Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging
465 Tenth Ave., at 36th St., second fl., 212-722-3349; bentleymeeker.com
Bentley Meeker and his team of five designers work with the kind of intense creativity that makes a wedding feel like a work of fine art. For the 300 nuptials Meeker lights each year, he emphasizes a couple’s aesthetic preferences (for example, by star-lighting the Terrace Room’s ceiling at the Plaza, or blanketing a gallery in orange light). His lighting aims to flatter guests while disguising the venue’s weaknesses. He excels at texturing blank wall spaces with elegant rococo patterns, friezes, and if desired, monograms. Services start at about $4,000. Book six months in advance.
Frost Lighting
212-751-0223; frostlighting.com
Frost Lighting comes recommended from event designers like David Stark and Elizabeth Allen. Frost has invested a great deal in high-quality equipment (soft spotlights, lasers, disco balls) and maintenance, which allows his team to customize each affair on their roster. From a wintry-themed dinner with bold blue lighting, to a complicated interior landscape that morphs from a sunset into a night sky in the course of an evening, Frost will light blowouts of any size. Prices start at around $3,000. Book three months in advance.
Levy Lighting
347 W. 36th St., nr. Eighth Ave., 212-925-4640; levylighting.com
With twenty years of experience as a lighting designer, head technician Ira Levy prides himself on paying attention to the technical nitty-gritty without skimping on the creative details. He prefers to work in rich amber and lavender tones, and will update clients regularly with design mock-ups. The company primarily uses LEDs (which consume less electricity) and the exclusive line of wireless Pronto lights to cut down on strewn-about cables, labor time, and power hookups that cost money. At a reception in a trendy L.A. club, Levy projected ornate carpets onto the floor, which gave the club an unexpected warmth. Prices start around $3,500. Book ten months in advance.
Stortz Lighting
609 Degraw St., nr. Fourth Ave., Park Slope718-237-5371; stortzlighting.com
Stortz has been lighting weddings of all budgets for over two decades. Lead designer Chris Pouch likes to be in on the step-by-step discussions about pinspotting, floor lights, and customized projections that give the venue an organic feel. Stortz’s broad inventory of equipment (lights, audio, video, draping) generally covers 90 percent of their design needs—but if rental equipment is required, they will deal with the necessary logistics, including transportation and payment. Their portfolio runs the gamut of indoor and outdoor wedding receptions. Services start at $2,000. Book six months in advance.