Can you light a tent with Christmas lights?

[katamari]

I have been inspired by all the clearance sales to consider buying strands of lights for our early fall outdoor tent reception. To rent lights from the rental company where we are getting the tent, it would be around $1000. I assume buying even a hundred strands of white Christmas lights right now would be far less expensive. Is this a feasible idea? Any thoughts on how much light I would need? We would have the meal during sunlight hours, and would just need enough lighting for dancing and conversation.

 

[Winslet]

I''ve lighted tents with white christmas lights for outdoor parties before. It can definitely be done, just make sure to use VERY white ones (some are not as bright as others). You should also test it out with enough time to decide if you''ll need a second light source as well. I hope it works out, it can be really romantic!

 

[Gypsy]

I think it would look wonderful, and do believe there would be enough light, my concern is time. Our wedding was on Sunday and if on Friday or Saturday someone had told me I had to string a tent up with 100''s of strands of lights I would have strung them up. Seriously. I think it''s a cost effective alternative, but with any DIY project you have to think of the time invested. If the rental company, friends, family, wedding planner ANYONE but you and FI will do it, great. If not, for me... I''d look for another less time consuming alternative.

 

[honey22]

You would need to think about how you are going to plug all those lights in. With multilpe strings of fairy lights, you can''t go wacking them in into a single socket, or overload a powerboard. You will likely blow the place up. Then it would be really dark in the tent without electricity

Sorry, bad sense of humour, and Daddy was a sparky, so I am rather obsessed with electricity.

If the professionals do it, they will have all the equipment, power requirements etc all covered. A lot of home accidents result in people overloading powerboards with christmas lights etc, causing fires and stuff. If you do it yourself, please make sure you have that aspect covered.

Sorry to be a party pooper, Good luck!! The idea sounds beautiful!

 

[iheartscience]

That sounds absolutely gorgeous! If the logistics of setting the lights up will work out I would totally go for it. Have you called the tent rental place and asked about doing it?

 

[mayachel]

I''m wondering if you have found any photos that show a tent set up like this?

 

[sap483]

Our friends had a wedding in an old historic barn and they lit it up with thousands of christmas lights. It was gorgeous. The groom is an electrical engineer though so he was able to set it up without problems. As others have suggested it could be difficult in terms of power supply and running wires.

 

[katamari]

Hi everyone! Excellent points of concern. I would have never thought about the setup time or (most importantly) the safety issue. I called the company we are most likely going to use for the rentals, and they will let you hire workers for misc. setup. So, we would be good on that front. The only issue now is safety. One of my friend''s dads is a fire chief, and I emailed him. I think that if anything stops us, this will be it.

I did, though, pick up 30 boxes of 300 white lights for just over $20 tonight, just in case. Oh, and I included my inspiration pictures, too. This is the one I love:

 

[katamari]

But this one is interesting, too.

ETA: I realize there are some lanterns in here, too.

 

[katamari]

Oops. This was the one I really loved: