With many festivals (including the world-famous Glastonbury Festival) being cancelled or rescheduled recently, many event organisers have been looking to bring a touch of that festival magic to their events, be they family fun days, end of conference celebrations or even weddings! In this blog, we’ll offer you some ideas to put together your very own festival-themed event…
There are many reasons to love a festival-themed event. From lots of music and food to singing and dancing aplenty, it’s no wonder that more and more event organisers are opting to bring a touch of that Glastonbury magic to their plans.
For those that don’t know, Festival-themed events are generally outdoors, meaning that they are usually (but not always!) planned for the summer months.
Weddings with a festival theme are often referred to as a “WedFest”.
As such, here are our top picks of suppliers to make your festival event the best it can be…
Tent/ Marque Hire
If your venue does not already offer the facilities for an outdoor function (or you’re having the event on private land), the first thing you will need is some shelter.
Even if your event is at a promising time of year weather-wise, it’s not unheard of for freak weather events to happen, so make sure you have some form of marque or tent in place.
This does not have to mean that your WedFest or corporate event is covered in horrible plastic Gazebos – many hire companies now offer all manner of excellent facilities, from fairy light-strung tents to amazing Tepees!
If you are having your wedding in a country where good weather is guaranteed, remember that a sheltered space for some shade is also valuable, particularly to older guests.
Remember: it is definitely worth asking your hire company about their provisions for portaloos, as this is an essential addition for apparent reasons!
If you are planning a WedFest, then you may also want to consider hiring a wedding photographer to get some lovely pictures of your guests in your beautiful venue.
View all Tent/Marque hire companies …
Mobile Bars
Once you have your venue ready, it’s time to start thinking about some refreshments! There are a variety of companies that will cater for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Some companies will offer professional installation of a temporary bar, while others may provide table service.
From cocktails to beer-festival-style kegs, you will be amazed by what companies can provide!
View all Mobile Bar providers …
Food Trucks
If your guests will be indulging in a few drinks, then it is highly likely that some food provision will also be a good idea!
Food trucks are an excellent all-in-one solution. From tacos to pizza and vegan specialities to classic burger vans, a whole host of fantastic options are available, with many food trucks now offering incredible gourmet dishes.
A food truck is a comprehensive solution, as they won’t usually require additional kitchen space. As long as you have the room for the truck to park near to your venue, they can handle the rest.
View all Food Truck providers …
Festival Bands
Now your venue and catering are sorted, it’s time for the fun bit – the entertainment.
Many wedding/function bands now provide a specific lineup for festival events, and these ”festival bands” are an excellent choice.
They will usually play “Mumford-style” acoustic covers of regular pop/rock chart hits on instrumentation like acoustic guitars, double bass, percussion, and keys.
Some bands will require power and amplification, others will be happy to perform acoustically, but this is very important to check in advance.
If you are looking for entertainment for your WedFest, you might also lookup other wedding singers for hire.
Set times will vary, with 2 x 45-minute sets being the standard, but up to 3 x 1-hour sets (or possibly more) being available at an additional cost.
Carnival/ Fairground Rides
If you’re looking for something extra for your festival occasion that’s really going to help the event stick in people’s minds for years to come, then why not consider hiring some carnival or fairground rides?
If you have the room, these rides are not only enjoyable but visually stunning.
They also add a big talking point to any event where the guests might not have met before.
While most rides will run on generators, always talk about the specific practicalities of the rides you are hiring with the supplier.
If your event is a WedFest, you may be interested in looking at other wedding services and rentals.
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Do you have any tips on organising a Festival-themed event? Let us know in the comments below!
