Lighting is what turns an outdoor event from a field with a stage into something that feels designed. But outdoor lighting comes with a set of practical realities that indoor events never have to think about, starting with the weather and ending with where on earth you are going to run the power.
Here is a practical guide to lighting hire for outdoor events, and how to get it right.
Start with the weather, not the fixtures
The same rule that governs outdoor sound governs outdoor lighting: the wet weather plan comes first.
Before choosing a single fixture, you have to know what happens if it rains, because in this country it might. Fixtures need to be suitable for the conditions and protected from the elements, and the layout has to assume a wet, possibly muddy site. Plan for the weather first and the lighting design second, never the other way around. We cover this fully in our guide to outdoor event production.
The lighting that does the most outdoors
A few types of fixture do the heavy lifting at most outdoor events.
Uplighting is the workhorse. Washing colour up walls, across a marquee, or over a structure instantly transforms the feel of a space and ties it to a theme or a brand. Moving heads add energy and movement for stages and feature moments, throwing beams and effects that lift a performance. And for atmosphere, hazers and foggers make the light beams visible in the air, which is what gives a show that finished, professional look.
The right mix depends entirely on the event. A wedding marquee wants warm, elegant uplighting. A festival stage wants moving heads and haze. Part of our job is matching the kit to the occasion rather than throwing everything at it.
Why battery-powered fixtures are a gift outdoors
Here is a practical tip that solves one of the biggest outdoor headaches. Battery-powered fixtures, like battery uplighters, can be placed anywhere without running a single cable to them.
Outdoors, trailing power is awkward at best and a safety issue at worst, especially across a field or a public space. Battery fixtures let you light a perimeter, a path, or a feature wherever you want it, with no cable to run, trip over, or weatherproof. For a lot of outdoor jobs they are the difference between a clean, safe setup and a tangle of extension leads.
Hire it yourself, or let us run it
You have two ways to do this, and both are fine.
You can dry hire the lighting and run it yourself, and we will give you training at collection so you are confident with it. Or, for a bigger or more complex event, we can design and operate the lighting as part of full event production. Our lighting and equipment hire covers a wide range of fixtures, and if you are not sure what you need or whether to run it yourself, just ask and we will point you the right way.
The goal is the same either way: an outdoor event that looks as good after dark as it did in daylight, whatever the British weather decides to do.
Frequently asked questions
What lighting do you need for an outdoor event?
Commonly uplighting to wash colour, moving heads for dynamic effects, and battery-powered fixtures where running cable is difficult. Weatherproofing and power planning matter as much as the fixtures.
Are battery-powered lights good for outdoor events?
Yes. Battery uplighters can be placed anywhere without trailing power, which is a real advantage across a field, a marquee, or a venue where you cannot run cable everywhere.
How does weather affect outdoor event lighting?
Weather is the first thing to plan for. Fixtures need to suit the conditions and be protected from rain, and the layout and power have to account for a wet field.
Can I hire just the lighting, or do you set it up?
Both. You can dry hire and run it yourself with training, or we can design and operate it as part of full event production.
Planning lighting for an outdoor event in North Wales?
We offer lighting and equipment hire and full lighting design for outdoor events across North Wales and the wider UK, built to handle the weather and look the part.
Get in touch and tell us about your event.
Darren Hughes is Director of Pivotal Sound & Lighting, an AV and event production company based in Llay, Wrexham, North Wales. PSL offers lighting hire and design for outdoor events, festivals, and weddings across the region and the wider UK.