Lighting hire
Event Lighting HireFestoons, fairy lights, candles, candelabra, uplighting and light-up dance floors.
After sunset, lighting changes a room more than any other single decision. Lighting hire covers festoon and fairy lights, candles and candelabra, LED uplighting, light-up letters and dance floors.
- Covers
- Festoons, fairy lights, candles, candelabra, uplighting and dance floors
- Plan around
- Power, hanging points and the venue’s rules on open flame
- Judge it
- At the time of day your event runs
- Pairs with
- Marquee hire and backdrops
Layers of light
Light a room in four layers.
A room lit from one direction looks flat. Layers give it depth.
Overhead
Festoons and fairy lights create a ceiling outdoors and soften a high one indoors.
At the table
Candles, candelabra and lamps light faces and draw guests closer together.
Feature
Uplighting on walls, draping or a backdrop adds depth and colour.
Wayfinding
Paths, steps and entrances need enough light to be safe after dark.
By type
Lighting hire, piece by piece.
Most events combine two or three of these.
Festoon lighting
Strings of larger bulbs hung in runs or canopies. Outdoors, ask how they will be supported.
Fairy lights
Fine strings of small lights for ceilings, trees and draping.
Candles and holders
Pillars, tapers, tealights and hurricanes. Some venues allow only flameless LED candles.
Candelabra
Tall holders with several arms that give height to a table or an entrance.
LED uplighting
Small floor units that wash walls and structures with light or colour.
Light-up floors and letters
Illuminated dance floors, initials and numbers that become a focal point.
Power and safety
Plan the power before the pretty part.
A lighting plan is only as good as the power and the rules behind it.
Count the power points
Note where they are. Long cable runs need safe routes and covers.
Ask about generators
Remote sites and large lighting plans may need one. The hire company can advise.
Check the equipment is tested
Portable electrical equipment used at events in Australia is commonly tested and tagged. Ask the hire company about theirs.
Know the flame rules
Many venues restrict open flames. Confirm before planning real candles.
Use gear made for outdoors
Outdoor lighting and connections need to suit the conditions. Ask which pieces are rated for outdoor use.
Leave the heights to the crew
Hanging lights overhead is work for the hire company’s crew. Ask what installation includes.
Candle hire and candelabra hire
Candlelight, planned properly.
Candle hire usually means the holders: hurricanes, candlesticks and candelabra. Candles themselves may be supplied, sold or left to you.
Ask whether candles are included, who lights them and when, and who puts them out at the end of the night. Drips on linen are a common source of damage charges, so ask what the company recommends.
Where open flame isn’t allowed, flameless LED candles keep the look. Mixing both is common: real candles on protected tables, LED candles in draughty or busy spots.
Dance floor hire
Dance floors: size, surface and power.
Dance floors are laid in panels, so the hire company needs the floor area you have and the surface underneath. Outdoor floors need a level base.
Light-up floors also need power close by. Think about where the music will be set up in relation to the floor, and keep the floor clear of the main walkway.
By setting
Indoors, outdoors or under canvas.
Each setting starts from a different amount of light and a different set of rules.
Indoors
Work with the venue
Dim the overhead lights if the venue allows it, then add candles and uplighting. Check the rules for hanging anything.
Outdoors
Build a ceiling
Festoons define the space and give guests a ceiling. Add path lighting and a plan for supports.
In a marquee
Hang from the frame
Fairy lights, festoons and pendants can hang from the structure. Ask the marquee company which lighting it installs.
Quotes
What shapes a lighting quote.
Labour and power often matter as much as the lights themselves.
Runs and quantities
The number and length of festoon runs, and the count of candles and uplights.
Height and hanging points
Work at height, poles and anchor points.
Power
Cabling, distribution and any generator.
Installation hours
Time on site to install, focus and pack down.
Venue rules
Access times and restrictions that affect installation.
Hire period
Single evening, overnight or multi-day.
Questions
Event lighting, answered.
Practical answers about lighting hire for events.
Do we need lighting for a daytime event?
Usually not much, unless the event runs into the evening or the venue is dim. Plan for the time the event ends, not the time it starts.
Are LED candles worth it?
They are useful where open flames aren’t allowed and on outdoor tables in wind. Real candles give a warmer flicker, and some events mix both.
Can festoons be hung without trees or walls?
Yes, using poles or stands, depending on the site. Ask the hire company how they are secured.
Does lighting hire include installation?
Larger installations usually do, while smaller items such as lamps and candle holders may be delivered for you to place. Confirm what is included.
What is uplighting?
Small lights placed on the floor and pointed upwards to wash walls, drapes or structures with light or colour.
Lighting hire is quoted for venues and private properties across Australia. The suburb you enter in step 3 helps companies plan travel and installation time.
Browse locationsBuild your brief
Plan the light with your brief.
Tell us the venue, the time the event ends and the mood you want. Lighting and styling professionals who suit the event can review it and respond.
There is no obligation to book.