Your Magical Day Awaits
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Katy & Paul Storry
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
At the Shire is a wedding venue located in Huntsville, TX. Couples describe us as "Unique." As you move through the bridal suite and step onto the huge back porch, there is such a sense of peace when the pond comes into view. We consider every guest family because it's so important to feel at home on your wedding day. In addition, our brides love the untouched surroundings of the Sam Houston National Forest. Brides say At the Shire is "Bohemian" or "Rustic"; however, our couples find a subtle elegance as night falls and the fairy lights create a romantic glow.
Our uniqueness has made us one of the most in-demand venues in Texas. Aside from our authentic giant Nordic tipis, brides love the ability to DIY their wedding while getting a lot of support from us leading up to the big day and on the actual day itself. We make it easy to say yes by offering quick 20-minute virtual tours, specials, discounts, and 12-month financing.
We have perfected the DIY wedding by partnering with talented vendors who will work with any budget to build your perfect DIY day. Couples book with us because we are different. Your wedding is one of the most important memories in life. Lovers choose our magical tipis because At the Shire was built with love and offers a rare aesthetic that is unlike any other venue in the United States.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Ceremony Types
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Guest Capacity
Up to 150
Settings
Tented
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Planning
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Katy & Paul Storry
Owner
Katy and Paul met in Los Angeles at their yoga teacher training. They decided to meet up fourteen months later at a friends yoga studio. They then proceeded wanted travel around the world teaching yoga for 4 and a half years. It was when they were in Annecy, France for a friend's wedding they experienced the magical tipis. They decided to move back to Houston, where Katy is from. Being nature lovers they are, they decided to move to the Sam Houston National Forest in Huntsville. Nestled in 33 acres they created this beautiful unique tipi wedding/event venue.
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.031 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 2
Alexandra V
Highlighted review.
5.0
3/24/2024
Our wedding day here was absolutely beautiful and more than anything we could have hoped for! The venue coordinator Autumn was amazing. From the booking to all the questions, concerns, planning, and day of coordinating, she was extremely helpful! Definitely would recommend!!!
Cecilia B
5.0
12/05/2023
At The Shire is the most magical venue. Like a destination wedding in the woods just outside Houston. Autumn is awesome. So happy that we booked our wedding and spent the day living our fairytale 💕
Any questions?
Denay R
5.0
11/18/2023
Our wedding At the Shire was perfect. The ceremony area is so beautiful against the forest and all of our guests thought the tipis were so unique. Autumn was always helpful when we had any questions in the days leading up to the wedding and made our day awesome. Having our wedding at the Shire was one of the first decisions we made when planning our wedding, and we are so glad we did!
Jirenia S
5.0
10/26/2023
The most beautiful venue ever! I'm so happy that I got a chance to have my wedding here. Everything was perfectly placed and my guest equally enjoyed the venue.
Micah H
5.0
11/10/2022
My husband and I recently had a Norse Viking wedding ceremony and this venue was PERFECT for what we had imagined our wedding to be. We wanted something a lot more private than a place like The Renaissance Festival, and thankfully, we stumbled upon At the Shire. Everyone was extremely helpful and kind, allowing us to have complete creative freedom when it came to decorating and working with us to help achieve our dream. Autumn was with us every step of the way, she was a tremendous help, and made sure everything went according to plan. I can’t count how many compliments we’ve received about the venue and people wouldn’t stop asking: “how did you find this place?!” At the Shire is truly one of the most unique venues and will definitely make your wedding one to remember!
Danielle R
5.0
9/23/2022
If you're looking for a fun, non traditional wedding reception and ceremony area this place is perfect. We absolutely loved it. The Tents handled the Texas heat really well and the ceremony area was nicely shaded. It is pretty disability friendly which was a big deal for us. Communication was a little hindered at first BUT as soon an I said something the owners and the coordinator doubled down and made Communication effortless after that. I highly recommend them to everyone. Worth every penny!!
