Author: Amazing News Editor

7 of the most unusual and exciting places to get married

Thursday 13 November 2014 by Amazing News Editor

Choosing a wedding venue is a highly personal decision, and not everyone wants to head down the traditional route. If you want to take a leap into the unknown, try one of these thrilling and unique wedding venue ideas:

  1. In the forest. A woodland wedding is incredibly romantic, and it can also be charmingly simple. So, if you want to tie the knot without all the fuss and expense, why not let the beauty of nature take centre stage and hold your wedding in a gorgeous local forest? You can put up a large marquee or tent to hold off the weather and retire to the space in the evening for a memorable reception.

 

  1. In your own back garden. Provided you have the space and the right kind of garden (a large, well-kept lawn is ideal), holding your wedding in your back garden provides a lovely personal touch to your big day. You can pop up a large marquee or, if you have more space, an event tent, just in case it rains, and hold your celebrations in a place that means a lot to you. It will also be a lot cheaper than hiring a venue!

 

  1. Atop a mountain or overlooking a canyon. The beauty of this kind of wedding is the breath-taking views in all directions, depending of course on the location you choose. These views provide the perfect backdrop for saying your vows, as well as making for amazing photos. If it’s too chilly to hold your reception at the top of the mountain, you can always head downhill after the ceremony to a sheltered and customised event tent.

 

  1. In a cave. Britain doesn’t have many caves suitable for weddings, but if you look further afield in Europe you’re likely to find lots of underground cave networks that could make for a thrilling and memorable venue. All you need is the right mood lighting and you’re all set.

 

  1. At an old railway station. This may not immediately jump out at you as a suitable wedding venue, but there is a certain old-fashioned romance to a traditional-looking railway station. We’re also very lucky in the UK that we have lots of them. If your station of choice has a ticket office or other building that’s large enough for your reception, all the better.

 

  1. In a treehouse. This can be a venue that is tricky to track down and quite expensive, but it certainly would be a wedding to remember if you can manage it. The experience of climbing up into the treehouse and enjoying the lovely views, as well as the surprise of your guests, can make it all worth it.

 

  1. At a festival. If you like the idea of a fun, laid-back and semi-spontaneous wedding, getting married at a festival can be just the ticket. Pack or hire a large tent, decorate it however you like, tie the knot and head off to see your favourite band. For music lovers, there’s no better way to do it. However, you will need to sort out things like a wedding licence and an officiant – although you could always have an unofficial ceremony at the festival and head to the local registry office later on.

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Last chance to plan an amazing outdoor Christmas party…

Thursday 06 November 2014 by Amazing News Editor

December is not usually the time most people associate with outdoor events, unless they involve winter woollies and snowball fights. However, December also means Christmas, and an increasing number of people are choosing to have incredible Christmas parties under the cover of a specially designed event tent in the great outdoors.

If you want to have a Christmas party to end all Christmas parties though, you’d better start planning right this second or you won’t have enough time to pull it off!

Outdoor Christmas parties – how to stop your guests freezing to death

Holding any sort of event outdoors in the middle of winter, you’d expect it to be cold, not to mention windy, rainy and perhaps even snowy. You can’t stop the winter weather, but you can take steps to make your guests comfortable. For example:

  • Get them under cover. Shelter is essential for an outdoor event, so you need to hire an event tent or large marquee that is big enough to accommodate everyone. A tent may be a better idea than a marquee as it provides all-round shelter. The great thing about event tents is that they can be easily decorated and customised, turning them into a magical winter wonderland perfect for an amazing Christmas party.
  • Turn up the heat. You’ve sheltered your guests from the weather, so you now need to warm them up. Get some expert advice on heating your event tent and preventing cold draughts from coming in, and your guests will soon be toasty warm.
  • Hot refreshments. A catering company with experience in outdoor events will easily be able to provide you with seasonal hot drinks like mulled wine and hot chocolate, as well as hot food and snacks to suit your event. That should keep everyone nice and warm!
  • Dress code. Only a cruel party planner would stipulate anything less than a warm dress code, so be kind to your guests! You may also want to provide blankets, faux fur coats and perhaps umbrellas for the comfort of your partygoers.

