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The Ultimate Corporate Event Ideas Revealed

Corporate events are notoriously difficult to get right.

It is challenging to find the right event that ticks all the requirements. It needs first to be fun and engaging. Furthermore, it needs to fit your branding and business requirements. Your corporate event may have to cater for guests and clients while you also have to bear in mind the budget and logistics. Finally, you want corporate events ideas that are unique and get people talking.

Feeling stuck? Read on, and we will reveal the ultimate corporate events ideas for you to take inspiration from.

The ultimate list of corporate event ideas

  • Escape Rooms

Do your team feel confined in an office all day?

It will be nothing compared to being confined to an escape room. Escape rooms are ideal for small teams who have a defined period of time (usually an hour) to escape the room. The escape rooms require a great deal of teamwork, and it can be enlightening to see how different minds approach different clues and tasks.

After the event, you’ll undoubtedly need a meal or drinks reception to talk over the challenge and how the team felt about it. Was there a leader? Did they shout over each other? Most importantly, did they escape on time?

Stunning corporate event ideas from Payal Events

  • Corporate cookery classes

There is no such thing as a free meal, and with a corporate cookery class, your team will have to prepare their own dishes. A corporate cookery class is an excellent way to stir up interest in cookery and do something completely different.

It can help those who are novices in the kitchen and please those who want to learn top tips from the experts. There are a range of different styles of corporate cookery classes from bake-offs to team efforts. You can also find classes for specific cuisines too which is perfect for a themed corporate event.

  • Murder mystery

A ‘whodunnit?’ is a wonderfully light-hearted corporate event idea. You can add to the experience by including prizes for the best and worst dressed as well as an ultimate prize for the best guesses. As the plot thickens, your team will either bond or accuse, and it is highly entertaining to watch. Murder mystery nights will often include a dinner too, and you and your team can often be written into the plot.

  • Coasteering

Coasteering is the ideal action-packed event for adrenaline junkies. Coasteering involves many elements from climbing to swimming, cliff jumping to scrambling. It is a fantastic way to experience the coastline in a brand-new way and incorporates both a challenge and the beauty of nature. Coasteering requires teamwork, encouragement and support which makes it ideal for corporate events.

As coasteering is hard work, make sure to organise a celebratory lunch afterwards to allow people to re-energise and recoup the calories they have burned off.

Award Winning Corporate Event Ideas from the Team at Payal Events

Corporate Event Ideas from the Award Winning Team at Payal Events

  • Luxury yacht

Do your team dream of the high life?

Make it a reality by chartering a yacht for the day for your corporate event. Your team can simply sit back and relax or take up the helm of the boat. Include caterers on board, and your team can enjoy a sumptuous meal while sailing in the peace and tranquillity of the ocean. If a luxury yacht is out of the budget, then many sailing companies will offer a dinner and boat trip combined activity.

Not great on water? Then head to the skies and opt for a stunning skyline location for drinks and dinner with a view.

  • Art classes

A great way to unleash the creativity of your team is to hold an art class. This type of corporate event is relaxed and gentle; it is ideal for those who do not look for the next adrenaline rush. The whole team can be set up with an easel and art materials. An art teacher can then be on hand to offer advice, encouragement and expert tips. Art can help people to unwind and de-stress; it is also very rewarding. Furthermore, the guests will be able to take their masterpiece home; it may even start a hobby.

If your team aren’t keen on creating art then why not have an evening at a gallery or exhibition as a corporate event idea. Complete the evening with canapes and drinks. You can even ask the curator or artist to share their knowledge. This can be a great option to build links in the local community. As a business, you can even host your own art exhibition and ask local artists to contribute.

If you would have been inspired by any of these corporate event ideas and would like to find out more, then feel free to contact us for more details.

 

Jun 14, 2018
| in All articles, Corporate Events, Event Planning, Inspiration
| , , , ,

The Best Asian Wedding Venues in Manchester, Liverpool & Across the North West

Are you looking for the perfect Asian Wedding Venue in Manchester, Liverpool, Lancashire or anywhere in the North West? Then this article could end your search.

Finding the perfect location is critical.

Your choice of wedding venue should not only be convenient for you and your family and loved ones but should be a place that sums you up as a couple. Your wedding venue should be a place that helps to bring your dream wedding to life and provides personality, as well as convenient touches.  To help you come up with a shortlist of your ideal wedding venues. Here is our ultimate list of Asian wedding venues in the North West.

