Monday, 1 October 2012

Decor, wherever we go!


Recently one of TGBEco team visited Lille for a short break and some creative stimulation, hoping to find a bit of France not too far away where bread, patisserie and vino flowed and some chill down time after a busy summer season..
 

 
As we wondered the streets of Lille on one of the sunniest days for a while, we noticed that even though the buildings were architecturally stunning they were often complemented by some very simple but effective styling. It seems that everyone has a little bit of creative in them.  And why not!? 
 
Inherent in almost every event we produce is the creative element.  We have worked with some of Europe's best stylists and some of GB's own creative food artists, so we know a little about what works and what is possible.  Often it's simply the furniture positioned to the side, with some backlighting effects up the walls and 'voila!' there you have it.  Nothing is possible without a good supplier to hand however.  Our rule of thumb is - if the supplier 'gets' what you are asking for over the phone then you just know they have the creative wherewithall to make it possible!  Failing all else, go back to basics like we found in Lille, paper lanterns - simple yet effective!
 
Last year Great Hire  supplied a lot of top quality furnishings for all types of events.  We recommend them if you can't find a better local supplier to match your needs!
 

 
 Enjoy - Gilly, Romilly, Sindy and Team GBEC

 

Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Sunny Summer Events from Surrey


So it’s time to get the kids back to school, put your beachwear away, grab yourself some time to ‘chillax’ as we like to say…

We have had such a lovely couple of months since our move to our new office & kitchen base  this summer…we thought we would share some of the delights of party & wedding season 2012…
 
Before the summer began…we had our internal FIELD EVENTS TRAINING course building week… * see bottom of this blog

Then into July - The Great Big Event Co – ‘Godalming Bake-off’ Vintage Tea Room

 August – a wonderful 40th Wedding Anniversary … quite unlike any other we have had the privilege to run
                  
 
 1st September – A really country wedding & a truly romantic 25th Wedding Anniversary

 
TGBEco In house Field Event Service Training programmes are in development. In 2013 these shall be available as one day and 3 day courses equipping everyday service teams with the basics for temporary or more permanent assignments.

This course is being designed to create a service culture and basic training for field events The Great Big Event Co style.

Covering

·         culture & service
·         table settings
·         etiquette
·         guest approach
·         special moments
·         field event banqueting
·         FOH management training
·         marquee & facilities - for Field Events
·         wine service
·         bar setup
·         table laying
·         function operations
 

Look out as this training programme will be launched in March 2013


 

Enjoy!

Gilly, Romilly, Sindy and the team
 
Our new office for TGBEco / Vintage DaysRegistered Office:
C/o Regus at 3000 Cathedral HillGuildford
Surrey GU2 7YB
Telephone: 01483 243503
 
Our Surrey base and where you can find us
for a coffee anytime you like…

HHF, 1st Floor, Highfield Lane,
Thursley, Surrey GU8 6QJTel: 01252 70246
 
 

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

Vintage still en vogue

Despite the weather still not showing reliable signs of summer, the wedding season is in full swing. We are noticing the vintage and nostalgia trends are still a big influence is our brides planning.


Our range of Vintage Days crockery range can make all the difference to your wedding theming giving guests something to talk about, here's what one of our recent brides told us:


"We just wanted to let you know how pleased we were with the vintage crockery etc yesterday. It looked fabulous and as gorgeous as we had hoped!


The baroque glasses went down a storm and many people asked about where they could buy the iron tables and chairs. Thank you for all the hard work that went into the arrangements, we could not have been happier."



We have one of the largest collection of Vintage crockery for hire with over 1000+ place settings and we have experience of catering for all size functions. 


But it not all about the crockery and glassware our team has years of experience in planning, theming and styling weddings and of course producing amazing food for parties and weddings. So if you are planning a wedding or function and just need abit of extra help then please do give us a call.


And let's just hope the sun starts to shine on some of those up coming nuptials.





Best wishes,


Gilly, Romilly, Sindy and the team









Friday, 11 May 2012

Showcase weekend with JF Marquees

We know the sun hasn't exactly been sun shining much recently but JF Marquees brought alittle bit of sunshine to the Medicine Gardens in Cobham on the weekend of 28th/29th April.


The viewing weekend was a fantastic opportunity to come see a marquee set up and envisage your event along side the finer details. The Great Big Event Co. and Vintage Days came along to theme an area of the marquee and showcase our Vintage Day theming service along a small sample of our very large vintage crockery and glassware collection which is available to hire for weddings, parties, afternoon teas and more. 

There were also a large selection of sweets available to launch our all new children's party service, although we believe the sweets didn't service the whole weekend?!

We hope you like the photo's courtesy of our friends at JF Marquees and if you have any events coming up this summer please do give us a ring to see how we can help your event be even more unique.



Best wishes,

Gilly, Romilly, Sindy and the team

Monday, 16 April 2012

WIN A SPA DAY FOR YOU AND A FRIEND AT GRAYSHOTT SPA...