You should also remember that in winter, roads, paths and access points to your party site may be difficult to navigate. You need to have an action plan just in case roads become icy or snow-covered, and you might also want to pick a site that isn’t too remote or hard to get to.

Now for the fun festive stuff…

With your event tent up and heated, you can now start to plan the Christmas element of your event. Event tents like SaddleSpans are easy to decorate with all the fairy lights, Christmas trees, baubles, banners, lanterns and snowflakes you desire, so you can really go to town with your theme. You can also arrange events that fit in with the weather, such as a snowman building contest, or perhaps a fast and furious Christmas dance-off to warm everyone up on an ice-cold day.

An outdoor Christmas event can not only be a success – it can be the most memorable party you and your guests will ever attend, so it really is worth going the extra mile to overcome the challenges of the season.

 

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The best tips for heating an event tent

Thursday 30 October 2014 by Amazing News Editor

Event tents are like portable venues, which you can situate in pretty much any location where there is enough space. They allow you to have the most amazing outdoor weddings, memorable corporate events, fundraisers and galas – all with the great outdoors right at your fingertips.

However, any outdoor event is bound to come up against one unpredictable and undefeatable opponent – the great British weather. Of course, event tents do provide much-needed shelter and protection against the elements. But while they do keep the chill out and the rain off, they can get a little bit nippy in winter without the right heating.

Here are 5 useful tips for heating an outdoor temporary structure like a SaddleSpan event tent:

  1. Get expert advice. There are companies which specialise in heating for event tents and other outdoor venues, and you’ll also find that suppliers of event tents like the team at Amazing Tents can also offer some advice and point you in the right direction.

 

  1. Choose equipment that is fit for purpose. There are lots of types of heaters for tents and marquees, from ducted and infrared heaters to fan heaters. You need to choose one that is suitable for heating large spaces efficiently and evenly, whilst also being safe, within budget and suitable for outdoors.  For example, small patio heaters won’t be powerful enough to heat a large marquee, whilst anything involving open flames is unsuitable for a tent unless it is designed for this purpose or is installed and managed by an expert.

 

  1. Heat your tent before your guests arrive. You need to get your event tent to a comfortable temperature before your guests arrive, so that it is pleasant inside the tent when the event starts. It takes a while in these large spaces to bring the temperature up to a comfortable level, so start early if you want to be ready for your first guests.

 

  1. Don’t forget about the entrance. Making your guests feel warm and welcome the second they step inside your event tent is crucial, so consider a fan heater directed at the door (just like shops use over their entrances). It isn’t the most efficient heating method, as all the heat is directed towards the outside, but it will make a more welcoming first impression for your guests.

 

  1. Take safety seriously. Heating equipment and tents can be a bad mix if you don’t know what you’re doing and you ignore all the safety rules. These include ensuring that nothing (including the walls of the tent) is touching the heater, that flammable materials are kept away from heat sources and that all electrical equipment is properly maintained and set up. You also need to include heating equipment in your general health and safety risk assessment for the event, bearing in mind that there are different risks to combat in an event tent compared to a standard building.

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4 reasons why the SaddleSpan is the perfect party tent

Wednesday 22 October 2014 by Amazing News Editor

There are lots of venues in which you can hold a party, but those looking for a more memorable and unique experience are bored with town halls, studio spaces and hotel function rooms. If you want something different, why not hold your party in a SaddleSpan event tent?

If you need convincing, here are 4 excellent reasons why the SaddleSpan is the ultimate party venue:

1.     You can put it virtually anywhere

All you really need to have a SaddleSpan tent for your party is enough space and the right to use it. Event tents can be erected in a wide range of different locations, from car parks and large gardens to fields and even the grounds of stately homes. Before you hire a SaddleSpan for your party, find out how much space you have to work with and this will allow you to choose the right tent. Remember to leave a little space for the people who will actually set up your tent, and for any extra equipment you might need, and make sure there is access for vehicles on your site.