Our Ultimate List of North West Asian wedding venues 

Liverpool

  1. Thornton Hall Hotel and Spa

Thornton Hall Hotel is well-known for its specialism in Asian weddings and has even been recognised at the Asian Wedding Awards. The hotel also offers a team of on-site Asian hair and make-up specialists. Accommodating up to 500 guests with 62 bedrooms, Thornton Hall is set in beautiful gardens complete with a lakeside arbour. With a willingness to adapt, you can bring your own wow factor to the venue.

2. Thornton Manor

Thornton Manor offers four wedding venues all with their own unique qualities. There is potential for holding up to 1,000 guests, and the high ceilings make it perfect for traditional Asian wedding theming and decoration. With an understanding of Asian weddings, you can be sure that Thornton Manor can cater to your needs.

3. Knowsley Estate

Winner of Brides North West Wedding Awards for four consecutive years, you know you are receiving the best at Knowsley Hall. The Stucco Ballroom can seat 132 guests, and its gold leaf splendour adds a majestic touch to any wedding day. With flexible pricing and a helpful team, you and your wedding party will feel welcome.

View More Ideal Asian Wedding Venues in Liverpool»

Manchester

  1. Old Trafford

Considered the ‘Theatre of Dreams’, Old Trafford is not only a perfect wedding location for football fans but those who want a wedding on a grand scale. With three wedding suites, the largest has the capacity for 820 guests. With a team of wedding co-ordinators at your disposal, you can be sure to craft the perfect Asian wedding day.

2. Renaissance Manchester

Set in the heart of the city, The Renaissance Manchester has a capacity for 320 guests and conveniently has 82 parking spaces on site. With a recent renovation, the Renaissance is a sophisticated wedding location with style and class and can be tailored to suit your individual requirements.

3. The Principal Manchester

The Principal certainly gives a fresh approach to wedding venues with sparkling chandeliers, and Victorian charm brought up to date with a few modern touches. The venue has the capacity for 1,000 guests, and a wedding coordinator is on hand to make sure every detail is perfect.

View More Ideal Asian Wedding Venues in Manchester»

Other North West Asian Wedding Locations

  1. DW Stadium, Wigan

For a spectacular wedding, the DW Stadium is a real stand-out venue. With intimate lounges for small guest numbers or, alternatively, the marquee which holds up to 400 guests, there is a range of options to suit your needs. Parking is a major plus for wedding guests, while your event manager will ensure your wedding day goes without a hitch.

2. Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield

The extensive grounds of Capesthorne are the perfect backdrop for wedding photographs. The gardens are perfect for a summer wedding with capacity for 700 guests. The venue is also experienced in Muslim, Hindu and Sikh wedding ceremonies. They not only understand but can easily cater to your needs.

3. Wrenbury Hall, Nantwich

The fact that Wrenbury Hall is still a family home offers a relaxed and friendly charm which is perfect for an intimate wedding. With extensive grounds, Wrenbury Hall will be exclusively yours for your wedding day. The space is flexible to use as you wish and is ideal for all manner of cultural weddings so you can have the freedom to a design a day that is truly magical.

4. Craxton Wood, Chester

Craxton Wood offers 27 acres of beautiful secluded gardens and woodland to create fairytale wedding photographs. There is a range of function rooms, some which lead out on to the gardens, maximising the space and making your wedding feel light and airy. A beautiful location with a range of amenities to ensure your wedding is unforgettable and all guest’s needs are catered for.

5. Holford Estate, Knutsford

With the Holford Barn and Holford Gardens, there is a perfect place for every couple to tie the knot. The grounds are idyllic, and the event venue is versatile so that you can plan your perfect wedding with the ideal backdrop. With contemporary and traditional touches there is something to suit everyone.

Find out more about our wide range of stunning Asian Wedding Venues in the North West, the rest of the UK and our international venues as well.
Apr 11, 2018
| in All articles, Asian Wedding, Hindu Weddings, Inspiration, Muslim Weddings, Sikh Weddings
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The 5 Best Corporate Event Examples We Could Find

When it comes to corporate events, there are so many aspects to consider. You not only have to consider the entertainment, high-quality food and superb location but you also have to make sure every aspect works together to create one fantastic event.

If you want your event to be memorable and talked about for all the right reasons, then you need to make your event unique and give it the wow factor. To help inspire you, here are some of the best corporate event examples that we could find.

Our five best corporate event examples

1. A carnival

If your corporate event will be used to celebrate an achievement or provide fun for your guests, then what better way than having all the fun of the fair? A carnival theme can allow you to go to town on theming, while still being relatively cost-effective, with a few simple stripy tents. You can have a range of carnival games such as ring toss, hook-a-duck and the coconut shy. Include tasty carnival snacks such as candyfloss and popcorn.