Nicole S
5.0
8/23/2022
I absolutely loved this wedding venue and all of the amenities. My guests are still saying how it was the most unique and beautiful location for a wedding! It was seriously so free feeling and fun just like I wanted! I literally had no stress on my wedding day and weekend! All due to this venue. My theme was Boho Luxe and it was just that! All of the staff and owners were super helpful in the planning process. Everyone was accommodating from start to finish (a year). Matt was always so helpful. Autumn was wonderful! Autumn is a great Day of Coordinator and point of contact for the entire planning process. She was an awesome addition to my wedding planning team and helping the big day go smoothly and the rehearsal! It was perfect.
Response from At the Shire on 09/19/2022
Thank you for the kind review, Nicole! We are so glad you had an amazing day! It sure was ...
magical! Come and visit anytime!
Madison B
5.0
6/15/2022
The venue is absolutely gorgeous and makes for a great unique wedding. The coordinators Matt and Autumn were incredibly helpful and responsive not only on the day of but through the entire process. Matt doubled as our MC for the night which was extremely helpful. The bridal suite was also very charming, clean, and a comfortable place to relax and get ready. My husband and I stayed the night in the bridal suite as well after the wedding which was very convenient and the bed was very comfortable.
Response from At the Shire on 09/19/2022
Hi Madison! We are so glad you had a wonderful day at The Shire! Your wedding was so beaut...
iful! Come back and visit anytime!
Jillian S
5.0
6/01/2022
I am so glad that we chose The Shire for our wedding ceremony and reception! Seeing their progress over the last year and a half has been amazing, and the venue has turned out to be the most lovely, unique, magical place. Katy, Paul, and Matt went above and beyond making sure that our day was perfect, and our planner Amoree was a lifesaver. Our guests all commented how the venue fit our nature-inspired, laid back wedding style perfectly, and everyone loved how unique it was. The A/C kept the tipis plenty cool despite the late May, 96° high temperature, and the bridal suite was perfect for me, my 6 bridesmaids, and my mom and makeup artists. We also stayed the night there and it was so comfortable! If you’re thinking about booking here and want to try something different, book here before someone else does!
Response from At the Shire on 06/08/2022
Hi Jillian, thank you so much for the kind review! Your wedding was absolutely beautiful a...
nd so glad you chose The Shire and are part of the family! Come back and visit anytime!
Taylor R
4.0
5/23/2022
This venue is absolutely beautiful! As soon as I saw the photos I knew I wanted our wedding there. Upon seeing it in person, it was everything I'd hoped for. There's so many perks that comes with this venue for a competitive price, that it was worth it even beyond just what it looks like.
Tables and chairs for the reception are included, seating for the aisle is already there, things are ready for the DJ to setup at the reception and ceremony areas, atmospheric fairy lights inside and outside lighting up the tents and the property is already there and gorgeous—this venue barely needs any decorating because it's already beautiful and has everything you need! There are also many tall trees on the property, and they shaded the aisle area very well for our 5pm ceremony!
It also came with the bridal suite for the night so me and my new husband didn't have to go far after the wedding. It was nice to be able to simply walk from the reception to the bridal suite. The suite is so cute! My only complaint is the metal spiral staircase is cramped to get up and down, but besides that it is wonderful! The bed was very comfy 😉
They also provide an on the day coordinator to help communicate with vendors on the day of the wedding, and help things run smoothly. Autumn and Matt were our coordinators for the day, and they did great, keeping things as low stress as possible for me and everyone else by worrying about the timeline and such so we didn't have to. They kept things as relaxed as possible, even when things didn't run quite to schedule, which is exactly what I wanted.
I only had two main issues with the venue in the end. First, we got married mid May and it was mid to high 90's that day. They let us get there a bit early to start setting up, and they got the AC in the tipis on about when we got there at 10am, but it didn't cool down for hours. We were very concerned that it wouldn't cool down at all by the time people would arrive at 4:30pm. It was pretty miserable working in there to get stuff setup. They did bring out some fans to get the air moving better and help it cool down, but it wasn't until about 3 or 4 pm that it started to feel tolerable in there. Maybe if the ac had been turned on before the sun came up, or left on overnight so it would remain cool for the next day, that might've prevented them from getting so hot. I would not recommend doing a ceremony before 4pm on a hot day because the tipis may not be cooled down enough, and definitely be prepared to shower if you're going to be setting things up yourself.
