Lighting Dos and Dont's… Rules to help guide your way to a perfectly lit event!
DON'T leave it up at an amateur
Some people look at lighting like another box off the checklist and will leave it up to the DJ to bring in a few extra lights. Lighting however, often has an even bigger impact then centerpieces, and an experienced professional should be called in.
DO make a personal connection with your lighting expert
Picking a lighting designer is just like picking an event planner (such as Allison Sargent Events) or florist- you want to make sure they get your personality and vision for the day.
ASE TIP: When making a connection with your lighting professional see if they have a website or a portfolio where you can view their work. Also, check to see if they have worked at your venue before- do they come recommended by the venue, are there any pictures of the venue using their work? DON'T be afraid to ask questions, any professional lighting technician will have the answers and credentials to back their work up.
DO visit your site in the evening.
If you're planning an evening reception or event, visit your venue at least once when it's dark outside. Here, you will notice what areas need to be lit, where you can focus the lighting, etc.
DON'T feel like you have to know technical lighting terms.
lighting lingo
Experts can design a space based on just a few descriptive words from you, but be clear. You can not do a test run on the lights, once the lights are set only minor adjustments can be made. Below are a key lighting terms and the photos are of lighting used at Allison Sargent Events!
Pinspot: A pointed focused beam of light that shines directly onto an onject. Often sed to highlight a wedding cake (or giant cupcake pictured below) or floral center piece.
Up-Lighting: These fixtures create what's called a "wash," which is essentially a blanket of colored light covering a wall or pillar. (to the very bottom right of the picture above, you can notice lights on the floor pointed upwards (up-lighting) shining color on the curtains)
LED: Short for light-emitting diodes, LED lights are popular for weddings because they use less electricity than (and don't get as hot as) incandescent light bulbs. They can sometimes be wireless, so they're often more discreet. They're also common in strand and perfect for accent lighting but not always environmental light. (Pictured below is an LED light up bar! )
GOBOS: Circular stencils that are put over a light to project a design or pattern. Popular gobo designs are monograms, dates or other wedding motifs. The complexity of the design will affect the gobo's cost- a simple stencil can be stamped out of steel while a more intricate design must be laser-etched out of stainless steel or into glass that can withstand high heat (an example of a gobo are the lighted designs picture below)
ASE is very proud to say we have great relationships with not only venues in New Jersey, New York, and the surrounding area, but, we also have great vendors such as professional lighting experts who we use on a regular basis! If you liked the pictures you saw above and would like to see and know more on our lighting vendors please feel free to contact us at info@allisonsargent.com or by direct office line at (973) 783- 5689! Have a great rest of the day and we hope this blog "shone a little light" on something that you might not have already known about event lighting!
