Booking the perfect florist for your wedding can be one of the most daunting prospects going into your special day. For many, it will be the first and only time that they book an event florist, so it's unsurprising that most people go into the booking process not entirely sure what questions they should be asking, or how the logistics or budget should work.

Here we speak to Tracey, founder of [Floribundi](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/floribundi), an independent florist based in Beaconsfield with over ten years of experience, about what to bear in mind when booking your florist for your event and where people can often go wrong.

![Floribundi-Independent-Florist2](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/66in0RueyfruuSo4ygSvCD/97ecbd417a755fb495973990e4617672/Feast-It-Floribundi-Independent-Creative-Floristry12.jpg)

# Make sure that your visions are aligned

You should ask yourself before you start booking a florist 'what is my vision?'. You will know better than anyone how you want the flowers on your special day to look and it's really important that vision comes through on the day. Once you've had a think about it, I'd recommend trying to find images that are similar to what works for you so you can show these to the florist you're speaking to. Ultimately flowers are a visual product and there's no better way to show what you want than images.

Secondly, you'll most likely get a feel of whether your florist gets your vision or not as soon as you start talking to them and my advice would be to go with your gut. You should be thinking 'do they understand what I'm talking about and can they add to it?' You should be able to sense that when you start talking.

# Ask what else they'll be providing

You might assume that your florist would be providing everything that you need for the perfect display at your event but that's often not the case, sometimes it's just the flowers.

If you'd like your special day to include set pieces such as arches, vases, lanterns or pedestals, it's worth making sure you're on the same page with your florist about it. In the case that these aren't provided by the florist, they would usually be expected to be provided by the venue or the organisers of the event.

![Floribundi-Image](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/3tsFaqTVsNR79yHaSNTR22/f04113a6349441c35eea3e97626a4e6e/Feast-It-Floribundi-Independent-Creative-Floristry10.jpg)

# Make sure your suppliers are working together

The work that a florist does can be very closely linked to other suppliers on the day. For instance is there a marquee that's being set up that the flowers will be designed around, or will a caterer be laying the tables at a certain time before the flowers can go on top?

I'd recommend setting your suppliers up together a few weeks before the event, just over email, to ensure that there are no logistical or timing errors on the day.

# Allocate who your flowers will be given to at the end of the day

You would not believe the fights that can erupt between guests looking to bring the best flowers home with them... To avoid this I'd recommend allocating which guests will be the lucky ones to take home the flowers.

It's a great way to reward people who have contributed to making sure the day has gone really smoothly, and a fun way to do it is to put lottery tickets under certain people's seats.

![Feast-It-Flowers-Floribundi](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5B3MiZFxmHOhcwaj3dUt2Z/1e6a42d1405f407d4d4b693a41ac48af/Feast-It-Floribundi-Independent-Creative-Floristry3__1_.jpg)

# Go in with an open mind about budgets

Most people come into the booking process having never done this before so it's not at all surprising that some don't have a rough idea of how much they should be spending.

Ultimately, your vision is the most important thing, and you should look to find a supplier who can fulfill it. If that means perhaps spending a little more than you'd originally anticipated it'll be worth it, I promise!

# Be careful of candles!

I've had to say this a few times but flowers, and many other items at weddings, are very flammable. If you're looking to have candles lining the aisle or at the reception, try and ensure that they're not too close to the flowers, it would be a shame for something so beautiful to go up in smoke!


Feast-It-Floribundi-Weddings

We speak to Tracey, founder of Floribundi, about what to bear in mind when booking a florist

Tips from a Wedding Florist

Booking a marquee can be one of the tougher parts of organsing your event. There can be quite a lot of logistics involved and the rest of your suppliers will most likely need to know the details before they can provide accurate quotes.

However booking a marquee doesn't need to be difficult, and if you'd like to find a bit more about the types in marquees on offer you can check out our Ultimate Guide [here](https://feast-it.com/magazine/the-ultimate-guide-to-hiring-a-marquee). In this piece though, we speak to Gareth Dean, founder of [Project Marquee](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/project-marquee), about a few points that those looking to book a marquee should know up front to make the process even smoother. You can check his points out below, and if you like the look of Project Marqee you can enquire about getting them along to your event [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/project-marquee).

![Beautiful-Marquee](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5c2BJM3mMCmZqUOAaMn2sl/5178125eb1d2a6df8ec17724805e3c36/Feast_It_Whitehorse_Marquees_Book_Now_120-x-40-traditional-canvas-marquee-in-hot-july-2019.jpg)

# Try and measure the space you need the marquee to fit into
# 

If the event is taking place in your garden or a nearby venue, we'd recommend measuring it yourself so you can pass that information to get a more accurate quote. Often people will not have asked their venue about the size of the area the marquee will fit into, and likewise people will overestimate the size of their gardens.

It's also very helpful for us to know the surface that the marquee will be sitting on. If it's concrete we'll most likely need to weigh it down and if it's on grass, we need to know if there's any piping underneath. We can make it work on any suface, even if there's a slope, we just need to know about it up front!

# We'll build it and take it down
# 

This may come as a surprise but a question that I get asked all the time is whether we build and take down the marquee ourselves.

As a short answer, of course we do! Marquees are big constructs and very tough to put together so it's something that's definitely best left to the professionals, for safety as much as anything. On numerous occasions people have asked whether it'll reduce the cost if they put it up and take it down themselves, and the answer is always the same, don't do it!

![Marquee-set-up-Feast-It](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/68hoGECUO0B6U8xNl6VN5x/34c7a5346cc5144e261d4415c0721901/Clear_3.jpg)

# There are lots of linings available 

There are some great options when it comes to the linings and dressing of your marquee. For example for a wedding, we will normally dress the marquee with a white pleated lining that suits an elegant occasion, whereas for a Christmas event we can dress the marquee with a more festive, mysterious starlight lining. A particularly popular option for a wedding is to have three sides of the marquee in an elegant white, and then a dramatic black lining behind the dancefoor to make it stand out.

As well as the linings, drapes can come in a sorts of colours, so if you're hosting a party with a particular theme, or your wedding has a colour scheme these are absolutely perfect for that.

# Budgets

The reality is that marquees are one of the more expensive items when it comes to hiring suppliers for your event, but if you get it right I assure you they're worth every penny. 

If you're looking to get a larger marquee for an event of over a hundred guests, you're most likely looking at a minimum of around £1500, but if it's a small garden party with less than fifty guests, it's possible to get a good quality marquee along for around £600-£700.

# They're often set up a few days before the event

It's very common that a marquee company will be providing structures at multiple events over the course of a weekend, so don't be surprised if they ask to set it up a few days before your even and potentially take it down a few days after. This is totally normal when it comes to marquees and if you're using a wedding venue, they will likely be absolutely fine provided it doesn't clash with other events they have going on.

Project-Marquee-1

Gareth Dean of Project Marquees discusses what you need to know about booking a marquee

How to book a marquee: Tips from a supplier

Booking the right marquee will play a big part in the success of your event. It's likely where your guests will be eating, getting to know each other and dancing into the early hours, so we like to think of marquees as the canvas on which you can paint your dream event onto.

At Feast It, we work with some of the very best marquee companies in the country, and in this piece we go through some of the very best who are based near London. If you like the look of them, you can see a link to enquire about getting them along to your event.

So here's the list of some of the best marquee companies near London.

# Project Marquee

![Project-Marquee-near-London](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5DLU11uvA1sD1soJJQoEH1/a7b2c0b0ae9714f24e5abd90db73b0a1/65DF0748-EF41-48AD-A7B3-425B76155BA9__1_.jpeg)

Baesed in Kingston-upon-Thames and founded in 2017, Project Marquee offer some of the best quality marquees around London for all manner of events, be they weddings, birthdays or corporate events.

On top of the marquees themselves, they can offer additional servives such as dance floors, bars and even bouncy castles to help take your event to the next level.

Founder Gareth is a consummate professional and will take all the stress out of the process of booking your perfect marquee, and is wonderful at talking customers through what can be a slightly complicated booking process. You can see more about them and enquire to see if they are available for your event [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/project-marquee?tier1=marquees_tents).

# Dynamic Marquees

![Dynamic-Marquees-London-Image](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/2cyey0LyVBaEOx7UW4rYGz/b322533d560ffaf3aa9bea9bce120087/Dynamic_Marquees.Screen_Shot_2020-07-15_at_21.03.54.png)

A Wembley-based business, Dynamic Marquees can provided marquees for all manner of events, from private parties, to festivals and just about everything in between. 

Their philosophy is very much that your event is as important to them as it is to you and they believe that it's this personal touch that meant that private and corporate clients, including ITV, Barclays and Ealing studios keep coming back to use them again. 

Further, their commitment and level of service meant that they were named as the winner of the London Wedding Awards Marquee Hire company of the year 2020, and you can enquire about them for your event [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/dynamic-marquees?tier1=marquees_tents).

