Tipis can make a fantastic initial impression for weddings impressing visitors and inspiring a feeling of excitement as they set off towards the inside! Offering a blank space they are extremely sought-after because they are the ideal base for creating your wedding uniquely yours and can be used for any style, from formal events to more relaxed wedding weekend celebrations. Because they are a wedding structure that is embraced by the natural environment, they are often a preferred option for a sustainable wedding, allowing you to let the outdoors inside and feel a connection to the natural world.
However, as an unfinished wedding structure is not without an array of issues and a checklist specific to this kind of wedding. This article will cover the 10 most important logistical concerns in planning your wedding tipi…
1. Take on The Maths!
Contrary to standard wedding venues which offer packages and fixed cost packages, it’s always the case with tipis due to their ability to begin with a blank slate and create your dream wedding and require for the number of guests. While this is among the most appealing aspects of a wedding in a tipi however, it also means that calculating the costs is even more important and can be a difficult task.
While we review the list of items, we will see various aspects listed that need to be considered and budgeted for, however the primary starting point for weddings with tipis includes the expense of the rental of the land as well as the cost of structure hire. Many tipi hire firms offer a free site tour at the start of your planning process to meet with you, look over the location, and talk about the details and size needed in order to provide an accurate price. They also offer the list of local recommended locations that they have put up their tipis before and are confident about and can be an excellent starting point if you’re planning to have a wedding with a tipi, but don’t know where to place the tipis.
2. Logistics
While this is something an experienced local tipi business will be looking for during their site inspection but it is a good idea to think about the logistics prior to time to avoid unnecessary trips, and to avoid settling on a location that may not be suitable for tipis. Check if the place you’re looking at has easy access for vehicles and adequate space. Remember that when they are laid out prior to the assembly, they will have a vast footprint. Although overhead wires and underground pipes don’t seem to be things you’d be looking for when you are visiting wedding venues such a factor is essential for tipis and could influence how they are placed in a space. It is also important to think about whether the venue gives you access to additional areas prior to or after wedding for building and tear down, the precise timeframe is determined by the level of complexity of the tipis that you’re required to build.
3. Size is Everything
Tipis are amazing for granting you the space you want for any arrangement you’d like since multiple tipi hats can be arranged in nearly any arrangement you’d like (your hiring company will be able to discuss this with you in depth). It is important to think about the ‘areas’ or zones you’d prefer for your reception (i.e. separate dance floors bar, a bar, or a comfortable seating areas for instance) as well as whether you’re in a position to move items around to make space for the event, and also which things you’d like to keep in the tipi instead of outside. All of these aspects together with the total number of guests and budget will be taken into consideration to determine how many tipis that you are able to have at your party.
4. Weather
Tipi canvas is waterproof if properly maintained and taken care of making them suitable for all weather conditions and at any time of the year. Although, being temporary structures without permanent foundations, it is possible that the speed of wind could affect tipis, though it is only an issue in the most extreme weather conditions that we experience in the UK on a small number of days throughout the year. Placing your tipi in an area that offers some refuge and shielding from winds in the form hedgerows with a good foundation or similar may be a good idea, and will not cause any concern.
The tipi canvas is a great way to provide security from elements temperatures will change within a tipi in the same manner as they do in any other outdoor structure. In order to use tipi structures during colder winter months, heaters can be a worth the purchase! The short-term nature of a tipi means that it’s not very efficient in containing warmth, but it does require more energy to bring the area to a suitable temperature, and then to maintain it which is something to consider in assessing environmental impact of hosting a party at a tipi in winter. The requirement for heaters will depend on the number of guests in attendance and the amount of space that needs heating, and the quality and thickness of the tipi canvas. Fire pits can be set up inside tipis (following security guidelines set forth by the hiring company for their location) and they can be used to complement the function of the heater. They could even suffice to eliminate the requirement to have a heater on the evenings of summer as temperatures fall a bit.
When we think about the weather, it seems like we’re set to be thinking about the problems that cold and rain can bring, but as our weather begins to drastically alter and we experience more hot summer days than we did in the past it is important to consider this. Tipis hold hot air in on those hot, hot days which makes them extremely hot to be inside. One benefit of tipis is the ability to set their sides up, creating more airflow and giving the occasion the possibility to spill out onto the outdoors easily.
What number and what sides will be constructed is something that must be decided upon and planned when building them . These are not able to be changed in the future which is why this is a vital discussion to have with your hiring team before they start creating your tipi structures. In addition to the sides being built and the chance of zip-locking of the entrances to the tipis that are opened there aren’t many alternatives to cool down the structure of a tipi. The simple act of releasing the canvas in areas and opening the structure to the outside isn’t an option as it could damage the meticulously taught canvas and, ultimately, the structure! If you are planning a wedding tipi in the summer months, and the extreme heat could be an issue It is worth looking into hiring fans.