The benefit of this type of corporate event is that it gives you the chance to scale it for your needs, a small carnival theme could be set up at your premises while a larger event could be hosted in the grounds of an event location.

To thank the people that post reviews on Google Maps, Google hosted a carnival for their Google City Experts and it certainly impressed everyone that was lucky enough to be invited.

2. Comfortable conferences

If your next corporate event is a conference or lecture, then you can still give your event the wow factor, even if it is not considered the most exciting event of the year. Make your event exciting by holding interactive exhibits and small showcase booths to browse. You may also enlist the help of a celebrity as a speaker or performer to draw a crowd which is what Target Corporation do for their employee meetings.

Another excellent idea for your next conference is to transform the conference theatre. For example, a TEDx talk took out the uncomfortable chairs and replaced the seating with bean bags. For events where there will be long speeches, your guests will definitely appreciate feeling comfortable and relaxed. Add in some great food and drink choices, perhaps even waiting staff service for the event and you will definitely have people returning year on year.

3. Jump on the bandwagon

If there is a huge pop culture trend, do not be afraid to use it as a theme to astound your guests. Talked about TV shows, iconic movies or a particular sporting event can all be excellent themes on which to base your event. For example, American TV network HBO threw a huge corporate event for their staff celebrating one of the network’s biggest TV shows, Game of Thrones.

During HBO’s Game of Thrones inspired event, guests could seat on the famous Iron Throne and there were plenty of photo opportunities for guests to become their favourite characters and travel to the many locations without leaving the room. When choosing your theme, try to tie in food, activities and themes to make the whole event come together cohesively.

4. Make it a competition

All people love a chance to win some fantastic prizes. By transforming your corporate event into a game, you have the opportunity to attract a substantial crowd. The competition can be based on almost anything but it is essential to make it relevant to your company and your event.

For example, sports brand Puma held a cycling competition as part of one of their marketing campaigns. Guests of the event simply had to cycle on an exercise bike for two-hours to receive brand new sports equipment, clothing and trainers. For those who wanted to take the event more seriously, there was a cycling competition where participants had the chance to win $25,000.

While your competition does not have to be as big and expensive, it can be an excellent way to get people excited about your event, it can also help with your social media campaign as people size up their competition and start to challenge their colleagues.

5. Get technological

Another way you can add excitement to your next event is through using innovations that people have yet to see or experience themselves. There is a range of technological corporate event ideas and you can draw experience from other businesses. For example, Adobe celebrated creativity with a 3D selfie creator. Samsung also utilised technology when they asked people to tweet their dreams and then they transformed these messages into projected art as an interactive installation.

To improve participation at your next corporate event, consider installing an interactive graffiti wall like the Unstoppable Confidence Summit where the guests could write inspirational messages for all to see.

Got a budding corporate event idea?

If these corporate event examples have inspired you, then Payal can help to transform your idea into reality. Offering event planning as well as luxury catering, we can help to transform your next corporate event into something amazing. Let us know your next event idea and find out how we can help by getting in touch.
Mar 14, 2018
| in All articles, Corporate Events, Inspiration
| , , , , ,

Five Reasons Why You Will Love A Corporate Event Planner

Planning events can be one of the most stressful activities you can do.

Help is at hand however. By hiring a corporate event planner, you can create an experience that is successful, powerful and hopefully unforgettable – for the right reasons. Here are five reasons that make hiring a corporate event planner a no-brainer.

Five reasons you need a corporate event planner

When it comes to corporate events, there is a tremendous amount of pressure. Whether you are launching a product, impressing customers or thanking the staff, your event has to impress. It can be hard to get the message of your event across and make everything run smoothly and on time. That’s where a corporate event planner comes in handy…

  • Transform your vision into reality

Corporate event planners are in the field because of their creative flair and passion. With just a small brief, event planners can unleash their creativity to turn a dream into the real thing. If you have a bud of an idea of what you want from an event, then a corporate event planner can transform the design.

It is important you have a clear objective in mind. With this, a corporate event planner can use their experience, connections and suppliers to create an event that is on the brief and will impress. Whether small and subtle, to large and extravagant, using the creativity of an event planner can inspire an event beyond your expectations.

  • More for your money

While you may see a corporate event planner as an added expense, they can actually save you money, allowing your event to enjoy more for the price. The reason? Corporate event planners have many contacts and suppliers in the industry. They know where they can find quality for the best possible price.

Corporate event planners have a lot of purchase power and a fantastic network of contacts and trusted suppliers. This can establish fantastic deals with suppliers which your event can benefit from.

With just one event, you will find it hard to score deals with the big vendors. However, a corporate event planner will be able to negotiate better thanks to their existing relationship or the potential to throw a lot more business their way soon.

