Event Lighting

LIGHTING

Let's talk lighting, and how important incorporating it is when planning an event.  Lighting completely transforms a space and enhances your decor. Although it is often seen as an extra cost the impact it makes greatly outweighs the expense.  It takes your event from nice to "WOW!" and captivates your guests leaving a lasting impression.  Lighting can also be used to detract from the less desirable aspects of a room, like banquet carpet or wallpaper.  There are four major categories for lighting: up lighting, gobos and projection, pin spots and tower/truss lighting, and a light show.

UP LIGHTING

Up lighting is the most common form of event lighting.  It creates the much sought after ambiance by lighting the entire outer edge of your room with color.  The lighting can create mood such as an icy blue feel or a warm romantic champagne or lavender.  We recommend placing a light every four to eight feet along the walls of the room and one on either side of any functional doorways.  If your budget doesn’t allow for full room up lighting, you can just focus on focal points. strategically placing lighting at a backdrop/stage, entrance way, room corners or natural architecture points like pillars in a space will still create great focal points.

Before and After Lighting

Before Lighting

After Lighting

Before Lighting

After Lighting (up lighting and Truss/tower lighting used)

GOBOS AND PROJECTION LIGHTING
Gobos are quite versatile and can create a nice effect at corporate parties, social events and weddings. You can have a monogrammed gobo made with the bride and grooms names or a company’s logo. They can be projected onto any flat surface so you could have your monogram or company logo on the dance floor or wall. The only limit is space in your venue as a Gobo needs sufficient distance to allow the design to be large enough to be of value.  Gobos are a great way to add theme with snowflakes, leaves, music notes, birch trees, etc, ultimately the options are limitless.  Projection lighting seen on the birch tree backdrop below is a great effect and can be used to bring any theme to life.  Projection lighting can be quite expensive and needs to be discussed with your lighting tech for options.

Large gobo with up lighting and tower lighting

PIN SPOTS and TOWER/TRUSS LIGHTING

Up lighting and gobos are EED’s two most commonly used lighting options.  Pin spots are less common as they add considerable cost.  If your budget allows for pin spotting they are a great way to highlight focal points around the room. They are set up on a ceiling truss or a tower and will illuminate and enhance centerpieces, podiums, wedding cakes, entrances, bands, etc.  

LIGHT SHOW

The last thing we’re going to talk about today is a light show.  Light shows are used with a lighting technician on site throughout your entire event and generally combine up lighting, gobos, lasers and sometimes projection.  The tech can change the color of the lights and create movement of the gobos and spot lights at key moments throughout the event.  This means that you can put emphasis on specific aspects of your event using the ambiance of the room instead of announcing it at the podium.  Light shows create excitement, specific focal points at set times and heightens the ambiance of your event. Some DJ's will provide some sort of lighting equipment, but always be sure to check with them in order to achieve your desired look and feel at your event. Generally lighting is a separate vendor you need to hire through your decorator or planner.

In conclusion, lighting is an important element to any event.  It creates an ambiance that will capture your guests in the moment. To learn more about lighting at your next event, contact us today! 

Be sure to check out next week’s blog all about budgeting for décor.