Many receptions begin in daylight and end late into the evening. The room your guests walk into at six o'clock will look very different by ten, and lighting is what makes the difference between a space that fades and one that comes alive.
Plan lighting as part of the design
Lighting works best when it is planned alongside the florals, fabrics and layout, not added at the end. The colour of the uplighting, for example, will change how your florals and linen appear, so the palette should be chosen with both in mind.
The three layers
- Ambient lighting sets the overall mood and colour of the room.
- Feature lighting highlights the stage, top table or a floral installation.
- Pin-spotting picks out centrepieces so each table glows.
Candlelight still matters
Nothing replaces the warmth of candlelight at table level. Check your venue's rules on naked flames early; where they are not permitted, good-quality alternatives can create a similar effect.
Check the venue's practicalities
Power supply, rigging points and the venue's own house lighting all affect what is possible. A site visit before the event makes it much easier to plan lighting that works.
