Amalie Focus: Marquee and Tent Hire

There has been a revolution! Well ok, not quite as dramatic as a revolution but a definite positive shift in the marquee and tent hire industry. Most people when asked to describe a marquee will say white, plastic windows you can’t see out of, dodgy flooring and multiple guy ropes to trip over and oh yes, have I mentioned white?! Many clients view marquees as an unfortunate addition they tack onto the main venue to hold extra guests or as the sad alternative to their dream venue due to budget restrictions.

With knowledge and imagination this is now anything but the case and I’m very glad to say there are some innovative and exciting structures out there making tents and marquees a unique, fun and creative space to which to hold your wedding – oh and some of them aren’t white!

Tip Top Tents

There are a few companies who are now solely concentrating on the supply of good quality, original tents. They dramatically range in size holding up to 200+ people depending on the configuration and are also very aesthetically pleasing; both inside and out. They are also named Yurts, Tipi’s, Kungsornen and the largest tent of all; the Giant Hat. Depending on the size of your guest list these can be an extremely versatile option. For example you could have a giant hat for the wedding breakfast and then have smaller ‘off shoot’ tipis for the dance floor, chill out area or the catering. In the winter they can be extremely cosy with open log fires, wood burning stoves and power heaters to keep everyone toasty.

Most companies such as the Beautiful World Tents or The Stunning Tents Company offer a range of sizes depending on your requirements and the space in where it will be erected. They offer a range of novel furnishings as well including awesome sheep or reindeer skins and solid wood benches for the rustic look or wooden bars and comfy seating for a trendy chill out area. The possibilities are endless and a serious funky alternative to a more traditional venue such as a hotel, restaurant or hall.

Modern Marquee’s

Marquees have also undergone a transformation. Ten by Fifteen Structures have created a unique stretched canopy which comes in multiple colours of strong and flexible canvas fabric. This means you can put them up anywhere including on hills or even over flower beds! The Pearl Tent Company, although the more traditional company out there has set the bar seriously high when it comes to the both quality of the materials used and the standards of service it provides. Both of these structures can seat over 350 people; ideal for large weddings where you would like to see everyone ‘under the same roof’ as it were.

Safety and quality are paramount for all of these companies and they will arrange a site inspection first and carry out multiple checks whilst building and also during the event, especially if the weather is slightly adverse. Again many offer extras such as prop hire, furniture, dance floors and even fireworks, making sure your wedding is a fabulous and stunning affair.

I can’t recommend this alternative highly enough, below is a small example of what you can do:

From top left to right by row, pictures courtesy of:

Multiple Grand Hat Tents from the Beautiful World Tents
Amazing centrepiece arrangement from The Stunning Tents Company
Example of gorgeous wooden benches and reindeer skins from Beautiful World Tents
Cool bar and comfy seating area under a grand hat from The Stunning Tent Company
The very impressive Dana Pearl design from The Pearl Tent Company
Seating area, dancing floor and gorgeous lighting from The Pearl Tent Company
Coloured fabric canopy and matching linen by Ten by Fifteen Structures
Example of flexibility due to surroundings from Ten by Fifteen Stuctures

Amalie Loves... THE OYSTER BOYS

Now oysters are definitely a bit like marmite, you either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. Personally they’re one of my favourite treats; especially with some ice-cold champagne if celebrating something special (or at anytime really as I just get cravings for them!).

Imagine my delight though when I came across The Oyster Boys at a recent event. Tucked away I spied the champagne first which obviously grabbed my attention; upon sidling up to the bar I noticed a huge tray of oysters - double whammy! Upon calming my excitement I figured what an imaginative, fun and quirky service the oyster boys would deliver at weddings and wanted to let you all know about them.

For couples who are thinking about having canapés before their wedding breakfast why not try something a little different and have a couple of very handsome and charming Scottish guys (avec kilts!) open and serve your guests fresh, juicy, delicious oysters? They will mingle and entertain your guests giving them both something yummy to eat and talk about. They can provide a range of dressings including lemon, tabasco, shallots in red wine vinegar or my favourite mini bottles of bubbles! It can be as formal or informal as you like with wicker baskets for a more rustic look to a three metre long ice bar which would create some serious ‘wow’ factor.

They don’t just stop at oysters either; Robin Dunlop, one of the Directors of Temple & Shian (the company behind the successful oyster boy’s concept) explained they can provide a full seafood bar giving guests a much larger choice and they’ve also just launched a fabulous new canapé range.

Hmmm... sorry have to go and find some now!

Amalie Loves... HAPPY BOX

Well to be fair, a company with "happy” in their name is going to grab my attention! This week’s awesome find is the innovative gift company Happy Box (think ultra modern version of a wicker hamper). Their Director Charlotte Orton and her glamorous friendly team are storming both the private client and corporate markets due to their versatile set-up, stylish packaging and the use of chic top class products. Clients can pick and choose which luxurious gifts they want in their hamper box, personalising each one to make it extra special. If their elegant black and yellow boxes don’t quite fit your wedding theme, Happy Box offer a bespoke service for arranging personalised packaging or branded gifts to match your design or colour scheme. Additionally they also provide a handy next day delivery service anywhere in the UK.

