Author: Jasmine Couvillion

Happy fall – can you believe the summer is over?  Schools are back in session, football season is about to start (do you have your fantasy rosters set yet?), and the holidays are just around the corner!  Here at Excel, we’ve been busy with more than just our usual event productions and installations – we are excited to finally announce a new chapter for Excel:  We have re-branded as Excel Event & Lighting Solutions! 

Over the years we have become so much more than the region’s theatrical lighting resource – and our team has developed to reflect that.  When asked about the change, Frank Serruto, President of Excel, said: “It was the natural next step for us to take – our core team has always had the experience to produce a variety of events at a very high level.  Not all of our clients realize we offer complete event planning management and production, but those who have been using us over the years have come to rely on us as an extension of their own team. It was time to change our name to reflect this.”

For those of you who have followed our journey for some time, we will still be offering the same high level installations, sales, design services, and rental support that you’ve experienced all along.  But you may have also noticed some changes that have been a part of our transformation – including a move to a bigger warehouse and office space in Hunt Valley this past year.

We hope you will stay tuned as we will share more news about what we are up to … and maybe even a few insider tips about the event biz!

Originally Posted on The Knot Real Weddings site

Photography provided by A.J. Dunlap Photography

“Steve Coppinger, 32, an executive buyer, married Maggie Gillespie, 31, an anesthesiologist, in a beautiful and elegant wedding in Washington, D.C.The couple knew they wanted to get married in DC and ended up choosing St. John’s Episcopal in Lafayette Square as the location for the ceremony and Old Ebbitt Grill as the location for the reception. “We knew that we wanted a spring wedding, and given the location of the church we envisioned our guests strolling past the White House as they walked from the ceremony to the reception,” says the bride.”

– The Knot

The client’s color palette for the wedding and reception was a classic mix of grey, navy, and white with very simple yet elegant decor. The client wanted lighting that would not only to complement their color palette but would also make a statement in the space.

Excel plotted a design for bright elegant up-lighting around the perimeter of the room highlighting the Ebbitt’s unique architectural design. Up-lighting was also strategically placed in some of the potted natural elements in the space to draw the eye and create a more bold look. “The building already has such a unique architectural build that when mixed with the lighting elements we provided the space was completely transformed and most importantly the client was happy,” said Frank Serruto, Excel’s President and CEO.

Originally Posted on Mitzvah Market site

Photography provided by Silber Photography

Lilly Rose was the honoree of the night at her beautiful lily rose garden themed Bat Mitzvah held at the Four Seasons Baltimore.

“Taking direction from magazine spreads that the Bat Mitzvah Mom had saved, linens and accessories such as elegant chargers, colorful chairs, beaded napkin wraps, custom floral Gobos (light projections) and handcrafted centerpieces were selected…. The dance floor plasma screens showed off the beautiful logo and the custom floral gobos danced along the walls.”
-Mitzvah Market

Excel worked with the design team to accentuate different decorative elements with up-lighting for the walls and furniture, as well as pinspots to highlight the beautiful centerpieces. To create a show-stopping effect as soon as guests entered the ballroom, we utilized a half dozen moving profile fixtures elevated on truss towers to project custom floral gobos around the walls and on the ceiling. This showcased the power of carefully designed lighting to tie together an event space – helping to create an unforgettable experience for Lilly’s special day!