Veldt began in 2021 as a humble dream called JJ’s Bar Service. With nothing more than a vision and a few tools, JJ built his first bar on his parents’ deck, eventually taking over the garage as his ambition outgrew the space. He started bartending for friends and family at birthdays and backyard parties, slowly collecting equipment and experience. That same year, he constructed the first section of our now-iconic black bar and began experimenting with branding, though, in hindsight, letting JJ handle the branding may not have been our finest decision. JJ had just graduated high school and left university to pursue his dream while Sune was still in school, cheering him on from the sidelines. It was the beginning of something special, even if we didn’t quite know it yet.

In 2022, we took our first official leap into the events world with a 50th birthday celebration in someone’s backyard. That moment marked the start of something real. We also did a photoshoot with Triple Smooth Photography—our favorite photographer to this day—which helped us capture the heart of our brand. Later that year, we attended our first Bride & Groom Wedding Expo, partnering with Batched, a premium liquor company. The response was overwhelming and affirming; people loved what we were offering, and we knew we were on the right path. The demand pushed us to expand our bar setup, so JJ built the back section of the bar and a custom sink unit. By the end of the year, we had completed four official events and were buzzing with excitement for what was to come.

2023 was the year we truly found our voice and our look. JJ finally handed over the branding reins to Sune, and the transformation was instant. Our new aesthetic was playful, polished, and perfectly us, and it resonated with brides in a big way. We kicked off the wedding season with bookings from the previous year’s expo and even had our first double booking on the same day. That milestone meant we needed a second bar, so JJ built the white bar, and we doubled our inventory—glasses, stock, and all. We also launched our Cocktail Masterclass, hosted at the local café we were working at, which added a new layer to our offerings. With two wedding expos under our belt and a growing client list, 2023 was the year we stepped into our own.

In 2024, we took a bold step forward by purchasing and renovating Alfie, our beloved coffee caravan. We launched “Alfie on the Go” and focused on getting him into as many local markets as possible. At the same time, we didn’t slow down on the bar side of things—in fact, we had our busiest wedding season yet, often running both Alfie and our mobile bars at the same time. We also dipped our toes into the corporate world, catering events for the National Party and the Aotango Showcase. This was the first year we were able to showcase both of our bars at a wedding expo, and the response was incredible. Alfie brought a new energy to our brand, and we loved watching him become a crowd favorite.