String Lights and Tent Lighting: Everything You Need to Know

Of all the add-ons we offer, string lights are the one that makes people say "oh, that's exactly what I wanted" when they see it in person. They turn a functional white tent into a genuinely beautiful event space — especially after dark. Here's everything you need to know.

What Our String Lights Look Like

We use classic bistro-style string lights — the warm, round bulb style that's become the standard for outdoor events. They're hung overhead in parallel runs across the interior of the tent, spaced to give even light coverage across the full floor area.

The effect is warm, flattering, and exactly what you see in every "perfect backyard party" photo you've ever scrolled past. At dusk and into the evening, the tent interior glows in a way that a bare white tent simply doesn't.

How They're Installed

Our crew installs the string lights as part of the tent setup — you don't need to do anything. Lights are strung from the tent frame, run along the ridge line, and connected to an outdoor-rated power source. We'll need access to an outdoor electrical outlet within extension cord distance of the tent.

Before your setup day, make sure there's a functioning outdoor outlet accessible near the tent location. If you don't have one, a long outdoor extension cord run from an indoor outlet will work — just let us know ahead of time.

Which Events Benefit Most

String lights are most impactful for:

• Evening events — any party that extends past 7pm in summer or 5pm in fall
• Weddings and receptions — the most commonly cited "must-have" upgrade from couples
• Milestone birthday parties — the ambiance elevates the occasion
• Graduation parties with evening guests — grad parties often run into the evening and the lights make a natural transition from afternoon to night

For strictly daytime events (ending before 5pm), string lights are still nice to have but you'll see less of the effect since natural light dominates.

String Lights Paired with Sidewalls

This is our favorite combination for evening events. Sidewalls close off the perimeter of the tent, and the string lights overhead create a fully enclosed, glowing space that feels entirely separate from the rest of the yard. Guests tend to stay inside and close together, which creates a lively, intimate atmosphere.

For open-air events (no sidewalls), string lights still look beautiful — the light just spills out at the edges rather than being contained.

How to Add String Lights to Your Order

When you book through our online booking tool, string lights are available as an add-on for any tent size. Just select them when you're building your order. If you've already booked without them and want to add them, call or text us and we'll update your reservation as long as it's before the setup date.

Are They Worth It?

We're obviously biased, but our honest answer is yes — especially for evening events. String lights are the highest-impact upgrade per dollar we offer. Every time we set them up, the person who booked them says some version of "I'm so glad I got these."

Ready to add string lights to your tent rental? Build your order here →