MariBelle Events offers Nordic tent rentals, wedding and event planning
MariBelle Events offers Nordic tent rentals, wedding and event planning
By Matt Clevenger
PIQUA- For those seeking a truly unique wedding or festival experience, the owners of MariBelle Events offer their one-of-a-kind Nordic tent rentals, creating outdoor events that are anything but ordinary.
“The Nordic tent is technically called a Kata,” MariBelle Events co-owner MiMi Ryan said.
“They’ve been around for thousands of years in Scandinavia,” she said. “There are a couple other companies in the United States that have them, but we are the first company in Ohio to have one.
Like American teepees, Katas feature a wooden frame and canvas covering, but they can be set up in a variety of ways, with the canvas down like a teepee or folded up to create a unique structure shaped like a witch’s hat.
“They are similar to an American teepee,” Ryan said, “but different in how they operate.”
The Kata was invented by Sami reindeer herders in Northern Scandinavia, who would travel with the structures packed onto dogsleds.
“The Sami people would actually travel with the canvas of the Kata on their dogsled along their reindeer herding route, and then they would build frames along the way,” Ryan said.
Made in Sweden, MariBelle Events’ Kata is 25 feet tall and 43 feet wide and was designed specifically for celebrations. It can be set up in approximately three or four hours, Ryan said, by a crew of three or four people.
“It’s based on a historical structure, but it’s a new design,” Ryan said. “It’s very sturdy; we can put it up in a backyard or a park, or at a wedding venue, festivals, or anything like that.”
The Kata can accommodate up to 120 guests with the walls up.
“You can get up to 120 people underneath one,” Ryan said. “With all the walls down, it’s closer to 50 or 60. It depends on if you want a dance floor, and if you need room for a bar.”
In addition to tent rentals, MariBelle Events also offers a wide variety of wedding, festival, and event planning services.
“We also offer wedding and event planning services, as well as consultations,” Ryan said. “We provide planning packages designed to fit every couple's unique budget and needs.”
“Wedding planning services are booked anywhere from two years to two weeks out,” she said. “We work with many couples from the very beginning, helping them with everything from choosing the venue down to finalizing the menu, but we can also jump in at the last minute to help get a couple over the finish line.”
Tent rentals are usually booked several months in advance, Ryan said, but there are still openings available for events this summer and fall.
“Typically, we book three to twelve months out for festivals,” she said, “although we are sometimes available for last-minute weather protection for all types of celebrations.”
More information can be found online at www.maribelleevents.com or by calling 419-203-2756. More information can also be found on MariBelle Events’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/maribelleevents, or Instagram @maribelleevents.
MariBelle Events was founded in 2023 and is owned by Ryan and her partner, Nathan Long. Residents of Piqua, both originally from the Van Wert area.
“We live in Piqua now,” Ryan said. “We have a dog named Freddie Mercury, and we love exploring the area and taking him on walks.”
MariBelle Events draws on Ryan’s extensive experience in the hospitality and event planning industry.
“I have a background in the hospitality industry,” she said. ““In my 20s, I did a lot of seasonal resort work in Cape Cod and Colorado, which gave me the opportunity to see some of the most amazing events on both the Atlantic Coast and in the Rocky Mountains.”
“I eventually landed in Snowmass Village, Colorado, where I managed a wedding venue,” she said. “Seeing that level of catering, floral design, music, and lighting completely blew me away. To this day, I still love finding the best vendors and artists to bring together to create unforgettable events.”
Since starting MariBelle Events, Ryan and Long have traveled extensively throughout the United States, hauling the Kata on a flatbed truck to festivals, weddings, and other events.
“There is no limit to how far we will travel,” Ryan said. “We will be traveling with our tent to Peoria, Illinois, for the Pink Boots and Country Roots Festival, and we are joining the VIP experience at the VOA Music Festival in West Chester. We also had the opportunity to fly out to Summit County, Colorado, for a wedding, which was absolutely spectacular.”
“I’ve helped plan over 400 weddings and events, and I have loved every single one,” Ryan said. “I enjoy helping people navigate the often-overwhelming event planning process and keeping them organized so they can truly enjoy their special day.”
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