2.     It’s modular, so you can change its shape

Unlike a building, the shape and layout of a SaddleSpan tent can be completely customised to suit you. This means that you can choose how you’d like the space to work and even create ‘zones’ within one space – for example, you can create a bar area, a dance floor, a chillout space and a buffet area all in one tent. All you need to do is choose a basic model and find out about the different ways it can be configured. To discuss your ideas and see if they’re feasible, speak to a SaddleSpan expert at Amazing Tents for some expert advice.

3.     It has all the space you need

Buildings often have very restrictive limits to the number of people they can hold, due to fire and other safety regulations. Event tents do have a maximum capacity, but as they are large and sited outdoors, the upper limit of partygoers they can hold is much greater. Having all this space means there is no limit on how big you can go with your bash, making the SaddleSpan perfect for memorable, once-in-a-lifetime celebrations.

4.     It is easy to decorate and customise

With such a large space inside a SaddleSpan, you might think that you’ll have trouble decorating and furnishing it all. It’s actually quite simple to hang banners, lay down click-together flooring, rig lighting (which can also be used to decorate the walls) and sound systems and even screen films and videos on the wall of the tent. The only expensive bit will be installing a bar, although you can go as elaborate or as simple as you like with this.

For some parties, it can be best to keep things simple with decoration. In summer, for example, you can leave the floor as grass, open up the doors of the tent, install a great sound system and get everyone dancing in the sunshine and fresh air. You can even ask a band to play, making it just like your very own festival.

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8 ways to beat the weather at outdoor weddings

Wednesday 15 October 2014 by Amazing News Editor

Unfortunately, you can’t control the weather on your wedding day. You can’t stop it raining and force the sun to come out, as much as you’d like to. All you can do if you’re having an outdoor wedding is to prepare for the worst conditions and try to make the most of rainy, windy days.

However, there are plenty of things you can do to stay one step ahead of the weather. To prevent rain, wind and even sunshine spoiling your outdoor wedding, follow these 8 handy tips:

  1. Get a roof over your head. An event tent or at the very least, a marquee, is crucial at an outdoor wedding. You could have a large marquee ready as a back-up in case of rain, or you could pre-empt the weather and move your entire day under the cover of a huge and completely customisable event tent. SaddleSpan tents, for example, are ideal for outdoor weddings.
  2. Prepare for wind. Even a strong breeze can cause havoc, so prepare for it by securing everything that could blow away, avoiding wedding dresses with very light fabrics and using far more hairspray than you think you need.
  3. Tell your guests what to expect. In the case of outdoor weddings, this could be any kind of weather! If sunnier weather is expected, recommend wearing sun cream but also advise bringing an umbrella and a warm coat. In the UK in particular, you just never know what the weather will do!
  4. Face away from the sun. The glare from the sun can prevent your guests from watching the ceremony properly, so assess the best angle to place your seating at in advance of the big day.
  5. Provide heating and power. Whether you’re holding the whole day completely outdoors or you’ve plumped for an event tent, make sure your guests are warm enough with adequate heating. Don’t forget about power either, as you’ll need lighting on dark days, power for microphones to make the speeches over a howling wind and music through speakers to properly celebrate your big day.
  6. Keep your food properly chilled or heated. Using professional caterers is the key to keeping your food the right temperature, as it can quickly spoil on hot days or arrive on the table lukewarm on cold ones.
  7. Provide umbrellas and blankets. If the weather turns, be prepared for it with a stash of large umbrellas and blankets for your guests and for members of the wedding party. Don’t forget to nominate ‘umbrella holders’ to make sure bride and groom don’t get soaked as they arrive at the wedding.
  8. Put down flooring. Whether you’re in a field or under the cover of an event tent or marquee, it’s a good idea to put down some type of flooring just in case it gets muddy. All you need is something with some grip, so your guests don’t end up slipping and falling in muddy conditions.

