Tipi & Marquee Hire in Cumbria & the Lake District

16th September, 2026

From dramatic mountain backdrops and peaceful lakeshores, to private country estates and beautiful countryside settings, Cumbria and the Lake District are made for outdoor weddings.

At Special Event Tipis & Marquees, we have been providing tipi and marquee hire across Cumbria and the Lake District since 2011. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of working at some of the area’s most beautiful wedding venues, as well as private gardens, fields and more informal outdoor locations.

Whether you’re dreaming of a relaxed festival-style wedding in a giant tipi or an elegant celebration beneath a sailcloth marquee, our experience of working across the region means we can help you to create a setting that works seamlessly with both your plans and the landscape around you. And with the Lake District providing such an incredible backdrop, there is something rather special about celebrating in the great outdoors here.

Tipi & Marquee Hire Across Cumbria

We regularly provide wedding tipis and sailcloth marquees throughout Cumbria and the Lake District, including:

Windermere
Ambleside
Kendal
Keswick
Coniston
Ullswater
Penrith
Cockermouth
Buttermere
Eskdale
Wasdale
Grasmere
The Eden Valley
Carlisle
The wider Cumbrian countryside

We also work across the surrounding areas of Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Southern Scotland, so if you’ve found a venue just outside Cumbria, it is always worth getting in touch.

One of the things we love about working in the Lake District is that no two sites are quite the same. A lakeside lawn, a country estate, a woodland clearing or a private field can all create a completely different wedding and event experience.

Beautiful Lake District wedding venues

There are some extraordinary wedding venues across Cumbria, and we’re lucky enough to have worked at many of them.

Here are a few of the venues where you can regularly see our tipis and sailcloth marquees in action.

Brathay Hall, Ambleside

Set on the shores of Windermere just outside Ambleside, Brathay Hall is a beautiful private estate surrounded by woodland, lawns and Lakeland views.

The venue has a large front lawn specifically suited to marquee or tipi celebrations, with Windermere and the surrounding fells providing a spectacular backdrop. Exclusive-use weddings also benefit from extensive onsite accommodation, making it particularly well suited to couples looking to celebrate with family and friends over a whole weekend.

We’ve created tipi and marquee weddings at Brathay Hall and have seen first-hand how well the structures work within the estate.

Read about Chris & Rebecca’s tipi wedding at Brathay Hall

See Sophie & Luke’s Brathay Hall wedding

Bride and groom walking through the grounds of Brathay Hall near Lake Windermere

Sun is out for lake district wedding tipi hire

Bride and groom overlooking Lake Windermere from Brathay Hall

Wedding party gathered outside three Giant Hat Tipis at Brathay Hall

Wedding guests gathering beside the Giant Hat Tipis overlooking Lake Windermere

Guests having fun swimming in Lake Windermere at a summer wedding

Lake District Wedding Venue - Real Wedding Gallery for Sophie & Luke’s Tipi Tent Wedding at Brathay Hall, Lake District, Cumbria! Cumbrian Wedding Photography

Wedding Venue Ambleside. Brathay Trust, Lake Windermere, Lake District. Eco friendly wedding in Giant Hat Tipi Hire from Special Event Tipis and Marquees.

Giant Hat Tipi wedding setup in the grounds of Brathay Hall near Ambleside

Giant Hat Tipis in the grounds of Brathay Hall Windermere Cumbria, for Lake District Wedding with stunning views over Lake Windermere

Silverholme Manor, Graythwaite Estate

Silverholme Manor is a Grade II listed Georgian manor situated within the Graythwaite Estate, with grounds stretching down towards the shores of Windermere.

It is a wonderfully versatile Lake District wedding venue, with the historic manor, private grounds, lakeside setting and accommodation all contributing to a relaxed destination-wedding feel.

We’ve provided sailcloth marquee hire and tipi hire for weddings at Silverholme, creating elegant reception spaces that make the most of the surrounding landscape.

