Five Differences to Consider When Budgeting for an Immersive Experience

What Is Immersive Event Planning?  
Immersive event planning envelops you from all sides. It fosters an environment where you become an integral part of the design, and the design becomes intertwined with your being. Transporting you on journeys through time, whether into the past or the future, immersive events act as conduits to the sublime, guiding you through enchanting realms bursting with detail, intrigue, and vibrancy. There is a huge difference between a theme and a fully designed immersive experience. Here we delve into what this looks like.  

Every experience we craft tells an extraordinary story.

No detail is overlooked. Narrative and performance merge seamlessly with scenography and set design, creating a masterpiece every time. Our immersive concepts often stem from one of the following ideas, evolving into journeys we share as fellow passengers:

• A captivating entertainment idea
• A gastronomic dining experience
• A compelling narrative
• An adventure
• An aspiration
• A dream

Immersive event planning is a craft that we love.
A wall of picture frames with different graphics and a illustration of a figure in front.
A picture of a ship on black and white tiles with illustrated waves in the foreground.

With Immersive Design, The Journey is an Epic Voyage.

When designing for immersion, we focus on the word itself - how deeply do you want your guests to be immersed? We call them passengers because an immersive experience transcends the usual event. It takes them on a journey that shifts perspectives and stirs emotions. Each concept and level of immersion you choose defines how powerfully this transformation unfolds, which in turn is influenced by the level of investment you make.

Here are five differences to consider when budgeting for an immersive experience:

1. Stepping Through The Wardrobe

You are inviting passengers to step ‘through the wardrobe’ and believe they’re somewhere else, even if it has been created for them, so maintaining the illusion is crucial. A higher investment opens more doors, exclusivity and moments of brilliant believability.
A wooden wardrobe with an inserted photo interior showing a ice world event.
Immersive Event Planning

2. Provenance is Power

If you are in love with the idea of creating an Art Deco immersive experience, we will use objects that are from the Art Deco period, not reproductions. Whether these objects are from our vast collection, or we’re sourcing antiques on your behalf, we will use your budget wisely. To achieve greatness in immersive event planning, the big set designs are only successful when accompanied by smaller details, so this is an area to really consider when thinking about your investment.

“People have always wanted to in some way inhabit the stories that move them. The only real variable is whether technology gives them that opportunity.”

Frank Rose

A Note to Consider

Our guide is a starting point for further discussion, and the wonderful thing about immersive event planning means ideas evole from a single thought into a fully developed concept as the process moves forward. Creativity doesn't have to break the bank, but with intelligent planning, we can create exceptional results.
  • A wall of picture frames with different graphics and a illustration of a figure in front.

    Every experience we craft tells an extraordinary story.

    No detail is overlooked. Narrative and performance merge seamlessly with scenography and set design, creating a masterpiece every time. Our immersive concepts often stem from one of the following ideas, evolving into journeys we share as fellow passengers:

     • A captivating entertainment idea
    • A gastronomic dining experience
    • A compelling narrative
    • An adventure
    • An aspiration
    • A dream
    A picture of a ship on black and white tiles with illustrated waves in the foreground.

    With Immersive Design, The Journey is an Epic Voyage.

    When designing for immersion, we focus on the word itself—how deeply do you want your guests to be immersed? We call them passengers because an immersive experience transcends the usual event. It takes them on a journey that shifts perspectives and stirs emotions. Each concept and level of immersion you choose defines how powerfully this transformation unfolds, which in turn is influenced by the level of investment you make.

    3. Keep it REAL

    To achieve believability, authenticity is fundamental – you cannot rely on a ‘scotch tape’ fix. The magic happens in the detail and quality of the production, and the bigger picture can only be appreciated when supported by solid, (budgeted for) REAL foundations.
    An illustration of Scrabble Tiles spelling the words REAL IS RARE and a man perched on the words.

    “This is one of the chief differences between a child’s experience of a favorite book and an educated adult’s. For the adult, a book may be a work of art, possibly a very great one, but for the child reader, certain books are universes. If we are lucky, we retain some of that capacity to be immersed in a story.”

