Wedded bliss for York tent company

TWO York businesses are marrying up to bring a taste of Lapland to the Yorkshire city next month.

The Royal York Hotel will use its gardens to showcase the latest celebrity tent creations from PapaKåta at the biggest wedding fair it has ever staged.

York-based PapaKåta claims its kåta tents – the tipi-style tents that were pioneered by the Sami people of Lapland – are growing in popularity as a novel alternative to marquees.

Rock stars Radiohead and Morrissey used the tents for their VIP areas at the recent V-Festival, while other celebrity clients include chef and healthy school dinner campaigner Jamie Oliver.

PapaKåta director Richard Monaghan said the Royal York event was the first wedding fair the company had attended.

Mr Monaghan said: "We set up PapaKåta after trying to find a marquee for our own wedding. We looked at loads of different companies, but all their marquees looked a bit 'samey' – and we wanted something special.

"When we finally came across the tents, we just fell for them. They are utterly gorgeous and make for a very different party space than a run-of-the-mill

marquee."

All PapaKåta tents are, where possible, made entirely out of natural materials and the company also endeavours to be carbon neutral.

For every event it participates in, the company supports the planting of enough trees and other carbon reduction projects to compensate for the carbon released during the planning, holding, and packing up of that event.

Deborah Mattison, the Royal York Hotel's wedding planner, said: "With the help of more than 30 York exhibitors, the aim of our wedding fair is to show guests a range of ideas, both traditional and modern, that can add an extra dimension to their dream day.

"The kåta tents will be put to good use on the day as they will host our wedding fashion show so guests can see them in action."

The wedding fair takes place at The Royal York Hotel between 11am and 3pm on January 20.