Take a look at Chloe & Matt’s sailcloth marquee wedding at Silverholme

See Mary & Richard’s Silverholme wedding

Aerial shot from a drone of the sailcloth marquee set up at Lake District Wedding venue in Cumbria overlooking Windermere

Outdoor wedding ceremony with sailcloth marquee, wedding, outdoor ceremony with crossed back chairs and woven matted aisle made from stiletto proof, reusable matting. Cumbrian wedding venue silverholme manor overlooking windermere in the lake district cumbria

Silverholme Manor, lake District Tipi Wedding Venue - Photography by Camilla Lucinda Photography

Silverholme manor wedding hire. Luxury wedding venues Lake District. Lake District wedding. Tipi hire in Cumbria

Cheers! Toasting Time - Wedding Speech Time on the Top Table - Wedding Party top table beautiful views from Sailcloth Marquee Tent

Beautiful Light and Bright Sailcloth Tent with high ceilings and twinkly fairy lighting. Sperry style tent hire in Cumbria

Sailcloth Marquee and Wedding Guests for Outdoor Wedding Ceremony at Silverholme Manor, Graythwaite Estate in the Lake District

Winter Weddings and Events. Winter Tipi Hire. Silverholme Manor Weddings

Lake District Outside Ceremony. Silverholme Wedding. Eco-friendly Weddings.

Silverholme Manor Wedding. Tipi and Marquee Hire. Special Event Tipis

Tipis under a starry sky, in the Lake District wedding venue, Silverholme Manor. Weddings at Silverholme.

Bower House Inn, Eskdale

For couples looking for something a little more tucked away, Bower House Inn sits in the beautiful Eskdale Valley within the Lake District National Park.

Dating back to 1751, the inn is surrounded by the dramatic scenery of western Cumbria, with views towards Muncaster Fell and easy access to some of the area’s most spectacular landscapes.

We’ve worked with couples celebrating at Bower House Inn, bringing our tipi structures and sailcloth marquees into this beautiful part of the Lakes.

See Janice & Adam’s wedding at Bower House Inn

Event Tipi Tent with Oak Doors and Clear Panels - Wedding Venue Bower House Inn, Lake District Wedding

Event Tipi Tent with Oak Doors and Clear Panels - Cumbria Wedding Venue Bower House Inn, Lake District Wedding

Edenhall Estate & High Barn

Edenhall Estate is a particularly exciting option for couples looking for flexibility. The wider estate offers several different settings, including Eden Hall and High Barn, with beautiful countryside, woodland and open lawns.

High Barn has two large lawns suitable for tipis and marquees, with panoramic views across the Pennine Fells and Lake District. Eden Hall offers expansive lawns, mature woodland and a private lake, providing a completely different atmosphere.

We’ve worked at Edenhall on a number of occasions, creating both tipi and sailcloth marquee weddings.

See Kirsty & Dan’s Edenhall wedding

Explore another Edenhall sailcloth marquee wedding

Eden Hall Weddings. High Barn Wedding Venue. Giant Hat Tipi Hire. Sailcloth Tent Hire Lake District

tipis in the lake district - lake district tipi wedding - tipi oak doors

Giant Hat wedding tipi beside a countryside barn venue, Cumbria

Tipi Wedding at High Barn on the Eden Hall Estate. Barn Wedding Venue Cumbria. Sustainable wedding venue for Giant Hat Tipi or wedding marquee packages.

Wedding Toilet Hire Cumbria. Northumberland. Scotland. Fridge Trailer Hire. Tipi Tent Hire. Eden Hall Wedding Venue. HIgh Barn Wedding Venue. Wedding Barn Lake District

Lilymere Estate

Lilymere Estate offers a wonderfully romantic setting for a Lake District wedding, with its secluded surroundings and beautiful private lake.

It’s a venue where the landscape really becomes part of the wedding day, and our tipis and sailcloth marquees provide a way of bringing everyone together while still making the most of the outdoor setting.

We’ve created several weddings at Lilymere and love seeing how differently couples make the space their own.

Read about the romantic tipi wedding at Lilymere Estate

See Alex & Rob’s Lilymere wedding

Outdoor wedding tipis with fairy lights at Lilymere Estate

Sperry Tent Style Sailcloth Marquee Tent the Lilymere Estate, Cumbria. DIY Wedding Venue

Tipi wedding ceremony at Lilymere Estate Cumbria with woodland surroundings

Giant Hat wedding tipi set up for an evening celebration, with clear panels, warm lighting and illuminated pathways creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests.,

Giant Hat wedding tipis set up beside woodland venue with clear panels

Buttermere Lake Shore

For spectacular scenery, it’s difficult to beat Buttermere.