    Laura Miller

    A graphic showing the different Immersive Worlds that The Events Mill offers.

    Discover Our Immersive Worlds

    From ancient worlds to gastronomic feasts, fantasy and sci-fi epics to high society soirees and famous horror stories brought to life as immersive spectaculars, see how investing in this type of experience can elevate a simple event into an experience of a lifetime.
    Immersive Worlds

    “My stories wrap around me like a cozy quilt, and sometimes I long to pull that quilt over my head and pin the blanket shut, allowing me to immerse myself in the world vivid in my mind.”

    Nancy Moser

    A desk astronomy prop against an illustrated background depicting a mountain scene, Northern Lights and a polar bear.

    4. You Must Consider a 360° Perspective

    Immersion isn’t achieved from one perspective. It is multi-perspective, multi-sensory, 360° experience. If your immersive brief is a once in a lifetime adventure to see the Northen Lights, followed by a gastronomic dining experience atop a glistening table of ice carved from the side of a glacier, then this is your brilliant perspective that we can bring to life. It’s important to consider that there are tonnes of moving parts to creating sublime, life-changing moments and each investment dictates what is possible. Immersive event planning is a complex, but exciting 
    An illustrated wall with decorative wall paper in the Provençal style with grapes and vines, a blue background and a salmon pink console table in front. A mirror is seen, behind which is a reflection of a vineyard and hanging grapes.

    5. Immersive is Not Theming

    There is a huge difference between a ‘theme’ and an ‘immersion.’ A theme is the initial idea, whereas the immersion is the developed detail behind; the world we create together. The bigger your investment, a more expanded world of believability we can create, with flourishes, access and layers of magnificence. One budget could allow for beautifully 2D printed wallpaper of a Provençal vineyard, whereas an immersive budget would allow for a physical 3D interpretation brought to life.

  • Immersive Design Services

    We have developed specialised immersive event planning and design services to produce the most creative, authentic interpretations and imaginative worlds imaginable. We look to a typical theatrical approach, with departments spanning stagecraft, lighting, set and scenography, wigs and costume. The Events Mill are true leaders when it comes to immersive design.
    Design Services
    A graphic and photographic collage that says "OUR DESIGN DPT" with a range of illustrations surrounding the text.
    The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland

    Our Immersive Case Studies

    We have a wide range of case studies that show the breadth of our experience and which give a glimpse into our history. We hope these inspire you, instil confidence and excite you on your journey into the immersive world.
    Case Studies

    “There are readers who live, breath, inhale stories and, while immersed in a book, live a divided life. Part of them is always waiting in that fictional world for the story to continue, suspended at the moment the page was last bookmarked. That’s who I write for.”

    Ian W. Sainsbury 

  • A pyramid shaped dessert on a plate with candy floss sat on top against a purple wall with mounted jars filled with fruit segments.

    Elevated Multisensory Dining

    Are you ready to transform your dinner into a multisensory, immersive adventure? Perhaps you love the idea of bringing your brand to life using food, design and production? We fuse storytelling and gastronomy to produce dining experiences on a luxury level that smashes the ceiling of creativity. Discover how we can help elevate your next immersive event planning experience. 
    Multisensory Gastronomy

    4. Our access and unique connections

    To be able to do what we do we must collaborate, and we are proud of the relationships we’ve made over the years. These special bonds throughout the world enable unprecedented and exclusive access to private properties, extraordinary experiences and that extra special magic that money alone can’t buy.

    1. Stepping Through The Wardrobe

    You are inviting passengers to step ‘through the wardrobe’ and believe they’re somewhere else, even if it has been created for them, so maintaining the illusion is crucial. A higher investment opens more doors, exclusivity and moments of brilliant believability.
    A wooden wardrobe with an inserted photo interior showing a ice world event.

    A Note to Consider

    Our guide is a starting point for further discussion, and the wonderful thing about immersive experiences are that they can evole from a single idea into a fully developed concept as the process moves forward. Creativity doesn't have to break the bank, but with intelligent planning, we can create exceptional results.

