Clare Kimble's 30th Birthday Party Real Life Party Entertainment

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

This was a party for my 30th birthday. I really wanted to get all my friends and family together as I moved house three years ago and am now at opposite ends of the country to people, so it’s not easy to see them regularly.

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

The party took place at our local pub The New Sun Inn in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire. I chose it purely for convenience as we could all walk there and back and there was a (small) space for the party band too.

It’s full of character and the bar staff, landlord and landlady are always really friendly and make you feel really welcome.
Plus they do amazing food!! People are still commenting on the excellent chilli!

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

No, I wanted it to be completely informal and relaxed. I didn’t even want any balloons or birthday signs up – in fact I just wanted to wear jeans but was promptly told to wear a dress by my close friends!

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

When looking for party ideas, I chose Happy Hour because they are young, fun, highly energetic and played the exact right mix of music to suit all my guests tastes and age ranges.

They have got great voices, and are lovely guys! They also gave me a fantastic price!

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

The dance floor was packed all night (I rarely stopped dancing all night) and the only bad thing was that I didn’t get to speak to all of my guests because I was dancing so much!

Everybody commented on what a great atmosphere there was and what a great band Happy Hour are. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, they were PERFECT!

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

Very good food was provided by The New Sun Inn in Kimbolton.

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

None, because I purposely wanted it really informal and relaxed. If I had to pick one, it would be when my friend Gemma Bevan asked the band to play “She’s So Lovely” by Scouting For Girls, and they changed the lyrics to “Clare’s So Lovely” – it was BRILLIANT!!

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

Plan as far in advance as possible and make a list of things you need to do in the run up and on the day. Also, expect people that haven’t RSVP’d to show up anyway!! Luckily I had ordered extra food!

Ask friends and family to take as many photographs as possible, as you will be too busy enjoying yourself to take your own photos.
Don’t get stressed, it’s not worth it, and above all ensure you book your entertainment through a reputable company who can provide a back-up if necessary!

Clare very kindly donated £42.00 to Comic Relief's Red Nose Day instead of receiving champagne as a thank you for writing this blog.  Thanks very much, Clare xx