteria into a warm, inviting, romantic space. The trick is to find someone who specializes in the style you like. If you’re going for a cozy atmosphere, don’t hire someone known for LEDs and holograms. But if you want to go high-tech, with touches like neon and strobe lights, search for someone with that skill set. Ask your planner for referrals, and when you meet with prospective companies, request pictures of events they’ve done. While it can be hard to evaluate lighting by looking at photos, it will give you a general sense of their aesthetic.

Inquire about their stock: If you know you want a particular type of lighting fixture — say, chandeliers — ask if your pro has that in his warehouse. Otherwise, know that he’ll need to rent these pieces, so that cost will end up on your final invoice.

Talk to your venue: Many older, historic locations won’t allow you to drill into the walls or ceiling to do custom lighting, but you can utilize existing hardware and hang things from rafters. You can also put uplighting into potted plants, which accentuates foliage and throws nice textured shadows onto walls.

Dimmer is better: Ask your venue if you can install dimmers on their switches. It’s simple to do, and it’s nice to match the mood of the night by slowly dimming the lights. At the very least, you can almost always swap out the current bulbs for lower-wattage ones in an orange or amber shade. If your venue has recessed well lights, top them with colored gel sheets for a softer effect.

Get creative: Projecting an image on a blank wall can personalize a space without having to install or paint anything. If you hang a sailcloth canvas as a backdrop, the photograph will look like an oil painting.

Add lights to the top of your tent: In addition to the very popular big-tissue or paper poufs, consider brightening a tented space with suspended hurricane lamps, vine balls, Moroccan lanterns or even chandeliers.

Cozy up a ballroom: It can be tricky to make a cavernous space feel intimate, but it’s doable if you kill the overhead lighting and create a canopy using bistro lights instead.

Stay safe: If you want to incorporate candlelight, check with your venue and/or the local fire marshal. Many won’t let you have an exposed flame, but you can sometimes get around that by putting tea lights in jars or enclosed lanterns. You can also try the battery-operated versions. If you’re doing the lighting yourself, take the time to tie back cables and bury extension cords for a cleaner look — and to avoid having guests trip on them. Also, calculate the wattage you’ll require. You might need a generator if the venue is short on power. Losing your lighting isn’t how you want people to remember your wedding!

Additional tips

Choose bulbs in unique shapes and unexpected colors.

Edison: For some vintage flair, attach a few of these to a hanging-cord set and let them dangle above your bar or escort-card table.

Colored: Whether you opt for a single style or a mix of shapes and sizes, colorful bulbs say “party!” String them along the ceiling of a tent or above a dance floor, or thread them through stair rails.

Twinkle: These petite string lights can’t help but lend a sweet and festive feel to a space. Edge your bar with them, frame an entryway, tuck them into bushes, or wrap them around a topiary or vine balls.