Your Complete Guide to Tipi Weddings in the UK
We know that where you choose to wed is the most important decision you as a couple will make when you’re planning your day, and for some, that looks like getting married and celebrating under canvas.
Tipi wedding venues in the UK (peaked canvas structures that are Nordic or Scandinavian in origin, not Native American as the name might suggest) have grown in popularity over the last few years because they offer something quite different to a traditional wedding setting.
The relaxed and romantic combination of an outdoor atmosphere, the warm glow of festoon lighting and that feeling that every part of your day has been built from scratch is hard to replicate anywhere else.
But what does it take to ace a tipi wedding, how do you find the right location, and how much does it cost?
Whether you’re planning a tulle-and-tulips spring soirée or a glittering winter wonderland, we’ve got everything you need to know about hosting a tipi wedding. From cost breakdowns to styling tips, and advice on how to find the perfect tipi wedding venue, you’ll find all you need and more below.
Disclaimer: Venue and supplier availability, pricing, and offerings are subject to change. Always confirm details directly with the venue or supplier before booking.
Bridebook-Approved Wedding Tipi Hire & Venues in the UK
If you’re ready to explore suppliers, here are some Bridebook-approved wedding tipi hire companies and tipi wedding venues across the UK to get you started!
Big Sky Tipi Holidays – East Sussex
Got your heart set on an off-grid outdoorsy celebration with all your family and friends? Big Sky Tipi Holidays in Wartling, East Sussex, could be for you. Alongside its licensed ceremony and reception spaces, there’s glamping available for up to 52 loved ones.
Best for: couples who want multiple ceremony options; full tipi wedding packages and optional extras
Edenhall Estate – Cumbria
Couples looking for a wedding tipi in the Lake District should set their sights on Edenhall Estate’s High Barn. Alongside its luxury accommodation and unforgettable views of the tranquil Eden Valley, the venue is well-versed in hosting tipi weddings, and even has its own private forest for woodland weddings.
Best for: couples who want to combine a tipi tent wedding with a country estate aesthetic
Calloose Holiday Park – Cornwall
At the heart of Calloose lies a captivating tipi wedding venue that manages to perfectly blend a rustic aesthetic with modern elegance. Alongside lodge accommodation and charming furnishings, the food is also a highlight, whether you want a trad sit down dinner or a selection charming food trucks.
Best for: tipi wedding venues in Cornwall; a great selection of pre- and post-wedding festivities, including spa treatments and a pool party
Tipi Wedding Company – Nottinghamshire
Keen on a festival-inspired wedding with plenty of DIY details? After walking down the aisle, party the night away in one of the Tipi Wedding Company’s giant tipis. No need to worry about the practicalities here either; packages include furniture, lighting, flooring and more.
Best for: fresh-air-loving couples; DIY and festival-inspired weddings
Tipis at Whatton House – Leicestershire
For couples seeking a tipi wedding in Leicestershire, this magical English country garden – complete with a trio of tipi wedding tents – can be yours for the entire weekend. The tipis come complete with everything you could need for a chilled-out, festival-style shindig, including thousands of fairy lights and cosy indoor fire pits for toasting marshmallows. Expect to dance the night away on hay bales instead of tables!
Best for: excellent catering packages; a deep-in-the-forest feel
What is a Tipi Wedding?
A tipi tent wedding is an event held in a large, temporary outdoor structure. Nordic tipis are large, peaked canvas tents with a central pole, typically linked together in multiples to create connected spaces for different areas of the day – think the ceremony, dining and dancing.
There are usually clear or mesh panels in the roof or sides to let in natural light and – in the evening – allow guests to see the stars. The overall aesthetic is rustic, warm and atmospheric.
Tipi or marquee wedding?
Tipi wedding tents have very different profiles to traditional marquees, which don’t have a peaked silhouette. The canvas also feels more organic and low impact, like something you’d find in a Scandinavian forest.
Of course, neither is better; they simply suit different aesthetics and different kinds of couples. However, both give you the freedom to design the look and feel of your day from the ground up.
Tipi Wedding Pros & Cons
Pros of a tipi wedding:
The main reason couples choose to host a tipi wedding is because they love the aesthetic – and rightly so. Few structures or wedding venues can create the same atmosphere and have the easy-breezy outdoor/indoor feel that you get with a wedding tipi tent, particularly if you want to recreate a festival feel or relaxed bohemian vibe.
They also offer couples flexibility in terms of location and guest numbers. Wedding tipis can be set up almost anywhere that has suitable flat land: farm fields, country estates, private gardens and wedding venues with licensed outdoor spaces, and they come in all shapes and sizes. There are options that work for small gatherings of 30, while linked tipis can cater to guest numbers of 200 or more.
