When I hear the word “candle” my first thought goes to romance. Candlelit dinners, cozy fireplaces, camping with a bonfire. These may be some of your thoughts too. Candles may definitely be something you want to play an important role in wedding and reception.

Due to many fire laws in different towns however, “open flames” are not allowed. This means no candles on the tables, not candle lit lanterns along the path, etc. But don’t despair​. We have the perfect solution for you! 

LED candles have finally come into their own. What started as a fad with the only option being a LED votive has truly exploded into an entire industry. Everything from tapers in different lengths to pillars whether they be short or tall or round or square, to even votives - LED candles have become very accessible. Some tapers have a tip that looks like a flame and the light actually flickers for a more realistic feel. 

There are not only many styles of LED candles available but they are also commonly available battery powered. This is a major benefit if you want to use them as part of a centerpiece on your tables. There are no cords to run or trip over. 

In addition, many of the manufacturers are now also designing them with remote controls. This is a major time saver. Instead of having to go to each and every candle to turn it on at the proper moment (to save battery life) all we have to do is hit the button on a remote control and all the candles turn on!

Because LEDs need very little power, a single battery lasts for an entire event. Add to that the fact that many of the batteries for LED candles are rechargeable. On top of that, batteries, when disposed of properly, can now also be recycled!

This technology is not just a great way to add romance while staying safe. It is a very “green” technology that is ecologically responsible. We like to call this a win-win technology. It frees us to create the ambience you are looking for, within existing laws, and while also being responsible to the environment.

If you can dream it, most likely we can make it. Materials, labor, and of course time are the key factors in pricing. To simplify this idea think of it this way:

• Do you want it made out of wood or gold? 
• Do you want 100 tiny light bulbs or 10 large ones? 
• Do you want it in 5 months or tomorrow?

None of those questions affects the actual idea or the environment and feeling the idea will create. They are simply the “nuts and bolts” of achieving the idea. 
The whole point I’m trying to make is don’t let yourself be scared by the word custom. If you really take a moment to think about it, your whole wedding is custom. Nobody else’s wedding will be exactly like yours. Nor should it be. If you never ask the question, I can pretty much guarantee it won’t happen. So if you have a special thought about one detail or many…talk to the right vendor and see if it can happen.

Solar Energy has become a “buzz word” in the lighting industry. Synonyms include “green”, “efficient”, and “off the grid”. Everyone from businesses to residences to even government construction zones are embracing solar power. Solar energy does not produce air pollutants or carbon dioxide.​
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Many people ask if Solar Energy is a possible option for providing electricity at their wedding or wedding reception. With today’s state of technology the answer is a definite, possible, maybe. Let me explain the basics of how solar energy works first. 

We have all been using Solar Thermal Energy Systems for many years without even knowing it. Do you have a swimming pool? Does the water get warmer as the days get longer and hotter? Have you ever been inside a greenhouse made of glass? Do you remember how warm it was inside even in the winter? That heat was all generated from the sun.

Today’s solar cells, which you may have seen on houses or as an array in a field somewhere are like sponges. When sunlight hits the cell, it absorbs the energy from the sunlight and converts it into electricity. The solar cell becomes a battery - full of power waiting to be used. The key is how to access this wonderful power. In theory, anything that requires electricity can be powered by solar energy.

That all sounds great, and it is. But there are a few other considerations. Sunlight doesn’t hit every solar cell evenly. Geographic differences, seasons, weather, and time of day all contribute to how quickly that solar battery gets charged. And like a battery it can only hold a finite amount of electricity.

So let’s go back to the original question: Can you use solar energy at your wedding or reception. The answer is YES. The extent to which you can use it depends on a number of things.

The simplest way to use solar is for pathway lighting. There are a wide variety of pathway lights that have built in solar panels and photosensors. They can be set up a day or two ahead of time so the solar cell can be fully charged and then, just like magic, they will turn themselves on to illuminate the pathways once the sun starts to go down.

From a beginning of simple pathway lighting the sky is almost the limit. Perhaps your venue has a solar array on the property that your vendors can tap into for all their needs. OR anywhere in between. Just keep in mind that for our purposes solar equals electricity. Think of them in the same way. The higher the wattage of a coffee pot or musical amplifier or light the more solar it will need to work properly throughout your event.

If solar or other energy efficient options are important for you to consider, make sure to ask the question and ask it early. Sometimes it is easy to integrate alternate energy sources but sometimes it requires more planning. So much is possible today it is important to keep in mind that all it often requires is speaking up on the subject and letting your vendors run with it!
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​In BearFly Designs’ first blog - ever - we’d like to start off the same way we begin our process with every couple we work with: IT’S YOUR WEDDING! Now this may sound obvious but in our experience it’s not.
 
You may be pushed and pulled in a variety of directions from everyone including family, friends, and vendors. Since it is your day after all, take the time early on to identify what is most important to you. Make those details a priority and get them in place early on in your process. Conversely, if you want a simple day that too is your choice. The key is to plan a day that truly reflects who you are. Friendly advice can unknowingly turn into pressure. When making difficult decisions remember your own vision so that this very important day is the day you will want to remember in vivid detail.
 
If there is something, a flower - a location - an ambience - you truly want or have dreamt of since you were 6, NOW is the time. Think of it this way—if it matters to you then it is important. It is your day after all. Occasionally details may not be available to you, for whatever reason. That doesn’t mean the whole day is ruined. It means this is a time for creativity. Rely on your fiancé and those you trust to help you come up with a work around if a complication arises.
 
Once you have the framework in place it can start to feel like a runaway train. But it doesn’t have to, and that is the point we are making here. Every decision can and should be yours. Your Wedding day, above all other days, is the day where you get to plan every moment. Sometimes it can feel difficult to “put the brakes on” when everyone is being so helpful. Every once in a while it is good to take a step back and look at the whole day rather than each detail separately. This idea can give you the perspective you need to finalize that last detail!
 
No matter what happens during all the planning keep one thing in mind. If at the end of the day you are married to the person that you can’t live without, then the day was a success.