Weddings, parties & private dining
You are probably hiring event staff for the first time, for something that matters enormously and only happens once. Here is exactly what you get, what it costs and what happens if something goes wrong.
Straight answers
Our presentation standard is written down and issued to every member of staff — uniform, footwear, grooming, jewellery, phones out of sight. You tell us the dress code and we hold people to it. Nobody is turning up in scuffed trainers on the day you are being photographed all afternoon.
The honest fear, and the right one. If somebody we have booked does not arrive, we replace them or you do not pay for that shift. We also over-brief rather than under-brief, and on bookings of any size there is a supervisor whose job is to notice a gap before you do.
No — that is what a supervisor is for. They take the brief, run the team from it, and become your single point of contact so you are not directing staff in your own wedding dress. On smaller bookings we make one member of the team responsible by name.
No. We supply people, not catering. No food, no equipment, no hire stock, no event planning. If you need those, your caterer or venue provides them — and our staff will work alongside them perfectly happily. We are very good at one thing on purpose.
Getting the numbers right
Most people either over-book and waste money or under-book and spend the evening apologising. Tell us guest numbers and service style and we will tell you what we would send — including when the answer is "fewer than you asked for".
A rough starting point
Guidance, not a quote. Room layout, kitchen distance, drinks complexity and how long you want the meal to take all move these numbers — which is why we would rather talk about your day than sell you a package.
How booking works
Date, venue, guest numbers, timings, and what kind of service you want. Five minutes on the form or ten on the phone.
Roles, headcount, hours and a total — within 2 working hours. If we think you have asked for the wrong team, we will say so before you pay for it.
That holds the staff for your date. The balance is due one week before the event, so there is nothing to settle on the day itself.
Venue, access, timings, dress code, your name, the run of play, and anything you have told us matters. They arrive knowing your event.
Uniformed, early, briefed, with a named supervisor holding it together. You should not have to think about us again after the first hour.
If it goes wrong
Anyone can say "reliable". The question worth asking a staffing agency is what actually happens when they are not — and most of them have never written that answer down.
The thing you are actually afraid of is booking eight people and seven turning up. So we will say it plainly: if someone we have booked does not arrive, we replace them or you do not pay for that shift. No argument, no invoice, no negotiation after the fact.
Questions
No. Element Staffing supplies people — waiting staff, bar staff and supervisors. We are not a catering company and we do not provide food, menus, crockery, glassware or event planning. Your caterer or venue handles all of that, and our staff work alongside them.
For a summer Saturday or anything in December, as early as you can — those dates go first across the whole industry. Outside peak, a few weeks is usually comfortable. If your date is close, call rather than emailing: 020 7946 0000.
4 hours per member of staff. Travel across London and a proper briefing do not scale down below that, and we would rather be straight with you than quote a two-hour rate we cannot honour.
You choose, and we hold them to it. Black tie, all black, white shirt and waistcoat, or something specific to your theme — tell us on the enquiry form. If your dress code needs something we do not hold as standard, we will tell you honestly rather than improvising on the day.
Yes. Our bar staff work to Challenge 25 and understand their licensing responsibilities. Note that the licence itself belongs to the venue or the event, not to us — if you are running a bar at a private property, check with your venue about a Temporary Event Notice.
Additional time is charged at the same hourly rate, in half-hour blocks. We will always ask you before staff stay on, rather than presenting it on the invoice afterwards — nobody should discover an overtime charge a week later.
Not within London and the M25. Outside that, travel time and costs are agreed in writing before you confirm, never added afterwards.
Quotes are given excluding VAT, which is applied where chargeable. Your quote will show both figures so you know the real total.
Tell us as early as you can and we will adjust. Numbers moving is normal — a wedding that does not change between booking and the day would be the unusual one. Late reductions may still be charged where we have already committed staff to your date, and we will always tell you before that applies rather than after.
Your event
Date, venue and rough guest numbers is enough to start. We will tell you what team we would send and what it costs.
Or call 020 7946 0000. Someone answers 8am–8pm, seven days a week.