# Bespoke Tents & Events 
# 

![Bespoke-Tents-and-events-marquee-hire-London](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/7C9MLQNlsbxlsByCcYK48S/9004a748fe7e87ed674165c629c40b9f/Feast-It-Bespoke-Tents-Unique-Marquee-Event-Supplier.jpg8.jpg)

Bespoke Tents & Events, run by directors Roland & Hugh, is a family business that lovingly designs and builds every one of their contemporary marquees in-house. Only the very best materials are used in making their unique canvas marquees & canopy options with every structure created as a fabulous one-off. 

Their creations are distinctive for their elegant curves & beautiful wooden features, with care and thoughtful design going into every detail of their marquees. Over the last 20 years it is this level of craftsmanship and their fantastic level of service that has taken them to weddings, festivals and events all over the UK, whilst still finding the time to build over 150 unique marquees, canopies, yurts and more! 

The whole team is trained to the highest standards, but as quality control freaks, Directors Roland & Hugh are on-site for every installation to maintain the highest standards possible of installation ensure each event goes off without a hitch, and you can enquire about getting them along to your event [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/bespoke-tents-and-events?page=1&tier1=marquees_tents).

# The Stretch Tent Company
# 

![The Stretch Tent Co Event Marquee London](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4EGJOImiZCEMpz8P27MBu5/e913f5e79df2194560551e7434d2303d/The_Stretch_Tent_Co_Event.jpg)

The Stretch Tent Company is a dedicated supplier with years of experience, providing tents for some of the UK’s best outdoor events, festivals, weddings and parties. With a huge range of tents to choose from and the freedom to design your tent to suit your space and requirements, each and every one of their installations are truly unique and unforgettable!

Their tents are the new and stylish alternative to hiring a traditional marquee and these freestyle structures are architecturally stunning and flexible enough to fit any area, of any size, cover uneven ground, become part of a building and can be configured in countless ways. 

Eye-catching, practical and completely bespoke, the Stretch Tent Company can create a huge range of spectacular event spaces that will wow your guests and clients. They have planned and delivered hundreds of unique events that their tents have seen it all! From English Country weddings to DIY rustic weddings, providing a breath-taking magical environment that you and your guests will never forget. You can enquire about them right [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/the-stretch-tent-company?tier1=marquees_tents).

# __Yurts for Life__
# 
![Yurts-for-Life-Marquee-London](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/51xFqdO9GplwV9eK46IxNx/7a8874a7aa2c853289cc0e6c4090b23e/Feast_it_Yurts-for_life.wide_door__1_.jpg)

An interesting alternative to a traditional marquee, you could look at hosting your event inside a traditional yurt, and there would be no better company to book it from than Yurts for Life. 

Designed to give you even more enjoyment from the great outdoors, their yurts are ideally suited for glamping in the countryside or a fun-filled festival. They are just the ticket for an elegant wedding reception or big outdoor party.

They have worked with the likes of The National Trust and Riverford Organic, as well as schools and wedding providers to supply yurts for events, parties and for private use and you can enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/yurts-for-life?tier1=marquees_tents).


Marquee-Bookings-London

Getting the perfect marquee is vital to ensure your event is a roaring success

The best marquee companies to hire around London

When it comes to children's birthdays, one aspect it's vital to get right is the catering. Children will often just flat out reject food rather than politely making their through it, and then will complain about being hungry, which can make the day a little difficult.

That's why we feel it's important to get some options that should keep everyone happy, including the adults. That means relatively simple but delicious mains, such as hot dogs, burgers or pizza, ensuring there are vegetarian and vegan options, and then delicious desserts that will appeal to all. Here we go into details around a few caterers who feel are perfectly suited to cater your child's special day.

# Big Apple Hot Dogs
# 

![Big- Apple-Childrens-Birthday](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4clXQRunjTvjuk7Nymm3Ix/5b4096cd49cf71ea74ebfcbbda3ffd45/Big-Dog-Feast-It-Hot-Dog.jpg)

Bringing the authentic taste of the streets of New York City to your children's birthday, Big Apple cook up delicious dogs using only high quality, local ingredients and proper meat, with absolutely no gluten or bulking agents.

Hot dogs tend to go down a treats with kids of all ages, and BAHD, who have been used by the likes of Tom Cruise, Lily Allen and Soho House, offer a delicious Halloumi Dog options for vegetarians. You can enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/big-apple-hot-dogs).

# Goujon Monkey
# 

![Goujon-Monkey-Childrens-Party](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/2v6mPgfJVasnN3c3wny4mQ/61846a99e03f7445663f48a632d88161/GM_Cogges.jpg)

Goujon Monkey are a family-run gourmet catering business providing delicious crowd-pleasing food and excellent service - right from initial contact through to their fabulous hassle-free catering on the day.

Their menu is perfect for children's parties, with delicious options for chicken and chips, burgers and hotdogs. while there are plenty of vegetarian options available as well. You can enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/goujon-monkey).

# Dough & Deer

![Dough-and-Deer-childrens-party](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/3XRQaTEyW8UZiwLesp8f41/c0287b18869d7edc0efc93ae566219ee/Feast-It-Dough-and-Deer-pizza-event-catering-book-now-six.jpg)

Born in 2015, Dough & Deer are a Land Rover Mobile Pizzeria based next to Bushy Park in Hampton, South West London. 

They fitted out their first military Green Land Rover Defender which they rescued from an airfield in Somerset and custom fit it with a fantastic wood-fired Pizza oven. The oven is capable of cooking a 10-inch pizza in just 90 seconds and they can serve them by the slice, which is absolutely perfect for children. 

The Land Rover itself will also be hugely appreciated at the party and is a great set piece. You can enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/dough-and-deer).

# Wafflestick
# 

![Wafflestick-Image](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/3u2WvzuMr5zGJcA0LAnjo8/05e1af86b4a678c83261a875cbbead58/Feast-It-Wafflestick-Hand.JPG)

Wafflestick make fresh Belgian Waffles on sticks! Loaded with an array of utterly delicious luxury sauces and toppings, they will go down a storm at any children's party.

Their best sellers are their Biscoff and Nutella waffles - which we can assure you will be just as appreciated by the adults as the children. Enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/wafflestick?tags[]=Dessert&tier1=food&tier2[]=street_food).

# Milktree Gelato
# 

![Milktree-Gelato](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5GdttnUxEXSxSpJofzHaoy/126d487701e77c2e13b0768922140578/Feast-It-Milktree-Gelato-event-catering-ice-cream-van-London-vegan-gelato-book-now-three.jpg)

The wonderful Milktree Gelato love serving up their traditional, yet totally vegan gelato that will have you swearing that it's even better than dairy ice cream.

You won't even have to tell the children it's dairy-free, and the van itself is absolutely stunning. Enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/milktree-gelato).

Milktree-Delicious-Ice-Cream

Children's parties can sink or swim depending on the catering. Here's a list of some great options that should be perfect

The best caterers for your children's birthday

Champagne receptions are a vital part of any wedding, but lots of people are now looking at alternative, slightly more bohemian methods of this tradition. One great option is to look into getting a beatiful prosecco van along to your special day. They tend to look absolutely stunning and are absolutely perfect for a photo opportunity. Here we go into some of the best options if you're looking to get a prosecco van along to your event.

# Piccolo Prosecco

![Piccolo-Prosecco-Image-Van](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/6HWg4wR5Ocm4QhbI5zPyIo/25a29c467d0bc0705d0dbf045c929824/Feast-It-Piccolo-Prosecco-mobile-bar-prosecco-van-wedding-bar-cocktails-book-now-eight.jpg)

Piccolo Prosecco is a unique, boutique, converted little van serving chilled prosecco on tap and a range of delicious, carefully curated, prosecco cocktails.

The van itself is finished to ahigh standard, with solid oak woodwork and chrome features, built in 2017. It has so much wow factor and you can enquire about it [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/piccolo-prosecco?name=prosecco&tier1=drink).

# Fabulous Fizz Bar
# 

![Feast-Fizz-Bar](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/66aEV8sQbSYEtwLsptpd9v/06b233236635b4e790bab72e23409a88/Feast_it_Fabulous_Fizz_bar.cornfield.jpeg)

The Fantastic Fizz Bar is an iconic vintage Citroen HY van that has been lovingly restored and converted into an ever so cool, mobile pop up bar. 

If you've got a particular style or theme planned for your wedding, the team can even create a bespoke drinks menu just for you alongside the prosecco. Let the Fabulous Fizz Bar add the fun, the fizz and of course the fabulous to your special day!

Enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/fabulous-fizz-bar).

# June @ Through the Grape Van
# 

![Feast-It-Grape-Van](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/6E6cdBPHiO90J2TEMM7VhL/3af70f740d57e95db9cec9979fa194d2/JuneVan_39.jpg)

A beautifully converted, sawn in half Renault 5 that has been perfected adapted into a trailer micro bar that can be used for any occasion. Equipped with 2 taps that can offer a range of beers or even prosecco and a side bar for all your cocktail and wine needs. However don't be fooled, each tap is powered by its own cooler and can keep up with the demands of larger events. Enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/june-through-the-grape-van?page=1&tier1=drink).

# Fabulously Fizzy
# 

![Fabulous-Fizz-bar-Feast-It-Prosecco](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/rQSdcrzYzbIv9fzaxjpIm/6fe10ac3b80aa32c76a2d391d2042549/Feast-It-Fabulously-Fizzy-Mobile-Bar-Event-Catering-Prosecco-Tuk-Tuk-Wedding-Bar-Book-Now.jpg)

Fabulously Fizzy is a delightful and elegant Prosecco van serving deliciously chilled Prosecco on tap. This boutique little pop-up fizz bar brings flute-loads of fun to your wedding.

Chic and incredibly bubbly, Fabulously Fizzy is a lovingly converted iconic Piaggio Ape Classic (tuk-tuk) van, transforming her into an eye-catching and crowd-pleasing Prosecco van oozing style and fizzazz! You can enquire about them [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/fabulously-fizzy?page=2&tier1=drink).

# Bubble Bros
# 

![Feast-It- Bubble-Bros-Prosecco](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/7poA9QqRt0H9h83eTN6cia/1e1c922736aad4def79e8a550042b898/Feast-It-Bubble-Bros-Prosecco-Mobile-Bar-Hire-Book-Now-Event-Catering-Piaggio-Ape-one.png)

The Bubble Bros' Prosecco Van is a three-wheeled Piaggio Ape which has been lovingly converted into a unique sparkling wine bar!

They serve their very own flash-cooled (using liquid nitogen) Frizzante Italian sparkling wine on-tap, as well as bottles of DOCG Prosecco. The layout of the bar means that they can either serve you and your guests, or encourage them to pull the tap & help themselves!


Feast-It-Bubble-Bros-Party

If you want to put a spin on the champagne reception, these are perfect

Prosecco Vans - The alternative Champagne reception

We all know that a bar is an essential part of any event, but there are few ways of doing it more spectacular than getting a whole bus along!

A bus bar can do so much more than just serve drinks to your guests and can act a place for guests to sit and relax, is the perfect set piece for photo opportunities and as an added bonus can just drive in and drive out of your event. Here we run through a few of the bus bars that you can [book through Feast It](https://feast-it.com/enquiry).

# The Big Red Bus Bar

![Feast-It-Big-Red-Bus-Bar-Mobile-Bar-Party-Bus](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/mUoTGkGlAPqdCLvlp0UsT/3a320a04f0dda727701a627462cfb957/Feast-It-Big-Red-Bus-Bar-Mobile-Bar-Event-Catering-Double-Decker-Bus-Bar-Book-Now-two.jpg)

Turn your event into something refreshingly unexpected with the addition of a classic, 1967 Big Red London Routemaster bus that magically transforms itself into a fully functioning bar, specialising in serving quality locally-produced beers, lagers and ciders along with all your other favourite tipples.

Big Red is guaranteed to bring that “wow” factor to any gathering with its stylish upstairs seating area, retractable roof, outside tables and chairs and colour changing LED lighting. Check out their Feast It profile [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/big-red-bus-bar?name=bus&tier1=drink).

# Tiger Lily Bus Company

![Feast-It-Tiger-Lily-Bus-Company-Mobile-Bar-Unique-Event-Bar-Cocktails-beautiful-bus](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4F9Y48ISeq7fSoTxLZdSD7/39e89a19ad12f367f632d31eb97f9d83/Feast-It-Tiger-Lily-Bus-Company-Mobile-Bar-Unique-Event-Bar-Cocktails-Wedinng-Bar-Book-Now-two.jpg)

Tiger Lily is one of a kind. She was born in the 1950's and now runs as a beautifully restored bus bar, serving up drinks including Aperol Spritz, Mimosas and Pimms. The glorious roof light windows create a wonderful ambience inside to enjoy whilst sitting at any one of their four seating booths.

Two of the side-windows open up with steps up to the windows so that they can also serve directly to the outside too, ensuring no matter the size of the event they can serve quickly and efficiently.

Check them out [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/tiger-lily-bus-company?name=bus&tier1=drink).

# VIP Bus Bars

![VIP-Bus-Bar](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/2s4VIWLm3P5U2ZPrNDzaIE/79bc5fe19661f706f2cc8c081c857798/Feast-It-VIP-Bars-Mobile-Bar-Bus-Bar-Event-Catering-Unique-Event-Bar-Book-Now-three.jpeg)

VIP Bus Bars provide stunning, professional corporate hospitality Bus Bars that are perfect for all kinds of events including product and brand launches, festivals, pop-ups, weddings, private events and so much more.

The bar would be the perfect centrepiece at any event, and at 12x 5m it is not likely to be missed! They can serve all kinds of drinks from beer to cocktails depending on what you’re after for your event.

Check out their Feast It profile [here](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/vip-bars).


VIP-Bus-Bar

Make the ultimate statement when it comes to your bar choice

Three party bus bars for your event

We all know how exciting it was as a child to hear the sound of an ice cream van on the street outside, music jangling as you run to ask your parents for a pound for a Flake 99. But, let’s be honest, ice creams and the ice cream van turning up is still exciting when you’re an adult!

We recently spoke to Sarah, the founder of Lola’s Vintage Ice Cream Van, which serves delicious ice cream and desserts from a 1973 vintage van. Sarah takes us through why she thinks ice cream vans are a great addition to any event.

![Daisys](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4Eg7CbaH0noPhgxM7ACTiQ/55548914ecdfc654cb850a9e3a224f36/Screenshot_2021-03-09_at_19.48.01.png)

# Adults get just as excited about ice creams as kids
# 

It goes without saying that ice creams at an event will go down brilliantly with the children, but I always love seeing the unbridled looks of joy on the adults’ faces as we turn up in our vintage van. We’d always recommend that people keep the ice cream a surprise from their guests, as it’s always a great moment at the party when we roll up in our vintage van. People will normally start springing over straight away and we have to let them know that it takes us a bit of time to get everything ready!

# It’s a great photo opportunity
# 

We all how important all the photo ops are at events and Insta-worthy backdrops are more important now than ever. Ice creams trucks tick all the boxes for that perfect shot of you and your guests, cones in hand having a brilliant time. Most ice cream vans will also be happy to custom make a sign, or even rename a flavour, with the names of the happy couple or whoever’s birthday it is.

![POP-ICE](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/2lVDBn2ccSEE1vyGQocemp/6aaf47cb948e28834998002e78e8b3f6/Screenshot_2021-03-09_at_19.50.10.png)

# There’s something for everyone
# 
Firstly, the thing to say here is just: ice cream. I don’t need to justify why it’s so brilliant when 71% of people say they buy it all year round! But there are usually more options than you think; it’s not all served in a cone.

You’ve got sorbet options for those who might be lactose intolerant, it can come in a tub, between two cookies, covered in sauce, on the side of waffles, some people even serve it in beer! There are so many options but what’s for sure is that all of your guests will be happy.

# It’s cheaper than you think
# 
You might think that getting an ice cream van along to your event might be expensive but it’s probably cheaper than you think. Our minimum cost for an event is around £300, which would serve around 50 guests for an hour and a half, and that’s not too dissimilar from others. For everything you get from it (and of course we may be a little biased here), we believe this is more than worth it!

# It’s very easy to set up
# 
Lastly, getting an ice cream van along to your event is logistically simple. All we need to do is drive in, plug into some power and then within around 45 minutes we can start serving up delicious ice cream to your guests!


Lolas-Ice-Cream-Van

We speak to Sarah, founder of Lola's, about why ice cream makes everything better

Why your event needs an ice cream van

Everyone knows a wedding needs a photographer, but many don't know how easy it is to have a professional videographer film the most memorable moments of the day. 

The Feast It team speaks to many brides and grooms, and it often crops up that they regret not having a professional video of their special day, and we don’t want that to happen to you! Read on for all the reasons why you should hire a videographer for your wedding day.

# Capture more special moments
# 

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth a million. A videographer will capture the beautiful moments that you might miss yourself, from the smile on people’s faces as you walked down the aisle to the incredible dance moves that were coming out late into the night. Having everything caught on camera will make sure the memories last a lifetime.  

<iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/384972106" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

# Your guests will love to see the video
# 

Your guests will adore a video reminder of your special day. They’ll love trying to spot themselves in the video, and in years to come, they’ll be able to look back and remember just how spectacular your wedding day was. It might even help inspire their own wedding!

# Videography is cheaper than you think
# 

Once upon a time, wedding videography could be very expensive due to the costs of the equipment involved, so couples often ruled it out as an option. Nowadays, the equipment is even better but costs significantly less, meaning that you can get a videographer at your wedding for less than you think. The average price tends to be around £1,500 for eight hours of filming, then edited into a roughly 40-minute final video.

# You can share the video with anyone who couldn’t make it
# 

If you have family and friends who aren’t able to make your special day, there’s nothing like a video to give them a real impression of what it was like. Who knows, the film might even be appreciated by those on the ‘nearlies’ list!


Wedding videography

There no better way to look back your special day than through a beautifully made film

Why your wedding needs a videographer

Hiring the right videographer can be one of the most important decisions you’ll make regarding your wedding. Their documentation of the day is something you’ll treasure permanently and a good videographer will make sure that you adore going back to watch your wedding film again and again. 

Here we speak to the wonderful Harriet at Rosebud Films, who has shot at many weddings, to ask about the questions you should be asking to make sure that a videographer is perfect for you and your special day.

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/384972106" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/384972106">Robert &amp; Natalie Wedding Highlights</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/rosebudfilms">Rosebud Films</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

# What style do you shoot in?
# 
Videographers tend to specialise in different styles, we for example shoot in a candid style, where we capture all the day of the event naturally as they happen. This style won’t require any intervention from the videographer and will be edited and polished based on the natural sequence of events. Another potential style is cinematic, where it’s similar to creating a movie, this can include adding in edits to create dramatic moods and subtle special effects to enhance the film. Others may offer a storytelling style, where they devise and tell a set piece story of the day, and will produce a highlights video, a shorter style focusing on the set pieces of the day. The choice is yours but it’s important to go for a style that you feel best suits you as a couple.

# Does you understand who I am as a person?
# 
A good videographer will be able to read into the personalities of their clients and to gain a natural insight into what styles will best suit them. As well as discussing what your exact video requirements are for the day, go into a bit of personal detail about who you are. What sort of music are you into? What do you get up to in your spare time? How did you and your partner meet? All of this will be valuable information for them to ensure they’re shooting the day just right.

# Which parts of the day do I want shot

Is it just the reception and the ceremony that you’d like filmed or would you like your videographer to be at your bride prep, or even attend an engagement shoot? Of course this decision will affect the price, but it’s just as much about whether you’d like certain moments to remain private or not.

# How many cameras will you be using?
# 

One camera is absolutely dine, but having two people shooting means that you can get various perspectives of certain moments and make sure that fewer incredible moments are missed during the crazy fun at the reception! 

# Have they shot at my venue before?
# 
It can be very helpful for a videographer to know the venue they’re shooting out so they can work out where the action’s going to happen! This is absolutely by no means a prerequisite, but if they’ve never shot at the venue before, it may be worth setting up with the venue manager, or someone who knows it very well, to have a chat beforehand and potentially let them have a look around.


Feast-It-Rosebud-Films-Videography-Wedding-Event-Book-Now3

Film captures your special day in a way that images can't

The important questions to ask your wedding videographer

We like to think of flowers as the icing on the cake at a wedding, that last extra layer making everything a little more special.

So, there's a lot to bear in mind when it comes to choosing the right florist, and to help you get there, we've put together a list of questions you can ask to make sure your big day has the flowers it deserves.

![Bridesmaids-Flowers](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5ldcnI6J5kSgFlZsqcJmXy/69fd5c298e4a5c4c09cdc5d505534072/Urban_Flower_Farmer_3.jpg)

# Which flowers will be in season for my wedding?
# 
You’ll want to think about which flowers will be available for your date. If you’re having a spring wedding, consider cherry blossoms, peonies and dahlias. For summer, lilac, hydrangeas and chrysanthemums are a great choice. And for an autumn wedding, consider amaranthus, orchids or chinaberry to create a beautiful fall colour palette. An experienced florist can guide you on seasonal flower choices and help expand on your ideas.

If your preferred blooms aren’t in season for your wedding date, ask your florist about substitutes that could achieve the same style. For example, roses are often used if peonies aren’t available, and hydrangeas if it’s not the time of year for sweet peas.

# What type of arrangements do you provide?
# 
If you haven’t organised a wedding before, you’ll probably be taken aback by just how many options there are for arrangements. When it comes to the bouquet alone, you’ve got hand-tied, crescent, single stem, pomander, composite and many, many more options, and that’s before you even think about the set-piece arrangements. Ask your florist to take you through the options and then make sure they’re able to provide the options that appeal to you the most.

![Feast-It-Grace-Thorn-Hackney-Florist](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5V6WUUPsXD3d48JRfBNLGp/9a00941c9b038c01fb3f8c312716adb2/Feast-It-Grace-Thorn-Hackney-Florist6.jpeg)

# Can you work with my colour scheme?

If you want to have a colour scheme for your wedding, we’d recommend choosing it before engaging a florist as this will help steer their flower suggestions to you.

# What lighting do you recommend?
# 
The lighting of a room can drastically alter the look and feel of flowers, so your florist should be able to advise what will work for your venue. A fun trend combining flowers and lighting is to wrap fairy lights around your bouquet to make it look even more spectacular when it’s thrown!

You can send images of your venue to a potential florist via the Feast It platform to give them ideas of what they’re working with.

![Feast-It-Floribundi-Independent-Creative-Floristry3](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/jWEgmCh990hXyR0Kr2eFH/c7de5e7418f301f98e82edbe47cd718f/Feast-It-Floribundi-Independent-Creative-Floristry3.jpg)

# Have you worked at my venue before?
# 
It’s a nice advantage, but not essential, if your florist has worked with your venue before. Ask if they have, as this will make it easier for them to work out the logistics and create a vision for the event,  but if they haven’t we’d recommend introducing them to either the venue owner or someone who knows it very well. This is by no means essential and we’d recommend choosing the perfect florist for you over experience with a venue, but it’s a nice bonus.

# Which flowers will best suit me?
# 
The flowers you choose are an expression of who you are as a person and you want to make sure that you’re representing all that’s great about you in your floral choices. Explain to your florists who you are as a person, what motivates you, what you like to do in your spare time, what brought you and your partner together, and they can recommend the flowers that might suit you as a person.

![Feast it Me and my Bloomers](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/1NqGrLfzRzVRq1kupZKEAp/a1cbe813449c9b7cd21bd7d113a3b0f7/Feast_it_Me_and_my_BloomersBD__300_of_655_.jpg)

# Are the flowers organic and pesticide-free?
# 
If you’re working with a Feast It approved supplier it’s highly likely this will be the case, but you might want to make sure that your flowers are pesticide-free. 

# What happens to the flowers after the wedding?
# 
It would be a shame to waste beautiful flowers so you might want to ask your florist what their plans are for them after the event. Many couples look into getting the flowers rearranged for the morning after, and some give them out to guests as they’re leaving the wedding.


Wedding Florist

Everything you need to book the perfect flowers for your special day

10 questions to ask your wedding florist

__Team Feast It couldn't be prouder to announce the launch of the events industry’s first custom built carbon calculator and offsetting tool, in partnership with Ecologi.__

__The product lets people organising events, from weddings to corporate away days, calculate their emissions by answering just four quick questions, and instantly offset their carbon footprint by funding key projects in the fight against the climate crisis. You can see more about and offset your event [here](https://feast-it.com/event/carbon-offset-your-event).__

__Here our founders Hugo Campbell and Digby Vollrath talk about why this was such an important initiative for Feast It and a vital step forward for the events industry.__

Events are where we create memories that last a lifetime, they are where a lot of us had our first kiss, where we saw our best friend’s first dance and where we stayed up all night with the people we love the most. 

It might not feel like it right now, but sooner rather than later events will be back, bigger, bolder and more beautiful than ever. 

But events can also come with a cost to the environment.

![Sam's wedding](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/58sZyFkrYDtAQb1AAQ39gt/5a41fd3e993613f1d2218bdbe644aa4f/Sam___Natasha-s_Wedding_Day_430.jpg)

Our mission has always been to help anyone create the perfect event, simply. But over the last year, as we saw wildfires rage from Australia to LA, and a fifth of countries risk ecosystem collapse, we appreciate more than ever that our responsibility is also to let anyone create greener, carbon negative events, simply.

Coming together to celebrate is central to the human experience and events are undoubtedly a vital part of our emotional and mental wellbeing. But we couldn’t shy away from the duty to step up and help move the events industry forward. 

That's why we've created our industry-first carbon offsetting tool; to enable people to throw events in the knowledge they're helping to play their part in the battle against the climate crisis. 

Of course we know that carbon offsetting is not a perfect solution in isolation, and for us it’s just one more big step in a longer term ambition to let everyone throw the best parties imaginable that are still kind to the planet.

The carbon calculator means that by answering four quick questions you instantly create an estimate of your event’s environmental footprint, and then can make it carbon negative by supporting some of the world’s most important projects in the fight against the climate crisis. We wanted to build a tool that is as accurate as possible, whilst also removing the biggest stumbling block that prevents people from offsetting - the lengthy process and paperwork.

We’re more than happy to hold our hands up and say this is not our area of expertise. So to ensure we’d be working with the best estimates possible and with the most effective projects, we’ve partnered with offsetting platform Ecologi. They ensure that your money will go to projects which have the greatest possible impact, such as combatting deforestation in the Amazon, reforesting Madagascar and generating solar energy in India. They’re an amazing business that enable you to really easily offset other aspects of your life. 

![Ecologi Project](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/7f751miCBXktjGZoa9hDNm/d837992e58c64affa4c5ce8a03d5496d/Screenshot_2021-02-10_at_11.15.17.png)

We heard of Ecologi through their work in supporting replanting the Kijabe region of Kenya, as we both have strong connections to the country. Digby grew up four hours north in Nanyuki and Hugo’s dad grew up in Nairobi and we’ve both spent a large period of our childhoods together in the very ecosystem, wildlife and environment that Ecologi is fighting to protect. When speaking to them further it became clear that they were the right partner for Feast It due to their inspiring portfolio of projects and the integrity of their purpose. 

We know we still have a long way to go, but we couldn't be prouder to partner with them in this next milestone of our mission to help change events for the better.

Hugo & Digby


Green-Wedding

Feast It's founders write on why they've partnered with climate solution platform Ecologi

Why we launched the event industry’s first carbon offsetting product

We know that events celebrate some of the greatest days of our lives, but we also know they can have a long-lasting impact on the planet and generate large-scale emissions. That's why we've partnered with Ecologi to help directly fund global green projects and reduce the events industry's carbon footprint.

We recently caught up with Dennis Hettema, Head of Business Development at Ecologi, to find out more about their mission and why carbon offsetting is essential. 

## Can you tell us about Ecologi's mission, and why it's so important?

Turn on the news, and it's instantly apparent that the world hasn't taken enough action, climate change is an issue that all of us need to address now. At Ecologi, we aim to make climate action simple and affordable for everyone because it's a problem that affects us all. Our partnership with Feast It is an excellent example of making climate action simple. 

## What projects does Ecologi support?

Every month all of our members automatically support two new projects. These range from natural projects such as Peruvian protection of the Amazon, to humanitarian action like repairing water boreholes in Eritrea and a nice mix of renewable projects such as solar power and landfill gas capture initiatives worldwide. Our climate committee vets all projects to make sure that our members only support the absolute best that's out there.

![Ecologi image](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/18gjFyNQeC1kWLHRnQcbFk/a2f55d76d3d766f027b9bf9c2cece679/michael-olsen-vNIgKjZbJW0-unsplash.jpg)

## Why do you think offsetting an event is so important?

The first step is to make sustainable decisions on your suppliers and materials, yet it's technically impossible to run a climate positive event without offsetting and tree planting. Even with the best of intentions, your event will still have a negative impact in some way. That's why offsetting is absolutely essential. 

## How popular has carbon offsetting become as a gift?

It's very popular, indeed. People are gravitating more and more towards sustainability as a gift, and our [profile pages](https://ecologi.com/dennishettema) give a nice and tangible experience for the recipient. 

## What are some great ways people can reduce their emissions in day-to-day life?

There are so many small changes that you can make, for example, using a lid when cooking reduces energy usage. I know it sounds cheesy, but every little bit does help. If you'd like some help with behavioural change, check out platforms like [Count Us In](https://www.count-us-in.org/). 

If you'd like to learn more about carbon offsetting your event with Feast It, [click here](https://feast-it.com/event/carbon-offset-your-event).

Ecologi

We recently caught up with the team at Ecologi to find out more about their mission.

An interview with Ecologi

Nothing makes us happier than helping our customers create their dream wedding day. We recently caught up with Frederica Scott to hear all about how she planned her wedding, and how Feast It helped to make it the best day of her life.

## What did you consider most important when organsing your wedding?
## 
The most vital aspect was booking suppliers who represented the tastes of my husband Mathias and I. I've been to a lot of weddings in the past where I felt the tone didn't really reflect the personalities of the people themselves. Many seem to go for safe options and that just wasn't us for us; we wanted our guests to remember our special day forever!

For us that meant a rustic, festival-theme involving food trucks, a vintage-style marquee and camping for guests. We felt this perfectly complemented who we are as people and was something many of our guests, particularly the older ones, had never experienced before. 

![21366718 10155774974253092 8436659364717968650 o](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4maIBJhQeiVlIAznMAWiWo/aa915d3d3d4936759ecf4b481a343f39/21366718_10155774974253092_8436659364717968650_o.jpg)

## Why did Feast It work for you?

This was the first large scale event that I'd ever organised and if I'm being honest I didn't know exactly where to start. Speaking to friends made the whole wedding planning process seem even more daunting, as they told me about how they'd dealt with all of their suppliers independently and it sounded like herding cats!

When I discovered Feast It it was a godsend, knowing that I could guarantee booking high quality suppliers and deal with them all in one place. It was very useful being able to split the payment for the wedding into a monthly bill.

Another aspect that worked well was that that Feast It vets suppiers not only on the quality of their product, but also on their professionalism and general friendliness, and knowing that we were in safe hands with our suppliers was very settling.

# What did your guests love?

We had a food truck to come and serve late night bacon butties, which kept the party going for a few hours longer for sure, and I didn't appreciate how much of a difference the beautiful flowers would make.

I would also add how important it was to book a high quality staffing agency. The staff were impeccable on the day and it really helped to make the day run smoothly.

![Freddie and Matheus](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/1DtnWhyaU0eGE5cvHO3OwF/094640669cb69c82ef190332f72afdce/F_M_42of711_.jpg)

# Is there a type of supplier you didn't book that you wish you had?

We had a great photographer, but I do wish we'd booked a videographer for the day, we would really appreciate having some professional footage to look back on. 

Secondly, perhaps it's a little clichéd but in hindsight it would've been great to have an old school Mr Whippy van turn up, I think it wouldn've gone down really well and I've now realised how cheap it would've been.

# Did anything go terribly wrong on the day?

It poured with rain, but actually I'd say that ended up enhancing the occasion. By the end of the night all the guests were dancing outside and it was absolutely brilliant.

There was half an hour where it seemed as though the portaloos had broken, but thankfully they were fixed and the less said about that issue the better!

21457312 10155774946413092 4317886447701419821 o

We speak to Frederica about organising her special day

An interview with a Feast It bride

Thinking about applying for your first festival pitch? Hopefully you’ve already seen our article, [Festival Pitches | how much they cost?](https://feast-it.com/magazine/festival-pitches-or-how-much-do-they-cost) and you’re now wondering is it going to be worth it? 

Like the cost of the pitch, the amount of money you can make at a festival depends on a range of factors. But don't worry if things feel a bit unclear, our expert team have worked on hundreds of events and are here to give you a rundown of festival costs and earnings potential.

If after reading this article you want to find out the best way to win a pitch at a festival you can read our guide [here](https://feast-it.com/magazine/how-to-win-festival-pitches).

### What’s happened at past events?

![Feast It London Pride Regents Street](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5OmwIXYxibf8nAQfyutyrv/27202a121f6a0e481fdc4ce590f16b4f/London_Pride_Parade_JPM-114.jpg)
London Pride is one of the largest events powered by Feast It, and the pitch fees can be just shy of £1,000. We've seen our traders make anything between £6,000 - £80,000, a great example of how earning potential can vary.

At smaller-scale events, like the Virgin Sport Hackey Half Marathon and the BHF Ride London, pitch fees are lower and cost between £300 - £500. But, earning potential is still high, and our traders have made between £2,000 - £60,000.

### Are there any common trends?
It’s anticipated that a popular vendor at a festival will sell their products to roughly 5% of the total attendees. Using this, and the reported pitch fee, as a guide, here’s how much you could make at three different sized festivals.

__Glastonbury__
- Attendance: 200,000
- Pitch fee: £18,000
- 5% of sales: 10,000 transactions
- Gross sales (£8 average transaction): £80,000
- Cost of goods sold (33% of transaction cost): £26,400
- Net income: £35,600

__Lattitude Festival__
- Attendance: 40,000
- Pitch fee: £6,000
- 5% of sales: 2,000 transactions
- Gross sales (£8 average transaction): £16,000
- Cost of goods sold (33% of transaction cost): £5,280
- Net income: £4,720

__Vision Festival__
- Attendance: 10,000
- Pitch fee: £250
- 5% of sales: 500 transactions
- Gross sales (£8 average transaction): £4000
- Cost of goods sold (33% of transaction cost): £1,320
- Net income: £2,430

For more examples of festival operating costs, including food, staff and marketing, check out [our guide to festival catering](https://feast-it.com/magazine/a-guide-to-festival-catering).

## What influences how much you can make?
![Feast It Toshka Festival](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5dEYtxfJOfz5CPgfaB0wyL/afa81e154c78db1474d572fd3a05b7a2/Toshka.jpg)

### Selecting the right events
It might be tempting to jump straight in with bigger festivals and events, but we advise to start small and work your way up. Build up your understanding of things like operating costs, portions served per hour, and how to stand out to potential customers. Then you'll get a better idea of whether an event is worthwhile for your business, and minimise any losses.

### Pitch fees
Pitch fees are what a festival or event organiser will charge you to sell your products. Fees are charged either at a flat rate, based on commission, or a combination of both. 