  • Budget control

Sticking with the theme of money, a corporate event planner does not just help your event to enjoy more for its money; they can also help you to save money and remain in budget too. All too often when armed with a budget, we have a lack of control and worse, forget about an aspect until it is too late which forces us to go over budget.

A corporate event planner, on the other hand, will be equipped with the latest high-tech software for budget control as well as having experience in how best to proportion and split the budget. As well this, they will make sure there is always a little left for emergencies. Budget management tools can be costly as well as being difficult to operate. However, an event manager will be skilled in using the software and will be able to give you all of the budget information you need, without you having to worry.

An event planner will always stick to your budget and will consult with you if they are over or under budget so that you always have the overriding decision. By having an event planner looking after the budget, it can be a huge weight lifted, and a significant responsibility is taken care of.

  • Experience

Corporate event planners are armed with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. By planning hundreds of events, there won’t be many events that they have not come across, experiences not encountered or problems they have not already resolved.

Event planners have a diverse work experience, where no two days are the same, this means they are equipped with a wide range of knowledge that they can apply to each situation they encounter. From the best successes, they can share tips, while if things go wrong, they will know how to fix them.

With experience, they will know the best ways for you to achieve your objective. From surprising guests, they may recall an event that used real mannequins to come to life during the event to surprise guests. For the best canapes, they may know the perfect supplier. If you need help finding the ideal theming for your niche event, then they may know the perfect vendor to contact. They may even be able to show you pictures and videos of events who have used the idea before so you can see it being brought to life before your event takes place.

  • Reduce time and stress

Planning an event can take up a significant amount of time, and it is likely that your plate is loaded with other activities and tasks too. Event planning has a lot of complex processes and many intricate details to organise and check on. With so much to do and with trust in so many suppliers it is understandable how stressful planning an event can be.

Fortunately, by hiring an event planner, you can relax. Make the most of someone planning all of the details on your behalf and schedule a regular update to give you added peace of mind that everything is on track. By saving time in the event, you can gain time on other projects, which may prove to save money too.

Looking for a luxury event planner?

At Payal Events, we can turn a party into an unforgettable event that surpasses the wildest dreams of our clients and impresses all of the guests. We want to help to reduce the stress of your next event by taking care of every single detail for you.

Tell us about your next event, and we can help to turn your vision into a reality.

Feb 12, 2018
| in All articles, Corporate Events, Event Catering, Event Planning, Weddings

Six Corporate Event Ideas To Inspire You In 2018

As we start to plan for the essential corporate events of the year, event planners are on the lookout for the most creative corporate event ideas that will get people talking and make the event memorable. If you are tasked with planning or managing a corporate event in 2018, then read on for six of the best corporate event ideas to inspire you in 2018.

6 Ways To Put a Different Spin On Corporate Events

  1. Alternative Payment

If you are looking for a way to launch a product or service, or simply a team building event for workers and colleagues, then the alternative payment set up is a fascinating concept that offers benefits to guests and the business running the event. The alternative payment looks at trading a skill or task for the price of food on offer.

For example, if you are launching a fitness or healthy eating program, then you can offer exciting, healthy food by asking your guests to ‘pay’ for it by exercise. You can have exercise bikes and treadmills available allowing people to earn their food.

For networking or skills sharing event, people can pay for food and drinks by offering a service, completing a task. What you then build up is a talent pool as well as valuable feedback and information that can help to craft your business or product.

In fact, with alternative payment, the possibilities are endless, and it can be adapted to suit a whole range of situations.

  1. The immersive experience

To really take your corporate event ideas to the next level, consider a multi-sensory experience. Multi-sensory is an impressive delivery while being at the height of fashion as mindfulness takes hold. Multi-sensory experience can involve a plethora of content. For example, the event food can be part of a journey, inviting guests to enjoy the smell, touch, taste, sound and vision of different dishes to awaken every part of the body.

You can also use a multi-sensory experience to create a narrative. Ideal for engaging guests throughout the whole event and making every aspect of the event tie in together.

  1. Treats for sharing

With social media playing a significant part of marketing for businesses, corporate events are the perfect time to capitalise on your marketing campaign. Throughout your event, you can offer prizes, experiences and exclusive access to VIP areas just from getting the word out there about your business and event.

Offer rewards to those who share your brand on social media such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Sharing your organisation and event with their network will improve your exposure and show your audience that you know how to throw a party.

  1. A community event

If your brand is all about giving back and supporting the community around you, then a community event is an excellent idea to bring everyone together. It can also help to build relations which can often be strained regarding businesses in the community. For a start, a GPS treasure hunt is a great way to get people discovering the area and finding out more about the location.

