Lighting design: a wedding guide
A lighting designer sets up the lights. Uplights and string lights are two kinds.
When couples book this
About 9 months before your wedding.
Still deciding the wedding
Your wishlist
Answer these before you meet anyone.
Which looks are you hoping for?
What mood are you lighting for?
How much of the space do you want lit?
Comparing your options
What to ask each one
Which looks are you building?
Pin spots want the final table map; cafe strings want rig points — each look pulls its own logistics.
How it’s usually priced
Usually priced as one flat amount.
Possible extras: Custom monogram / gobo, Cafe-string rigging, Day-before install / extra site day, Next-day strike & pickup.
Booked and settling details
What you settle once booked
Monogram / gobo artwork
Color palette and mood notes
Total lighting power draw
When does the rig go in?
Dance-floor and dark-hours cues
When does the rig come down?
What to look over
Correct these details as needed.
Focus & programming window
The week of the wedding
The day-of sheet
Confirm arrival, finish, who to call, access, a meal, and what is due.
Across the whole day
Choose which moments to include.
- Lighting install
- Focus & cue programming
- Lighting strike & load-out
For businesses
The brief a couple sends you has these sections:
- The event
- The design
- Logistics
- Contacts