My second issue was that the grooms suite (which is the owners personal home, so I understand the constraints) isn't available until 2 hours before the ceremony, and the shower was off limits. This left a lot of people who came to help us setup out in the heat while the women went to the bridal suite for hair and makeup and got to shower. I felt so bad that they had to deal with the heat out there, and then couldn't shower on site to get ready for the ceremony (Hair and makeup started at 11:30 so it wasn't really possible logistically to get the guys in there for a shower). I know that they are building a bachelor's suite, so this will be a non issue in the future!!
But despite those two things, we had a great experience! Our wedding turned out better than we could've dreamed! It really did feel and look like a fairy tale wedding! We couldn't be happier with the results!! Highly recommended!
Response from At the Shire on 05/23/2022
Hello Taylor, Thank you for your kind words. Your wedding was absolutely beautiful and tha...
nk you for choosing our unique venue for your special day!
Thank you so much for your honest feedback we really appreciate all of your comments and use them to improve our processes and services to our wonderful couples.
We wish you every happiness in the future and come back and visit anytime!
Katy - Co-owner
Maria C
5.0
3/26/2022
My husband and I were married here a couple of weeks ago, and the experience was wonderful. The day of was incredible, and went off without a hitch. The venue is absolutely magical. It was beyond anything I had envisioned. I still have guests telling me how different, cool and beautiful At the Shire was. I cannot recommend them enough! Katy and her husband have created something really special here. I actually wish I could do it all over again because it was such an amazing night! Thank you so much to all of you!
Response from At the Shire on 04/28/2022
Thank you for the lovely review! Your wedding was so beautiful! Thank you for choosing the...
Shire and come back and visit anytime!
Kerry G
5.0
1/31/2022
We wanted a boho location for our small wedding, and this was perfect! It was great that my husband and I could stay on site the wedding night. The cost was reasonable, and the staff was helpful when unforeseen events occurred. At the Shire allows you to make your wedding your own and offers a unique venue. The sparkling lights make all the difference!
Response from At the Shire on 02/11/2022
Thank you, Kerry! You and Joshua's wedding was a Boho dream! Thank you again for choosing ...
The Shire! Come back and visit anytime you are back in Houston!
Kayla M
5.0
12/17/2021
Booking At The Shire for our wedding venue was the best decision we made while planning the wedding. Not only is the space so unique and beautiful, but Paul, Katie, Matt, and Autumn are a dream to work with. Matt was there for us every step of the way from booking to day of coordination. Whenever anything came up, he stayed calm and relaxed which was so perfect for an anxious bride!
Katie and Paul have created such a magical place nestled in the woods. It feels as though you stumbled upon it by accident and all the little details really sweep you off your feet. From the beautiful twinkly boardwalk to the comfortable bridal suite, every bit is perfect. We loved the very trendy and beautiful bathrooms on site for our guests, as well as the gorgeous naked teepee ceremony site and canvas teepee reception. It was absolutely amazing to have our wedding here and we would recommend not just the venue, but the beautiful team that works there to anyone.
Response from At the Shire on 01/10/2022
Thank you so much, Kayla! You and Corey are such a beautiful couple and so excited you are...
going to be parents! Thank you so much for choosing The Shire!
Brooke B
5.0
12/14/2021
10/10 recommend this place. I actually won this venue at there open house and I was SO over the moon. It was perfect and beautiful and unique. The owners are so sweet and they were so helpful. My day was perfect!!
Response from At the Shire on 01/10/2022
Thank you so much, Brooke! We were so excited you won! Your wedding turned out amazing! Th...
ank you again for choosing The Shire!
Mo Y
5.0
12/08/2021
This venue was amazing! Katy and Paul are amazing and so incredibly friendly and helpful; couldn’t have asked for better owners to work with. All our guests loved the venue too and commented on how pretty it was there. Highly recommend!!
Response from At the Shire on 01/10/2022
Thank you, Mo! We loved your wedding! Your theme was amazing and loved your dress! Thank y...
ou for choosing The Shire!
