Marquee Wedding Lighting Ideas to Transform Your Venue

Your wedding marquee is best looked at as a blank canvas upon which you can paint the fairy tale evening of your dreams. 

For some couples, classic and understated with chandeliers and pillar candles is the way to go. For others, however, maybe an earthier setup pairs better with their theme. In all cases, however, you’ll find yourself relying on your wedding reception lighting to create the perfect atmosphere for making memories and, of course, for snapping party photos as the evening winds down. 

The question is: how do you select the right wedding lighting designs for your venue? Whilst lighting might seem like an easy item to tick off the to-do list, there is actually a lot of nuance and design planning that goes into finding the right lighting to pair with your wedding theme and setting. 

Thankfully, marquees allow for flexible lighting and heating options, ranging from pillar and lamp lighting and lanterns to string lights, pendant lighting, and even neon lights, if that’s the right pick for your big day! 

Today, our marquee event experts have prepared this little list of the best marquee wedding lighting ideas to keep in mind when planning your wedding. We hope that our selections will spark some design inspiration for you in the lead up to your marquee wedding!

Why wedding lighting matters in venue design

From warm fairy lights adorning the walls to dramatic festoon lighting strung between timber frames, the right wedding reception lighting plays a major role in cultivating a mood or atmosphere. Warm, intimate lighting can transform your wedding marquee into a romantic setting, where your guests will feel encouraged to drink and be merry, enjoying each other’s company and creating memories full of heart.

And speaking of making memories, it’s no secret that soft, warm lighting also sets our faces aglow, which makes for universally flattering candid photographs. If you want to capture the authentic joy of your guests and prepare a drop dread gorgeous wedding album to remember the day, then the right lighting conditions can help you do so. 

Finally, wedding lighting is an absolute necessity for evening wedding receptions – especially here in Melbourne, as we roll into winter. The days are getting shorter and the evenings colder, so the right lighting and heating amenities for your wedding can help ensure the party continues on well into the night!

So to recap, here are the major benefits of picking the right wedding lighting for your reception:

• Builds a unique identity and atmosphere for your wedding
• Creates cohesion with your wedding theme
• Provides ideal, flattering lighting for evening photography
• Keeps the party going (on even the coldest, darkest winter nights in Melbourne!)

Best wedding lighting ideas for marquee weddings

So without further ado, let’s explore our favourite wedding reception lighting ideas to colour your wedding marquee:

Fairy lighting for an intimate glow

An evergreen fan favourite in outdoor event trends, fairy lights constantly deliver warmth and delicate visuals in any setting. The natural drape of fairy lights when strung up against a wall pairs perfectly with both standing floral arrangements placed intermittently, or even vine arrangements that are strung along the lights themselves.

For couples looking to create an earthy, botanical-inspired wedding theme, fairy lights are definitely going to pair well. Their lightweight hang also makes them well-suited for decorating a marquee for a wedding, providing easy set-up, a great ambience, and ensuring plenty of floorspace is still available for guests.

Festoon lights for rustic-inspired charm

One of the best catering tips we can provide for outdoor tented events is to set up festoon lighting overhead on a lightweight timber frame. These lights are a bit brighter than fairy lights whilst still being incredibly lightweight and easy to set up, which makes for great functional lighting over outdoor table spreads.

On top of the functional benefits of festoon lights, there’s no denying that these also just look great. The homey atmosphere created by festoon lights aligns well with more rustic-inspired weddings or even backyard marquee events. 

Chandeliers and pendant lights for timeless glamour

Believe it or not, but you can still string up a chandelier or pendant lights in a wedding marquee! In fact, just a quick scroll through our gallery will be sure to provide plenty of inspiration here. It’s all about using your marquee frame to your advantage when designing your lighting arrangements. 

If you’re looking to add a touch of classical flair to your wedding reception lighting, then you simply cannot go wrong with a statement chandelier maybe installed above the bridal table, and maybe even some matching timeless pendant lighting strung throughout the rest of the venue. Not only will these elegant hanging lights provide great illumination, but they’ll also be picture perfect for tasteful snaps during your reception dinner and speeches.

Pillar or floating candles on tabletops

Speaking of your reception dinner, let’s take a closer look at your table lighting now. For most wedding receptions, table lighting can be a pretty big source of concern. Cheap electronic candles can immediately downgrade the luxe look of your table settings and centrepiece designs. 

Thankfully, there are some elegant, low-risk solutions available here as well, namely in the form of glass pillar candles, or even stunning floating candles. The concept is simple: set a pillar candle in a glass cylinder or mason jar with a solid and wide base. That way, your candle will be substantially less likely to tip over, and even if it does, your tablecloth will still be protected by the flame because of the glass cylinder lip surrounding the top of the candle.

Floating candles work in a similar way. With a small, tealight-sized candle floating on water filling halfway up a glass cylinder, a knocked candle is more likely to end in a little dampness rather than flames. You can also get a little extra creative by suspending florets and other little decorations in the water beneath your floating candles. Some popular options here include wattle blooms, baby’s breath, or even inorganic decorations like ribbons.

Romantic lanterns lining aisles and walkways

If you’re looking to create a sense of cohesion between your wedding ceremony and your wedding reception, then you can’t go wrong with some lanterns lining not only the aisle and your altar, but also the wider reception setting. Rows of lanterns lining your wedding venue provide an intimate atmosphere of romance, transforming even a simple walkway for guests into an exciting, and magical procession tinged with anticipation.

Plus, lanterns are also great for simply providing direction. When it comes to decorating a garden party where you’d like to encourage guests to explore the grounds surrounding your wedding marquee, romantic lantern lighting can also help keep pathways inviting and well-lit. 

Uplighting and pinspotting for strong focal points

Soft uplighting in blush and gold can turn any open-air marquee into something truly magical. The concept is simple: set spotlighting at a lower angle to dramatically illuminate focal points in your wedding venue. For outdoor events, uplighting can be used to illuminate majestic eucalyptus trees surrounding your wedding venue, or even to spotlight your dance floor and encourage people to boogie down after dinner is served.

Pinspotting works in a similar way to uplighting, except instead of illuminating from a lower angle, you can illuminate at a levelled approach or even from a higher angle. Pinspotting can be a great way to illuminate floral arrangements at eye level, or even to spotlight your wedding cake for your wedding photographer to take some great snaps of it throughout the night.

Neon signage for a splash of playful modernity

Finally, just as photobooths and other tech amenities are becoming more popular in modern weddings, so too are fun and flashy decor, including neon lighting! For a dash of extra fun, why not get some custom neon lights made to announce the new ‘Mr. and Mrs.’? Not only will these custom neon lights be super exciting for your guests to take in, but you’ll even be able to keep them at the end of the evening as a fun little wedding keepsake to decorate your home! 

Even if you don’t get custom neon lights, however, these fun lighting designs can still be incorporated into your venue in small ways, particularly in signposting interactive elements and activities throughout your wedding venue – think photobooths, party games, dancefloors, and other fun things.

Design your dream wedding venue with these marquee wedding lighting ideas

Finding the right wedding lighting for your big day doesn’t need to feel too overwhelming. With the little list we’ve prepped above plus all of our other marquee tips and event advice, you can curate the perfect design scheme and atmosphere for your marquee wedding.

And if you have any more questions about our marquees for hire or our other party products, then don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team at 1300 934 414 or via email at info@marqueemonkeys.com.au.