FAQ on Gobos

What is a gobo?

Our prospective clients ask us this question often, so we'd like to explain the meaning and applications here. 

A gobo is a steel or glass stencil-like sheet that is used in light projection fixtures. Gobos project patterns, textures, colors, and graphics on to floors, ceilings and walls.

The name gobo comes from "go between" or "goes between optics". The gobo is inserted into a sleeve in between the light fixture's light source (bulb) and its lens. The lens allows the installer to focus and size the projected image based on the desired look.

There are two primary types of gobos: standard stock gobos and custom gobos. 

There are also two types of gobo materials: steel and glass.

Standard Gobos

Standard gobos, or stock gobos, are gobos that are pre-manufactured in thousands of different patterns, images, and objects. Many common items, such as landmarks, hearts, stars, sports imagery, and abstract patterns are available as standard gobos. When you select a standard gobo projection fixture rental, we include your choice of standard/stock gobos at no additional charge.

Custom Gobos

Custom gobos are manufactured specifically for your event. They can include your logo, company name, couples' names, initials, event date, graphic of choice, and so on. They are manufactured by taking your image (a high resolution JPEG, PNG, or PDF) and manipulating it based on the type of gobo.

Steel Gobos

Steel gobos are the most frequently used kind of gobo. They are laser-cut from a thin sheet of steel. This means that the image being produced has "bridging", which refers to very thin lines to hold the gobo pattern together. For example, this image shows the difference between the original graphic and the gobo pattern:

(Image via Apollo)

Steel gobos are the most cost-effective choice of custom gobo. However, there are some limitations to the complexity of the image, and some graphics are more heavily impacted by bridging than others.

Glass Gobos

Glass gobos are custom manufactured, and can include a 1-color or full color image of your logo, monogram, or other graphic. Glass gobos can be more complex and also more easily legible than steel gobos. If you are hosting an annual event, glass gobos are an excellent choice because the projection quality is high and they are reusable year after year.

How many gobos do I need?

To determine the quantity and type of gobos you need for your event, please contact us. We'll review the layout of the space, the objectives of the projections, and we'll develop a layout that creates the impact you're envisioning. Our phone number is 908-735-9870 and our email address is egg@eggsoticevents.com. Please also visit our website at www.eggsoticevents.com.

Birch Wedding at The Bernards Inn • Bernardsville, New Jersey

For many events, we collaborate with several other companies to create the completed design. Sometimes, we provide centerpieces while an AV company sets up lights. Other times, we provide lighting and room decor while a florist does centerpieces. We love working with others, but sometimes an event comes along where we are chosen as the full service event design company from start to finish. We act as the lighting, floral, installation and fabrication company for all of the event's decor needs.

View fullsize

When we book these projects, we spend months planning, designing, building and preparing a complete decor and lighting package. There are few things more satisfying than seeing countless hours of hard work come together in one beautiful room.

For this wedding, we were chosen by Diane Carr and Jeffrey Haines of the Bernards Inn. We have worked with them in past years with excellent results, and they knew that we were the right team to bring their concept to life on time and on budget.

After the design phase was complete, we set to work on finding resources for each element. We went to floral markets to find out what would be in season in October. We found the best local resource for live trees that are over 10' tall. We found a man in Michigan who collects birch bark from naturally downed trees in the woods near his home.

View fullsize

We built, painted and applied birch bark to an 8' x 8' freestanding wall. We found just the right lengths of birch trunks to create a chuppah entirely out of wood. We sewed fabric, made birch candle holders, and chose new lighting fixtures to get just the right amount of light throughout the room.  We also built four birch arches, customized planters, and selected floral accents.

View fullsize

Our floral centerpieces featured hydrangea, orchids, roses, lilies, cabbage, and several other accent flowers. Our staff florist even waxed leaves individually by hand to make perfect decorative accents for each place setting. 

View fullsize

When the big day came, the room was absolutely spectacular. It had a feeling of warmth and romance to it that can't be fully captured in photographs. It delighted us, the venue staff, and of course the bride and groom. 

Here is a full list of the items and services we provided:

Design sketches and CAD drawings
Custom wrinkle-free drape
Custom birch wall backdrop
Custom birch arches with grapevine and floral accents
Live birch and ficus trees
Floral centerpieces
Birch candle holders with eco-friendly soy tea lights
Bridal and bridesmaids' bouquets
Boutonnieres
Perimeter uplighting
Pin spotting
 

This wedding was recently featured in New Jersey Bride magazine, and on their website. Click here to read the story. Our favorite quote comes from the bride, who said, "At the last arch, I had that moment of realizing, ‘Wow, I’m getting married. The next chapter is beginning.'"

Our deepest thanks to Andres Valenzuela Photography for sharing his beautiful photos of the day.