Secondly, volunteering for projects can also help to give back to local charities and forge valuable ties with people in the area. It is also a fantastic way to improve your business reputation and market your brand. End the day with a celebratory meal for all involved to enhance networking and thank everyone for being a part of your community.

  1. Improve a skill

Nowadays, everyone is looking for self-improvement methods across all aspects of life. Your corporate event can help to take advantage of this by offering people the chance to learn a new skill. Depending on your brand this can vary, but popular skills could include cookery classes, dance classes, mindfulness and meditations and even 3D printing workshops.

Whatever theme works for your business, you can find a way to have a workshop or masterclass to help everyone feel the benefit of being part of your corporate event. Not only does learning a new skill means everyone gets to take home knowledge, but it can also improve brain function and give improved performance for other tasks too, so it might just benefit your business in the long run. One of the better corporate event ideas?

  1. Festivals

Festivals have been a huge trend, and it is time for your event to capitalise on the trend and create your own festival. Once you have found a suitable location, it is easy to create a festival vibe with pop-up food stalls, a stage for performers and a collection of entertainers milling around the event. It creates a really relaxed vibe and allows people to experience a festival for themselves without coping with the camping.

Depending on your budget you can really go to town with a festival theme by offering everyone branded wellies or ponchos as well as having top rate performers such as singers or comedians to give your festival a distinctive edge.

Jan 15, 2018
| in All articles, Corporate Events, Event Catering, Event Planning, Inspiration

Indian Catering: 5 Signs You Are Getting A Quality Service

Choosing the right Indian catering company for your event is essential. In fact, the food can make or break an event. High-quality dishes can help to rescue a situation, and exceptional catering can become a talking point for a great event. When deciding on a caterer you want to be sure that you are getting a quality service, but what makes a caterer right for your event?

With Indian catering, you want to be sure of an excellent, reliable service and delicious food which your guests will devour. Look out for these five top signs of a quality Indian catering service to help you to make the right decision and make your event memorable.

Five top signs you’re getting a great Indian catering experience

  1. Tastings

When planning an event, you want peace of mind in all areas. One of the best ways to feel reassured by a caterer is by sampling the menu beforehand. When discussing your menu requirements, your caterer should be able to offer tastings. It is especially important to test the meal options if you are undecided on which items to go for. By testing some of the dishes, you can work out the ideal pairings to make your menu selection easier.

Menu tastings are an excellent way to determine a quality Indian caterer. They not only allow you to taste the quality of the food and their cooking prowess, but it will also give you an idea of presentation. As we eat with our eyes first, beautiful presentation is vital and will send your event to the next level.

rupa-viras-the-signature-south-indian

Rupa Viras – the signature South Indian

  1. Knowledge of ingredients

Quality ingredients are essential for delicious meals. One of the best ways to determine a high-quality caterer is by their knowledge and enthusiasm for ingredients. Many top caterers will focus their menus on locally-sourced produce to ensure that they have the freshest ingredients which make a great dish.

Whether you are looking for authentic and traditional cuisines to modern contemporary flavour fusions, the quality of the ingredients will be essential for the flavour and style. Ask your caterer about their suppliers and where they source ingredients from to help you to determine their quality and commitment to providing delicious cuisine.

  1. Attentiveness

Your event is important to you. A quality caterer will make sure that your event is important to them too. When choosing a caterer, look for the ones who take a specific interest in your needs and work with you to offer advice. A caterer should help you to create the best event possible with their dishes. During initial enquiries, a caterer should be responsive and helpful to you. While its expected a caterer will be busy, you should be able to communicate and arrange a suitable meeting time to discuss your requirements.

During a meeting with a caterer, look out for a caterer that actively asks questions. Their interest in your event and wanting to know all of the details is a sign they want to tailor their caterer to meet your needs. These will be the caterers who will strive to deliver top-quality service and be adaptable to your wishes.

Mirch Masala

Mirch Masala

  1. Understanding of your event

Some caterers will specialise in certain event types, which means they might not be the right choice for your event. Most caterers will explain what they specialise in, and trusted caterers will tell you what events they are best suited to and whether your event is right for them.

While a caterer should be flexible and adaptable to your needs, they are all built for different markets and service needs. Make sure that the caterer fully understands your style as much as you understand theirs for the perfect fit.

  1. Detailed contract

A good caterer will be completely transparent with their service offering so that you know exactly what you receive. The contract should include every detail of service, beverages, food and additional services they may offer.

