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On October 29, 2025, SKYLIGHT opened its doors for a one-night transformation: An immersive open house designed and fully planned by Honor and Sophie of the 828 Planning Denver team. While SKYLIGHT Denver is widely known as a bright, blank-canvas venue, this event set out to challenge every expectation. Instead of airy minimalism or greenery-forward simplicity, guests were welcomed into a dramatically reimagined version of the space: dark, moody, atmospheric, and undeniably romantic.
This is the story of how the ’Til Death Open House came to life, and why it left such a lasting impression on couples, vendors, and community partners across Denver.
Event Vision & Goals for a Moody Denver Wedding Open House
While SKYLIGHT frequently hosts elegant, streamlined weddings, the 828 Planning team wanted this open house to push the boundaries of what couples typically imagine for the space. Their goal? Show guests how drastically SKYLIGHT can transform with strategic draping, intentional lighting, and bold design direction.
“Because SKYLIGHT is such a blank canvas, clients often struggle to visualize how much they can change the look and layout,” Honor shared. “This open house was our chance to show them the full potential.”
With the event falling during Halloween week, the team also wanted the night to feel seasonal, exciting, unexpected, and a departure from the venue’s usual vibrant aesthetic. But they didn’t want it to feel like a spooky Halloween party.
“The theme was ’til death, but the direction wasn’t spooky,” Honor explained. “We leaned into dark and moody, with romantic textures, intimate lighting, and dramatic draping. The running joke was, ‘If a vampire had a wedding, this would be the vibe.’”
Transforming SKYLIGHT: Layout, Flow & Design for Denver Weddings
From the moment guests entered the venue, every detail was purposefully designed to guide them through the full SKYLIGHT experience. As with every open house, the team showcased a ceremony layout, a dance floor, lounge vignettes, multiple tablescapes, and distinct vendor showcases.
But this time, the ceremony setup took center stage — literally. Honor and Sophie created a forward-facing layout with dark red draping for the ceremony backdrop, and black draping throughout the ceiling. This simple yet stunning installation instantly shifted the room’s proportions and ambiance. The effect was dramatic: a completely new visual identity for the space without overwhelming it.
Florals were intentionally minimal but impactful. A single red rose became the design’s signature flower — proof that florals don’t need to be excessive to be stunning.
Lighting played one of the biggest roles in transforming the room. Warm candlelight, curated uplighting, and a darker overall palette turned the venue into something intimate and unexpected.
Interactive Touchpoints That Brought the Night to Life
A standout feature of the evening was the entertainment. The Get Down brought their entire DJ collective, creating an energy that had guests dancing and flowing throughout the venue. An electric violinist added a layer of surprise and sophistication that blended perfectly with the moody theme.
SKYLIGHT’s in-house photo booth remained a guest favorite as always, and received its own design moment with dramatic draping created from leftover linens.
Signature cocktails leaned into the theme as well, including an espresso martini cheekily named Death by Decaf. “We always try to highlight the drinks that are most popular in the current season, and with our clients, but with a twist” Honor explained.
Behind the Scenes: Challenges & Creative Problem-Solving from Our Full-Service Event Planners
Even the most seamless events have back-of-house magic, and this open house was no exception.
One challenge? Rentals.
“It can be hard to envision how everything will come together when you’re ordering,” Honor shared. “We ordered duplicates of some items to avoid leaning too far into ‘spooky, and it worked really well!”
Another win born from improvisation: the photo booth draping. “Those were extra linens we didn’t have a plan for,” Honor laughed. “But they ended up looking perfect.”
This is why working with a full-service planner is invaluable—they anticipate challenges and turn potential problems into opportunities to elevate the event.
What Made the Night Special
The lounge area and chandelier installation was a collaborative effort between Honor and Sky from RlyRly Studio. The result blended drama and elegance, creating a focal point that felt entirely new for SKYLIGHT.
As for the food, SKYLIGHT’s catering partners did an incredible job carrying out the color scheme through their culinary talents. From seasonal desserts to delicious barbecue and poke, every bite was inspirational.
Guests and vendors noticed, too. Feedback centered around two things that made the biggest impact:
The ceiling draping, which many attendees had never seen before.
The simplicity of the single red rose, which showed couples how meaningful minimal florals can be.
One bride in attendance shared how much she loved seeing how far candlelight alone could go in shifting a room’s energy.
Results & Community Impact
The event attracted wedding clients, local collaborators, and even neighbors curious about the space. While SKYLIGHT’s open houses are primarily geared toward weddings, this one sparked significant interest from people looking to host non-wedding events as well, which was an unexpected but exciting outcome.
And if the night had to be summed up in three words?
Moody. Elegant. Upbeat.
Advice for Other Venues Hosting an Open House
Honor and Sophie’s biggest piece of advice: strike the balance between inspirational and attainable.
“It’s about wowing your clients while also showing them elements they can realistically incorporate,” Honor shared. “We didn’t use a ton of floral because that can be a big-ticket item. Instead, we focused on what we know clients love, what they’re leaning toward next, and how to create a meaningful experience that feels like ‘them.”
Final Takeaway
SKYLIGHT’s ’Til Death Open House proved just how transformative the venue can be. With the right lighting, draping, and thoughtful design direction, one open space becomes endless possibilities. For couples dreaming of something timeless, moody, seasonal, or completely unexpected, this event showed that SKYLIGHT can be the canvas for any vision — even a romantic vampire-wedding vibe.
Inspired by this moody, elegant open house? Discover how 828 Planning Denver can transform SKYLIGHT or any Denver wedding venue into your dream celebration. Contact us today to schedule a tour or consultation.
Venue + Beverage: SKYLIGHT
Planning: 828 Planning
Photography: NJ Duncan Photography
Catering: Occasions Cater
Catering: Chuey Fus
Catering: Riot BBQ
Florist: Rly Rly Studio
Rentals: Have A Seat Colorado
Rentals: Colorado Party Rentals
Chandeliers & Dance Floor: Elite Entertainment
Dessert: Love Pop Experience
Cake: Flick Of The Whisk Cakes
DJ: The Get Down Co.
Electric Violinist: Extreme Strings Violins
Beauty: Kim J Beauty
Dresses: Perla Bridal
Silversmith: Ellie of Silver Works
