A week with Hy-Lite Productions – Destination Wedding in the Bahamas (part 1)

An age is called “dark,” not because the light fails to shine but because people refuse to see it.  ~James Michener

Most any size event has its unique challenges. We welcome them, we work thru them, and in a very strange way – we live for them. Working on a 3 day destination wedding in the Bahamas? Yeah, I’ll take that please!  Although I am hired as a lighting designer along with my team at Hy-lite, my view here on this blog is as seen from the camera lense. With that being said, I welcome you to sit back, grab a beverage, and enjoy the scenery (now that sounded kinda stupid, didn’t it? Oh well, here we go………)

My involvement in the wonderful world of special event lighting has allowed me to travel to some pretty cool places, and this of course, was one of those locations. Set in the tropical paradise of the Bahamas just off of Marsh Harbor, our biggest challenge was the fact that we were on an Island. Its kinda funny that when we were lighting an event a couple of seasons ago at a gallery almost across the street from our studio, we seemed to make multiple trips back to the shop to grab gear we overlooked in the planning process. Well, since the gear had to be on a container 3 weeks before the event to arrive and clear customs and allow for setup time, there was no margin for that kind of error! We packed a few extra things just in case we had to “McGuiver” anything though…just to be safe.

Our first event was a “Welcome Dinner” set on a little island near the new harbor on the end of the island. Shy of a couple of really bad iphone images, I don’t have anything to share with you except this one. I kinda like it!

The second evening was the night of the rehearsal dinner. Once again, no award winning shots to speak of. With all the camera gear I lugged over there, you would think I would have a bit more to share (except for the hours of bad video footage of us getting around the islands on the preferred mode of transport…..the “Golf Cart”…but thats another story altogether! Here is a collage I created from the table detail just before the guests arrived.

We had a little time, or actually took the time to unwind when possible and enjoy the scenery. Just a golfcart ride away from the “HyLite” compound was the “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” village by the old harbor. THE place to hang out after work. Just make sure you have a designated golf cart driver!

After the first couple of events were under way, the largest of the logistical challenges were well taken care of (thanks to my rock star team of course!), and it was time to chill out with Michelle my client and Anthony the tenting coordinator. After a brief wind down, we enjoyed a most magical display of color and light….Bahamas Style!

The floral treatment in the main reception tent was quite simply breathtaking! Here is a sneak peak black and white display of the flowers just before the guests arrived. I have some really cool images to share from the inside of the tent tomorrow, so check back tomorrow!

A few members of the team!

The Event Design and Production Michelle and Garrett from Michelle Rago
The Wedding Planner Ann and Nicki from David Reinhard Events
The Lighting Hy-Lite Productions, Inc.
The Tenting Anthony with Premier Tenting