For a high-purchase contract for big events, it is important you fully know your rights, particularly in the event of non-delivery or poor quality. A sign of a quality service will be a caterer that is not cheap, but one that provides the best value. It will be these caterers who will strive to meet your expectations and ensure you are completely happy with the contract. Clear terms and a commitment to providing you with the service you have paid for is a sign of a quality caterer that will give you peace of mind before a big event.

Find out more about our Luxury Catering Services – or if you would like to enquire about our Indian Catering services then feel free to contact us – or call now on 0203 150 2520 / 0161 902 0010.
Dec 11, 2017
| in All articles, Asian Wedding, Event Catering, Indian Wedding, Weddings

8 Expert Tips To Choose A Local Wedding Venue

Out of all the wedding tasks that need completing in the build-up to the big day, choosing the wedding venue seems straightforward. However, there are many elements involved. This means finding your perfect local wedding venue needs to tick a lot of boxes. You may think you’re happy to get married anywhere, but if it doesn’t match your personality or fit all of your guests, then it won’t be right for you.

Pick the perfect local wedding venue by following our eight expert tips:

  1. Budget

Wedding venues that are local to you may vary massively in price. The wedding venue should be one of the main focuses of your budget. While it may be the most significant chunk of the budget, you still need to make sure you have enough money for all of the other elements.

  1. Get a map

The best way to find your local venue is with a map. Print off a large map of your local area and consider how far you (and your guests) would be willing to travel. Once you have decided the distance in travel time that you are happy to make and is reasonable for the majority of your guests, circle the radius on a map. You can then pinpoint all of the local wedding venues in that span and start your research.  Honestly, it’s much easier to visualise this way.Classy wedding venues

  1. Start a spreadsheet

Every local wedding venue will have their information displayed differently. Some will show prices on their website. For others, you may have to ring up or visit for information. While a spreadsheet is not a ‘fun wedding task’ it is an easy way for you to collate information, and make sure you don’t confuse venues. Your spreadsheet can contain information that is important to you. For example, you may need to check on baby changing facilities, nearby or onsite hotels, wheelchair accessibility as well as the obvious cost and capacity.

  1. Revisit the budget

Yes, we’re talking budget, again. Once you have collated the local venues on your spreadsheet, delete the ones that you know you can afford. If you visit the locations that you can’t afford, you’ll probably fall in love with it. You’ll then be broken-hearted that you can’t afford it and other venues may pale in comparison.

  1. Get visiting

Now is the perfect time to visit the venues. You have a clear idea of the initial costs and what you need to venue to provide. Start viewings and remember, take pictures so you can visualise the layout of your wedding. Remember to note your thoughts on your pre-prepared spreadsheet. Be completely honest. The critical little points you have could be the difference between choosing one venue over another.

  1. Add up the actual cost

While you may have had a rough idea before visiting, a visit will tell you the exact price based on your requirements. It is vital to list everything you get included in the price. A local wedding venue may appear cheap, but costs may add up when you consider, drinks, corkage, table and glassware hire, chair covers and the list goes on. Once you have the detailed cost, a more expensive venue may be a better price for what’s included.

Stunning wedding venue and decor

  1. Will you come across restrictions?

If your friends are party animals, then you may want to check the licence of the venue and make sure you’ll be able to celebrate until the early hours. Other restrictions you may face include the décor. You may feel that you need to add additional décor to tie your theme into the day, make sure that the venue will cater to your needs.

  1. Is it you?

Finally, it is your special day. Your venue should match your personality. When visiting locations, you’re likely to experience a gut feeling on which one is right for you. Whether you’re after a casual, historical or luxury vibe, make sure that your theme shines at your venue. Don’t regret picking a so-so venue; it is your big day. Help it to be perfect.

Find out more about the wedding venues we can source – or if you have somewhere in particular in mind then we would love to hear from you. Call us on 0203 150 2520 | 0161 902 0010
Dec 04, 2017
| in All articles, Event Venues, Weddings

How To Organise A Company Event In Six Easy Steps

While organising a corporate or company event can be a great way to raise your profile within the company and increase your experience in events planning. A company event can be a stressful event to plan. With a tremendous amount of money invested by a business and a level of expectation from employees, worker as well as customers and supplied, it is crucial to have an event that is both high-quality and makes a positive impact.

Follow our six easy steps to organise a company event.

Step one: define the event

One of the most common ways for an event to fail is the lack of definition from the start. Before you plan the event, its location and its content, you need to decide what the event is for and how it will work.

Whatever message you want your event to portray, from a celebration of a successful project or year or an awards ceremony or even a marketing event or project launch. The message of the event should be clear so that the whole occasion can unfold naturally. Appropriate activities and entertainment should be chosen in accordance with your theme, whether it is a relaxed, informal gathering or a black-tie event.