Check out our [guide to fesitval pitch costs](https://feast-it.com/magazine/festival-pitches-or-how-much-do-they-cost) for a full breakdown of the factors influencing a pitch fee.

### Festival attendance
The more people attending the festival, the larger the market is for you to sell to. If you’re thinking about buying a pitch, how many people will be attending the festival is the first question you need to ask yourself. 

A quick Google might do the trick, but if not its worth reaching out to the organisers, vendors that have previously set up there or any community groups of other suppliers you may be involved in.

### Competition
If you find yourself thinking “I really want a pitch at Glastonbury this year”, then the chances are similar suppliers will be thinking the same thing. Glastonbury has around 800 traders, over 400 of which are selling food.

Always ask the festival organisers how many traders are going to be there and if you can, dig deeper on the number that sell something similar to you. It’s okay if there are a handful of similar traders but this is where experience is key. Knowing how to outperform your competitors and attract more customers will certainly help de-risk the higher pitch fees at larger events.For some top tips on how to achieve this, you can read our guide to festival catering [here](https://feast-it.com/magazine/a-guide-to-festival-catering).

### Location
The location of your pitch will have a big impact on how much you might be able to sell at a festival or event. 

Always make sure you understand where your pitch will be located before you sign the contract. And remember that pitches cost more if they're in a prime location.

### Operating cost
We've said it before, and we'll say it again, knowing your operating costs is essential to understanding if an event is right for your business. Bear in mind cost of supplies, staff, parking, travel, pitch fees and deduct these from your final sales.


Feast It Festival Image

From Glastonbury to your local music festival, here's our insight on how much food suppliers can expect to make

How much do traders make at festivals?

If you run a food or drink business, you're not alone if you dream of one day having a pitch at a world-leading festival like Glastonbury. With crowds of over 200,000 and the average ticket-holder spending £450, the opportunity for vendors at Glastonbury, and the hundreds of other UK festivals, is huge.

But how do you actually win a festival pitch? We asked our supply base of over 1000 food and drink vendors to share their experience and useful tips for any first-timers.

### Do your research
Our first piece of advice is to do your research and make sure that you’re applying for a pitch at a festival that’s right for your business. Take a look at [our articles](https://feast-it.com/magazine/festival-pitches-or-how-much-do-they-cost) about the likely cost of pitches at large festivals and events, and how much you’re likely to make from them.

![feast-it-festivals](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4IfzWfcJVLEaR1qHBlbRUW/0d9600560b60b12a2987d028e533ac2e/feast-it-festivals__1_.png)

### Know where to apply
There are two main ways to apply for festival pitches. 

__Directly on the organiser’s website__
- Leading festivals like Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading BST Hyde Park have dedicated pages on their official websites where traders can apply for pitches.

__Through festival partners__
- In some cases, festival organisers will outsource to businesses like Feast It to help curate the food and drink line up. We then send out application forms to all our suppliers, and they apply directly through us.  To apply for festivals Feast It are invlolved in, you can [sign up and create an account.](https://feast-it.com/info/become-a-partner)

### Give yourself time
It’s common for the pitching process to start in the autumn for festivals taking place the following summer. Pitching is competitive, and some of our suppliers have been up against 3,000 other traders to win a handful of pitches. Given the sheer volume of applications festivals receive, it’s always better to start the process as early as you can.

### Understand the application process

![Festival Application Process](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5KB6jh7DYlpPRubm8tJijm/136fe8a5ae8f362c4768d78f05a1e405/application_process_for_festivals.jpg)

Whether applying directly to the festival or through a festival partner, the application process is pretty similar. They’ll always want to know;

1. Your contact details and business number
2. What kind of food/drink you sell
3. The dimensions of your stall
4. How many parking passes you’ll need
5. What your electrical requirements are
6. What prior experience you have
7. How many portions you can serve per hour
8. What your stall and product looks like (make sure to have great photos)

Successful applicants will likely receive a phone call from the organisers so they can find out more about the business and run through the terms of the agreement.

Unsuccessful applicants do receive a notification, but not always with an explanation. Festival organisers dedicate a certain number of pitches and site locations to specific trader types, with hot food traders generally securing most of the spots. So you could lose out on a pitch for no other reason than a quota is already full!

In other cases, our suppliers have entered bidding wars to win their pitch. It’s not uncommon for two similar traders to compete for the same spot with the highest bidder winning the pitch.

If your application is successful, you’ll need to provide all the relevant documentation before you sign a contract, including; FSA food ratings, insurance and risk assessments 

### Make your application stand out from the crowd

__Provide good quality photos and videos showcasing your business__
- Festival organisers can have 1000s of applications to sift through, so selling yourself makes you stand out from the crowd. We’ve seen hundreds of vendors apply for festivals with stock imagery and poor marketing material which makes little impact. 

__Creat an eye-catching brand and design__
- Great branding will draw the attention of festival organisers who are looking for traders that can bring in the crowds. This applies to your logo, van and your staff uniform. Nailing this will undoubtedly help you turn a profit too.

### Build a good reputation
This may not be applicable if you’re applying to your first festival, but many of our suppliers have been asked back by festivals the following year and skip the whole application process entirely. 

To help you build a great festival rep, we’ve put together a guide to festival catering [here](https://feast-it.com/magazine/a-guide-to-festival-catering).

### Always read the contract
We strongly advise thoroughly reading the contract upon a successful application, and make sure you go through any uncertainties or questions with the festival organiser before signing. 

Only when you’re 100% happy with the terms should you put pen to paper.

### Apply through Feast It
We already have a dozen or so festivals and large public events lined up for 2021, including Lytham Festival, Pride London and numerous Virgin Sport events..If you want to be part of our supplier community, apply for a Feast It supplier [here](https://feast-it.com/info/become-a-partner).


Feast It Leeds Fest

Eyeing up a pitch at top UK festival or event? Find out how F&B suppliers across the country manage to secure them.

How to win festival pitches

Whether you've just started out in your street food venture or you want to take your business to the next level, you might be asking yourself "how much does a festival pitch cost?"

We've seen prices start from around £500 for smaller festivals and go up to about £15,000 for events like Glastonbury, so unfortunately there's no definitive answer. Thankfully, our team of experts and our community of suppliers have worked at hundreds of events, and they're here to give you expert advice on what determines the price of a festival pitch.

![Feast It Live Gif](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/7vR3DU0HQnc34SrRyyGkQj/267d7e8cdc933d37d933b908f504244d/feast-it-live-gif.gif)

Feast It partner with dozens of festivals each year and we’re always looking for suppliers for events like London Pride, Gottwood and Broadwick Live. If you want access to the biggest events in the UK, [apply to join Feast It today](https://feast-it.com/info/become-a-partner). 

---

## Different pricing models for pitch fees:

__Fixed trader fee:__ This is the most common way organisers will charge - the fee is determined by the variables such as pitch location, size and the type of product you serve. The trader will pay a one-off pitch fee to secure their spot. 

__A percentage of sales:__ An organiser will ask for a percentage of your overall gross sales. For the festivals we’ve been involved in, this fee is usually around 10-15% of your sales but some of our suppliers have reported fees of up to 30% at other festivals.

__A percentage of sales + fixed fee:__ This is definitely the most unusual pricing model but arguable best for spreading the risk between organiser and supplier as fairly as possible. 

The supplier will pay a fixed fee upfront plus a percentage of the sales, usually between 3-10%. It works well since the final price is determined by what you sell but the organiser is guaranteed an upfront payment. 

---

## What influences the cost of a festival pitch?

__Pitch size__

The size of the pitch will determine the cost. Smaller and cheaper pitch sizes typically start at 3x3m and are suitable for a business run from a stall or small vehicle. Bigger and more expensive pitches are suitable for a burger van or street food truck.

__Pitch location__

![Feast It Hackney Half Pitch Set Up](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/2vidUDLZU1lZynfV0mS3KN/5a84408d470c7f6ba63ee0401b727a93/Feast-it-hackney-half-pitch-set-up.jpg)
Event organisers will always consider the location of your pitch when determining the price. If you’re pitched in a high traffic area, like near the main stage at a festival, you’ll pay a premium for that spot.

__Your product__

If your product is likely to sell in high volumes, like the more popular hot food stalls, you might be charged more for your pitch than a business selling more targeted products like smoothies. 

If you’re bidding on a pitch and the type of product you sell favours a lower pitch price, don’t be afraid to make a case for it if ever you find yourself negotiating on the cost of a pitch.

__How new the festival is__

If a festival is new on the scene and building its reputation, its pitch cost will be much lower than that of a prestigious and well-known event.

Pitches are often won by bids so there’s room to haggle on price but be realistic. Work out your operating costs in advance of making a bid so you know what’s reasonable. For guidance on how to do this, you can read our [guide to festival catering](https://feast-it.com/magazine/a-guide-to-festival-catering).

If you want access to the biggest, boldest live events across the UK, [join Feast It](https://feast-it.com/info/become-a-partner) today!


Feast It London Pride Pitch Set Up

Ever wondered how much a pitch at Glastonbury will cost you? We've drawn from the experience of our suppliers to find out.

