Offering a bespoke party planning service across Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and beyond, Oasis Events boasts 20 years’ experience bringing dreams into reality.
Discussing its seamless service, party planning process, and why our county provides the perfect setting for sensational celebrations, Oasis Events talks to SoGlos for a behind-the-scenes interview.
Can you tell our readers about Oasis Events and its services?
Oasis Events specialises in bespoke event design, planning and management.
With 20 years of designing and managing bespoke events under our belt, we have the experience to seamlessly plan your party, wedding or event, turning creative vision into spectacular reality.
We work on projects and designs of every scale, and in a wide variety of venue types, and it is our objective that clients are able to relax and enjoy being a guest at their own unique and tailored event.
What areas does Oasis Events cover?
We’ve looked after every area of a typical event and also some unusual requests and ideas, so we’re a safe pair of hands for anything from wedding guest lists, to putting on a festival-themed event.
If it needs a creative, organised approach, we’ve got it covered and we understand how all the elements need to fit together. We mainly work across the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire, but have also worked all over the UK and even as far as way as Moscow!
What is your process when planning a party or event from scratch?
Every client is different so it’s difficult to give a definitive answer, but there are a few key principles we work to:
There’s no question that it begins with a lot of listening to the client. The key is to get the balance between the ideas and a realistic budget.
We usually start with a site visit to the location if one has already been selected, or a venue search to assess how to make best use of the space.
During the planning process we compile a full proposal and accompanying budget which are refined through the process so that the project is clearly defined and agreed.
During the planning phase, some clients like to have lots of input and others prefer to focus on other things and are less involved, asking us to take the event organization off their hands entirely. Suffice to say that we’re happy to tailor our approach.
What kind of venues do you work with?
We’re at ease in any kind of setting, and have experience of venues ranging from styling an intimate New Year’s Eve party at The Wheatsheaf in Northleach, to scaling-up for public facing events at Cheltenham Racecourse.
We work in schools and historic Oxford colleges, and spend a lot of time working at people’s private houses. We work in some fabulous settings, it’ one of the special perks of our job!
Is there any area of event planning that you specialise in?
Look, feel and theming are key strengths and a major part of our company heritage. We have been in the industry for 22 years, and started as a themed tent hire company, expanding to larger venues and large-scale transformations; we’ve designed settings for intimate dinners through to a themed film launch at an arena in Liverpool for the BBC.
We take real pleasure in planning how the look of a one-off event comes together.
What do you think is most important when it comes to planning an event?
Communication! It’s the key word for working optimally with great suppliers, and also with clients of course. There should be no surprises and if you keep the conversation going as the event evolves, you can really understand a client’s expectations – and aim to exceed them, on time and within budget!
What’s your top tip for someone planning a party?
Hire a planner of course! An expert party planner will take the time to understand your visions for your event, offering advice and recommendations, and creating a truly realistic schedule and budget that you’re happy to spend.
They’ll look after the big picture as well as all the smaller details and more boring bits of party planning, allowing you to be a guest at your own event, safe in the knowledge that everything is taken care of.
This service may seem like a large investment in your party budget, but the experience of Oasis Events’ clients is that they couldn’t have imagined enjoying their party with friends and family as much as they did, without its expert helping hand. So, it’s something worth considering
Do you think there’s a common mistake that people make when party planning?
Probably the unforeseen things to tick off the to-do-list in order for there to be a smooth event and return to normality afterwards. It’s the rather dull and practical details that get forgotten and have to be dealt with after the event when you’re just not in the mood – who is in charge of rubbish? Has anyone scheduled the furniture to be collected before the marquee comes down?!
What is your favourite part of the job?
Without question it is hearing that we have lifted some of the pressure and enabled the whole process of planning a milestone event to be fun, and stress free. Knowing that our contribution of skills and experience has made the difference to people’s lives feels fantastic.
Is there a dream venue you’d like to transform?
Crazy as it sounds we have transformed palaces, mansions, five-star hotels, and entire fields … but the ideal venue would be a giant blank canvas such as a hangar at an airport where anything is possible!
And finally, what is so special about the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire as a backdrop for special events?
It’s the variety – whatever the assumptions may be about a working life in the country, we have found ourselves working with clients ranging from families that have been here for centuries, to skilled creatives and artists, nationwide corporates, and international oligarchs – all from our base in the Cotswolds.
And within a 30-mile radius we can be found planning parties and events in honey coloured Cotswold stone country piles, to historic venues, beautifully designed purpose-built wedding venues and festival sites. It’s unpredictable and diverse – we do like that!
For more information call (01608) 651100, email events@oasisevents.co.uk, or visit oasisevents.co.uk directly.
