Wedding Tent Lighting: Creating the Perfect Atmosphere for Your Celebration
As a Hudson Valley wedding planner and designer, I’ve worked on weddings in a wide variety of settings, from barns and warehouses to non-traditional outdoor venues. More than half of our weddings take place under a tent, and one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of a tented wedding is lighting.
Lighting isn’t just about functionality—it sets the mood, enhances your wedding design, and ensures that your photos look stunning. If you're planning a New England or destination wedding, understanding tent lighting will help you make the best choices for your event.
The Basics of Wedding Tent Lighting
Just like in your home, there is a certain amount of lighting needed to properly illuminate a tent. If you have a 40x60 tent, one chandelier in the center won’t be enough. Lighting needs to be thoughtfully placed and layered to create a warm, inviting atmosphere.
Most tent lighting setups include dimmer switches, allowing you to adjust brightness throughout the evening—brighter for dinner and speeches, softer for dancing and late-night celebrations. Proper lighting is also essential for your catering and venue staff during setup and breakdown, especially if they’re working late into the evening.
1. Bistro or Market Lights: The Industry Standard
The starting point for tent lighting is typically bistro lights (also called market lights). Some people mistakenly refer to them as Edison lights, but true Edison bulbs have a more vintage filament design. Bistro and market lights are string lights with bulbs spaced about six inches to a foot apart.
In a tent with center poles, these lights are often strung from the poles to the edges of the tent, following the natural curves of the canopy, often with a perimeter of lights along the tent’s edges. This setup provides soft, even lighting and is considered the baseline for most tented weddings.
2. Upgrading Your Tent Lighting
Once you have the basic string lighting in place (or if you decide you hate that look and want something else), the next decision is whether you want to add additional lighting throughout the tent or just over specific areas—most commonly, the dance floor.
Here are some popular options:
Chandeliers – These can be used throughout the tent or clustered over the dance floor for a dramatic effect.
Pendant Lights – A great alternative to chandeliers, available in different styles to match your aesthetic.
Disco Balls with Projected Lighting – A fun, retro-inspired choice that adds movement and energy.
Fairy Lights or Twinkle Lights – Perfect for a soft, romantic glow.
Adding lighting higher up—such as a cluster of chandeliers or a statement fixture—helps break up the vast, open space of a tent and prevents it from feeling cavernous and empty. This is especially important for Sailcloth, Tidewater, or vinyl tents (as opposed to clear tents), where the white ceiling can feel expansive.
3. Table-Level Lighting: Candles Are a Must
Candles on tables are non-negotiable.
Years ago, I coordinated a wedding where the couple chose not to have any significant candles on their tables. To this day, when I look back at the photos, I cringe. Once the lights dimmed for the evening, the tables looked dark and uninviting. That’s why restaurants, wedding venues, and event designers always incorporate candles—it creates warmth and intimacy.
Types of Candles to Consider:
Tea Lights – Small and inexpensive, they provide a soft glow.
Votives – Slightly larger than tea lights and available in different styles.
Pillar Candles – Great for adding height and dimension.
Floating Candles – Elegant and perfect for a romantic aesthetic.
Taper Candles – Dramatic and stylish, especially in a mix of heights.
Pro Tip: Use Odd Numbers
Candles should be placed in odd-numbered groupings—this is statistically proven to be more visually appealing. For example, if you have votive candles, use three, five, or seven per table rather than an even number.
4. Candle Safety & Venue Rules
If you’re having a tent, barn, warehouse, or even a traditional venue wedding, be sure to check their policies on open flames. Many venues have no open flame policies, meaning candles need to be enclosed.
A general rule of thumb: If someone could accidentally brush their sleeve over the flame, it’s too exposed. To comply with safety regulations, use:
Hurricane Glass Holders – Enclose taper candles to prevent tipping.
Weighted Bases for Candles – Avoid using sand or materials that might shift, as this can cause candles to lean and touch the glass, which can lead to breakage.
I once saw a candle in sand tip against a glass holder, and the heat caused the glass to explode—not something you want happening at your wedding!
As a Hudson Valley wedding planner and designer, I know that tent lighting is one of the most important yet often overlooked elements of wedding design. Whether you’re planning a New England wedding, a local celebration, or a destination wedding, investing in the right lighting will elevate the ambiance, enhance your photos, and create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests.
If you take away just three things from this post, let them be:
Bistro lights are the industry standard and a must-have for tent lighting.
Adding a statement light over the dance floor makes a huge difference in breaking up the open space.
Candles on tables are essential for warmth and ambiance—just check venue policies for open flame rules.
Lighting transforms a space. When done right, it takes your wedding from "just okay" to truly magical.