Events with I Do Festivals

Putting on an event can seem daunting at first. However, I Do Festivals can help. With more than 25 years’ experience, the company has gone from strength to strength in just two years. We chatted with Simon Williams to find out more about the rise in festival weddings and events, how they’ve grown the company and what the plan is for the future. 

How did the concept for I Do Festivals come to fruition?

“The concept for I Do Festivals came into fruition after two years of hard work mastering our concept of Wedding Festivals under our multi-award winning The Wedding Festival Company brand. We discovered a gap in the market for what we saw as a ‘one stop shop’ offering clients all festival services, from event management and booking, to bespoke catering and flag hire, all in one place.

“After a very busy Christmas period of finalising our plans and designing our websites we were very proud to launch I Do Festivals into the world on 31st Dec 2016.”

When you began, how popular were festivals for weddings, or for corporate events?

“I think in recent years’ music festival attendance has boomed in the UK and with this so has the idea of bespoke private festivals. When we began as The Wedding Festival Company back in 2015 we were very surprised as to how many enquiries we were receiving from couples seeking festival weddings. It’s important to note also that we do not offer our clients ‘festival themed events’, but fully engineered music festivals including upwards of 10 bands, entertainers, glamping villages, posh loos and showers to boot!

“Putting on a festival for your special event really is a unique way of celebrating it, festivals are pure magic. Due to the bespoke nature of all of our events we cater for many themes including, classic festival chic, woodland wonderland and rustic fairytale magic to name just a few! In all honesty, whatever theme our clients desire we will always find a way to turn it into a stunning reality at one of our beautiful venues across the UK.”

How have you built the business over the years?

“We began our business by offering couples bespoke fully managed wedding festival events in three venues in Hampshire. It was a very exciting start and we grew and developed very quickly. It is also important to note that between the three directors we already had over 25 years of experience organising music events. It would be a very daunting task organising such scale events without many years of experience!

“We offer our clients a full design and management service including music and entertainment booking services, catering, bar hire and menu design, prop and decoration hire as well as full event management services! We have now also expanded our sites from three in Hampshire to 42 across the UK and we’re adding more all the time!”

Why do you think more and more couples are making their weddings into full-blown festivals and events?

“Putting on a festival event of this scale is a very unique way of celebrating any occasion be it a wedding, private party or corporate function! I think clients are always seeking new and exciting ways to do something a little different for their events and here at I Do Festivals we offer an incredibly unique alternative to classic style events and functions.”

It sounds obvious, but British weather is typically unpredictable. Does this ever affect your work?

“The great British weather is something that we always have to think about when organising our events. Luckily, we have thought it over many times and always have options and plans ready for when the worst happens. A little bit of rain will never spoil a festival!”

Your business has gone from strength to strength in quite a short time, with a number of award wins. Where do you think the next five years will take you?

“In five years we would like to be able to take the company internationally and our target ideally would be California! The season for us would not be limited by summer there as it is so hot all year round. Christmas festivals in the sun would be a fantastic thing to organise!

“Of course we are very proud of what we have achieved so far so we will be making sure not to over stretch ourselves before making the move abroad!”

What advice would you give to other businesses working in the events and festival sector?

“Be brave and be bold! For us I Do Festivals began as an idea, that we nurtured and put all of our energy into and it quickly became the company we are so proud to own today! Excellent organisation is of course a must and becoming friends with your clients helps too when designing and managing such bespoke events. We would certainly not be where we are now without the word of mouth praise we have received from our clients and their guests!”

From intimate birthday parties through to festival weddings or corporate events, I Do Festivals Group create bespoke packages tailored to suit your requirement and budget.

Visit www.idofestivals.co.uk/ for more information. 

Remember guys, we also have an Events Collection to get you print prepared in no time and also a guide how to design for a festival-themed wedding in our blog.