Lighting Design
The lighting design of a venue is very important in the event planning industry and has gotten so important that lighting is essentially a part of the theme and/or décor of the event. Lighting design is the preset design, arrangement and color scheme of lighting in a room. The design is usually conceived by an event planner with the help of a lighting technician who can confirm that their vision is possible, which is then approved by the client. Lighting design is very important because it directly affects the mood in a room. Lighting design is based on:
- The color scheme of an event
- The theme of an event
- The location of the event
- The entertainment setup
Many different colors can be used to light a room and every color can create a type of mood when flooded into a room. A red toned lighting for example could be very romantic and soothing, while purple toned lighting would fit perfectly at a night event. Lighting could also be geared towards the company’s logos. If a company’s colors are red and gold then lighting could be used to represent that. The theme of an event directs the lighting design as it affects everything else as related to décor. If you are planning a midsummer night’s dream after party then a mystical, earthy type of lighting could fit perfectly. If you are planning a funky spring fashion show then you would want to use bright fun lighting to complement the décor. When you begin to conceptualize your lighting design you should think about what people need to be focused on at the event:
- is there a speaker
- a performance
- a comedian
Do you need:
- spot lighting
- flood lighting
- candle light
- Up lighting
Do you need darker colored lighting or lighter colored lighting? Is your lighting going to be a huge factor in your theme and décor? Lighting is really that important because it can transcend reality. If there is any hue in the room different from the traditional blinding light, people will immediately notice. Colored lighting can change the entire feeling of a venue and thus an event. Lighting can also be used to attract attention to your event. Many events use spot lights for up lighting in order to lead people to the event and to mark it as a momentous occasion. If you see giant spotlights in the sky, it is definitely a way to garner attentions and rouse excitement from your guests who are arriving. When planning an event it is important to use every opportunity to heighten the energy of your guests.
