Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2006 | Page 52

FEATURE

Preparation
and planning
We asked Nick
for some tips
when planning a
marquee, these are
his suggestions...
TOP TIPS for a
tip top party:

· Agree on your theme
and design around it

· Consider special

lighting effects to create
ambience both inside and
outside the marquee

· Hire floral displays and
topiary i.e. bay trees or
lavender to decorate
the exterior or entrance
of your marquee

· If you are having a

pay bar, or charging
entry to your party you
will need a licence

· Ensure that you account
for all your guests. There
is nothing worse than
underestimating the
number of guests that
you think may arrive.

· Make sure your plans will
still work in wet weather –
if it is sunny, it is a bonus!

· Find out the power

requirements and add 10%.
Do not underestimate this

· Book your suppliers early
and make sure they coordinate with each other

· Allow time for a final
tidy up before the
party is due to begin

52

Try this for size...
When it’s time to party call in the
real professionals for a spectacular marquee

Planning an outdoor event
for the British summer
means catering for all
weather conditions – and
that’s exactly why marquees
have become so popular in
recent years.
One local company which has
witnessed the huge growth in
this market is Island Marquees, a
company which offers more options
and styles than you’ve probably ever
thought of.
Island Marquees and Grays
Traditional, a company which has
been in business for over 160 years,
are two successful island-based
companies which merged three
years ago. Together they are able
to offer an exclusive and stylish
service for events of all sizes, from
the largest corporate function such
as the launch of a cruise liner, to
the most simple country wedding.
Both companies have enviable client
lists and reputations for providing
marquees of the highest quality and
standard for weddings and special
occasions.
Island
Marquee’s
managing
director, Nick Ward, says hire
charges can be designed to suit any
budget. “This year we have supplied
a marquee for a very nice wedding
for £500. The previous year we
supplied a marquee for a 21st
birthday party which was in the
region of £50,000.”
In fact, if you need a marquee, in
any style or colour, or are looking
for a very special venue to hold
a marquee party, then Island
Marquees will probably be able to
find you a solution, because nothing
has fazed them yet.
“We were asked to locate a 30-foot,
fully-rigged yacht to place inside
a marquee to make a stunning
centrepiece,” says Nick Ward. “This
got the brain cells going a bit, the
solution being to dig out a hollow,
place the keel-less boat in the hole at

the correct angle, build the marquee
over the boat and dress the whole
interior as if the boat was tacking
through the marquee.”
Ward adds, “We can put up
a marquee almost anywhere,
regardless
of
the
ground
restrictions. At Island Marquees, we
love a challenge.” As well as private
parties, Ward’s companies supply
to a huge range of island events,
including providing X\