Event lighting is a different product entirely
The distinction matters: one is installed, the other is set up. Weddings, receptions, celebrations: temporary displays for a specific occasion. That changes the whole approach, starting with the fact that there is no second chance at it.Which changes the working relationship. An installation is judged over years. An event is judged once, in one evening. So the planning front loads, the what ifs get covered, and nothing critical is decided on site.
The date does not move
With an installation, a delay is an inconvenience. With an event, a delay is a failure. The lead time is not proportional to the size of the display. A small display still requires the same sequence as a big one.
Power is where outdoor events go wrong
Indoor events have outlets. A back yard, an outdoor venue rarely has power where the lighting needs to be. Ask about the power source and the cable routing while there is still time to solve it. A beautiful plan nobody can energize is not a plan.Tell the lighting company what else is going into the space, because the other vendors have needs that overlap with theirs.
Planning for the day going wrong
Outdoor events are subject to whatever the day brings. Ask early: what changes if it rains. Having an answer already agreed is the difference between an adjustment and a crisis.
What tends to be worth lighting
Two categories: the parts people photograph and the parts people walk on. Atmosphere lives overhead and at the focal point. The functional parts are the walkways, the steps and the exits. Both need to be in the plan. Only one of them ends up in the photographs.
The venue has rules
If the event is at a venue, the property has its own requirements. Access windows, load in times, attachment restrictions, and the strike deadline are all set by the venue, not by you. Getting the venue contact talking to the lighting
https://jsbin.com/coqinodupi company early removes most of the day of problems.
Most people order more than they need
Planning an event, the temptation is to over specify. Outdoors after dark, a modest amount of light goes a very long way. The spaces that people remember are lit sparingly, with warm light and real darkness between the lit areas. A designer who says you need less than you think is doing you a favor.
Booking a temporary display
The plan starts on site, because the power, the layout and the sight lines are all specific to it. EverCrest Lighting installs temporary lighting displays for events and parties as well as permanent and holiday lighting, for residential and commercial clients across Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina, based in Greenville. The consultation is free. Reach them at (864) 252-1732 or
[email protected] to get the date on the calendar.