These hampers provide a brilliant alternative to the usual flowers and gifts for mothers of the bride and other members of the bridal party you wish to say a big thank you too. They're also great for engagement or anniversary gifts too, especially if you're stuck for either ideas or time.

So go on make someone cherished; give them a happy box!

Amalie Loves... CHOCART

Again this Fab Friday something beginning with 'c': chocolate! I had an amazing time at the RSVP event at the Business Design Centre in Islington this week, mainly because I got to meet a host of amazing new artists and suppliers (and catching up with old ones of course!). One of my favourite new finds (and there were many so it was a very hard choice today!) were the fabulous ChocArt guys with whom the tag line “almost too beautiful to eat...” is a slight understatement.

They have a unique product whereby they use a top secret technique to print a thin layer of white chocolate onto dark chocolate to your specific design or even picture. These stunningly beautiful and completely edible chocolates have been made for both gift items and promotional material for some top names such as Estee Lauder, Roberto Cavalli, Dior and Elle to name a few.

I had a taste of the chocolate (couldn’t possibly refuse could I?!) and although the cocoa content is quite high at 70%, it was surprising creamy and unlike other brands of dark chocolate not bitter at all. The packaging is super chic and luxurious too and would make brilliant favours for wedding guests or special chocolates for when serving the coffee after the wedding breakfast.

ChocArt Rocks!

Amalie Loves... WEDDING ENTERTAINERS

My Fab Friday blog continues and this week it’s all about the fabulous 'Wedding Entertainers' Alison Russell and her partner in crime (well slight of hand anyway) Adam Keisner. I met this amazing London based duo at a wedding show a few months ago and was absolutely blown away by their talent and skill and urge anyone who has a little bit of budget left over to invest in these guys; they truly will not disappoint.

Alison is one of the few silhouette portrait artists left in the country (if not the world) and she can cut out a silhouette which not only is scarily accurate (see mine on the right) but in a matter of minutes too (while having a laugh with you at the same time I might add!). Adam also showed me some of his magic and while I don’t wish to divulge the magic circles secrets (yeah right like he told me!) I can honestly say it’s one of the best pieces of magic I’ve seen in a long time and truly leaves you wondering “how the hell did he do that!”

Being a team means you can have both of their talents and super lovely personalities to help entertain guests for a reasonable fee and they are more than happy to travel to venues outside of the London area.

*Love* them!

Amalies Nine Codes for Successful Planning

#1: Thou shalt not deviate from the BRIEF and honour the requirements of our clients.

#2: Thou shalt not go over BUDGET and honour the costs allocated by our clients.

#3: Thou shalt delivery the event on TIME and honour the schedule of our clients.

#4: Thou shalt honour all INTEGRATION with other suppliers and event partners.

#5: Thou shalt honour best PROCUREMENT practices with our suppliers.

#6: Thou shalt produce the highest QUALITY event possible.

#7: Thou shalt respect and honour all PEOPLE involved with the event.

#8: Thou shalt always COMMUNICATE with our clients and event partners.

#9: Thou shalt not ignore RISK and take appropriate actions against it.

The above codes are adapted from an Events Management bible of mine and comes from the nine areas of knowledge from the Project Management Institute (2000). I'm a firm believer in these codes and believe these to be the foundation in which the wedding and events industries should be based upon.

Amalie Loves... PRESTIGE SPORTS CARS

For the ultimate wedding day treat for the groom, why not spoil him absolutely rotten by organising the hire of a prestige sport car to get him to the church on time?. Not only will the groom think you’re amazing and super cool; it then gives the boys something to do and talk about before the wedding (and trust me, the boys get ready in half the time and it will delay them going off to the pub and having too many!)

This fabulous self hire service is available from companies such as Prestige Cars and Dream Car Hire and in my opinion would go down a lot better than your uncles space wagon!. They both offer a fleet of impressive cars including Ferrari’s, Lamborghinis, Maserati’s and Aston Martins to name a few. You can either set up hire for a day, or if you really want him to have time to enjoy it why not book it for the whole weekend?. Logistics could be an issue so I would enlist the help of the best man, brother or usher to help with the surprise; if for no other reason than to stop the groom having a tipple before it arrives!

I’m a big fan of this idea as why should it only be the bridal party who arrives in style?. Even though the security deposits can be quite hefty, the look on your grooms face when he’s handed the keys to his dream car *priceless*.

He just won’t want to give it back!

Amalie Focus: Bridal Stylists

For most couples using a wedding planner can seem the ultimate luxury; but what about using a stylist to source your perfect wedding wardrobe? It might seem extravagant at first but on further inspection it could save a significant amount of time, money and also reduce stress levels. Clients who desire to look amazing and bang on trend at their wedding (and let’s face it – who doesn’t?!) might consider a little extra help from someone with a comprehensive knowledge of both the fashion and bridal industries.

