Outdoor Event Lighting in Phoenix: String vs Globe + Power Basics

Outdoor event lighting does more than help guests see after sunset. The right setup can define the event space, shift the atmosphere, highlight key areas, and make a backyard, tent, or open-air venue feel more finished.

For Phoenix events, the best lighting plan depends on how you'll use the space, what look you want, and where the power will come from.

Two of the most common options JMS Tents & Party Rentals offers are string lighting and globe lighting. They create different effects, and both work best when planned alongside the tent, tables, dance floor, entertainment, and electrical needs of the event.

Start With the Space You Want to Light

Before choosing a lighting style, think about which parts of the event need illumination.

That may include:

• Dining tables
• Dance floors
• Bars and beverage stations
• Buffet or catering areas
• Entrances
• Walkways
• Stages or presentation areas
• Cocktail and lounge spaces
• Trees or landscaping
• Areas between tents

The goal is not necessarily to light every part of the property equally.

Some areas need practical visibility, while others may only need enough light to create atmosphere or visually connect one part of the event to another.

Reviewing Party Light & Electrical Rentals early can help you think about lighting as part of the overall event layout rather than treating it as a last-minute decoration.

String Lighting Is Flexible and Decorative

String lighting works well when you want to add visible points of light throughout an outdoor event.

JMS uses G40-style string lighting for a variety of setups. It can work over or around:

• Dance floors
• Dining areas
• Open gathering spaces
• Walkways
• Trees
• Areas between tents
• Architectural or landscape features

Because the lighting can be configured around the event space, it is useful when you want to create an atmosphere without relying on a single central light source.

G40 String Lighting can also help visually connect different parts of a larger event. For example, lighting may extend from the main tent toward a dance floor, bar, cocktail area, or nearby gathering space.

This makes string lighting especially useful when the event extends beyond one tent.

Globe Lighting Creates More Structured Tent Illumination

Globe lighting serves a different purpose.

Rather than acting primarily as accent lighting, globe lighting is typically configured around the tent itself to provide more consistent overhead illumination.

The larger soft-white globes create a clean, finished look and can work especially well for:

• Wedding receptions
• Formal dinners
• Corporate events
• Seated celebrations
• Events where the tent is the primary gathering space

JMS globe lighting is configured for specific tent sizes and layouts, making it a natural fit when most of the event takes place under cover.

You can also dim it, giving the event more flexibility as the evening shifts from dinner to dancing or other activities.

String vs. Globe Lighting: Which Is Better?

Neither option is automatically better. They solve different lighting needs.

String lighting may make more sense when:

• You want a decorative or romantic look.
• The event uses multiple outdoor areas.
• You want to highlight a dance floor, trees, or open-air space.
• You need flexible lighting outside the main tent.
• The lighting itself is part of the visual design.

Globe lighting may make more sense when:

• Most of the event will happen inside a tent.
• You want more consistent overhead illumination.
• You prefer a clean, structured look.
• You want dimming flexibility.
• Dining and guest visibility are primary concerns.

Some events benefit from both.

Globe lighting may provide the primary illumination inside the tent, while string lighting helps define a nearby dance floor, cocktail area, walkway, or outdoor gathering space.

See How Lighting Fits Into a Complete Event Package

Lighting choices can be easier to understand when you see them as part of the full event setup.

JMS's Dancing Under the Stars Package for 250 Guests is a good example. The package combines multiple tent sections around a large dance floor. It lets you customize the setup with choices such as globe lighting, G40 string lighting, sidewalls, guest tables, buffet and specialty tables, linens, and other event details.

That means you are not choosing lighting in isolation.

You can consider how globe lighting will illuminate the main tented areas, where string lighting might add atmosphere or connect different parts of the event, and how those choices work alongside the dance floor, dining layout, and overall event design.

For larger events, this package-based approach makes it easier to see how lighting, tents, furnishings, and power requirements relate before submitting the setup for a quote.

Want the Atmosphere Without a Full Tent? Consider the EXO Tent

A fully tented setup is not the only way to use lighting to define an outdoor event.

During comfortable Phoenix spring and fall weather, an open-air setup can create an entirely different atmosphere.

The JMS 20' × 20' EXO Tent uses the tent frame and overhead lighting to define the event space while leaving the sky open above.

As daylight fades, the dark structure becomes less visually prominent, and the lighting becomes the focus. The result can create the feeling of an outdoor room without the visual weight of a traditional white tent canopy.