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5 ways to boost the profile of a corporate event

Thursday 09 October 2014 by Amazing News Editor

If you’re putting time and hard work into planning a corporate event, be it a conference, gala event or launch party, you are going to want as many people as possible to attend.

The key to boosting attendance is to make your event as high-profile as possible, so that people feel that they can’t afford not to show up at what appears to be an industry-leading day. How do you raise the profile of your corporate event? Here are some ideas to get you started:

1.     Choose a unique and unusual venue

To make your event stand out, why not think outside the box a little when it comes to the venue? You could just go for the standard conference centre or hotel, or you could make a move outdoors in a purpose-designed event tent. SaddleSpan tents are ideal for conferences and corporate events, offering customisable interiors and all the space you need, including the opportunity to create different zones or areas within one venue.

This unusual choice of venue can be a real talking point, and people may turn up simply out of curiosity for what you’ve managed to create in your event tent. Such a bold move will also position you as an innovative event, and people love anything that is new, creative and different.

2.     Market your event with social media

When marketing an event, social networking can be one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. There are lots of things you can do, including:

  • Creating a unique hashtag for your event
  • Get people excited about the event with shareable content, including leaked details and a good mix of entertaining content and solid reasons why they should attend
  • Concentrate on industry leaders and decision-makers – once you have these VIP names on your guest list, this will attract scores of other attendees
  • Make use of professional networking sites such as LinkedIn
  • Run a contest to get people talking about the event

3.     Offer incentives for early registrations

Not only do you need to start publicising your event as early as possible, but you also need to get people signing up as soon as possible. If your event is ticketed, offer early bird discounts to those who register early. If it’s free, offer extra incentives (i.e. books, goody bags, a free drink at the bar) for getting on board as early as possible.

4.     Cross-promote with other organisations

If you can partner with another organisation, one that also reaches out to your target audience, you can drastically raise the profile of your corporate event. In return, you can promote the organisation or even make them a sponsor.

5.     Contact people directly

It may be time-consuming, but personal initiations and follow-ups to RSVPs can do the world of good to your attendance figures. If you want to fill your event tent, don’t just rely on people to turn up on the day – pick up the phone and give potential guests a courtesy phone call, it really does work!

 

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6 practical ideas for magical winter weddings

Thursday 02 October 2014 by Amazing News Editor

Not everyone wants a summer wedding, especially considering the cost of having your nuptials in the warmer months can be astronomical. Overall, it can be cheaper and a bit more unusual to have a winter wedding. For some couples, the idea of getting married in a snow-dusted landscape or on a windswept beach is a romantic one, so why not give it a try?

However, there are certain practical considerations to bear in mind if you’re planning to hold your big day in the depths of winter. For example, if you’d like to brave the elements and have an outdoor venue, you’re going to need a fully heated and weather proof event tent to shelter your guests and hold the evening celebrations.

Here are a few practical ideas to help turn your wedding day from simply freezing to totally fabulous:

  1. Serve hot drinks. Mulled wine, hot chocolate and liquor coffees can be a charming and delicious way to warm your guests up, so why not serve hot drinks instead of wine or champagne?

 

  1. Invest in a sturdy, weather-proof structure. A standard marquee isn’t going to cut it if the weather hits, so you need a weather resistant, sturdy event tent that is designed specifically for outdoor events that are exposed to the elements. Once you have this, you’ll at least guarantee that you’ll be dry and sheltered.

 

  1. Embrace the weather. You simply can’t have winter weather without getting into the spirit of things and accepting that it is likely to rain/snow/blow a gale. You can prevent disaster by choosing a top quality event tent that won’t let in any leaks, and providing the bride with an umbrella as she arrives at the venue, but you can’t stop the weather altogether. If it’s cold, start an impromptu dance session to warm up; if it rains, go outside and enjoy it, splashing in all the puddles and getting wet through. If you embrace the weather, you can make your day truly memorable. If you don’t, it could end up being a disaster.

