Lighting Factors

A few months ago we posted some tips for choosing lighting for an event, you can see that post here. To take those tips one step further, below are some important factors to take into account when you're planning out the lighting for your event.

Time of year:
The "right" lighting for your event will depend on a few factors. Time is one of them. If you are planning an event from 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. in June and your venue has a lot of windows, we would give you different ideas than if your event was from 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. at the same venue in February.

Venue:
From above, the time of year and the amount of windows will always play a part in choosing the right lighting options. Ceiling height, room color, tent vs. ballroom, and floor plans are also important factors to consider when choosing lighting.

Your options:
With lighting you sometimes have to be careful not to overdo it. Some people just want too many options for their venue and in some cases, less is more. In other cases, the more lighting you have, the more richer the venue and the theme will look. Once you know your venue and date, going over all the options is the next step. And don’t forget the details. Do you have a special sign-in area you need lit? How about a bare wall that needs something to draw attention to it? Or even the outside of the building or a hallway that would benefit from some interesting lighting or draping? A good designer will show you all of your options and then let you pick what fits you the best.

Inspiration pictures:
Perhaps the most difficult part in the planning of lighting. Since each venue is different, it is hard for a company to turn your venue into exactly what you have seen elsewhere. Pictures are good for showing us the “feel” you are going for and they help give us a visual of what elements you would like to incorporate. Just understand, lighting is designed for the room, so if your venue doesn't have proper lighting supports or as long of a wall as the venue in your picture, it won't look exactly the same.

Your budget:
Know what you want to spend. You might come in with a budget of $1500 for lighting, but bring with you an image of a $5,000 lighting job. We can't possibly turn a $5000 job into a $1500 job - but we can give you a number of suggestions for what you can do within your budget. But so you're not let down, try and keep your expectations for lighting execution on the same page as your budget.



-Jason