The EXO can work well for:

• Backyard parties
• Wedding receptions
• Cocktail areas
• Lounge spaces
• Dance floors
• Corporate gatherings
• Spring and fall evening events

Multiple EXO structures can also help define a larger event area.

The important distinction is that an EXO setup is about atmosphere and open-air use. Don't treat it as weather protection.

Plan Lighting Around the Event Layout

Lighting decisions become much easier once you know how the event will flow.

For example, a tent with dining tables may need more consistent overhead illumination, while an adjacent dance floor may benefit from string lighting.

A backyard party may use several lighting zones:

• Dining under the tent
• String lights over the dance floor
• Accent lighting near the bar
• Lighting along guest walkways
• Additional illumination near entrances or steps

Dance floors, stages, DJs, bands, and presentation areas may also need their own lighting plan rather than relying only on general tent lighting.

Think about:

• Where the dance floor, stage, DJ, or band will be located
• Where guests will enter and leave entertainment areas
• How cables and electrical equipment will be routed
• Whether nearby tables need different lighting levels
• How the lighting will connect the major areas of the event

This is another reason to discuss tent size and event layout before finalizing lighting.

The Guest Count to Tent Size guide can also help you plan seating, circulation, entertainment, and other space needs before building the lighting plan.

Power Planning Starts With the Whole Event

Lighting is only one part of an event's electrical demand.

Depending on the setup, power may also be needed for:

• DJs or bands
• Speakers and audio equipment
• Catering equipment
• Refrigeration
• Cooling equipment
• Fans
• Portable evaporative coolers
• Restroom trailers and other vendor equipment
• Other event electronics

Restroom trailers with air conditioning can also have significant power requirements, so their electrical needs should be confirmed with the provider and included when planning the event’s overall power needs.

Before the event, it helps to know:

• Where electrical outlets are located
• Which circuits are available
• How far the event area is from the power source
• What equipment other vendors will bring
• How extension cords and electrical runs will be routed
• Whether the available power is sufficient for the complete setup

You do not need to calculate every electrical load yourself. Sharing the major equipment and event details with JMS gives the team a better starting point for reviewing the setup.

Keep Safety Part of the Power Plan

Plan outdoor lighting and electrical equipment with guest movement, weather, and equipment placement in mind.

A few basics matter:

• Keep extension cords and electrical runs away from primary walkways whenever possible.
• Avoid creating trip hazards around tables, dance floors, stages, and entrances.
• Do not overload available circuits.
• Keep electrical connections protected from changing outdoor conditions.
• Place generators outdoors in appropriate locations away from occupied event areas and building openings.
• Follow the guidance of JMS, the venue, and other event professionals if weather conditions become unsafe.

If several vendors need power, coordinating those requirements in advance can help prevent DJs, caterers, lighting, cooling equipment, and other rentals from competing for the same electrical source.

Sharing the complete equipment plan with JMS also gives the team a better opportunity to identify possible power or setup concerns before event day.

When a Generator May Be Part of the Plan

Some event sites do not have enough convenient electrical access.

A generator may make sense when:

• The event is far from the building.
• The property has limited electrical capacity.
• Several vendors need power.
• You're using lighting and cooling equipment together.
• The event is being held at a park, open property, or remote site.
• You want a dedicated power source for part of the setup.

JMS offers generator options for outdoor events, including larger equipment for more demanding setups.

The goal is not to select a generator based on one rental item alone. Review power needs across the whole event so lighting, entertainment, catering, cooling, and other equipment can work together.

What JMS Needs to Help Plan Lighting and Power

You do not need a finished lighting design before requesting a quote.

A few basic details are usually enough to start the conversation:

Photos of the event space can also be useful, especially for backyard events, private properties, and unusual venues.

Build the Lighting Plan Into the Event From the Start

The best outdoor lighting setup is not simply the one that looks best in a photo.

It should support the way guests will use the space, provide appropriate visibility, work with the tent or open-air layout, and fit within the event's available power plan.

String lighting offers flexibility and atmosphere. Globe lighting provides more structured illumination inside a tent. The EXO Tent offers another option for creating an open-air environment where the lighting itself becomes part of the experience.

Starting with the layout and power requirements makes it much easier to choose the right combination.

Browse Party Light & Electrical Rentals to review JMS lighting, electrical, and power options, then build those choices into your quote so the team can help refine the setup for your event.