The red carpet · Prices checked
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.
By Claire Dunmore · 3 min read
Every red carpet event, from a film premiere to an 18th birthday, is built from the same four things: the runner on the ground, posts and ropes along it, a backdrop where guests stop for photos, and light. Get those right and the rest is styling.
1. The runner
Measure from where guests arrive (the car door, the gate, the top of the stairs) to the point where they stop for photos. Hire runners are almost always 1.2 metres wide and come in 3, 6, 9 and 12 metre lengths; our red carpet hire guide has the published hire prices by city.
Hire or buy?
For one night, hire: the carpet arrives clean, flat and taped down, and goes away afterwards. Buying makes sense if you will use it again, or for a small indoor event where a lighter runner is enough. On 4 October 2026 Luna Wedding and Event Supplies listed red aisle runners at:
| Length | Price to buy |
|---|---|
| 6 m | $115.46 |
| 8 m | $140.68 |
| 10 m | $178.13 |
| 12 m | $210.02 |
Bought runners are thin and suit hard indoor floors. Outdoors, on grass or for a crowd, a hired event carpet sits flatter and is safer to walk on in heels.
2. Posts and ropes
The posts (bollards or stanchions) and velvet ropes turn a strip of carpet into an entrance. Events Fantastic's guide puts the posts about 1 metre apart down both sides, so a 6 metre runner takes about seven posts a side and six ropes. Leave a gap at the end where guests step off. The Arrival Planner works out the count for any length.
Media Wall Co. lists chrome bollards with red rope at $180 for a four-pack as an add-on to its walls. Our red carpet hire guide lists other companies' post and rope prices.
3. The backdrop: a step-and-repeat or media wall
The photo is the point. A step-and-repeat is a backdrop printed with a repeating logo or name, so it shows in every photo no matter how it is cropped. A media wall is the same idea in any design.
On 4 October 2026 Media Wall Co. listed:
- step-and-repeat walls, 2 to 10 metres wide, from $1,060
- a 1.2 metre by 6 metre red runner to go with a wall, $590
- bollards and ropes, four-pack, $180
- express printing for a tight date, $450
For a birthday or a school formal, a hired flower wall, shimmer wall or plain backdrop from a party-hire company costs less than a printed wall and photographs well; see our photo booth guide for the photo side.
4. Light and the photographer
Guests photographed against a backdrop at night need light on their faces, not just on the wall. As a simple starting point, two soft lights angled in from either side of the photographer, a little above head height, cover most events. As a rule of thumb, put the photographer a few metres back from the backdrop, at the end of the carpet, so every guest walks towards the camera.
A simple running order
- Arrival. Guests step out at the start of the carpet. A host or greeter keeps the pace steady.
- The walk. Ropes keep the walk clear; music or a short announcement makes it an occasion.
- The stop. One or two photos at the backdrop, then on inside.
- After the arrivals, move the ropes or reopen the space so the entrance does not block the evening.
Checklist
- Runner, measured from arrival point to backdrop, plus a metre
- Posts and ropes, about seven a side for a 6 metre runner at 1 metre spacing
- Backdrop or media wall, with its artwork approved well before the date
- Two soft lights for the photo spot
- Gaffer tape or carpet tape for the runner edges
- Someone to keep the arrivals moving
What do you need for a red carpet event?
A runner on the ground, posts and velvet ropes along both sides, a backdrop or media wall for photos, and soft light on the guests' faces. A photographer at the end of the carpet completes it.
How much does a media wall cost to hire in Australia?
On 4 October 2026, Media Wall Co. listed step-and-repeat walls from $1,060, with a 6 metre red runner at $590 and a four-pack of bollards and ropes at $180. Simpler hired backdrops cost less.
Should I hire or buy a red carpet runner?
Hire for a one-off event, especially outdoors. Buying a thin runner, from about $115 for 6 metres on 4 October 2026, makes sense for small indoor events or repeated use.