This part of the Lake District offers the kind of dramatic landscape that couples dream about for their wedding photographs, with the surrounding fells creating a natural backdrop.

We’ve had the opportunity to provide our gorgeous structures for multiple outdoor weddings at Buttermere, creating a beautiful reception space amongst the landscape.

See Laura & Elliot’s Buttermere sailcloth marquee wedding

Cumbria Tipi Events, Tipi Festival Wedding. Base Cap Festival

Buttermere Wedding. Buttermere Wedding Field. Gatesgarth Farm Wedding Venue

Buttermere Lake Tipi Wedding. Lake District Wedding Venue. Buttermere Wedding Venue. Buttermere Field Hire.

BLakeside wedding venue with marquee setup and mountain backdrop

Casterton Grange

Just beyond the southern edge of the Lake District, Casterton Grange is another beautiful option for couples considering a Cumbrian or North West wedding.

The private estate combines historic character with a relaxed, contemporary feel and gives couples plenty of scope to create a wedding that feels personal to them.

We’ve provided sailcloth marquee hire and tipi hire for several fabulous celebrations at Casterton Grange, from larger and multicultural weddings through to more intimate celebrations.

Read Aaron & Eni’s multicultural wedding at Casterton Grange

See Ellie & Rhys’s Casterton Grange wedding

Explore Lyv & James’s wedding

Sunset over the Lake District countryside surrounding Casterton Grange

Casterton Grange estate gardens prepared for a marquee wedding

Sailcloth wedding marquee in the grounds of Casterton Grange in the Lake District

Festival themed tipi wedding with music record seating plan in red and hot pink

Giant Hat Tipis decorated with colourful flowers for a wedding at Casterton Grange

Aerial view of Casterton Grange with sailcloth marquee in the gardens

Evening activities started with dancing inside the tipis

Wedding guests dancing together outside the Giant Hat Tipis

Real Cumbrian weddings

One of the best ways to understand what is possible with a tipi or sailcloth marquee is to see them being used at real weddings.

Over the years, we’ve worked with couples across Cumbria and the Lake District on everything from intimate celebrations to large weekend weddings, and each one has been completely different.

Our real wedding stories are full of ideas for layouts, furniture, lighting, bars, dance floors and styling, as well as showing how our structures work in very different landscapes.

If you’re looking for inspiration for your own Cumbrian wedding, take a look through our Real Weddings for more examples.

Choosing between a tipi and sailcloth marquee

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to choosing your wedding structure. It often comes down to the atmosphere you want to create and how you want your guests to use the space.

Nordic Giant Hat Tipis

Our Giant Hat tipis are ideal for relaxed, sociable celebrations. Their timber frames and natural canvas create a warm atmosphere, while multiple tipis can be linked together to create separate areas for dining, dancing, bars and lounging.

They work particularly well for couples wanting a festival-style or informal Lake District wedding.

We also have smaller Kung and Nimbus tipis, which can be used alongside the main structures for bars, chill-out areas, children’s spaces and other parts of your celebration.

Sailcloth Marquees

For something lighter and more elegant, our sailcloth marquees have a beautiful open feel, with natural canvas, timber poles and sweeping peaks.

They are particularly suited to country estates, lakeside lawns and countryside weddings where you want to retain a strong connection with the surrounding landscape.

Our sailcloth marquees can also be configured in different ways depending on your guest numbers and plans.

More than just the structure

Your wedding structure is the starting point, but it’s everything inside that helps make the space feel like yours.

Alongside our tipi and sailcloth marquee hire, we can provide a range of interiors and event essentials, including:

Dining tables and chairs
Lounge furniture
Bars
Dance floors
Lighting
Flooring
Heating
Decorative and styling elements

We can help you create anything from a relaxed boho tipi wedding to an elegant sailcloth marquee reception, or a mixture of both.

And if you already have your venue and structure sorted, we can also provide furniture hire separately.