    “People have always wanted to in some way inhabit the stories that move them. The only real variable is whether technology gives them that opportunity.”

    Frank Rose

    2. Provenance is Power

    If you are in love with the idea of creating an Art Deco immersive experience, we will use objects that are from the Art Deco period, not reproductions. Whether these objects are from our vast collection, or we’re sourcing antiques on your behalf, we will use your budget wisely. To achieve greatness in immersion the big set designs are only successful when accompanied by smaller details, so this is an area to really consider when thinking about your investment.
    Immersive Event Planning

    “My stories wrap around me like a cozy quilt, and sometimes I long to pull that quilt over my head and pin the blanket shut, allowing me to immerse myself in the world vivid in my mind.”

    Nancy Moser

    An illustration of Scrabble Tiles spelling the words REAL IS RARE and a man perched on the words.

    3. Keep it REAL

    To achieve believability, authenticity is fundamental – you cannot rely on a ‘scotch tape’ fix. The magic happens in the detail and quality of the production, and the bigger picture can only be appreciated when supported by solid, (budgeted for) REAL foundations.

    4. You Must Consider a 360° Perspective

    Immersion isn’t achieved from one perspective. It is multi-perspective, multi-sensory, 360° experience. If your immersive brief is a once in a lifetime adventure to see the Northen Lights, followed by a gastronomic dining experience atop a glistening table of ice carved from the side of a glacier, then this is your brilliant perspective that we can bring to life. It’s important to consider that there are tonnes of moving parts to creating sublime, life-changing moments and each investment dictates what is possible.
    A desk astronomy prop against an illustrated background depicting a mountain scene, Northern Lights and a polar bear.

    “This is one of the chief differences between a child’s experience of a favorite book and an educated adult’s. For the adult, a book may be a work of art, possibly a very great one, but for the child reader, certain books are universes. If we are lucky, we retain some of that capacity to be immersed in a story.”

    Laura Miller

    An illustrated wall with decorative wall paper in the Provençal style with grapes and vines, a blue background and a salmon pink console table in front. A mirror is seen, behind which is a reflection of a vineyard and hanging grapes.

    5. Immersive is Not Theming

    There is a huge difference between a ‘theme’ and an ‘immersion.’ A theme is the initial idea, whereas the immersion is the developed detail behind; the world we create together. The bigger your investment, a more expanded world of believability we can create, with flourishes, access and layers of magnificence. One budget could allow for beautifully 2D printed wallpaper of a Provençal vineyard, whereas an immersive budget would allow for a physical 3D interpretation brought to life.
    A graphic showing the different Immersive Worlds that The Events Mill offers.

    Discover Our Immersive Worlds

    From ancient worlds to gastronomic feasts, fantasy and sci-fi epics to high society soirees and famous horror stories brought to life as immersive spectaculars, see how investing in this type of experience can elevate a simple event into an experience of a lifetime.
    Immersive Worlds
    A graphic and photographic collage that says "OUR DESIGN DPT" with a range of illustrations surrounding the text.

    Immersive Design Services

    We have developed specialised immersive design services to produce the most creative, authentic interpretations and imaginative worlds imaginable. We look to a typical theatrical approach, with departments spanning stagecraft, lighting, set and scenography, wigs and costume. The Events Mill are true leaders when it comes to immersive design.
    Design Services
    The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland

    Our Immersive Case Studies

    We have a wide range of case studies that show the breadth of our experience and which give a glimpse into our history. We hope these inspire you, instil confidence and excite you on your journey into the immersive world.
    Case Studies
    A pyramid shaped dessert on a plate with candy floss sat on top against a purple wall with mounted jars filled with fruit segments.

    Elevated Multisensory Dining

    Are you ready to transform your dinner into a multisensory, immersive adventure? Perhaps you love the idea of bringing your brand to life using food, design and production? We fuse storytelling and gastronomy to produce dining experiences on a luxury level that smashes the ceiling of creativity. Discover how we can help.
    Multisensory Gastronomy