The best way to ensure your event is well defined it to come up with objectives of what you want the company event to achieve. Set the goals, reflect and measure them; that way you’ll make sure your event stays true to the message.

Step two: consider content

Following on from deciding the message, how are you going to get this message across during the event? Whether you choose guest speakers, demonstrations, team building activities or a meal. Consider the content that you want to include in the event and that will help you to structure the event allowing enough time and helping with important decisions such as venue, capacity, dates and start times.

For each aspect of content, ask yourself: does this add value to the event and portray the right message? If the answer is yes, then you’ll have great content that is crucial to your corporate event’s success.

Step three: start booking

One of the most challenging aspects of planning a company event is managing the many suppliers needed. Once you have decided the event, the theme and content; it is time to start sourcing the appropriate suppliers who can bring your event to life. Before you begin contacting suppliers, it is wise to have a list of essential details to hand such as;

  • Number of guests
  • Duration of the event
  • Dietary requests
  • Accessibility requirements
  • Size of space required for you and your other suppliers.

You’ll then need to ask the suppliers for crucial information such as costings, insurance and cancellation policies.

Keep a note of every phone call and email, so you have all the details available in case an aspect is missed. For some suppliers and complex events, it may be worth using a project management tool so you can update all of the suppliers at the same time and they can communicate among themselves if needed.

Step four: communication

As well as maintaining contact with suppliers and keeping everyone in the loop for updates, additions and change, you need to communicate the event to the most important people: the guests. Utilise all the networks that you have at your disposal whether that is the company intranet, social media, emails or physical invitations. Make sure to spread the word and promote the event as something that is unmissable.

It is the people that make the event, so make sure that it is well-promoted so that it attracts guest and sets a positive tone for the whole event. Remember, misleading claims will cause a negative atmosphere which can kill the ambience of your event. Be honest, clear and enthusiastic to make your event a success.

Step five: budget

For company events, unexpected situations can occur, and with these, deviations usually bring additional expense. When budgeting, make sure to have a reserve put by so that you have to finances available for unforeseen costs and to accommodate additional requirements.

Keep your budget documentation up to date at all times, so you don’t miss any aspect or supplier out of your costings. It may be worth utilising a specific software to help you keep track of all your expenses easily.

Step six: be original

A sign of a great event is a talking point or an impression you’ve left which sticks in somebody’s mind. Consider the attention to detail and try to come up with new and innovative that leaves a great impression. So many company events and conferences pass people by as they are all a similar setup.

Try and think outside of the box to come up with a new idea, focus point or an unusual approach to a standard event aspect such as the awards ceremony or catering to make your event remarkable.

Oct 11, 2017
| in All articles, Corporate Events

Guest’s WOW’d at the Natural History Museum!

Along with our sister company, Silverfox Events, we held a standing wedding reception at the Natural History Museum this weekend. Taking guests from the Drinks Reception in the breath-taking Earth Gallery into the World Famous Hintze Hall for the evening Wedding Reception featuring custom built food stalls accompanied with a decadent selection of our gourmet food, four bars and personalised decor.

Our first large event at the Natural History Museum since the re-launch in early September certainly turned heads, we are still receiving amazing feedback from the guests on the quality of food and service provided.

The Meeting

As the family’s preferred caterer we couldn’t wait to begin organising the most special day of their lives. We met with them in their central London home, allowing us to understand exactly what they want from the day. We set to work finding a suitable venue, amazing decor and most importantly creating a bespoke menu tailored specifically for our client.

The Planning

Taking the client to some of our favourite London venues, we settled on one of the most prestigious and well known, the Natural History Museum. Next, using our client’s brief, we arranged meetings with our hand-picked suppliers. After several meetings with artist impressions, scale drawings and expert advice the theme was set and the planning commenced. With flowers galore, lighting plans and entertainment schedules all created we were ready for the big day! Our Operations and Logistics Managers were then set to work, planning how to load in and out, ensuring all of the suppliers and staff are registered and adhering to the strict health & safety procedures at the venue. With one final suppliers meeting the day was upon us!

The Reception

With 2 hours on the clock, our suppliers along with our 230 staff members entered the Natural History Museum in a whirlwind of activity- laying tables, installing lighting rigs, arranging flowers, creating food stalls and bars and building a kitchen. Just as the last candle was lit and the final checks completed, our first guests arrived at The Earth Gallery and the service commenced. Canapés flowing, drinks circulating, guests mingling and the band playing, created a warm and relaxed ambience. Our management team meticulously briefed the staff on the food, the service and the clients expectations allowing us to deliver service standards surpassing our clients wishes.