Seasonality is also a huge factor. Tipi weddings aren’t just suited to the summer months and bloom-filled gardens. An autumn or winter tipi wedding can be just as atmospheric – arguably more so thanks to the warm glow of festoon lights against the cosy canvas walls and abundance of natural materials.
Cons of a tipi wedding:
Something often overlooked by couples planning a tipi wedding are the additional or ‘hidden’ costs.
Remember, it may seem cheap to hire a field or host in a private garden, but you really have to think about every single practical aspect of your day. Expect to be hiring toilets, bins, fridges, power, heating – the works, either separately or through the hire company’s network of suppliers.
This also naturally means there are more logistics to think about compared to hosting your day in a traditional venue, so be prepared to manage more supplier relationships in the process.
Fingers crossed the weather gods will be smiling on you, on your wedding day, but savvy couples will need to consider back-up plans should the rain fall. While the structure itself will be weatherproof, if you’ve planned to host your ceremony or drinks outside, or have your portraits taken in the surrounding woodlands or fields, you’ll need a contingency plan.
(Tip: pack chic wellies for you and your partner, and pretty umbrellas for the whole wedding party, to turn a shower into a show!)
For those wanting to have a legal ceremony, remember that this will need to take place in a separate, licensed venue if the land is not licensed for weddings.
How Much Does a Tipi Wedding Cost?
The cost of a tipi wedding in the UK will vary considerably depending on the supplier, the location, size of your wedding, and what’s included in your tipi wedding package. Expect to pay somewhere between £3,000 and £8,000 for basic hire alone – this includes the delivery of the structure itself, the flooring, installation and collection.
For a full tipi wedding package, prices start from £5,000 and go all the way up to £15,000. These packages tend to include elements such as heating and lighting, and some will offer furniture, but this varies from supplier to supplier.
According to Bridebook, the UK’s #1 wedding planning platform used by over 2.8 million couples, the average cost of a tipi wedding in the UK is £4,633.
Remember, everything else such as the catering, bar, entertainment, power generators, and toilets will all typically need to be hired separately.
Other aspects that will impact your tipi wedding cost include:
- Guest numbers: The more guests you plan on having, the more linked tipis you will need.
- Season: As with all wedding venues, peak summer bookings will command higher rates. If you’re looking to get a good deal, consider a winter or autumn tipi wedding, and a midweek date (but don’t forget to weigh up whether heating costs actually make the price cheaper or not).
- Location: How far your tipi company has to travel will impact the overall cost, as will where they are based. Suppliers in the north of England and tipi wedding venues the midlands may price differently from those in London and the south-east, for example.
- What’s included: Some companies operate on a structure-only basis, others will include things such as furniture, light and heating.
Finding a Location For Your Tipi Wedding
The simplest route to go down here is to search for dedicated tipi wedding venues – farms, country estates, and outdoor sites that already hold a wedding licence, meaning you can legally marry on site. Many also have accommodation, in-house catering, and either their own tipis or strong relationships with local tipi hire companies. Many will also have a network of preferred suppliers to make planning and liaising with vendors a breeze.
If you’re considering having a tipi wedding at home, on a family member’s grounds, or hiring land from a local farmer, you may need to put in a bit more work to ensure everything runs smoothly. Remember to:
- Make sure you have enough space: And that the ground is both flat enough and accessible. If you’re getting married in a private garden, consider how it will look at the time of year you’ll be getting married.
- Get the lowdown on noise policies in that area: In other words, if restrictions do apply, don’t book your wedding band to play until 1am if you haven’t arranged a licence for them to carry on past midnight.
- Ensure there’s a power and water supply: If you don’t have an electricity source (which is more than likely), you’ll need to hire generators big enough to power your day. Likewise, clarify if the site provides running drinking water.
- Consider accommodation options: Look into hotels nearby for guests (and you!), or why not consider setting up a glamping village?
Five key questions to ask your wedding tipi site:
- Does the land hold a wedding licence, or do we need to arrange a separate licensed ceremony venue?
- Is there vehicle access for tipi delivery and installation?
- Is there a power supply or will we need to hire a generator?
- What are the parking arrangements for guests?
- When can we begin setting up, and when does everything need to be taken down?
What’s Included in a Tipi Wedding Package?
Tipi wedding packages will vary significantly between suppliers – and there are many out there to choose from. Here are some of the things you can expect to be included, but always confirm with your wedding tipi supplier in writing beforehand:
- The tipi structure and installation: See also delivery and collection. This will be included in even the most basic of tipi wedding packages. Confirm the number of linked tipis included and the guest capacities for each configuration.
