VIDEO: Make your party a splendid occasion with Horsham mum

Beavering away in a quaint and stylish office in her own home not far from the hustle and bustle of Horsham town centre, 52-year-old Dee Child started her business, Splendid Occasions, almost two years ago which has now become her full-time job.

“It came about when I was doing a vintage tea party for my daughter,” she explained. “It was very successful and everyone was saying to me that I should do it for a business.

“My in-laws also live in Devon and we’re always down there looking in the antique shops and buying china.

“I have a thing about teapots and have a collection of around 35/40. I just love the pretty patterns and the gold on them so it all went from there really.”

Dee organises everything herself with help from her daughter and has casual staff which she can call on to help at any time.

“We now do all sorts of events from 30th birthday parties, hen parties, princess parties, weddings, conferences, vintage tea parties, pop-up tea rooms and we done a street party for 600 people to celebrate 125 years at a department store in Cranleigh,” she added.

“Our pop-up tea rooms are unique and very different to what a lot of events companies do and have become one of the things we specialise in.”

Splendid Occasions deck the marquees and gazebos which she stores at her home with home-made cakes, light lunches, afternoon teas, vintage music, home-made bunting, vintage table linen, jam jars with flowers in and vintage books.

Dee and her team offer three packages. Firstly, they have a service where you can simply hire the specific china or a marquee you want for your party if you are perhaps on a budget but want to add that vintage taste.

Alternatively you can let the team style the event and set everything up for you and disappear before the guests arrive or why not go the whole hog and have the team set up, do all the food, serve it and even clear up afterwards.

“We cover Sussex and Surrey but we would go further if we were asked,” added Dee, who used to do events planning at Charter House School and KPMG in London.

“I just love it,” she continued. “I love the challenge, I like that it’s something different every day to do and it’s not just sitting in an office.

“You’re out and about, meeting the clients, going to the events and the venue, organising how it’s going to be set up and seeing the event right through to the very end.”

For more information visit www.splendidoccasions.co.uk, call 07852 398500 or find them on Facebook.

See Splendid Occasions at Taste of the World at Fontwell Park on July 20 and 21.

For the full feature and pictures see July’s Horsham edition of Etc Magazine.