 

  1. Create a winter wonderland theme. There are lots of theme ideas you can use for winter weddings that would look out of place in summer. From snowflakes, snow, ice blue and silver colour palettes, pine trees, sparkling ice sculptures and even autumnal colours – there is a world of inspiration to draw from.

 

  1. Provide plenty of heating. You need to ensure that everyone is warm, so invest in proper event tent heating systems and provide your guests with blankets and fluffy footwear to keep them toasty – they’ll appreciate it!

 

  1. Add a wedding coat to your dress. For brides worried about spoiling their dresses with a bulky coat, but also worried about staying warm, why not add a tailored and beautifully embroidered wedding coat in snowy white? There are also pashminas, wraps and high-collared shrugs to consider. You’ll stay warm and look elegant – after all, there’s nothing elegant about a purple, shivering bride!

 

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A guide to holding outdoor film screenings

Thursday 25 September 2014 by Amazing News Editor

Provided the conditions are right and everything is properly organised, an outdoor film screening can be an atmospheric and exciting event.

You might want to hold a film festival, screen videos as part of marketing events and product demonstrations, or maybe you would like to show romantic videos as part of a grand outdoor wedding. Whatever the nature of your event, you’ll need to know exactly how to set up and screen your films.

Setting up

The way you organise space in your venue, whether it’s an event tent, marquee or perhaps just a field, is crucial to the success of your film screening.

You need to first choose the right spot for your screen, ensuring that sunlight or artificial light isn’t causing any glare on the screen. You should also look out for any obstacles which may cause shadows to fall over your screen. You might have to try a few spots until you get it exactly right.

A popular way to screen films is to project them straight onto the walls of the venue, which works brilliantly well in event tents such as the SaddleSpan where there are no poles, cables, seams or other obstructions blocking the screen. You need a completely smooth, flat, pale-coloured surface, and somewhere safe to put the projector of course.

The next thing to arrange is seating. Your audience needs to be a reasonable distance away from the screen – you don’t want the front row of people craning their necks to see. You either need a very large screen, seating that is on a slope or different levels or tiers of seating so that everyone can see clearly. Play around with different configurations, sitting in each seat yourself to see how it works and how clear the view is.

Lastly, you’ll need to organise power, lighting and sound – speak to your technical engineer or bring in a specialist team if you need to. Remember to keep your wires and cables as tidy and concealed as possible, or they could become tripping hazards.

Running your screening

The key to a great outdoor screening is atmosphere, which is surprisingly easy to create. You already have the perfect setting of an event tent, marquee or simply nature itself. The next step is to make use of your lighting, having it on full as people take their seats and dramatically dipping the lights when the moment to press ‘play’ comes. You should always have some form of low-level safety lighting in place, however.

You should always be prepared for technical problems, no matter how well you think you’ve set up. Have spare cables, fuses and even films on hand, along with a technical team or engineer. If you prepare for the worst, you’ll be ready to jump in and save the screening. You probably won’t need any of your back-up plans, but you’ll enjoy the screening much more knowing that they’re in place!

 

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5 amazing events to hold in a Spiegeltent

Tuesday 16 September 2014 by Amazing News Editor

The Spiegeltent is quite unlike other types of event tent. Lovingly recreated from the traditional mirror tent of the early 1900s, this type of tent is fantastically decorative, with heaps of old-world charm and a strikingly unusual appearance.

Not surprisingly, Spiegeltents are very popular for events. They provide such a unique and memorable backdrop for a special occasion, but what kind of events are they best for? Here are just a few ideas (there are many, many more!)…

1.     Cabaret!

The look of the Spiegeltent, with its many mirrored surfaces and elaborate decoration, lends itself perfectly to a cabaret evening. The Spiegeltent even has a box office, which looks the part even if you don’t choose to actually sell tickets from it.  Book a few interesting acts, ask your guests to dress up in period outfits and enjoy a cabaret evening from the 1920s!