- Flooring: This is usually included, but always confirm the type. Coir matting typically comes as standard, but wooden flooring or carpet may be available as an upgrade.
- Lighting: Usually in the form of festoon lights or chandeliers, this is also usually included in most wedding tipi packages. However, you should always check that the lighting included is sufficient for the evening reception, or if additional lighting should be hired.
- Heating: This is often included in autumn and winter packages, and may be an optional extra for summer. Always confirm this with your supplier though – heating a tipi for a full wedding day is a meaningful cost that you’ll need to factor into your wedding budget!
- Furniture: This varies from supplier to supplier. Some tipi-hire companies will include tables and chairs; others will not.
- Additional structures: Some tipi-hire companies will give you the option to hire smaller adjoining structures for things like bar use or a chill-out area, or a catering tent. Ask what’s available, what is included, and what is charged separately.
Tipi Wedding Styling & Inspiration
Winter wonderland or summer celebration? Here’s how to dress your tipi wedding venue.
Scandi styling
When your setting naturally has an organic feel, what’s not to love about blanched hues and modern rustic details? Include textures that complement the tipi aesthetic – bare wood, dried florals and pampas grass, sheepskin throws and lashings of greenery. Consider natural linens and bamboo place mats on the tables, and low-profile centrepieces or dramatic overhead structures instead.
DIY details
Whether it’s a bar, dessert table, or photo wall, handmade elements not only allow you to break up the space, but they give the day even more of a personal feel and an intimate vibe. Consider upcycling items, too – a bar built from wooden pallets or bunting made from scrap fabric is in-keeping with the organic feel of the setting.
Bohemian beauty
Macrame details, mismatched furniture, seasonal wildflowers and festival-inspired styling works especially well for couples who want a laidback look for their summer celebration. If you’re getting married outside, low benches or hay-bale seating is always a hit. And bring the inside out by lining your aisle with antique rugs.
Cosy corners
A chill-out area away from the hustle and bustle of the bar is a great option for those who want to take a break from all the drinking and dancing. Consider luxe textures and warm details to fill the space – plush velvet and deep leather sofas, cosy lighting and soft rugs for an opulent feel.
English country garden
Choose a fresh take on tradition by keeping the look pretty yet relaxed. Think crisp white napkins, plenty of green foliage, seasonal flowers and jugs full of blossom alongside sparkling crystal glasses and gold cutlery. Fairy lights work year round, adding a firefly flicker on light summer evenings or a cosy glow on cold winter days.
Festival fever
Rustic colour palettes aren’t for everyone. Sometimes what a wedding tipi needs is a riot of colour! We love bright festival-inspired ribbons and pom-poms in rainbow hues for a bold twist on tradition. And don’t forget a hanging disco ball for serious Studio 54 vibes.
Tipi Wedding FAQ
How much does a tipi wedding cost in the UK?
Tipi hire alone typically costs between £3,000 and £8,000 in the UK, depending on the size of the structure and the supplier.
A full package that includes lighting, heating, furniture and more is likely to fall somewhere between £5,000 and £15,000.
Are tipi weddings suitable for winter?
Tipi weddings are well-suited to winter weddings, as long as they have the right heating and lighting. The glow of festoon lights against the cosy canvas is really atmospheric for a winter wedding – arguably more so than a summer celebration. However, you may want to come up with a contingency plan if you plan on having much of the day outside, in case of inclement weather.
Do you need a wedding licence for a tipi wedding?
If you want to have a legal wedding ceremony, the land the tipi is erected on needs to hold a wedding licence. Many dedicated wedding venues with tipis on site will already have this in place. If you’re using private land, you’ll need to arrange to have your legal ceremony somewhere else.
How do I find a tipi wedding venue near me?
The easiest way to find a tipi wedding venue near you is to browse outdoor wedding venues on Bridebook. You can filter by location, guest capacity, and venue style to find licensed outdoor spaces that work with tipi structures.
Ready to start planning your tipi wedding?
Browse outdoor wedding venues and tipi hire suppliers on Bridebook – find spaces that work with canvas structures, compare options, and enquire directly.
Why Trust Bridebook
Bridebook is the world’s #1 wedding planning platform, used by over 2.8 million couples. Our content is informed by real data from the Bridebook UK Wedding Report, which draws on responses from thousands of couples planning their weddings each year. Where expert input is included, contributors are named and their credentials verified. We update our articles regularly to ensure prices, statistics, and advice reflect current market conditions.
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