Uplighting: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What uplighting is

An uplighting pro places small colored lights along the walls of a room to wash the space in a chosen hue, creating mood for weddings, parties and corporate events. Hosts hire one to change the feel of a plain room without moving the furniture.

Signs you need it

  • The room is large and plain, and the lighting makes the space feel flat or dim
  • You want the room to match a color palette for a wedding, party or corporate event
  • The venue has walls that can be lit without changing the furniture plan
  • You want the room to feel warm for a dinner, dance or evening reception
  • You want a lighting plan that can change color through the night

What the pro does

  • Talks with you about the colors, the mood and the times the colors should change
  • Visits the room to check the walls, the outlets and the traffic path
  • Places the lights along the walls and checks each light's angle and color
  • Runs the cords along the walls or under covers so no one trips
  • Sets the color program for the event, if the lights are programmable
  • Removes the lights and cords after the event

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Number of lights and the number of walls or areas to light
  • Whether the lights are programmable or change color by remote
  • Room size and the number of outlets the lights need
  • Whether the pro must add power, extension or distribution equipment
  • Setup and teardown time, and whether the pro works the day before
  • Custom gobo patterns, monograms or accent lights, if you want them

What a written quote should spell out

  • Number of lights and the walls or areas they cover
  • Color program and how many color changes the event needs
  • Power needs and who provides any power equipment
  • Setup and teardown times and who is on site for each
  • How the cords are routed and protected from guests

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How many outlets do you need, and where should they be on the walls?
  • Can you show photos of the lights in a room like ours?
  • Who runs the color program during the event?
  • How do you keep the cords out of the guests' way?
  • Will you add power equipment, and who checks it?
  • What happens if a light fails during the event?

Red flags

  • Plans to run cords across walkways or the dance floor without protection
  • Does not ask about the outlets or the power capacity of the room
  • Wants to hardwire the lights into the building without a licensed electrician
  • Cannot show photos of the lighting in a space like yours
  • Has no backup for a failed light

What you can do yourself

You can set up a few battery powered or plug in lights on a table or a shelf, placed where the cords cannot be tripped over. Do not run extension cords across walkways, under rugs or through water, and do not connect lights to power in a way that overloads an outlet. Hire an uplighting pro for multiple walls, a color program, or any setup that needs more than a few lights.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required to install uplighting for events. Any hardwired electrical work, such as adding a new circuit or a fixed fixture, is commonly done by a licensed electrician. Ask the pro for proof of liability insurance and for how the power is handled.

Uplighting questions

Can the lights go on the walls of any room?

Most rooms work, but the venue must allow it. Ask whether the walls can be marked, whether the lights may stand on the floor, and how the cords must be placed.

Do the lights need a special outlet?

They need an outlet that can carry the load. The pro should check the outlets and the power capacity before the event and tell you what, if anything, must be added.

Who runs the color changes during the party?

Ask the pro. Some set the program before the event, and others run it live. Confirm this and who is responsible for it on the day.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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