Red carpets, explained
Everything for a red carpet arrival
Red carpet hire and what it costs in each city, how to stage a red carpet event from the runner to the media wall, and Hollywood theme parties, with every price named and dated.
The Arrival Planner
Enter the length of your entrance and your guest numbers. The planner works out the runner, the posts and ropes, the marquee floor and the dance floor, and prices them from published Australian hire lists.
- Red carpet
- Posts and ropes
- Marquee floor
- Dance floor
Rules: runners 1.2 m wide in 3, 6, 9 and 12 m lengths, posts about 1 metre apart on both sides (Events Fantastic); 1 m² a guest seated, 0.5 m² standing (Barlens); 30 to 40% of guests dancing at once, 0.37 to 0.46 m² each (Curated Events). Prices: Events Fantastic (carpet, + GST) and Bargain Party Hire (marquees, floors), read 3 October 2026. A guide, not a quote.
The red carpet
The red carpet
Red carpet hire: lengths, posts and ropes, and what it costs
A red carpet runner is almost always 1.2 metres wide and comes in 3, 6, 9 or 12 metre lengths. Here is how much you need, how many posts and ropes go with it, and what hire companies charge.
The red carpet
How to stage a red carpet event: the runner, the ropes, the media wall and the photos
A red carpet arrival is a small piece of theatre: a runner, two lines of posts and ropes, a backdrop worth photographing, and light on the guests' faces. Here is how to put one together, and what each piece costs to hire or buy.
Themes
A Hollywood theme party: the arrival, the room and the hire list
The whole point of a Hollywood party is the entrance. Start with the carpet and the photo moment, then dress the room around them.
The rest of the event
Once guests are through the door: the photo booth, the marquee, the tables and the dance floor.
Photo booths
Photo booth hire: what you get and what it costs
Published packages run from about $500 to $950 for three hours. The price depends on prints, an attendant and the style of booth.
Marquees
Marquee hire: what size for your guests, and what it costs
The rule of thumb from an Australian marquee maker: about a square metre for every seated guest, half that standing. Add room for the bar, the buffet and the dance floor.
Tables and chairs
Table and chair hire: which tables, which chairs, and the published prices
Chairs hire from a couple of dollars each; a Tiffany chair costs about three times a plastic one. Here is what each costs and how to choose.
Dance floors
Dance floor hire: how big, and what it costs
At most parties only a third of the guests dance at once. Size the floor for them, not for everyone, and you will save money and fill the floor.
Insurance and permits
Public liability insurance for events: when you need it and how much
Hold an event in a council park and you will probably be asked for a $20 million public liability certificate. Here is when it applies and what it means.