Shortly after, our 300 guests move slowly through the mood-lit corridors into Hintze Hall. Gasps ensue, the client absolutely speechless at the grandeur of this national icon. With a 25 metre blue whale skeleton hanging above, 6 custom built food stalls, 4 beautifully crafted bars, and a variety of entertainment, including a live Bollywood singer, the party began with a bang and continued into the small hours.

 

Are you thinking of having a party, wedding or corporate event? Get in touch with our dedicated Events Team on 0203 150 2520 or 0161 902 0010

Sep 29, 2017
| in All articles, Asian Wedding

Ten Asian Wedding Food Ideas You Need To Steal

For the best day of your life, you want your guests to remember it as well as you do and for all the right reasons. As the saying goes; the best way to someone’s heart is through their stomach, so your wedding needs to wow your guests with a sumptuous wedding breakfast, tantalising canapes and delicious desserts.

Your wedding catering needs to impress, but also express your personality, after all, it is your big day. So how do you make sure you offer something different that gets the guests talking and makes sure that everyone is satisfied?

If you’re stuck for ideas, here are ten of our best Asian wedding food ideas that are guaranteed to hit the mark.

  1. Prawn Roti Rolls

For a delicious appetiser that’s pretty and elegant, take a small roti, add a spiced king prawn complete with garnish in the middle. Roll the sides of the roti up and tie with a chive stem to keep the filling secure. These rolls easy to eat, complete with an impressive filling on display all wrapped up with a pretty edible bow.

  1. Rose and Cardamom Panna Cotta

This delicious Italian-style set cream meets Asian flavours by infusing rose, cardamom and paan into the cream. Depending on your colour scheme, or whether you want the rose or cardamom to take centre stage, you can colour the panna cotta accordingly. The colour options make this dessert stylish and on trend, and this unusual take on a classic dessert will get the compliments flowing.

  1. Samosa Vol au Vent

Taking the classic samosa filling, add it to filo pastry cups and top with spiced crispy mung beans, offering a pretty take on the classic canape with a variety of textures to tantalise the palate.

  1. Mango Kulfi Lollies

Easy to eat on the move, kulfi lollies are great for a sweet treat for the buffet table. The mango will give the lollies a warm sunset glow. To entertain the children at the wedding, offer a range of sprinkles to coat the ice lollies in. Sweeties, edible glitter and crushed pistachios are great to add a little creativity to the menu.

  1. Sharing Boards

Ideal for grazers and to tide people over before the main meal arrives, sharing boards can be stylishly presented on each table and provide a great talking point for guests to introduce themselves over. Choose from a range of crispy snacks, such as crispy chapati, bhakri, naan and poppadum and add a variety of dips such as raita, chatpata chana, tomato chutney and hot garlic pickle.

Asian Wedding Sharing Board

  1. ‘Something For Everyone’ Skewers

It can be hard to please every taste, so the ‘something for everyone’ skewers are perfect for people to be experimental but enjoy food within their limits. Load the skewers with chicken pieces marinated in a range of different spices such as butter chicken and tikka masala, have the pieces arranged in levels of heat and spiciness so people can eat up until their happy and leave the pieces that are too hot to handle. For vegetarians, try using deep-fried paneer coated in spice mixes.

  1. Asian halibut and coconut shrimp

For the main course that wows, try Asian-style halibut, with flavours of ginger, coconut and soy on a bed of bok choy and sesame green beans complete with a coconut shrimp that gives the dish a sophisticated and stylish finish.

  1. Sambar and Heart-Shaped Idli

For a south-Indian flavour, take the classic sambar and refine it into a broth for a starter. Full of flavour, this is a great first dish for a menu, providing you reduce the vegetables and focus on the soup rather than the stew. Serve with heart-shaped idlis coloured with beetroot for a romantic start to the wedding breakfast.

  1. Salmon Chana Cones

Ideal for canapes or the buffet table, these delightful bites are served in ice cream cones, making them easy to hold. The chana masala mixture is kept relatively dry to avoid seepage out of the cones and mixed with chunks of flaky salmon.

  1. Cocktails

To wash down your scrumptious wedding food, why not offer bespoke wedding cocktails? Lychee Bellini, Watermelon Margarita and Spiced Mango Mojitos are perfect for adding fun and fusion to the menu as well as colour to tables. Choose your colour theme and go from there.

Need more ideas?

If you’d like some more inspiration, more Asian wedding food ideas or are looking for a wedding caterer that will provide your big day with incredible food and contemporary menu options then get in touch with Payal for inspired gourmet catering to wow your guests.  You can also fill out the simple form below and one of our team will contact you as soon as possible.

 




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    Sep 08, 2017
    | in All articles, Asian Wedding
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