Dean's 40th Birthday Beer And Barbecue Garden Party

What party were you organising, and who was it for?

My husband Dean’s 40th birthday celebration. I am married to a wonderful man who really deserved a very special day with all of our friends and family.
 


The planning started months in advance, I bought a huge 24 seat table, decorations, a marquee and garden furniture all off eBay!



We stocked up on wine from France and spent a lot of time building a huge decking area in the garden to accommodate our guests.



Where did your party take place, and why did you choose that venue?

We had a “beer and barbecue” garden party which started late afternoon and went on until bedtime. We have an unusual feature in our garden that made the perfect venue - a railway arch!



In the railway arch we have created a drinks bar and space for a pool and football table. This created a great party area and was a talking point with guests who had never been to our home before!



Did you have a specific theme or format for your party?

The theme was simply beer and barbecue for 85 guests. We wanted a relaxed and casual party but one that would continue to be talked about with our friends, family and work colleagues for months to come. I think we certainly achieved it too!



Please tell us about the entertainment you booked through Alive Network, and why you chose that artist.

When it came to party entertainment ideas, we chose rat pack singer William May because our guests ages ranged from 11 to 75. William May offered a fantastic mixed genre of music from rat pack to Coldplay, which suited everybody, and what a great addition to the day he was! The cost played an important part in our decision, and William May was well worth it!



Please tell us about the performance, and the impact it had on your event.

We arranged for William May to perform under a gazebo on the patio just in case it rained, and also because we have outside power supplies around the garden. We created a mini dance floor for those aunties that like to have a bop, and not to mention a sing song with the microphone!



William engaged with all of our guests, he was good fun and polite. Everyone joined in with the spirit of the party.



William May is an amazingly talented artist and we would not hesitate to choose him again or recommend him to others.



What other suppliers/services did you use, and please provide commentary on any you feel were particularly notable.

We used B&W Hire Limited who provided portable toilets. I would highly recommend portable loo’s if you are having a lot of guests! It takes the pressure off having people in your house and keeps the party outside!



We bought wonderful helium balloons to place around the garden from Card Factory. They were great value for money and a very effective way to decorate a large space. They are open on Sundays too.



I created my own party invitations and had them professionally printed by Zazzle who offer great value for money. Their web site offers an extensive choice of designs and provides a fast delivery service, once you have managed to decide what you want!



We also hired chaffing trays to keep the food nice and hot. Shop around for competitive prices!



In your own words please describe the stand-out moments of the party.

William May's performance was fantastic, and definitely one of the stand out moments of the party.



The surprise on our guests faces when they arrived to a party that was a bit more than your average barbecue.



Thank goodness it was a bank holiday the next day to enable us all to recover!



Any pearls of wisdom you would like to extend to other party planners.

Know your budget and stick to it! Alive Network offers a host of performers and entertainers to suit many budgets and the easy to search web site and excellent customer service is the best!



Plan in advance and write a timed plan of action for those last minute details you can only do on the day. That way nothing gets forgotten.



My mother can bake and she made my husband’s birthday cake. It is really useful to have another cake already sliced and boxed up for guests to take home with them, that way you don't have to cut the cake there and then!