Lighting is a crucial element for every event. Not only does it illuminate the space for guests, but it also sets the ambiance and plays a key role in the photographer’s ability to capture the moment! It can be overwhelming to know where to begin, so in this guide, we will walk you through 10 easy steps to begin planning your event’s lighting!
1. Know the Layout of your Venue
Know the layout of your venue so that we know what spaces are available. If you are going to be indoors then it will be important to know what structures can support lighting, such as chandeliers, or decor. If you are going to be outdoors, you will want to decide whether you will have an open air event, use a tent, a pavilion, or a pergola.
2. Have an Idea of your Event's Style/Theme
Knowing the style and theme of your event is essential. Lighting is an ambiance enhancer, it will play a significant role in the vibe of the event as the sun sets and more guests begin to rely on the lighting installations. You will want your lighting and decor to compliment one another to achieve the desired aesthetic.
3. Determine Guest List Size
Keep in mind how large your guest list will be. This is important because you will want to know how you will be utilizing the venue's space to determine how guests will be navigating around the event. This includes the dining areas, dance areas, and lounge areas.
4. Look for Reference Photos
You will also want to look for photos of lighting designs and styles that you like! This can be from Instagram, Facebook, magazines, Pinterest, or whatever suits you. We recommend finding a couple of different lighting designs that suit the look you are going for so that we can have a general idea of what aesthetic you are trying to achieve.
5. Alterations to Reference Photos
If you like certain elements of one reference photo, but not everything, let us know! We want to bring your dreams to life so we will work with you to come up with a lighting design you will love! When looking for reference photos, keep in mind that you can combine different options for a look that is completely unique!
6. Choose Date of Event
When planning your lighting design with us, it is essential that we know the date of your event. This will determine not only our availability during that date but also what products we have available during that time. Knowing the date will also play a key role in booking your venue.
7. Choose a Time for the Event
Knowing the time of the event is crucial when determining your lighting design. If you are having your event during the day, you may be able to keep lighting to a minimum. Whereas if you are hosting your event during the night or evening hours, you may need more lighting to help guests navigate the venue and to keep the festivities illuminated.
8. Determine the Budget
When planning your budget for your event, you will need to determine how much money you are willing to allocate to the lighting design. You are more than welcome to ask us as many questions as you need to determine costs, we can also give you a quote once we have determined what look you are going for.
9. Browse our Website
Checkout our products beforehand! We have all of our rentals listed on our website, under the rentals tab, as well as additional ways to style them! You can also look through our portfolio to view past events that we have done to get an idea of our capabilities.
10. Bring an Open Mind
The last, and arguably most important, step is to bring an open mind! Don’t be dead set on one thing, we love the opportunity to come up with innovative, personalized designs that will enhance the experience of your event!
Feeling inspired? Contact us today to begin planning your event’s lighting!