Garden party lighting in Exeter
Professional garden party lighting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£85-£160
Typical Duration
1.5-3 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Garden party lighting setup - festoon lights, fairy lights, atmospheric illumination. Your garden transformed into a magical evening space.
Light Makes The Party
Garden party in the daytime? Fine. Garden party into the evening? You need proper lighting. Not just so people can see, but to create that magical atmosphere that makes outdoor evening events special.
💡 What good lighting does: Transforms an ordinary garden into somewhere special. Defines spaces (dining area, dancing area, seating area), creates atmosphere, and means your party can run into the night rather than ending when it gets dark.
What Usually Gets Installed
| Lighting Type | Where It Goes | What It Creates |
|---|---|---|
| Festoon lights | Overhead across garden/patio | Main atmospheric lighting |
| Fairy lights | Trees, fences, structures | Sparkle and depth |
| Path lighting | Routes through garden | Safety and guidance |
| Uplighting | Feature trees or walls | Drama and interest |
| Lanterns | Tables, around seating | Ambient close-up light |
What You'll Pay
| Lighting Scope | Time to Install | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple setup (one festoon run) | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Standard party lighting (multiple runs, fairy lights) | 2-2.5 hrs | £110-£135 |
| Full garden illumination (extensive setup) | 3 hrs | £160 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Takedown next day usually takes less time.
Why Get Professional Setup
✅ Safety - electrical outdoors needs doing properly
✅ Looks better - hung at right height, proper spacing, intentional design
✅ Weatherproof - connections protected, won't trip in rain
✅ Stays up all evening - securely fastened, won't sag or fall
✅ Power sorted - proper cable runs, no bodged extensions
Why Choose Us for Garden party lighting in Exeter?
Garden beautifully lit for evening party
Lights hung safely and weatherproofed
Power supply sorted properly
Atmospheric lighting that looks professional
What to Expect
Step 1: Plan The Lighting
Look at your garden, work out where lights should go for best effect. Might suggest changes to your plan based on what actually works in the space.
Step 2: Install Everything
Hang lights securely, run power safely, test everything works. Make sure it all looks good, not just functional but atmospheric.
Step 3: Your Evening Party
When darkness falls, your garden looks magical. Lights create atmosphere, define spaces, let the party run into the night.
Step 4: Next Day Takedown
Come back and carefully take it all down, pack your lights away neatly, remove all cables and fixings.
🔧 DIY Tips
Planning to do your own party lighting? Here's what you need to know:
⚡ Safety first
- ONLY use outdoor-rated extension leads and lights
- RCD protection on outdoor power (most consumer units have this, test it)
- Keep all connections raised off ground (water pools, people step on them)
- If it's properly raining, indoor-rated stuff is dangerous
- Check your homeowner's insurance if you're DIY-ing electrical outdoors
🔌 Power planning
- Work out where power's coming from before buying lights
- Extension leads have maximum lengths that are safe
- Don't daisy-chain multiple extensions (fire risk)
- Outdoor sockets are worth installing if you do this regularly
💡 Hanging techniques
- Festoon lights need tension to hang properly (saggy lights look terrible)
- Use proper fixings, not just draped over things
- Allow for cable runs to power (don't pull tight to plug in)
- Trees move in wind - allow some flex
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Indoor extension leads used outdoors (dangerous when wet)
- Lights too low (people walk into them, especially after drinks)
- Uneven spacing (looks messy)
- Not enough power points (overloading one socket)
- Leaving cables as trip hazards across paths
💡 Pro tip: Do a test run the week before your party. Hang everything, test it in darkness, see what works. Devon weather means you'll know if your setup is weatherproof, and you've got time to buy extra lights if you need them.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
✨ Festoon lights hiring: Lots of people hire festoon lights for parties rather than buying them. Several companies in Exeter area do this. I can install hired lights no problem - just make sure they include enough cable for your garden size.
Weather protection - everything's installed to handle Devon weather. Rain, wind, typical British summer stuff is all fine. Extreme weather (storm-force winds) might mean taking lights down early, but that's rare.
Trees as fixing points - using trees for festoon lights is common, but needs doing carefully so you're not damaging the tree or creating a problem when wind moves branches. I'll advise on what works.
Timing - usually install afternoon of the party or even day before. Lights look better in darkness so testing properly needs to wait for evening, which is why day before often makes sense.
Multiple power circuits - if you're lighting a large garden, you might need power from different house circuits. I'll work out what's needed and run cables sensibly.
Solar lights - some people ask about solar party lights. Honestly? They're rarely bright enough for actual lighting, more for decoration. If you want a properly lit garden party, you need mains power.
Permanent installation - some people love the festoon light look so much they want it permanent. That's a different job (proper outdoor wiring, weatherproof fixtures), but if you want that, I can advise or recommend electricians for the permanent installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of garden party lighting can you install?
Whatever you've got - festoon lights, fairy lights, LED strings, lanterns, uplighting for trees, path lighting. I'll hang them properly, run power safely, make sure everything's weatherproof and looks good. The key is doing it safely and making it look intentional, not just strung up randomly.
Do you provide the lights or just install them?
Just installation - you provide the lights (buy or hire), and I'll get them up properly. If you need recommendations on what works well or where to hire festoon lights in Exeter, I can point you in the right direction.
How do you handle power for outdoor lights?
Run extension leads from your house to the garden, using outdoor-rated cable and weatherproof connections. Everything's done safely and protected from the elements. If your party's far from the house, we might need multiple power points or longer cable runs.
Can you do takedown the next day?
Yes - that's usually part of the service. Get the lights up for your party, then come back the next day to take them all down and pack them away. Much easier than doing it yourself with a hangover.
What if it rains during the party?
If everything's installed properly (outdoor-rated connections, weatherproof fittings), rain isn't a problem. The lights stay on and stay safe. That's why professional installation matters - bodged connections and indoor extension leads in the rain are dangerous.
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