Are you interested in having tipis at your wedding? Love the look but not sure if it will fit with your budget? Here at Elite tents, we are constantly approached by couple asking ‘how much do tipi weddings cost?’ In this article, we are going to go through some of the costs of a tipi wedding so you can find out if it is the right path for you!
How Much Do Tipi Weddings Cost?
Well, the short answer is, it depends. One of the biggest pros of an outdoor wedding are all the variables. You can do whatever you want! The downside of this is it can be difficult to pin point a cost without having a discussion about your ideas.
The venue you use, caterers, facilities needed can all have a large effect on your overall price among other things. There’s no need to panic! Tipi weddings can fit into many budgets; from intimate back yard weddings to large luxurious wed-fests in the grounds of a country house!
Type of Tipi
Did you know there are different types of tipi? To an untrained eye they may not look that different, but each comes with their own pros & cons. In the UK, you will find either Authentic Nordic Tipis, or British made tipis based on the Nordic design.
British made tipis are typically lower in cost, as they are made more locally with locally sourced materials. Authentic Nordic tipis are made in Swedish Lapland, so come at a higher cost due to more expensive materials and the logistics.
Because they are made for the harsh environments, Nordic made tipis are perfect for winter weddings and can cope with pretty much anything British weather can come up with! English tipis are based on the same design and boast similar, if not identical features. However, they are not made from the same materials. Nordic tipis do not require weatherproofing, whereas typically english tipis will be treated and sometimes this cost can be passed on to the customer so be sure to check!
In short, depending on your guest numbers, you’ll want around £5,000 to £10,000 set aside for your tipis & furniture, assuming your guest numbers fall between 100 and 300.
Regardless of the tipi you go for, we always strongly recommend only using a supplier who is registered with MUTA, the trade association for marquees & tents.
Your Venue
Your venue will probably have the biggest impact on the cost of your tipi wedding. In some cases it is possible to have a venue at no charge! It is important think about how your choice of venue will effect your other costs. Some venues will have access to power, water and toilets. Some venues may be licensed to hold your official ceremony!
If a venue looks expensive or particularly cheap, be sure to look for these things. As you’ll read further down, having in-house facilities can end up saving you money!
Ideas for lower cost venues:
- Your own or a relatives back garden!
- A Rugby Club (they often have power, toilets and a bar!)
- Farmer’s Field
And on the more luxurious side:
- Country Homes
- Historic Gardens
- Manors and wedding venues
If you do not have access to your own space, you’ll be looking at around £1,000 minimum for a venue without facilities – but always shop around! Check out our section on How To Find Your Venue to find the perfect location!
Facilities
To host your tipi wedding, you will need toilets and power as a minimum. Some venues may already have these in place, but if not you will need to hire them in. It is hard to predict what the cost will be, as a lot of the cost comes from delivery. Your tipi provider will almost definitely have somebody they recommend, or even arrange toilets and a generator themselves! A ballpark figure would be £600 to £800 each, but always get a quote as soon as possible!
Top Tip: lock in your quotes for toilets & generator hire with a deposit as soon as possible, as increasing fuel prices mean you may end up paying more if you wait!
Other facilities to consider may be heating if you are having a winter wedding, or accommodation such as bell tents if there is none near to your venue.
Suppliers
When figuring out how much a tipi wedding will cost, the suppliers you want are very important. You could arrange everything yourself: stock your own bar, supply your own food, arrange your own music. Most of you will not do this though, at least not for everything.
Options are endless for catering. You could have a street food vendor, or go for a more traditional sit down wedding breakfast. Be sure to do some research into the cost of your preferred meal style along with your other preferences. Will you want a band or DJ? A magician? Outdoor games?
Spend some time looking into suppliers in the early stages (it makes for quite a fun activity!) to see whether you will be interested in the lower cost options, or are more likely to splash out on extravagant options!
Conclusion – How Much Do Tipi Weddings Cost?
I’m sure I’ve given you a lot to think about. It is difficult to give an actual idea of the cost of a tipi wedding – purely because of how personalised they are!
If you are planning a tipi wedding for 100 guests, I would advise having at least £6,000 aside for the actual tipi hire portion of your wedding, including furniture, lighting and delivery/damage waiver.
I hope this article has helped, please take a look at our pricing page for a ballpark figure of what your tipi package could cost!
