For weddings and events, plan roughly one cordless table lamp per round table of 8-10 guests, or one per 1.5-2 metres of banquet table, plus extras for the bar and welcome table. That is about 15-18 lamps for 100 guests and 25-30 for 150. Cordless lamps work where venues have no sockets at table height and ban open flames, give every table identical warm light for photographs, and recharge overnight on a charging station for day two.
Cordless Table Lamps for Weddings and Events: Warm Light on Every Table, No Cables
Barns, marquees and gardens are beautiful and almost never have sockets, and many venues ban open flames. Here's how to light every table properly, and how many lamps you need.
Every event planner knows the moment. The venue looks perfect in daylight, the flowers are up, the tables are set, and then the sun goes down and the whole room turns into a dim space with a few harsh downlights. The photographer's face says it all.
Table light is what carries an evening event. And it is precisely where the beautiful venues let you down: a converted barn, an orangery, a marquee in a field or a garden terrace almost never has power at table height. Running extension leads under linen is unsafe and looks it. Candles are the traditional answer, but more and more venues forbid open flames, and if they don't, someone still has to light two hundred of them and watch them all night.
Cordless, rechargeable table lamps solve the whole problem at once.
Why they work so well for events
They go anywhere, because there is nothing to plug in. They are consistent, so table twelve looks exactly like table one in every photograph, which candles burning at different rates can never promise. They are safe around long sleeves, veils, paper menus and children, with no flame and nothing to knock over. They are dimmable, so you can lift the light for the speeches and drop it again for the dancing. And they cost you nothing on the second day: charge them overnight and the whole room is ready again for the brunch.
How many lamps do you actually need?
The rule of thumb is one lamp per round table of eight to ten guests, and one lamp per one and a half to two metres of a long banquet table. Add a few for the bar, the welcome table, the cake table and the guest book.
| Event size | Table setup | Lamps needed | Charging stations |
| 50 guests | 6 round tables | 8–10 | 1–2 |
| 100 guests | 12 round tables | 15–18 | 2–3 |
| 150 guests | 3 long banquet tables | 25–30 | 4–5 |
| 200 guests | mixed layout | 35–40 | 5–6 |
Always order a handful of spares. On a long wedding day a lamp gets moved, borrowed for the photo booth, or simply misplaced, and a charged spare on the side table saves the moment.
The evening, from set-up to strike
Charge everything the day before, so you start at full. Set the lamps out with the covers and glassware, not at the last minute. Dim them low as the light fades outside; the goal is a glow at table height, not a spotlight. After the last guest leaves, the whole set goes back on the Amstel charging station (€99), where several lamps charge together, and by breakfast they are ready for day two.
Which lamps suit an event
Choose metal for events. It survives being packed, stacked and moved by a crew, and it wipes clean. Our Essential lamps are metal, dimmable and splash-resistant (IP54), so a spilled glass of champagne is not a disaster.
Anton, the classic (€65)
A calm, timeless silhouette that disappears into the styling. Gold and Vanilla are the safest choices for a wedding.
Ava, with colour (€65)
For events with a palette. Olive Green and Bronze sit beautifully against greenery and wooden tables.
William, the statement (€69)
When the styling is bolder and you want the lamp to be part of the look.
Buying or hiring for events
If you organise more than two or three events a year, buying works out cheaper than hiring, and you own the look instead of taking whatever the rental company has in stock. For venues, caterers, wedding planners and rental companies we supply larger quantities through our Professional line, including advice on colours, quantities, charging setup and delivery timing. Get in touch and we will work out the right set for your rooms.
Running a venue day to day as well? Read how to choose the right lamp for a restaurant or hotel, how charging stations keep a whole venue lit, or why warm table lighting keeps guests seated longer. New to cordless lighting? Start with the complete guide to rechargeable lamps.
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Frequently asked questions
How many table lamps do you need for a wedding?
Plan one lamp per round table of 8-10 guests, or one per 1.5-2 metres of banquet table, plus a few for the bar, welcome table and cake table. For 100 guests that is roughly 15-18 lamps, and always order a few charged spares.
Why use cordless lamps instead of candles at an event?
Many venues ban open flames, and candles burn at different rates so tables never match in photographs. Cordless lamps give identical, dimmable warm light on every table with nothing to light, watch or replace.
Can you light a marquee or barn with no power at the tables?
Yes, that is exactly what cordless lamps are for. They run on a battery, so there are no extension leads under the linen and no sockets needed at table height.
How do you recharge all the lamps between event days?
Place them on a charging station after the last guest leaves. Several lamps charge together overnight, so the full set is ready again for a second day or the next event.
Is it better to buy or hire lamps for events?
If you run more than two or three events a year, buying usually costs less than repeated hire, and you control the look. Through the Professional line we supply larger quantities with advice on colours, charging and delivery.