Festival pitches | How much do they cost?

If you’ve been successful in your application for a pitch at a festival, congratulations!

It’s now time to turn your thoughts to the festival itself and put yourself in the best position to make your time there a success. 

With over 100 public-facing events under our belt, we’ve identified the common trends seen from food and drink vendors that really knock it out of the park. 

If you want to be a part of some of the UK's biggest events and festivals you can apply through our partner page [here](https://feast-it.com/info/become-a-partner).

### Prepare the right amount of stock
As you gain festival experience, understanding how much stock you need does get easier. Start by preparing the amount of stock you’d need to sell to determine the festival a success from a financial perspective. So, if you need to sell 1000 units in order to make a profit, order enough stock to cover this.

Make sure you get a good idea of the number of festival attendees. It’s always worth speaking to other food vendors who serve similar products to get an idea of what they’ve experienced too. 

### Be clever with what you sell
Smaller menus make it easier to predict stock levels, putting you in a better position to make a profit. It also means the number of portions you can serve in an hour will likely increase as you become more efficient at making fewer things. Most importantly though, it will make it easier for customers to make a choice rather than move on and look elsewhere.

### Have branding and design that stands out
![Gully](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4S4iRszgUHRz6rQPV5f4z/a05f43b8d1d65d564f37c81f980e8e1c/Gully.IMG_7366.JPG)
You can read a menu from 5 meters away, but you can spot a vendor that stands out way back from the campsite. Having the best menu in the world is one thing, but if you’re not attracting festival-goers to come and have a look, you’ll inevitably lose out.

Good branding and design isn’t confined to just your logo, think about your truck, the uniform you and your staff wear, how you display your menu and  signage too. 

### Offer samples
The oldest trick in the book, and the best marketing technique, is offering samples. Even if it doesn’t work the first time around, the next time someone is deciding where to grab food from, they might just remember you and better still, bring 5 of their friends too.

### Make your prices obvious
Don’t hide your prices away. Make them clear and obvious to help passers-by make a decision between your business and the hundreds of other vendors on-site.

### Be charismatic
![Cluck Farmyard](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5sunObLOK8BxPG0J7yZP4G/dd6e8f5de408bfa068b454172039ebc4/Feast_it_Cluck_Farmyard00006.JPG)
As the old saying goes, people like buying from other people and a friendly team are undoubtedly going to create a memorable experience and encourage repeat business. 

### Use it as a marketing opportunity
Where else would you get the opportunity of a weekend of brand exposure to hundreds of thousands of people? Two or three days at a festival could potentially bring you more customers than the rest of the year combined. 

Make sure to have your social media branding on your truck and packaging. Clear and obvious branding encourages customers to capture a quick photo of your product and spread the word about your business (tagged photos are great for sparking brand awareness!). And who knows, they could be about to have their wedding and think you’d be a perfect fit!

### Always keep loose change
Most people will likely pay via contactless but you need to have a good amount of change for cash buyers. Get to the bank and exchange some notes for change but do so in accordance with your pricing.

If you’re charging £8.99, consider rounding the price up for ease. No one wants to carry 1p round with them.  

---

# 4 ways to measure success at a festival  

Once the festival is done and dusted, it’s time to sit down and establish whether it’s been a success. Success can be determined in numerous ways and this process is important to help to make your next festival experience even better. Here's our guide to determining success. 

### How much money did you make?
Did you come out in the green? If not, were there any errors in your early predictions? Consider if you got the amount of stock you ordered right, if you attracted as many customers as you thought, and if you could have done anything differently.

If you did come out of the festival turning a profit, was it by the skin of your teeth or do you now feel ready for your next, perhaps larger festival? 

If this is your third or fourth success in a row, it could be time to think about expanding and getting more trucks to attend more festivals. 

### Did you grow your brand?
![The Street Diner](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/9n6Ng7eV5yL4guPAQysFr/0ed18ddc11cd76038e12766d2d1b1079/a-guide-to-festival-catering-the-street-diner-feast-it.JPG)
The number of followers you have isn’t the be all and end all, but it’s still important for brand awareness and perception. Festivals are a great marketing opportunity and growing your social presence could be a key success factor.

You can also track how many repeat vs new customers you gained over the festival. Payment providers such as iZettle and Airslip make this possible through their POS systems and such analysis will highlight what you might be able to improve or do differently in your marketing efforts.

### Did you get it right operationally?
How close to your original estimations were you? Did you have the right amount of staff to deliver the number of portions you needed to make a profit? Were you close to your stock projections or did you fall short?

It’s only with experience that you really nail down the operations, but it’s vital you make a note and track the changes you make to see if you’re getting closer next time round.

### Did you enjoy it?
Was the festival you’ve always dreamed of what you imagined it to be? Even if you turned a profit, if you didn’t enjoy the experience, you could consider applying for something different the following year.

If you're interested in applying to some of the UK's largest festivals through Feast It, you can apply [here](https://feast-it.com/info/become-a-partner).


Feast-It-A-Guide-To-Festival-Catering

Find out what we've learnt makes a great festival vendor with top tips from over 1000 UK food and drink suppliers

A guide to festival catering

Marquees are the perfect way to provide tailored space for guests at your event. It’s not often that you have to consider hiring one though, so when it comes to picking the right choice for your event, there are a few questions you’re going to need answers to.

Below we provide answers to questions like: What type of marquees are out there? Which style is best for me? Who provides what I’m looking for? What size marquee do I need? How much is it likely to cost? What other accessories should I be thinking about? 

![Sam_Wedding_Marquee](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5lytsvFavW6mZ8AZQuvsQ3/5f2e79c7a48846e7664d7937ec9d5ef2/Sam___Natasha_s_Wedding_Day_532_websize.jpg)

## Types of marquees, tents and structures

![Traditional Marquee](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/32OGBjoU9rkdt0Skep3g8/02ff3379ba979b69bed05ce797705393/Traditional_Marquee.jpg)

### __Traditional marquees__ 
Traditional marquees have several names; pole tents, soft tops (not to be confused with big tops or circus tents), or guyed marquees. The one thing they have in common is that the main structural element is the cover itself. Most traditional marquees use cotton-based fabrics as the covering, but PVC coated polyester is popular too as it’s waterproof. 

Traditional marquess can reach a width of 120 feet but most hirers will opt for frame marquees of widths above 40 or 50 feet (12 or 15 metres). 

It’s worth noting that sailcloth tents (similar to traditional marquees) have spiked in popularity recently. They usually have transparent sidewalls and a wooden structure, allowing more light in and giving a slightly more modern feel. 

__Pros__: They’re big (up to 120ft wide), good value, easy to erect, a classy traditional look and very breathable

__Cons__: Bigger variations require more people to erect them, so factor that into your costs

__Perfect for__: Weddings

__Recommended Supplier__: [White Horse Marquees](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/white-horse-marquees)

![Stretch Tent](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/1GMdqvlLRz6FQoMC1wKpXr/4426d42482c85e85abbd5426ce2a4baf/Stretch_Tent.jpg)

### Stretch tents 
Funky shapes in a wide variety of colours characterise stretch tents, which use a special technical fabric that is stretchy but also provides structural stability. The fabric is anchored at its corners and along its sides, and then poles of different lengths are pushed up to create the iconic shapes. There are several manufacturers of these tents and not all use fabrics that are properly water resistant, so it is important to check that the tents you’re getting won’t let the water in, although this won’t be a problem with any Feast It suppliers.

__Pros__: Cool, modern and pretty customisable

__Cons__: Sloping sides mean internal space can sometimes be restricted

__Perfect for__: Festival themed weddings and parties

__Recommended Supplier__: [The Stretch Tent Company](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/the-stretch-tent-company?)

![Tipis](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5QlgeXW9H2lzuEGb0vUoPU/c0c7b121485c1937d4c8711ada1e4043/Tipis.jpg)

### Tipis 
If you’re hosting a festival themed event then tipis are a great choice. They commonly consist of a natural timber structure with a canvas covering and it’s these aesthetics along with their customisable and linkable nature that make them an interesting alternative type of structure. They are used widely for weddings, parties and festivals, and increasingly for smaller corporate events.

__Pros__: Super cool, very customisable 

__Cons__: Due to their shape, things like loos aren’t often built in or provided by the supplier itself so you may end up communicating with more suppliers to get the set up you want

__Perfect for__: Festival weddings, more relaxed and informal events

__Recommended Suppliers__: [Viva La Tipi](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/viva-la-tipi?), [White Bison Tipi Hire](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/white-bison-tipi-hire?)

![Glamping tents](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/2XTcbgTYDmPzldfl8Fhe74/2661654990ebaca5679937738468dacd/Glamping_tents.jpg)

### Glamping tents 
The most common tent you’ll find for glamping are bell tents and their variations; lotus bell tents and lotus mahal tents. 

A bell tent is perhaps one of the most recognisable tent styles, featuring a central support pole to support the canvas, giving it it’s classic shape. The entrance is formed with an A-frame pole and its guy ropes provide stability. 