2.     Themed weddings

Everyone wants their wedding to be different, and a great way to stand out is by holding a themed wedding. If you have a vintage or period theme, the Spiegeltent could be just the venue you’re looking for, especially when situated in the grounds of a stately home or another beautiful location. An ideal use for it is for your evening reception, as it’s the perfect venue for a party.

 3.     Musical performances

This kind of event tent is perfectly set up for performances of all kinds, and it is particularly good for music. It has plenty of space for the audience, great acoustics and a fantastic performance space for your singers and musicians, as well as a box office and a bar. It’s easy to set up any equipment and lighting you may need, as the Spiegeltent can be rigged to your exact specifications.

4.     Theatrical productions

In addition to musical events, Spiegeltents make ideal theatres, providing a small, delightfully intimate venue for everything from amateur to professional performances. The atmosphere inside one of these tents is fantastic, really setting the scene and the mood for the show even as the audience arrives through the mysterious mirrored entrance.

5.     Fundraising events

If you want to do something a bit different with your fundraising event, the Spiegeltent is the perfect venue. Starting with your rather unusual venue, you can build a whole theme around this marvellous space, from dress code to food and entertainment.

For example, you could hold a 1920s themed afternoon tea party, asking your guests to dress up and rounding everything off with an hour or two of dancing. You can sell tickets at your tent’s box office and create your own themed cocktails at the Spiegeltent’s bar, and sell photos of everyone in their finery with the beautiful mirror tent as the backdrop.

This is just one example of the kind of magical day or evening you can create using the versatile Spiegeltent, all in the name of raising funds for excellent causes.

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How to add indoor comfort to an outdoor venue

Friday 12 September 2014 by Amazing News Editor

Now that the reasonably warm weather of summer is nearly over, planning an outdoor event presents a whole new challenge to organisers. How do you keep your guests warm, dry and comfortable, even if it’s absolutely throwing it down outside?

Step 1 – Find a weather-proof shelter

This is the first and most important thing to get right – choosing the right venue for your event. If you’re plumping for an event tent, you need to be sure that it is sound, solid, water tight and as weather-proof as possible. This means choosing an event tent specialist with a great reputation, which provides structures that are guaranteed to keep the wind and rain out – like Amazing Tents! Once you have your weather-proof structure, you can start to make the inside of your venue a little more cosy and ready for your guests.

Step 2 – Lay a proper floor

Laying a proper floor in an outdoor venue not only makes the space look better and bigger, but it can also make it a degree or two warmer. Flooring such as lino, tiles or other temporary floors provide vital insulation against the cold, as well as keeping people’s feet out of damp grass.

Step 3 – Add heating and lighting

You have a weather-tight venue that’s solid and strong, and you’ve laid a proper floor. The next thing to think about is heating, which you will need if your event is held at night or in the middle of winter. You should have a heating back-up plan ready no matter what the season or time of day, just in case of a sudden chill. There are plenty of efficient, eco-friendly and unobtrusive ways to heat an outdoor venue, even one as potentially draughty as a tent, so do your research and come up with a good option.

Lighting can also help make your event tent feel cosier, by adding a little ambience and a feeling of warmth and welcome. Lights also add a little to the heat! Work with a lighting designer, or experiment with lighting effects yourself, to create just the effect you’re looking for.

Step 4 – Finish with soft furnishings

Comfortable chairs, sofas, armchairs and other seating options add the comfort, not to mention the style, you need to make your event a success and keep your guests happy. Use soft furnishings to complement whatever colour scheme or theme you’ve chosen and to completely transform your event space, so that your guests completely forget that they’re actually standing in a muddy field in a rainstorm and gale force winds.

Lastly – prepare for everything!

The only thing to add to these tips is this important piece of advice – be prepared! If you plan for every eventuality, every potential problem or accident and the very worst weather you can imagine, it will only help you overcome any little hiccups and ensure your guests have a fabulous time on the day.

 

 

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