To really make the most of the August bank holiday weekend, our clients wanted this festival themed 21st to feel as much like their own mini Reading festival as possible. These client’s were no strangers to throwing their own fantastic parties, but after a recent relocation that’s where we stepped in, to take the strain of the organisation.
The Styling
This party was festival through and through, two tipi tents provided the bar and dance areas, decked with bunting and colourful uplighters. Festival flags dotted around the site provided pops of colour on a slightly grey August day, and festoon lighting guided guests around the site. Rustic furniture kept the space looking casual yet pulled together, and colourful cube seats, stools and cushions gave the whole space a lovely festival feeling.
The Experience
Guests had a packed rota of activities during this event. Throughout the evening, they had the option to try their hand at hoopla and a gel blasters shooting range, and for the more adventurous, giant hungry hippos provided a lot of laughs! Our makeup artist was even on hand throughout the night to make sure everyone looked totally festival appropriate! Food was also never in short supply during this party with a delightful retro gelato cart keeping guests coming back throughout the night to try new flavours. Casual chips and dips got everyone’s appetites going, followed by bowl foods, crowd pleaser dishes like Korean fried chicken and mini fish and chips. Dessert canape and late night snacks kept energy high throughout the night so everyone could enjoy all the entertainment that was on offer! A wonderful guitarist provided early evening music, and our fantastic DJ took over from 20:00 to really kick the party into the next gear.
Taking it up a further notch was an amazing live saxophonist who played along to the DJ for three sets later in the evening, keeping the dance floor full and the music pumping! The evening ended with a silent disco, providing a little late night relief for neighbours. To rest weary legs there was a lovely woodland area that we turned into a glamping zone, with 12 comfy and well equipped bell tents, providing a cosy place to bed down at the end of the night. The next morning hangovers were cured with bacon and egg butties and strong coffee!
The Challenge
After an incredibly hot summer, we had to make some decisions leading up to the event in order to keep everyone safe, one of these sadly was the decision to remove the fire pit that would’ve sat in the centre of the site. In typical English weather fashion, the day of the rig was the wettest we’d seen in months, turning what had been parched earth into muddy waterslides. We made the decision to pull the tents, games and catering tents closer together to provide easier access for guests and staff alike in case of downpours, and kept a close eye on the weather apps during the morning of party day! Luckily the weather stayed mostly dry on party night, so guests got to experience the full site at its best!
