Wedding Marquee Lighting Ideas: How to Create the Perfect Atmosphere
Lighting can completely transform a wedding marquee.
During the day, your marquee may be filled with natural light and beautiful views. As the sun begins to set, the right lighting takes over and creates an entirely different atmosphere.
Whether you’re planning a relaxed countryside wedding, a glamorous celebration or a festival-inspired party, lighting gives you another opportunity to make the space feel completely your own.
Start With the Style of Your Wedding
Before choosing individual lights, think about the atmosphere you want to create.
A traditional countryside wedding might suit warm fairy lights and elegant chandeliers.
A festival wedding could work beautifully with festoon lighting and colourful details.
For something more modern, subtle uplighting can add colour without overwhelming the rest of your décor.
Your lighting should complement the marquee rather than compete with it.
If you haven’t chosen your structure yet, our wedding marquee hire page has more information about the different options available.
Fairy Lights
Fairy lights remain one of the most popular choices for marquee weddings – and it’s easy to see why.
They provide a soft, warm glow and can be used throughout the marquee without dominating the space.
They work particularly well with traditional and canvas-style structures, especially when combined with natural flowers, greenery and wooden furniture.
For a romantic evening atmosphere, warm white lighting is usually a lovely choice.
Chandeliers
If you’re looking for something a little more elegant, chandeliers can create a real focal point.
They work particularly well above the wedding breakfast or dance floor and can help introduce a sense of occasion.
You don’t necessarily need a chandelier in every part of the marquee.
Sometimes one or two carefully positioned statement lights can have a much greater impact.
Festoon Lighting
Festoon lighting is ideal for couples who want something a little more relaxed.
The larger bulbs create a warm, sociable atmosphere and are particularly suited to rustic, outdoor and festival-inspired weddings.
They can be used inside the marquee or around outdoor seating areas, creating a natural connection between the two spaces.
If you’re planning a festival wedding, festoon lighting can be a particularly effective finishing touch.
Don’t Forget the Dance Floor
Lighting doesn’t just need to look beautiful.
It can also help define different areas within your marquee.
Your dance floor is an obvious place to introduce more dynamic lighting.
Depending on your style, you could use colour-changing effects, spotlights or other lighting effects to create a completely different atmosphere once the evening party begins.
The transition from wedding breakfast to dancing is one of the most important changes of the day, so don’t overlook it.
Create Different Lighting Zones
One of the best ways to make a large marquee feel welcoming is to create different lighting zones.
For example:
- Soft lighting over the dining tables
- Brighter lighting around the bar
- Statement lighting above the dance floor
- Subtle lighting around lounge seating
- Decorative lighting around entrances
- Outdoor lighting around pathways
This creates depth and stops the entire marquee from feeling like one large, evenly lit room.
Think About Your Tables
Table lighting can be just as important as the main marquee lighting.
Candles, lanterns and small table lights can add warmth and create a more intimate feeling around the wedding breakfast.
Think about how your centrepieces will interact with the lighting too.
You don’t want beautiful flowers or decorations disappearing into darkness.
Equally, you don’t want lighting that’s so bright that it overwhelms them.
Lighting for Outdoor Areas
One of the great things about a marquee wedding is that you can make use of the surrounding outdoor space.
If guests will be walking between the marquee, toilets, parking or outdoor seating, make sure these areas are appropriately lit.
Pathway lighting can be both practical and beautiful.
It also means your guests can continue enjoying the grounds after sunset without feeling as though they’re stepping into complete darkness.
Don’t Leave Lighting Until the Last Minute
Lighting should be considered when you’re planning the marquee layout rather than added as an afterthought.
Where will the dance floor go?
Where will guests sit?
Where will the bar be?
Which areas do you want to highlight?
Planning these details together allows your lighting, furniture and decorations to work as one design.
Our guide to styling a marquee wedding is another useful place to start if you’re still deciding how you’d like your marquee to look.
Make Your Marquee Feel Like Yours
The beauty of marquee weddings is the freedom they give you.
You aren’t restricted to the lighting package of a fixed venue.
You can create a space that reflects your personalities, your wedding theme and the atmosphere you want your guests to remember.
During the day, keep things light and natural.
As evening arrives, introduce warmer, softer and more atmospheric lighting.
And when the music starts, turn up the energy.
With a little planning, the same marquee can feel like three completely different spaces throughout the day – which is exactly what makes them so special.