Event lighting can make or break an event. Most event planners know lighting matters but don’t have deep expertise — which leads to common mistakes that affect the whole event. This guide is for LA event planners who want to avoid the most frequent lighting mistakes and create better events for their clients.

Why lighting mistakes matter

A few specific reasons:

Visible impact

• Everyone notices — for the work
• Photos affected — for the work
• Atmosphere affected — for the work
• Significant impact — for the work

Visible impact.

Difficult to fix

• Day-of changes — hard
• Equipment issues — hard
• Limited options — sometimes
• Plan ahead — for the work

Difficult to fix.

Affects guest experience

• Comfort — matters
• Mood — matters
• Engagement — matters
• Experience matters — for the work

Guest experience.

Affects photography

• Photo quality — matters
• Memorable moments — matter
• Captured well — for the work
• Important — for the work

Photography.

Most common mistakes

A few specific things:

Under-planning

• Last minute — sometimes
• Reactive decisions — sometimes
• Worth planning ahead — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Under-planning.

Wrong lighting

• Doesn’t fit venue — sometimes
• Doesn’t fit theme — sometimes
• Considered choices — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Wrong lighting.

Too much

• Overwhelming — sometimes
• Distracting — sometimes
• Strategic — for the work
• Less is more — for the work

Too much.

Too little

• Underwhelming — sometimes
• Wasted opportunity — for the work
• Strategic — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Too little.

Mismatched

• Different areas — sometimes
• Uncoordinated — sometimes
• Considered plan — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Mismatched.

Planning mistakes

A few specific things:

Late booking

• Limited availability — sometimes
• Higher cost — sometimes
• Fewer options — sometimes
• Plan ahead — for the work

Late booking.

Wrong vendor

• Wrong fit — sometimes
• Wrong experience — sometimes
• Research — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Wrong vendor.

No site visit

• Unknown conditions — sometimes
• Setup issues — sometimes
• Site visit important — for the work
• Effective — for the work

No site visit.

No backup

• Equipment failure — sometimes
• Weather issues — sometimes
• Backup plans matter — for the work
• Practical — for the work

No backup.

Venue mistakes

A few specific things:

Not coordinating with venue

• Existing lighting — sometimes
• Power issues — sometimes
• Setup issues — sometimes
• Coordinate — for the work

Not coordinating.

Venue rules ignored

• Tape restrictions — sometimes
• Open flame — sometimes
• Specific rules — for the work
• Follow guidelines — for the work

Venue rules ignored.

Wrong power planning

• Insufficient power — sometimes
• Tripped breakers — sometimes
• Planning matters — for the work
• Practical — for the work

Wrong power.

Setup location issues

• Traffic flow — sometimes
• Visibility issues — sometimes
• Planning — for the work
• Practical — for the work

Setup location.

Day-of mistakes

A few specific things:

Setup delays

• Late arrival — sometimes
• Equipment issues — sometimes
• Plan ahead — for the work
• Buffer time — for the work

Setup delays.

Last-minute changes

• Without consultation — sometimes
• Problematic — sometimes
• Plan ahead — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Last-minute changes.

No monitor

• Equipment fails — sometimes
• No one notices — sometimes
• Have someone — for the work
• Effective — for the work

No monitor.

No contingency

• Issues arise — sometimes
• No plan — sometimes
• Have backup — for the work
• Effective — for the work

No contingency.

Photography mistakes

A few specific things:

Not coordinating

• With photographer — sometimes
• Photos affected — for the work
• Coordination — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Not coordinating.

Wrong color temperature

• Photos look bad — sometimes
• White balance — for the work
• Coordinate — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Wrong color temperature.

Inconsistent

• Some areas different — sometimes
• Photos affected — for the work
• Consistent — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Inconsistent.

Critical moments

• Specific lighting — sometimes
• Plan for moments — for the work
• Effective — for the work
• Strategic — for the work

Critical moments.

Aesthetic mistakes

A few specific things:

Doesn’t match theme

• Mismatched — sometimes
• Considered — for the work
• Effective — for the work
• Strategic — for the work

Doesn’t match.

Too trendy

• Trendy now — sometimes
• Won’t age well — sometimes
• Timeless choices — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Too trendy.

Too safe

• Boring — sometimes
• Wasted opportunity — sometimes
• Strategic risk — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Too safe.

Too personal

• Couple’s taste only — sometimes
• Guests matter — sometimes
• Balance — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Too personal.

Budget mistakes

A few specific things:

Under-budgeting

• Less impact — sometimes
• Worth investing — for the work
• Strategic — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Under-budgeting.

Over-spending

• Diminishing returns — sometimes
• Strategic — for the work
• Effective — for the work
• Balance — for the work

Over-spending.

Hidden costs

• Setup fees — sometimes
• Travel fees — sometimes
• Generator costs — sometimes
• Plan ahead — for the work

Hidden costs.

Wrong priorities

• Spent on wrong things — sometimes
• Strategic — for the work
• Effective — for the work
• Prioritize impact — for the work

Wrong priorities.

How to avoid these mistakes

A few practical things:

Start early

• Plan ahead — for the work
• Time to consider — for the work
• Effective — for the work
• Practical — for the work

Start early.

Work with vendors

• Get recommendations — for the work
• Coordinate — for the work
• Effective — for the work
• Build relationships — for the work

Work with vendors.

Site visit

• Before event — for the work
• Assess conditions — for the work
• Plan specifically — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Site visit.

Build relationships

• Long-term vendors — for the work
• Trust — for the work
• Better outcomes — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Build relationships.

Working with lighting companies

A few practical things:

Experience

• Similar events — for the work
• References — for the work
• Portfolio — for the work
• Quality — for the work

Experience.

Communication

• Clear — for the work
• Specific — for the work
• Effective — for the work
• Practical — for the work

Communication.

Coordination

• Other vendors — for the work
• Timeline — for the work
• Logistics — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Coordination.

Day-of

• Setup — for the work
• Monitor — for the work
• Adjust — for the work
• Effective — for the work

Day-of.

What we offer

Lighting Rentals Los Angeles works with LA event planners to avoid common lighting mistakes — with site visits, design consultations, vendor coordination, and day-of execution. We help you create lighting that enhances your event without the typical pitfalls. Free consultations available.

📧 Email hello@lightingrentalslosangeles.com or request a quote online. Service area: Los Angeles and surrounding communities.