Venue: The Bernards Inn, Bernardsville, New Jersey

Event Design Manager: Jeffrey Haines, Butler's of Far Hills

Lighting, Floral Design, Chuppah, Custom Decor: Eggsotic Events

Event Photography: Andres Valenzuela Photography

Additional Photography: Eggsotic Events and Frank Peluso

Venue Feature: Grounds for Sculpture, Trenton / Hamilton Twp, NJ

Here at Eggsotic, we love things that are out of the ordinary. One-of-a-kind props, avant garde centerpiece designs, and new, artistic interpretations of classic concepts. 

That's why we love Grounds for Sculpture. When it comes to New Jersey banquet venues, most places tend to feel lacking in creativity and unique style. Grounds for Sculpture, based in Trenton/Hamilton Township, NJ, is a breath of fresh air. 

Before you arrive, you'll see sculptures as you drive toward the venue, hinting at what's to come. Some will even catch you off guard, like this one: 

Photo by MK Photography

Grounds for Sculpture features 42 acres of gardens and sculptures, perfect for a day of walking through the scenic landscapes and finding the funny, clever, thought-provoking, and often tongue-in-cheek works of art. Many permanent sculptures are by the founder, Seward Johnson. The collection also features works by many local and world-renowned artists.

What we love the most about Grounds for Sculpture is that it's the perfect place to host events for weddings, galas, fundraisers, anniversary parties, and any other special event that you may otherwise host at a banquet hall.

Photo by MK Photography

Their event space is a blank canvas, decorated only by a few sculptures and hung artwork. It allows their clients to create their own perfect look for their event by implementing lighting, ceiling treatments, floral designs, props, and custom decor. 

We love the facilities and staff at Grounds for Sculpture, and truly enjoy designing events there that enhance the event spaces and bring another touch of art to an already beautiful location. 

Weddings

Photo by MK Photography

Our most recent event at Grounds for Sculpture was a wedding for a wonderful client, the Rainwater family. The couple got engaged in Tucson, AZ, and came back to the bride's home state to get married. They had a vision of simple, understated elegance throughout the ceremony and reception.

Photo by MK Photography

We provided bouquets, boutonnieres and corsages, then designed floral centerpieces to coordinate perfectly with the wearable floral. 

Photo by MK Photography

We also hung illuminated sphere lanterns to make the space more intimate and add softness to the very high industrial-style ceiling. 

Photo by MK Photography

We provided mini chalkboard escort cards as well. We love that the family decided to use first names (and initials as needed), rather than standard full names. It adds a sense of familiarity and connection with their guests.

Finally, amber uplighting in the reception space and chartreuse and yellow glowing elements in the cocktail hour highlighted the couple's chosen wedding colors. 

We love the results of this wedding and look forward to helping many more couples design their dream reception space at Grounds for Sculpture. 

Thank you so much to Mike and Jana of MK Photography for sharing their gorgeous photos of the day. 

Event Info: 
Venue: Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Roxanne Klett, Corporate and Private Events Manager

Floral Design, Lighting, Glowing Lounge Furniture, Lanterns, and Escort Cards: Eggsotic Events
Catering: Main Street Fine Catering, Princeton, New Jersey

Photography: MK Photography, West Chester, Pennsylvania

Fundraisers

Photo by Egils Matiss

Photo by Egils Matiss

The Pennington School chose Grounds for Sculpture as the venue for their April in Paris themed fundraising gala. They wanted to highlight different elements of French culture, including nightlife, vineyards, and the iconic Eiffel Tower.

We provided old world street lamps, a black and white checkered dance floor, ferris wheel gobo projection, auction lighting, perimeter uplighting, oak barrels, tapestries, and of course our 14'+ tall Giant Eiffel Tower. 

Photo by Egils Matiss

We even custom-constructed a last-minute addition: an extra support piece inside the Eiffel Tower to accommodate a video projector. The projection was integral to the school's auction process and the room layout required the video to project "through" the tower. 

We encourage you to visit Grounds for Sculpture whether or not you're planning an event. It's a beautiful and inspiring way to spend a day, and an equally beautiful place for a wedding or gala. 

Summer Wedding at Greenacres Country Club

Eggsotic Events collaborated with a talented team of artists to create a beautiful, chic wedding reception at the Greenacres Country Club in Lawrence Township, NJ.

View fullsize

We surrounded the ballroom from floor to ceiling with lush white sheer drape. Bold, elegant LED uplighting added gorgeous purple tones throughout the room. 

View fullsize

Vanessa Joy Photography, one of New Jersey's top wedding photographers, captured beautiful decor photos of the lighting, drape and floral design. She also does amazing portraits that really capture the bride and groom's personalities.

View fullsize

The floral centerpieces were created by Jardiniere of Princeton, NJ, another great team with whom we always love to work side by side. The floral decor included white cymbidium orchids, white hydrangea, and a variety of roses.

View fullsize

All photographs courtesy of Vanessa Joy Photography.

Photography: Vanessa Joy Photography
Florist: Jardiniere Florals
Venue: Greenacres Country Club
Lighting and Drape: Eggsotic Events