5. Power
A location that is off grid and utilizing the space in a remote location is a major an appealing feature of outdoor weddings and tipi structures but ultimately , the catering crew as well as your DJ and lighting must be powered in some way (unless you’re lucky enough to have with a team of people powered by solar energy or other sources of energy however, the majority of aspects of weddings aren’t quite mastered this). So it is common for a generator to be required. Your tipi hire firm can possibly recommend a generator they frequently use or, ideally, they could offer their own generators that could be carried alongside the structure in order for a reduced miles.
Although typically vendors are able to simply arrive and connect at the wedding, for tipis and outdoor weddings , it’s essential to know in advance what energy they’ll require and make sure the generator which will be able to produce all the power at once. You do not want all the lights to go out once the catering trucks arrive to start ready to cook!
6. Bathroom Facilities
It doesn’t matter if you stick to the essentials or go for the most luxurious Trailer toilet, these unglamorous aspects of planning your tipi wedding are essential to be aware of and plan for! Similar to many aspects of planning be sure to utilize the services of your tipi hire provider or wedding planner’s experience and get their recommendations. Consider the area the trailer will leave on the location and where you’d like them to be placed in addition, if you’re planning on incorporating the camping or glamping aspect to your wedding celebrations, do you require a separate bathroom block close to the hotel? Do you need to have shower facilities also?
Be aware of accessibility as well Many toilet trailers are simply that one that requires access via steps, so should you have people who are unable to walk, it is crucial to spend your time searching for a bathroom that can accommodate all.
7. Flooring
Concerning accessibility, the outdoor design of structures like tipis may mean that the ground they’re placed on isn’t smooth or level. Many tipi manufacturers offer matting as a way of covering the floor in order to clean the area up and keep it from being churned beneath your feet. But hard flooring is a different option that you can consider, which will level the floor for you, creating an easier surface for those who have accessibility issues and making it more accessible for stiletto-wearing guests! Hard flooring typically comes with a higher price however, so be sure to consider the benefits of it against the budgetary constraints.
Matting is also ideal to use as walkways around the venue, marking paths , preventing areas from being trampled as well as reducing the trail you leave behind on the site following the incident.
8. Lighting
It is rare to be wandering around a barn, manor house, or hotel and contemplating the amount of lights that are available, but this isn’t an option when you begin your wedding venue by starting from scratch in an open field! The company that hires your tipi may have the capacity to add lighting and be able to string it up in the building stage, but it’s crucial to confirm the details. For tipis as well as dry hire structures, you have the choice of the type of lighting that you would like and the location it is placed. The possibilities are endless Are you thinking of opting for fairy lights, pea/fairy, white or coloured lighting to emphasize certain areas, like the dance floor?
Be sure to have the lights on outside as well It isn’t a good idea to have guests to get lost in the process of getting to the bathroom, or having to find their vehicle. This is particularly important for security in the event that the property is located near an watercourse.
9. Catering Tent
What’s a party without food? If you are planning a wedding with a tipi ensure that you inquire from your caterer whether they have experience with catering outdoors and if they will provide their own cooking area and equipment , or whether you’re required to supply the catering tent. If they do, typically your tipi hire provider can put the catering tent to your rental arrangement, or recommend a service that can do this. If you’ve not already found an experienced catering company It is also worth having a discussion with your tipi hire service or wedding planner, as catering for outdoor events could be a unique problem for catering companies and previous experience and recommendations could be a good source of reassurance.
10. Furniture and Feasting
Now that you have your site and your layout, you’ve considered the logistics and ensured that your catering team is happy…now you’ll need furniture to make the most of your space! Enjoy this and personalize it! Long tables work great in tipis because they’re simple to set up between the’legs’ in the tipi. They make for a more casual dining environment, however round tables work equally well and make an event more attractive, while also creating a formal atmosphere. Hire companies usually supply all the items you require including tables and chairs and maybe even a bar, to cutlery, plates and linens, which are often with beautiful treasures. It’s a wonderful option that is sustainable, as it ensures that items are reused and well cared to last through many weddings. Speak to your catering and tipi hire firm as they may be able to arrange everything on your behalf, however, it’s always better secure rather than to be sorry!
These 10 tips for planning the tipi wedding are all the most important aspects, and after the guidelines, you’re in a position to start thinking about your own ideas and add your personal final touches to the décor. This list could seem lengthy and tipi weddings require more effort and planning than a traditional wedding However, for many, this is one of the reasons they are so exciting and distinctiveness.
If you are awestruck by the atmosphere and look of weddings in tipi but are intimidated at this long list of things to consider Do not worry it is possible to have this task significantly decreased for you in many ways. First, consider using a professional wedding coordinator particularly one that specializes in outdoor weddings and will manage the entire process in their ease so that you do not have to. Furthermore, certain venues specialize in weddings with tipis and have the full list of vendors they recommend who can take the burden off your shoulders.
