Well, now that Christmas has happened, and December draws to an end, we have been reflecting on the amazing past year that we have had at Buttercup Bus VW Campers.

We would like to share with you some of the highlights of 2011.

What’s in a name?

We used to operate under the name Vanilla Bus, but with the decision to run as a Limited Company, combining both wedding and holiday hire, we decided to re-brand as Buttercup Bus VW Campers. With this came a new website and branding… and a whole new adventure ahead. I decided to leave my full time job in the city, and turn my attention to living the dream, and running the VW Camper Hire in London, full time. (It also worked rather well with childcare at home!)

Count the campervans

The business started with one cream coloured wedding campervan called Pushka. During 2011, we decided that Pushka needed some company, so we decided to purchase another two. First there was Belinda Bus, a 1970s vintage blue and white campervan. Later in the year, Buttercup was purchased – another retro VW Camper, in need of a full restoration. She is currently undergoing a series of intense beauty treatments, and will be available in pale yellow and white for spring 2012. The restoration has not been for the faint hearted, with many parts being sourced from the dry states of California, and the whole front of the camper being replaced. She may look like a patchwork quilt of parts right now – but will certainly turn heads for all the right reasons in the next few months.

Vintage camper hire London

Belinda and Pushka

 

Self hire adventures

We have been blown away with the interest in self drive holiday hire this past year. Our campers have been on many adventures including Glastonbury, Latitude festival and Harvest. They have been to many seaside resorts and family trips to the New Forest (with a little detour to Peppa Pig world!) One of our campers even crossed Europe on a two week summer holiday!

VW Camper Hire In London

Belinda Bus plays campervan hide and seek behind a tree

Stunning wedding venues from festival themes to chic city glamour

We have had the privilege of providing VW Camper wedding car services to couples getting married in many wonderful venues… it is hard to pick out favourites as they were all unique and enchanting – but some of the most memorable include:

  • rocking up to St Paul’s Cathedral, where we were able to park right next to the famous steps leading to the grand entrance;
  • meandering across a bluebell carpeted forest to a magical woodland ceremony;
  • pootling across farmland to a festival themed outdoor venue adorned with sofas suspended in trees, and tree houses; and
  • parking in front of the iconic Brighton beach huts for a wonderful 50s inspired wedding photoshoot.
White VW Camper wedding

Our cream campervan gets lots of wedding love! (Picture from www.awardweddings.co.uk)

 Stepping into the glitzy world of media

This year, we were thrilled to find interest in our campers from the world of media, including TV work, magazine photoshoots and promotional events. The work was certainly varied as the buses found themselves:

  • playing host to established UK indie band, Art Brut;
  • posing with lots of underpants clad models for magazine launching for London Fashion week;
  • parked up in picnic scenes for Marks and Spencers food magazine;
  • filmed for a music documentary for a festival themed show;
  • filmed for the Plenty kitchen towel adverts to sponsor “The Cube” game show on ITV. (Yes, I got to pose by Belinda Bus with the lovely Juan Sheet!)

Film VW Camper

 Regional Wedding Industry Award Winners

Perhaps the icing on the cake this year was the honour of winning the London and South East wedding industry award for providing wedding car services. Yes, our little campers managed to get recognition amongst all the traditional Bentleys and Rolls Royces, thanks to the kind support and feedback we have received from our lovely wedding couples. We have now been put forwards for the national awards, to be announced in January 2012. Furthermore, we recently found out that we have also been shortlisted as best new comer to the wedding industry as a whole. I can hardly contain my excitement. Awards like this can really give our business a boost – so my fingers are crossed as well as my toes!

weing industry award wedding car

London and South East Regional Wedding Industry Award Winners!

 The year ahead

After such an exciting year, we are very much looking forwards to 2012, with even more wedding bookings, a couple of honeymoon trips scheduled, lots of our new VW Camper Hire gift vouchers to be redeemed and we even have some winter holidays booked over New Years. (The buses are very snug, with their electrical hook up and radiators!)

Happy New Year to you all and we hope that 2012 is filled with adventures and fun!