Lucy G
5.0
12/04/2021
I am so happy and thankful I happened to find this venue for my wedding day! Katy and Paul were so amazing in helping us with everything we needed for our day- Katy was prompt and helpful with all our questions leading up to the wedding and Paul was more than accommodating on the day of, helping set up and was quick to step up for any problems. The venue itself was a huge hit among our guests and is everything we could hope for in a venue (intimate, romantic, beautiful forest backdrop, clean). We used the bridal suite and groomsmen suite to get ready, both of which were very clean and cute for preparation photos. I honestly didn't have to decorate much because the venue itself was already so beautiful. I highly recommend At The Shire!! Thank you Katy and Paul!
Response from At the Shire on 12/06/2021
Thank you so much for the kind review! It was such a pleasure working with you and Brandon...
. You are a lovely couple and thank you for choosing The Shire!
Hailey G
5.0
11/19/2021
Beautiful venue!
Christine P
5.0
11/17/2021
Beautiful venue, very quiet and secluded. The owners are very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this venue for any event
Response from At the Shire on 12/06/2021
Thank you for the lovely review! We wish you and Aaron all the happiness in the world! Tha...
nk you for choosing The Shire!
Carly M
5.0
11/11/2021
This place is nothing short of Magical. My son and his bride were married on November 7, 2021. Katy and Paul were so sweet and very helpful. They welcomed our ideas and loved anything diy that we wanted to do ourselves. Amoree was such a great wedding planner. Everything was very intimate and personal for my son’s wedding. The possibilities are endless. I would recommend At The Shire for any type of wedding. You definitely need to go see At The Shire before making a decision on any other venue. Pictures do not do this place justice at all.
Response from At the Shire on 12/06/2021
Thank you so much Carly! It was so great getting to know you and your lovely son and daugh...
ter-in-law. It was a beautful wedding! Please come back and visit anytime!
Xueying W
5.0
11/08/2021
My husband and I love The Shire! This place is so unique and magical. The lights and the tipi are so special and our guests love them as well! The owners are friendly and responsive. Definitely recommend this place for wedding!
Shona W
5.0
11/06/2021
Tl;dr: Book here and book now! This is a place that sets your wedding apart from all the others. No other place that I found offered an atmosphere and a unique experience like this. It truly made our wedding amazing.
There wasn’t a part of this experience that I could improve. From the moment I called to show interest to leaving the morning after our wedding - the atmosphere, the accommodations, and the genuine joy I experienced working with Katy and our wedding staff was nothing short of a blessing.
We had a wedding of about 80-100 people. We fit everyone, a dance floor, a buffet, a bartender, and a DJ inside. We could have fit more. They met with me many times before the wedding, letting me come out to see the venue and show my wedding party the space. We chose to decorate ourselves, and it was easy to do. I spent about $200 on flowers and decor, because it just doesn't need much to be elegant and inviting at the same time. The tipis are naturally intriguing, even my most traditional guests commented on how majestic they are. You must view them with the lights on in the evening to truly understand the effect.
The pictures turned out beautifully. They have a cabin on premises they rent for you to stay the night of your wedding. I strongly suggest this, because you’re gonna be exhausted! The bedroom is in a loft with a spiral staircase, and it feels magical when you’re already euphoric from being married.
They have a space for the ceremony complete with seating and then they have the reception in the Tipis. Even if you don't use the ceremony space, it makes for amazing photos.
My guests were impressed with the “something different” factor. They will always remember our wedding, because it’s such a unique location; it’s not just another fancy, dressed-up banquet hall.
I am usually the traditional type and wouldn’t have expected myself to step-out-of-the-box in this way, but I cannot describe how grateful I am that I did. The atmosphere puts people at ease and sets the experience apart from any other event I've been to.
Katy and co. were patient and delighted in my successes along the way. My joys were their joys, and it was a breath of fresh air. I truly believe they cared for my entire experience. As I sit here and reflect on my wedding, I feel blessed to have found people who are willing and capable, not pushy but always available, and just generally all-around wonderful humans.
