How Much Does Marquee Lighting and Power Cost for an Event?

The cost of lighting and powering a marquee event depends on four main things: the size of the marquee, the style of lighting you want, how much power the event needs and how far your site is from a usable mains supply. A simple, small marquee with festoon lighting and a modest power supply costs far less than a large wedding marquee with full production lighting, audio and backup power. The best way to get an accurate figure is a site visit and a single inclusive quote that covers design, equipment, installation and an engineer on the day.

This article is written by Christopher James Events, a family-run event production company in the South East of England. We don’t hire out marquees ourselves. Instead, we work alongside marquee companies every week, providing the marquee lighting and power, along with audio and staging, that bring a marquee to life. So the advice below comes from the people who light, power and sound marquee events across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Table of Contents

• What affects the cost?
• How is the marquee itself priced?
• What types of marquee lighting are there?
• How much power does a marquee event need?
• What should a lighting and power quote include?
• How can you keep costs down without cutting corners?
• Frequently asked questions

What affects the cost of marquee lighting and power?

No two marquee events are the same, which is why you will rarely see a fixed price list for lighting and power. These are the factors that make the biggest difference.

The size and layout of the marquee

A larger marquee needs more fixtures to light it evenly, more cabling to reach every corner and usually more power. Separate areas, such as a reception space, a dining area, a dance floor and a bar, each need their own lighting plan. A simple open-plan marquee is quicker to light than one split into zones.

The style of lighting

Fairy lights and festoons create a lovely warm glow and are relatively simple to install. Uplighting, chandeliers, pin spots on tables, coloured wash lighting and dance floor effects all add atmosphere, but each adds equipment and set-up time. The more layered the design, the higher the cost.

Power requirements

Lighting is only one part of the power picture. Caterers, bars, band equipment, heating, toilets and phone charging points all draw power too. The total load decides the size of generator you need, and whether you need a backup.

Access and distance

Fields, gardens and country estates are beautiful places for a marquee, but they often have no suitable mains supply close by. If the power supply has to be positioned a long way from the marquee, or access is tricky for a vehicle, it adds cabling, time and labour.

How long the event runs

A single evening is simpler to price than a weekend wedding with a Friday set-up, Saturday celebration and Sunday brunch. Longer events mean more fuel, longer equipment hire and more time on site for the crew.

Whether you need an engineer on site

For larger events, having a technician on site throughout is well worth it. They manage power, adjust lighting between the meal and the party, and deal with any issue before guests even notice.

How is the marquee itself priced?

It helps to understand that the marquee and the lighting and power are usually separate quotes. The marquee company supplies the structure, flooring, linings and often furniture. A production company like ours supplies the lighting, power and audio that go inside it.

Industry wedding guides suggest UK couples commonly spend several thousand pounds on marquee hire alone, with larger guest numbers and fully dressed marquees costing considerably more. When you budget, remember that lighting, power, heating and audio are typically on top of the marquee price, so it pays to ask early how each supplier’s quote fits together.

If you are still choosing your marquee supplier, our guide on what to look for when hiring a marquee company covers the questions to ask before you book.

What types of marquee lighting are there?

Most marquee lighting designs mix a few of these elements:

• Festoon and fairy lights: warm, relaxed and timeless. Perfect for rustic and garden weddings.
• Uplighting: fixtures at the base of the marquee walls or poles that wash the linings with colour or warm white.
• Chandeliers and feature lights: a focal point over the dance floor or top table.
• Pin spots: narrow beams that highlight table centrepieces, the cake or the top table.
• Dance floor and party lighting: moving heads, colour effects and haze that turn the marquee into a party venue after dinner.
• Exterior and pathway lighting: safe, attractive lighting for paths, entrances, toilets and car parks after dark.

A good lighting designer will think about how the space changes through the day, from a bright, welcoming reception to soft lighting for the meal and a lively feel for the evening. Our lighting hire page shows the kind of looks we create.

How much power does a marquee event need?

This is the question that catches many people out. A marquee in a field has no power until someone brings it, and everything at the event depends on it, from the lights to the coffee machine.

To size the power properly, we look at everything that will be plugged in on the day:

• Lighting, inside and outside the marquee
• Catering equipment, such as ovens, fridges, hot cupboards and coffee machines
• Bar equipment and chillers
• The band or DJ, plus PA and audio
• Heaters, if they are electric
• Toilet units, which often need power for lighting and water pumps

Once we know the total load, we recommend the right size of generator, plan where it should sit so it is quiet and out of sight, and work out the cabling and distribution boards needed. For larger events we often recommend a backup or synchronised units, so the party keeps going even if one unit has a problem. You can read more about this in our guide to marquee wedding generator hire.

Getting power wrong is the one mistake you really don’t want to make. An undersized or poorly set-up power supply can trip during the speeches or the first dance, and that is a memory nobody wants.

What should a lighting and power quote include?

When you compare quotes, make sure you are comparing like for like. A good quote for marquee lighting and power should clearly show:

• A site visit or survey, so the plan fits your venue
• The lighting design and the equipment included
• Generator size, fuel and any backup power
• Cabling, distribution and any trackway or protection for cables
• Delivery, installation and collection
• An engineer or technician on site, and for how long
• Safety testing and the right insurance
• Any extra charges, such as late finishes or overnight fuel

At Christopher James Events we prefer to give one inclusive price that covers everything from checking your power supply to installing and operating the lights. It makes budgeting simpler and means there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.

How can you keep costs down without cutting corners?

There are sensible ways to make your budget go further:

• Book early. Popular summer weekends get busy, and early booking gives you more choice and time to plan.
• Focus the wow factor. Put your budget into the areas guests will remember most, such as the dance floor and the top table, and keep other areas simpler.
• Use one supplier for lighting, power and audio. It avoids duplicate delivery and crew costs and means one team is responsible for everything working together.
• Share the generator. One properly sized power supply for the whole event is usually more efficient than several small ones brought by different suppliers.
• Talk to your marquee company. Make sure your marquee supplier and your lighting and power supplier know about each other early, so nothing is doubled up.

What we would never recommend is cutting corners on power or safety. Cheap, undersized generators and untested cabling are a false economy at any event.

Marquee Lighting and Power at a Glance

• Biggest cost drivers: marquee size, lighting style, total power load, site access and event length.
• Separate from the marquee: lighting and power are usually quoted separately from the marquee structure.
• Power first: list everything that needs power before choosing a generator.
• Best value: one inclusive quote for lighting, power and audio, with an engineer on site.

Frequently asked questions

Does the marquee company provide the lighting?

Some marquee companies offer basic lighting, but many couples and event organisers use a specialist for lighting, power and audio. It gives you more choice of design and one team responsible for keeping everything running.

Do I always need a generator for a marquee?

Not always. If there is a suitable mains supply nearby, it may be enough for some or all of the event. Most marquees in fields and gardens need a generator, and a site visit will confirm what is available.

How far in advance should I book lighting and power?

For summer weddings and events, we recommend booking several months ahead, ideally at the same time as your marquee.

Can you work with any marquee company?

Yes. We regularly work alongside different marquee suppliers across the South East and are happy to coordinate with yours.

Will a generator be noisy?

Modern silent units are much quieter than people expect, and we position them carefully so guests won’t notice them.

Get a Quote for Your Marquee Lighting and Power

Every marquee event is different, and the best way to understand your costs is to talk it through. Tell us about your venue, guest numbers and the look you have in mind, and we will put together a clear, inclusive quote for lighting, power and audio. Get in touch with our team, or explore our services on the Christopher James Events website.