Planning a tipi or marquee wedding in the Lake District

A Lake District wedding is all about making the most of the beautiful surroundings and enjoying the outdoors.

Our experienced team can help you plan a tipi or marquee setup that works beautifully for your venue, with everything you need to keep guests comfortable and make the most of your special day.

Consider the ground and access

Many Lake District venues are surrounded by fields, lawns and some uneven countryside. We’ll need to consider access for our vehicles and installation team, as well as whether the ground is suitable for your chosen structure.

Once booked, a site visit can be particularly useful if you’re considering a private field, garden or less conventional wedding location.

Think about the weather

Rain doesn’t have to spoil an outdoor wedding, but it is worth planning for it.

Our structures can be equipped with flooring, heating and appropriate weather protection, allowing guests to stay comfortable whatever the Cumbrian weather decides to do.

Check access for suppliers

Some of the most beautiful wedding locations in the Lake District are reached via narrow country roads, steep lanes or more remote routes.

It’s important to consider how suppliers, caterers, bars, toilets and other equipment will reach the site. We can help identify potential access considerations when planning your tipi or marquee layout.

We’re happy to discuss your proposed location and help you understand the practical considerations before you book.

Why choose Special Event Tipis & Marquees?

We’ve been creating outdoor events since 2011, and our work across Cumbria and the Lake District has given us experience of a huge variety of venues and landscapes.

We understand that putting a tipi or marquee into a field is only one part of the job. The structure needs to work with the site, your guest numbers, your suppliers and the way you want your wedding day to flow.

From the first conversation through to installation, our team can help with layout ideas, site considerations and the practical details that make an outdoor wedding work.

And, of course, we love seeing the finished result.

What our couples say

“Amy and the team were absolutely incredible in helping us create our perfect wedding. From my first email to Amy to the team setting up on the day, everything was perfect and never too much trouble. Amy helped us decide on what to have inside our tipis as well as advice on a venue to pitch them on too!”

June 2025 wedding couple

Frequently asked questions

Where do you provide tipi and marquee hire in Cumbria?

We provide tipi and sailcloth marquee hire throughout Cumbria and the Lake District, including Windermere, Ambleside, Kendal, Keswick, Coniston, Ullswater, Penrith, Buttermere, Eskdale and surrounding areas. We also cover neighbouring parts of Lancashire, North Yorkshire, Northumberland and Scotland.

Do you provide tipi hire for weddings in the Lake District?

Yes. We regularly provide Nordic tipi hire for Lake District weddings, from intimate celebrations to larger weekend weddings. Our Giant Hat, Kung and Nimbus tipis can be combined to create different spaces for dining, dancing, bars and relaxing.

Can you provide sailcloth marquee hire in Cumbria?

Yes. Our sailcloth marquees are available throughout Cumbria and the Lake District and are particularly well suited to country estates, lakeside venues, private gardens and open countryside.

Can I have a tipi or marquee at a private property in Cumbria?

Absolutely. We regularly install our structures at private gardens, fields and other non-traditional wedding locations. We’ll need to assess the site for access, ground conditions, space and suitability, and once you are booked, we can arrange a site visit where appropriate.

How far in advance should I book my Lake District wedding tipi or marquee?

We recommend booking as early as possible, particularly for popular summer dates. The Lake District is a busy wedding destination and some venues book well in advance, so securing your structure early gives you the best chance of getting your preferred date and setup.

Can you help with the planning and layout?

Yes. We can talk through your guest numbers, site, preferred structure and plans for the day, then help you work out a practical layout. We can also provide furniture, lighting, flooring, bars and other interior elements to help bring the finished space together.

Planning a Cumbrian wedding?

Whether you already have your dream Lake District venue booked or you’re still searching for the right location, we’d love to hear about your plans.

From a relaxed tipi wedding surrounded by the fells to an elegant sailcloth marquee beside a Cumbrian lake, we can help you create a beautiful outdoor space that feels right for your day.

Explore our Tipi Hire

Discover our Wedding Tipis & Marquees

Explore our Real Weddings

Find out more about our venues

Ready to start planning? Get in touch with the Special Event Tipis & Marquees team and tell us a little about your wedding, your venue and your plans.

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