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Kando Events
The art of mountain celebrations
When the ordinary just won’t cut it, look no further than Kando Events. This Verbier event company specializes in creating unforgettable memories in beautiful Alpine surroundings. From weddings on a mountain peak, to birthdays, raves, or corporate events in the snow, anything is possible.
It was 15 years ago, in 2007, when Nicky ffrench Blake returned to Verbier (her favourite ski resort) for a ski season. Here the slopes, mountains, and ambiance always oscillate between authentically Swiss and internationally chic. She had spent the previous eight years of her events career based in London, where she organized charity galas, large sporting events, and corporate gigs. Verbier had none of that. So, she seized the opportunity to launch her own events company, which today offers bespoke, luxury event services immersed in Swiss nature.
Job title: Happiness Creator
What Nicky loves above all is what she calls “the wow factor:” that moment when the surprise finally comes to life, complete with the extravagant décor that was custom made for the occasion. Her signature offering are custom bars and tables made of ice or snow- ultra instagrammable and oh so romantic. “Our production team, who are mostly from Sweden, build them onsite, adapting to the snow conditions at the time of build,” explained Nicky. It takes a team of at least 10 people, working two and a half days to build a single table and bar out of snow! Working with ice is even more complicated. Extremely heavy blocks, about 1.5 m by 50 cm, are transported first by cable car and then by snowmobile to the event site (which is done around 60 times each year for various events). They are then fused together to form giant blocks, carefully sculpted with a chainsaw and then meticulously polished. “Our first high altitude rave, Snowstock, took place in 2013, and it’s still one of the most amazing events we’ve done in my eyes,” said Nicky. “Our clients arrived and were welcomed into a phantasmagoric ice universe, where the bar and sushi tables were sculpted to perfection and contained real flowers embedded in the ice.” Nicky smiled as she fondly recalled her early days with the company, when she worked with the bare minimum: a few champagne flutes, two shovels, and a couple of Ikea bags for transporting supplies.
Today, luxurious parties in tipis complete with wood-burning stoves, sheepskins, and deer hides; snowshoeing expeditions beneath the stars and a 5-star fondue dinner; helicopter picnics with a private huntsman chef; ski adventure weddings… you name it, Kando Events has you covered.
The mountains on the horizon
You may be wondering who Kando Events caters to, but Nicky won’t reveal any secrets and is known for her discretion. One thing is certain: many of them are either part of the upper echelons of high finance or are (very) large corporations.
With first-hand experience of the glaciers retreating, Kando Events is always looking for ways to be respectful towards nature. “Nature is at the heart and soul of everything we do, so being conscious of our environment is one of our fundamental values,” explained Nicky. She aims to inspire and influence clients and suppliers along the way, and even launched the Kando Good foundation to support causes close to her heart — starting with mountain preservation.