Oh! And they have their own sound system and they can control the temperature perfectly. If you don’t want to hire a DJ, you can play from an iPad easily!!!!
Delilah C
5.0
11/03/2021
It’s an awesome place!! The way the tipis and walk way lights up at night make it a magical experience!! The owners are amazing people!! They are friendly and very helpful and
Do everything they can to Make your day memorable/
Response from At the Shire on 11/04/2021
Thank you so much! We loved getting to know you, Auggie and your beautiful family! It was ...
a magical day! Thank you for choosing The Shire!
Makena C
5.0
10/20/2021
The owners are so amazing! Very sweet souls and were so helpful when they didn’t even have to be the day of my wedding! The venue is so dreamy, magical and enchanted all at once, all of the guests were amazed by the uniqueness and vibe of the venue everyone was asking how I found the place! Our wedding day was as magical as I had hoped! Great hospitality and location! Perfect for intimate wedding which was our goal! Katy and Paul are wonderful people, thank you guys so much! Highly recommend!
Response from At the Shire on 11/04/2021
Thank you Makena! We truly loved meeting you and Keith! It was an enchanted day, for sure!...
Thank you for choosing The Shire!
Melanie D
5.0
7/14/2021
At The Shire is such a hidden gem, and we were so glad we found it. Given everything going on in the world we were searching for a fun venue where we could elope, and thankfully we found it. From the first moment we spoke to Matt he was so helpful. The venue is amazing and so cool, and to be honest I kind of now wish I was having a big wedding so I could have a huge party in the teepee! But it was also perfect for our small, intimate ceremony. Highly recommend.
Response from At the Shire on 11/04/2021
Thank you Melanie! Your elopement day was so special! Thank you for choosing us! Always we...
lcome back anytime! 🙂
Aaren D
5.0
6/22/2021
We had the most magical wedding imaginable! We chose to do a hobbit themed diy wedding and Katy and Paul were down with all of our ideas which really allowed is to make it our own. They were supportive and understanding through the whole process (we had to reschedule). They really became our friends and their helpful insights and special touches really created an amazing experience for all! I almost wish we could get married again just to come back! We worked with Matthew to get the final details arranged and he was so attentive that it felt like he was part of our family by the end. I'm so blessed and grateful to have found the perfect shire for our wedding to take place. We were surrounded by love and peace the entire journey through! My favorite part (aside from vows) was staying the night in the coolest little cottage I've ever seen! I feel like I can't say enough good things about this venue, the owners, or staff!
Response from At the Shire on 11/04/2021
Thank you, Aaren! We loved getting to know you, Chad and your beautiful family! Your Lord...
of the Rings wedding was so amazing! Thank you for choosing us! 🙂
David R
5.0
2/05/2021
AMAAAAZING!! The Shire made our special day perfect!! Could not ask for a more beautiful and unique setting. Katy and Paul were wonderful to work with and our day could not have gone smoother. <3
Lindsay M
5.0
2/02/2021
Beautiful Tipis hidden in the outdoors. Smoothly run by the sweetest couple and enchanting views and the cutest bridal suite !
Joleen B
5.0
2/02/2021
If you’re looking for a beautiful venue nestled into the woods, then this is your place. From the cozy and roomy tipis to the beautifully designed honeymoon suite with a gorgeous view, you will fall in the love with At the Shire!
Deana H
5.0
2/02/2021
I went to the open house and I totally loved it. What a great place for any type of event. The tips are beautiful and can make any event a magical experience. You can't go wrong! Katy and Paul are wonderful and will help with making your day special.
Lacy R
5.0
2/01/2021
Fantastic venue if you love all things nature. The tipis & facilities are the perfect addition to any boho sheek party or wedding. Great venue and great people. Couldn't have had a better experience. I highly recommend!
Linda H
5.0
2/01/2021
What a beautiful hidden Gem in the beautiful outdoors! I am so impressed with At the Shire from the gorgeous unique Tipis to the lovely couple that run this place !
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At the Shire
Katy & Paul Storry
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Owner
Typically responds within 24h
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