Marcus Richards
Classic Volkswagen camper van photo booths and wedding transport. On a mission to make wedding transport less boring and conventional!
Tell us about yourself?
I have a degree in Illustration, which I did absolutely nothing with. I worked in retail management for 12 years until I suffered a head injury which left me practically bedridden for two years. I’d owned my campervan since I was 19, in 1997. Just a couple of years previously I spent 2 years restoring it to a pristine condition (from an absolute rusty wreck).
It just so happened to be white, and people kept commenting on how it would be perfect for weddings. When I half recovered, I wasn’t able to work full time. I had no money and nothing left to lose so took a chance and started up my business. It worked out!
If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?
Save some more money for rainy non working days! (Covid!) I don’t think any of us in the wedding industry ever thought weddings would stop altogether, for so long.
What problem does your business solve?
We provide vintage Volkswagen campervans to transport couples to the venue on their wedding day. There’s also an option for the camper to transform into a photo booth for the evening reception. The vans make an excellent backdrop for photos.
What is the inspiration behind your business?
We provide vintage Volkswagen campervans to transport couples to the venue on their wedding day. There’s also an option for the camper to transform into a photo booth for the evening reception. The vans make an excellent backdrop for photos.
What is your magic sauce?
I’ve been a complete VW nerd since I was 17, I’ve owned one of my vans since I was 19. For some companies the cars are just workhorses, but I’m extremely fussy about mine being perfect, and keep them in tip top condition as they are my babies.
Customers often comment that they’re “even better in real life”. I also offer the opportunity for complete customisation to suit the wedding theme with a very large range of bespoke flower garlands and ribbons for decoration.
What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?
Originally I would have said another vehicle, I wanted to keep expanding. However the pandemic has taught me to be much more cautious, as you just never know whats around the corner. So just to keep on, keep afloat and get as many bookings as possible.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?
COVID. Of course. 2020 had been in line to be my best year ever with the amount of bookings I had, but the dreaded virus put paid to that.
How do people get involved/buy into your vision?
I’d like to hear from other wedding suppliers, take part in more styled shoots and swap guest posts and backlinks.