I myself love fashion and bridal wear and have been glued to web updates showing the new Spring 2011 bridal gown collections from the New York Bridal Market over the past few days (I dream of one day being in the front row!). This passion though is no substitute for someone who’s been in the fashion industry for years and who has a breathtaking knowledge of contacts, sources and design. Companies such as Threads Styling Consultancy are bridging this gap in the market and are offering brides a comprehensive service for only a one off fee. This is very reasonable when it includes at least an initial consultation, a huge amount of research and various visits to shops and boutiques until the perfect gown and accessories are found.

I went over the process with Threads owner and head stylist Sophie Hill who explained it’s a deeply personal and exciting time for brides to be. She strives to spend as much time talking to her clients as possible, gaining an understanding of their personality, fashion sense (if they have one!) and other important areas they might have concerns over such as self confidence or body issues. After this initial meeting which normally takes place 9 to 12 months before the wedding, a few months will then be spent exchanging ideas and growing a portfolio of favourites. 6 months before the wedding the stylist will arrange appointments at bridal boutiques and will attend with the bride and friends making it a fun and special day out. Once the dress is on order the brides accessories, bridesmaids dresses and even the menswear can be sorted out to reflect the style of the brides dress and/or theme of the wedding.

A lot of pressure is placed on brides and although shopping with your mum or friend can be fun, to have a professional with you to cast an experienced and honest opinion is something I think all brides should consider. Stylists will also ensure you get the most out of your budget and offer suggestions you might not have thought of.So for a unique experience which will ensure you have the best wedding dress, tailored suit or honeymoon wardrobe, visit the Threads website or contact Sophie on 020 7749 0784 for further details.

Amalie Loves... ENGLISH CHEESECAKE COMPANY

OK, you got me; I’m a bit of a foodie! Canapés, cupcakes, cocktails (not technically food but sometimes has fruit in it!) and cheesecake are probably the most loved foodie items by me (and they all begin with ‘c’?!).

Just to be clear, we’re not talking cheeseboard cheesecake stacked on top of each other (although those are fab too!), no, I’m talking crumbly biscuity base with creamy baked cheesecake all velvety smooth and soft when you delve into it with a fork...

Yummy; and a perfect idea for couples who would like their cake and eat it (with their guests for dessert I mean!).

These little beauties featured are made by the fantastic English Cheesecake Company who I met and helped scoff their titbit tasters at the National Wedding Show back in February. They can create up to a 5 tier cheesecake feeding up to 140 guests with different flavours (including chocolate, toffee and alcoholic cakes!) and toppings including fruit, flowers, or my personal favourite; profiteroles drowning in chocolate.

*Sigh* heaven!

Video stand v's Photo booth

As a wedding planner I’m a firm believer it’s the 'little extras' which can make your wedding stand out from the crowd. Surveys have shown after a few months most guests sadly won’t remember what they ate (unless it’s really bad of course!) or which fragrant blooms graced their table. What guests do remember is the entertainment and whether it was unique, fun and err entertaining! In this vain I’ve researched two novel ways of creating pictures or videos for the couple but not from the professional photographer or videographer.

Now Photo booths have been around for a number of few years and established companies such as Boothnation, Party Photobooth Hire & The Photo Booth Company will travel around the country setting up a bespoke booth for a wedding. Boothnation for example has the choice of both a glitter and a retro booth while The Photo Booth Company styles the photos produced with bespoke wording. Most of them have different packages one can select however most of them will offer props, a booth attendant and an interior curtain to match your colour scheme on the day.

The brilliant thing about the photo booths is guests end up having a fun and unique memento of either themselves or with their close friends or family (see picture to the right, I couldn’t resist popping in the one at the Designer Wedding Show!). The photos produced are given to the guests who 'pop in' and will also be copied onto a disc or placed on an on-line gallery for the happy couple to have a chuckle at afterwards. It creates a far more relaxed and fun record of the day with the photographer taking the 'proper' family pics and candid shots. Prices start from £500 for a basic package to £1500 for a very comprehensive one.

Video stands or kiosks (pictured left) is a relatively new concept with companies such as The Celebration Station and Wish You Well being able to travel a great area for not more than £400. These companies set up a stand in a quiet location at the reception venue, hit 'record' and let friends and relatives come and leave their well wishes to the camera. Obviously when alcohol is around things will become highly entertaining and slightly ruder as the evening progresses; however it takes the pressure off the videographer in having to drag people away from the party to give proper speeches to the camera. Most companies will then professionally edit the video messages onto a personalised DVD for the couple to cherish (or laugh at!) for a long time.To round up, photo booths are slightly more expensive but worth it for the pictures and the fun it creates for the guests. Video stands are great for couples on a budget and they have a brilliant selection of candid well wishes from family and friends they can keep forever.

Verdict: Love them both!