So you have a major event coming up and you’ve started considering the details. Colour palette. Mood. Food. Entertainment.
Lighting.
Wait, you haven’t thought about event lighting? If not, you’re not the only one. Many of our clients come to us with fantastic ideas about their event, but completely leave of the consideration of lighting.
Is event lighting worth a fuss? Definitely. Why? It can make or break your event!
Keep reading as we explain why it should be far more than an afterthought.
Why is event lighting important?
Lighting is one of the most important elements of event design. But it’s often overlooked. Some even argue that lighting is a waste of money! But as award-winning event planners this is a misconception we completely disagree with.
When done correctly lighting can elevate your event to the next level, increasing the experience for your guests and showcasing your brand to its absolute best
Here’s how.
Lighting transforms the venue
The lighting can transform a relatively drab space to an incredibly beautiful and impactful space. It can create visual variance, highlighting areas that you want to showcase or creating different spaces for different purposes. For example, you could light the bar differently to the dance floor, both of which could be lit differently to the lounge space.
Event lighting can also create movement and visual interest, so that an otherwise static space appears alive with activity and excitement. And if you have a venue with unique or interesting architectural features, lighting can highlight those (and downplay areas you don’t want to showcase).
Lighting transforms the venue
The lighting can transform a relatively drab space to an incredibly beautiful and impactful space. It can create visual variance, highlighting areas that you want to showcase or creating different spaces for different purposes. For example, you could light the bar differently to the dance floor, both of which could be lit differently to the lounge space.
Event lighting can also create movement and visual interest, so that an otherwise static space appears alive with activity and excitement. And if you have a venue with unique or interesting architectural features, lighting can highlight those (and downplay areas you don’t want to showcase).
Lighting conveys a mood
Lighting can affect both your positive and negative emotions and feelings. Good lighting has the ability to make you feel cosy and comfy, or bright and alert. But bad lighting can make you feel scared, unsure or just downright uncomfortable.
When you increase the light in a dim room, or decrease a light that’s too bright, you can moderate the environment (and therefore the mood!). Coloured lights can also be used to bring up certain types of emotions.
In fact, the relationship between colour and emotion is well known. And there are some colours that are able to convey specific types of emotions. For example, red can bring about intense feelings or a desire for action where blue is a calming colour. When used in your event lighting, colours can help you to convey feelings or inspire actions in your attendees.
Lighting is a clever marketing tool
Colour is not just wonderful for conveying emotion – it can also give you the opportunity to showcase your own brand in an easy and cost-effective way.
Some brand’s colour palettes are easily identifiable. For example, Ferrari red, Tiffany blue or Louis Vuitton brown and yellow. These colours are synonymous with these brands. As soon as you see that colour and logo, you know the brand.
Coloured event lighting gives you the ability to bring your brand into your event in a unique and interesting way. For example, you can splash a logo on the side of the wall and throw a wash over the space in the brand colour. You can use your brand colour in strobe lights on the dance floor. Or use a bright wash of colour that moves over an audience (ala Taylor Swift!).
Event lighting case study: John Deere Gala
Last year, Fame Events planned a gala for RDO/John Deere. Yellow and green was the colour focus of the event. We also wanted to highlight the main feature – the giant tree.
We used specially designed event lighting to showcase the main elements of the event, including the tree. By uplighting the tree in the classic yellow and green, we not only managed to add emphasis to the tree and make it a focus no matter where a person was standing in the room, but we also managed to brand the space quickly and easily.
It was an outstanding success, and it was really elevated by the lighting.
How can you use lighting at your next event?
Creating an effective lighting scheme can really make or break your event, elevating it to the next level. Here are a few things to think about.
- What atmosphere would you like to create? Consider the atmosphere you want to create. For example, do you need soft and romantic lighting, or a bright and professional ambiance?
- What areas or elements would you like to showcase? Are there certain aspects of the space you would like to highlight with lights? What about any less-than-favourable areas you would rather hide?
- Does your business have a brand colour that’s easily recognisable? Use this to your advantage by creating a wash of colour over the venue. Alternatively, incorporate pops of that colour at key places, perhaps over your branding logo, on the stage or at the bar.
- Consider the practicalities. Lighting doesn’t happen naturally. So once you have your event lighting in place, be sure to have backups. That means extra batteries or extension cords, bulbs or the like. This way, if anything goes wrong at the time of the event, it won’t mean everything falls apart.
Need help with lighting for your event?
We know lighting and we know events. So let Fame Events take care of both for you. Delegate the drama to our talented team of event planners and we’ll give your event that professional sparkle.
Get in touch today!
