Tent Lighting Ideas: String Lights, Chandeliers and Power Needs

Tent lighting is where a plain white roof becomes a room. It is also where events run out of power, trip breakers or leave half the tent dark. Good lighting is a design plan plus an electrical plan. This guide covers both.

The three layers

Layer 1: overhead glow. Warm white string lights (bistro or festoon style) draped in swags or crisscrossed across the ceiling are the classic. Warm white (about 2700 K) is flattering for skin, food and linens.

Layer 2: focal points. Chandeliers over the dance floor or head table, or pendant globes over a bar. Frame tents have rigging points; ask the company what weight each point can carry before you buy a chandelier.

Layer 3: color and wall wash. LED uplights placed along the sidewalls add color and shape. Use them sparingly and keep colors close to your palette.

More ideas that work

• Starlight ceiling: a field of tiny lights under a sheer fabric liner.
• Paper lanterns or globes at different heights over a casual reception.
• Edison bulbs on a grid above the dance floor.
• Path lights and lanterns outside the tent for the walk from the parking area.
• Candles at tables, in glass or LED. Open flame is restricted near and inside tents in many places, so choose LED flameless unless your village allows open flame.

Plan the power

1. Count watts. LED string lights draw very little; chandeliers, uplights, a DJ and a band add up. Add them in a list.
2. Know the source. Is power coming from the house, a tent company generator or a venue panel? A household circuit is typically a 15 or 20 amp breaker, and a caterer's warmers or coffee machines can easily trip it.
3. Separate circuits. Keep lights on their own circuit away from kitchen and DJ gear.
4. Use outdoor-rated cords and keep them out of walkways, with covers where guests walk.
5. Generators need space and distance from the tent. Winnetka's tent form, for instance, asks for 20 feet of separation between generators and the tent. Check your village.
6. Emergency lighting. Chicago requires battery-backup emergency lighting for tents that stay in place more than 48 hours. See Chicago tent permits.

When do you need lights in Chicago?

Sunset moves quickly across the seasons, and a tent without windows gets dark before the sky does. By late October, an evening reception needs full lighting well before dinner. Check an almanac for your exact date and plan lights to come up 30 minutes before sunset. More on cold-weather events in heating a tent in fall.

Lighting and sidewalls

Clear sidewalls make a lit tent glow from outside, which is lovely and also shows every cord and fixture inside. Solid walls hide the party and give a backdrop for uplighting. See clear, window and solid sidewalls.

Match the seating to the light

Warm light flatters natural wood and gold. Cross-back chairs and gold infinity chairs catch string light nicely, and clear ghost chairs reflect it. For help with layout, read tent layout with dance floor and bar.

A simple lighting plan for a 20 x 30 tent

For a small backyard tent, you do not need a designer. Run two or three strands of warm string lights from the center ridge to the side walls, hang one or two lanterns or pendants over the main table, and add a pair of uplights in the corners. Put the strands on a dedicated outlet with a timer or a dimmer. Place path lights from the car or house door to the tent opening so guests can see their steps. Test the whole setup at dusk the evening before and replace any dead strands.

Plan the seating under the lights

Book a free 15-minute seating call and we will build the chair and table plan around your lighting, or request a quote.