__Pros__: Luxury accommodation that you can bring to almost any location

__Cons__: We’re not sure there are any!

__Perfect for__: Festival themed weddings

__Recommended Suppliers__: [Yurts For Life](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/yurts-for-life?), [Portobello Tents](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/portobello-tents?)

![Frame marquee](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/5qR0NY2v3OdVvVD4c3qBCa/203d344041b370e2d44e7f2e8d633a92/Frame_marquee.jpg)

### Frame marquees
Frame marquees are made of semi-rigid frames that provide structural stability and are most commonly made from a synthetic fabric. Frames can be made of wood, steel aluminium tubing, or box-section aluminium. 

The ones which use box-section aluminium are referred to as Clear Span structures which can be up to 50m in width. They are called Clear Span Marquees as they have no intermediate pole supports resulting in an uninterrupted internal space.

The solid frame found with this type of marquee affords you a wider choice of accessories. Doors, windows, rigid side panels and sophisticated flooring systems can all be installed as a result. If you want a marquee but don’t want your guests to feel like they’re in a marquee then this is the choice for you. Likewise, this level of sophistication and comfort means that you aren’t restricted by the weather making Frame Marquees the best choice for events in harsher conditions.

__Pros__: They’re open, allow a wider choice of accessories and are your best choice in harsher conditions

__Cons__: They have a metal structure so you’ll be paying a bit more for inner lining to cover this up

__Perfect for__: Larger events and weddings, side extensions for your house and events in the winter

__Recommended Suppliers__: [Perfect Pitch Marquees](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/perfect-pitch-marquees?)

![Saddlespan tent](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/6uKcNUAMdBkRcUrkxeR76S/d21ca7a50b7425fd592a8ef4cbe74cf8/Saddlespan_tent.jpg)

### Saddlespan tents
Some people describe a Saddlespan tent as looking like a pringle crisp. Made from tensioned PVC and supported by architectural aluminium trussing, these unusual looking tents can be used as a large marquee, stage cover, audience shelter or exhibition venue. They are available in different sizes and can be linked in a variety of ways to create large and interesting structures. Safety issues are paramount, and this type of structure like all other tents requires competent installation. MUTA has created guidance specific to Saddlespan tents which MUTA members are obliged to follow.

__Pros__: Innovative design, good acoustics, super airy

__Cons__: They’re really just a covering so you may want to go for something with more of a structure to protect guests from the elements

__Perfect for__: A stage set up at an event, exhibitions, corporate events  

![Giant Structure](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/557dc325unFzbyVvDIpuu6/c6d982927babd3a176b55df6556d5c8d/Giant_Structure.jpg)

### Giant structures 
A giant structure is really only worth considering for really large events with 100s if not thousands of guests. Generally, these are for the corporate and event industry as opposed to private hire.
They are most commonly referred to as large span aluminium frame or tensioned pole tents and are over 25m wide. It’s not unusual to find them span up to 40 or 50 metres and as a result, they usually need the aid of a telescopic plant or crane to erect and dismantle them.

__Pros__: Solid, secure and very professional

__Cons__: Like multi-deck structures, due to their size, they require a lot of planning to set up

__Perfect for__: Larger, often more corporate events. We have seen them used at big weddings too

__Recommended Suppliers__: [Key Structures](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/key-structures-ltd?)

![Multi-deck structures](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/1E6KA8gA7HMGMnJ5gLDSrM/309ff90944b72ab1eafb83b165044f21/Multi-deck_structures.jpg)

### Multi-Deck structures
Like giant structures, multi-deck structures are usually more at home at large events, and you’ll very rarely see or need them for private hire. Multi-deck structures can be either double, triple or quad-level structures. The top floor is of a standard clear span aluminium frame design with the lower floors being constructed from an integral steel upright and horizontal beam system. These are specialised structures and only very few hirers are competent to deliver them safely.

__Pros__: Their rigidity and solid structure allow you to erect and furnish a space that essentially feels like a building

__Cons__: They take real planning and logistical thought and require a big team to set up

__Perfect for__: Large events with thousands of guests

__Recommended Suppliers__: [Key Structures](https://feast-it.com/suppliers/key-structures-ltd?)

---

## How big does your marquee have to be? 
Your marquee supplier will help find the right sized structure for your event. It’s no secret what the contributing factors are though; number of guests, decorations, table sizes, number of chairs needed and other things like the addition of a bar or dancefloor too. Below we’ve included a table to allow you to make a rough estimate:

![marquee_size_guide_2](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/4IckVLvysfXBEnhgmfgh39/5aab5d051e96cf8e767c2de0ca783e91/Size_Guide1size_guide.jpg)

## Marquee decoration guide
It’s one thing choosing the marquee itself but next come the considerations about how you’ll kit it out. A good marquee provider will have decorating options available with their offering, or at least have partners that can provide the following.

### Furniture
__Tables__

Things you’ll want to consider are the variety of shapes and sizes. Round tables are often considered more sociable but longer tables will allow you to use long benches as opposed to chairs and perhaps be more efficient with your space. Less about space, but more about aesthetics, you’ll also need to consider the style, or even if you want table coverings.  

__Chairs and benches__

A good marquee provider should have various chairs available for hire. Some with seat pads, others without and always a good variety of colours and style. Of course, choosing a decorative chair would render colour and style useless. If you’re going for a more festival vibe, then benches might be worth considering. 

__Bar__

If you want a bar but you’re on a budget, the best solution is a couple of trestle tables that your marquee supplier should have handy. If you’re looking for a more bespoke option, it’s probably worth checking out some of our suppliers here. 

### Floors, Stage & Dancefloor
__Floors__

Matting laid directly onto the ground with a membrane underneath is the most common and cost-effective option. When well laid, it looks nice too. If you want to push the boat out, you can have a solid floor with or without carpet. 

__Stage__

You’ll want to consider a stage for a band, although this isn’t essential. Some marquee suppliers will provide this themselves whilst others will partner with stage suppliers and include the cost in their quote. 

__Dancefloor__

Dance floors do take up space and will inevitably add to the cost of the hire. Always consider the space you will need to make for an area to dance but you might be able to make do without a dedicated floor.

### Lighting
We could write a whole article on the plethora of lighting available but instead here are some key things worth thinking about. 

Consider the complexity of lighting. Do you want to keep it simple or add numerous colours and effects for a little later in the night?

Do you need external lighting, perhaps near guest accommodation, or for parking or for any external features you’ve hired? 

Again, seek the advice of the marquee hirer who will be able to advise on any rigs and lights they have available.  

### Power
There are 3 main ways to provide a source of power to a marquee. Firstly you can run a cable in from a mains socket if your marquee is close enough to a building. You can also wire into a fuse board if there’s a fuse board not too far from the site. And lastly, you can run off a generator which will come in a range of shapes and sizes. If you go for the latter, ask your supplier how loud it is, you don’t want it rumbling away during the “I do’s”.

### Heating
Electrical heating is probably best for inside the marquee, you just need to make sure you have enough heaters. Heaters other than electrical ones should be “indirect”, i.e. those
with an exhaust system, that sit outside the tent and blow warm air in through flame
retardant ducting running under the edge of the canvas or through a specially made cut
out in the wall. 

### Toilets
If there are no loos near the marquee a toilet trailer or portaloos may be your best option. Some marquee providers will have these themselves whilst others will partner with loo providers. There are a wide range of styles and sophistication available, so it won’t feel like day three of a music festival!

## Estimated Costs
The cost of a marquee is based on numerous factors. You have the marquee itself and variable factors such as:

- Number of guests
- Type of marquee
- Size of marquee
- Location

And then you have the itemisation within the marquee where you’ll have to consider:

- Type of flooring
- Type and number of chairs and tables
- Lighting
- Interior decoration
- Heating
- Loos
- Bar
- Dance Floor
- Staging

With so many variables to estimate, the cost of a marquee is hard to predict, so it’s always best to start engaging with a supplier as soon as possible and provide as much detail as possible. We’ve put together a rough estimation of costs for a clear span and stretch tent marquee, depending on the size of the marquee, number of guests and some basic decoration variations. However expect to be adding at least £1000 after you take into consideration tables, seating, lighting, heating (if needed) decorations, sound and loos.

![small_clearspan_2](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/2Spn6ArNzV5VVozmwkatk1/760a2d23d8c52b1d87b7830064e0ae64/Smaller1small_clearspan.jpg)

![large_clearspan_2](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/3BYgmymFZnNbttYz0ydV0H/fc492b0b0c430098f47663389cae7d56/Larger_clearspan_marquees1large_clearspan.jpg)

![stretch_tent_2](//images.ctfassets.net/91pq7vxbip7x/6UsDrAQ6aQvTl4jknV3HxL/be165021f263ce765812add6ee319795/Stretch_Tent_marquees1stretch_tents.jpg)


Sam_Wedding_Marquee

Everything you need to know about hiring a marquee.