How It Works

From Idea to Extraordinary Celebration.

Elbold connects event hosts with verified, reviewed professionals across the United Kingdom. Every vendor is individually approved. Every payment is secured by Stripe. Every review comes from a real, completed booking.

For Event Hosts

1

Create your event

Enter event type, date, city, guest count, and budget. Takes 2 minutes.

2

Get your Smart Plan

Our Smart Planner instantly creates a complete event plan with vendors, budget breakdown, timeline and checklist.

3

Browse and book vendors

Browse verified vendors with real photos and videos. See reviews, compare packages and book directly.

4

Pay securely

Pay the 30% deposit to confirm. All payments go through Stripe, fully protected with dispute resolution.

5

Relax and celebrate

We handle reminders, confirmations, and post-event reviews. You just show up and enjoy.

For Vendors

1

Apply for free

Submit your vendor application in minutes. We review and approve within 24-48 hours.

2

Build your profile

Upload photos and videos of your work. Add service packages with clear pricing.

3

Receive booking requests

Customers send requests through the platform. Accept or decline bookings. You are always in control.

4

Get paid securely

You receive 90% of every booking. Payouts are processed by the Elbold team within 7 working days of event completion, directly to your registered UK bank account.

5

Build your reputation

Collect verified reviews after every event. Higher ratings mean more visibility and bookings.

Why Trust Elbold?

Secure Payments

All payments through Stripe. Deposit protection and refund system built in.

Verified Vendors

Every vendor is reviewed and approved before appearing on our marketplace.

Transparent Reviews

All reviews are from real, verified bookings. No fake ratings, ever.

How Elbold makes money

Elbold is free to use for event hosts. Vendors list for free and there are no monthly fees required to receive enquiries.

Elbold earns a 10% service fee on the value of completed bookings. This is deducted from the vendor payout automatically. Customers pay the listed price.

Optional subscription plans are available for vendors who want additional visibility, analytics, or priority placement. These are never required to use the platform.

There are no hidden charges, no sign-up fees, and no fees for browsing or receiving quotes.

Why book through Elbold instead of messaging on Instagram?

A question we encourage you to ask. Here's the honest answer.

Your money is protected
Elbold

Your deposit is processed through Stripe and managed by Elbold until your event. If the vendor cancels, you get a full refund. Disputes are handled by Elbold.

Social media DM

You transfer money to a personal account. No recourse if things go wrong.

Vendors are verified
Elbold

Every vendor on Elbold has been manually reviewed by our team for identity, quality, and legitimacy before they can accept bookings.

Social media DM

Anyone can create a profile. Follower count is not a quality signal.

Reviews are real
Elbold

Reviews on Elbold come exclusively from customers who completed a real booking through the platform. They cannot be faked.

Social media DM

Comments and testimonials on social media cannot be verified. They can be curated, purchased, or hidden.

Contracts and documentation
Elbold

Every booking generates a digital record of what was agreed: service, date, location, payment terms. Both parties have a copy.

Social media DM

DMs are informal. What was agreed is often disputed. There is no enforceable record.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay the full amount upfront?

No. You pay a 30% deposit when you confirm the booking. The remaining 70% is due closer to the event date, as agreed with the vendor. Your deposit is held securely and not released to the vendor until your event takes place.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. If you cancel more than 30 days before your event, you receive a full refund of your deposit minus a 5% processing fee. Cancellations within 7 days of the event are non-refundable, as the vendor has reserved that date exclusively for you. Full cancellation terms are at elbold.com/refunds.

What if the vendor cancels my booking?

If a vendor cancels a confirmed booking, you receive a 100% refund of all amounts paid. We will also assist you in finding a replacement from our approved vendor list. Vendors who cancel confirmed bookings receive a formal warning and may be suspended.

What if the vendor doesn't show up?

Contact us immediately at urgent@elbold.com. If a vendor fails to appear for a confirmed booking without prior notice, you receive a full refund of all amounts paid. This protection applies to every booking made through Elbold.

What if I'm unhappy with the service on the day?

Contact our team within 48 hours of the event with details of your concern. We will review evidence from both parties and reach a fair resolution within 5 working days. Outcomes may include partial or full refunds depending on the circumstances.

How are vendors verified?

Every vendor application is reviewed by a member of the Elbold team. We assess business identity, portfolio quality, pricing realism, and service legitimacy. No vendor is approved by algorithm. Full details are at elbold.com/how-we-verify.

How long does vendor approval take?

We review most applications within 24–48 hours. You will receive a confirmation email immediately after submitting, and an approval notification once reviewed. If we have questions about your application, we will contact you directly.

Does Elbold take a commission from vendors?

Yes. Elbold earns a 10% service fee on completed bookings, deducted from the vendor payout. Customers pay the listed price, no surcharges. Vendors keep 90% of every booking they accept.

Start Planning Your Event

Free account. No commitment.