De-stress from wedding worries and treat yourself to the pampering you deserve with a day out at the award winning Grayshott Spa. All you need to do is answer the questions below for your chance to win...



Your day will included a delicious 3 course buffet lunch, use of all the spa facilities including the swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, relaxation, sauna and steam rooms, tennis courts, gym and exercise classes.  For more information about Grayshott Spa visit www.grayshottspa.com
How to enter:
For your chance to win a day for two at Grayshott Spa just answer these two simple questions:
  1. How many years does the Queen celebrate on the throne this year, the year of her Diamond Jubilee?
  1. Which gorgeous heritage property, and wedding venue, was used as the setting for the period drama Downton Abbey?
Email your answers to: info@thegreatbigevent.com with ‘Competition’ in the subject line. Closing date 28th April 2012. 



For full details of our wedding services please visit www.thegreatbigevent.com


TERMS AND CONDITIONS:  The winner will be the first correct entry drawn on 30th April 2012.  Entrants must be 18 or over.  The prize is a mid-week Grayshott a La Carte Day for two people to be used Monday-Friday.  The winner will be notified by email.  The prize must be accepted as offered and is non-transferable, non-redeemable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other.  There can be no alternative award, cash or other.  One entry per household.  By entering this competition you are agreeing to the terms and conditions and your email address may be used for further promotional mailings from The Great Big Event Co and Grayshott Spa.  The organisers' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promotion will be governed by English Law.

Monday, 26 March 2012

Engagement photo shoots.


With Spring officially started, the wedding season will be kicking into action very soon. This week we wanted to focus on an increasing trend we are seeing in our weddings and that is our newly engaged couples are marking the occasion with an photo shoot.


All this beautiful weather provides photographers with fantastic light and spring flowers to make the shoot even more spectular. We caught up with Greg from Just Imagine Photography for his expert experience as to the benefits of an engagement shoot...

"An engagement shoot is a win win situation.  Whether you feel comfortable in front of the camera or not, you will get something out of it.  For those who are nervous about being the focus of attention it is an assurance that it is not as frightening or awkward as they thought it would be and for everyone else it's still a good opportunity to get to know your photographer a bit more.  Explore ideas with him/her in an environment which is safe and friendly and not time restricted.   There is no better way to help make you feel more comfortable with and engaged in your wedding photography and it will help you to relax on your wedding day ensuring you get the most out of the experience." Greg - Just Imagine Photography


If you are interested in a engagement shoot we're sure Greg at Just Imagine Photography would be happy to discuss your requirements further.

Also if you are in the throws of organising your wedding and need alittle help then please do take a look at our wedding planning packages. Our dedicated wedding planning team will be more than happy to discuss how we can help.


Best wishes,

Gilly, Romilly, Sindy and the team

t: 0845 459 9812/4




Wednesday, 29 February 2012

2012 Party Season Kicks Off

Saturday saw our first big party for 2012 and it was an amazing night. The party was to celebrate a family 50th.

Our DJ was Bill Sood, had everyone dancing...so much so, that the dance floor was not big enough for our hearty 90 guests.  We hear that the last guest departed at 05.00am!  The best thing about Bill is that he really did make the party swing. He had a playlist and he ‘read’ the crowd so well! 

The food was a selection of canapes served with prosecco by our team to a hungry group of party goers followed by a wonderful 3 choice hot bowl food menu.

The menu was cooked by Alexander our wonderful chef who produced the most amazing sea bass dish amongst melting lamb and Singapore noodles!
Dessert – homemade miniature doughnuts with dipping chocolate sauce & Chocolate tiramisu cups! Yummy.

From invitation to dismantle – the whole party was Glitzy – All the ladies dressed in the most amazing glitzy party frocks and one gentleman was all silver glittery suit with a silver glittery hat!!

Gilly and the team really enjoyed this family 50th party...



Best wishes,

Gilly, Romilly, Sindy and the team

t: 0845 459 9812/4

Monday, 20 February 2012

How to plan a wedding...

So our last blog was on the subject of how to ask the big question, now assuming the proposal has been asked and the answer was 'YES" then the next logical question is "how to start planning a wedding"?


Now, that is something we are very good at here at The Great Big Event Co. We just love a good wedding and with our team of wedding planners, caterer and exclusive venues we can help we all or part of your wedding planning.

I caught up with our top wedding planner and founder of the The Great Big Event Company Gilly Botte last week and asked her top tips for successfully planning your wedding:

  • Savour the moment and enjoy the time of being ‘newly engaged’
  • Definitely buy out the magazine racks for the most up to date ideas and happenings – brides, weddings
  • Relax whilst you browse the mags (with a coffee or a glass of wine, at home in your favourite armchair). 

Make notes such as:
  • What do I want for my wedding?
  • Where?
  • Who?
  • How much?
Then share these thoughts and wishes with your other half before you invite the world to make comment on how you should do it.

Create your joint priority list.

THEN...

My next bit of advice is to really fully establish what sort of money you have to spend on the day and from there, get help with your budget planning. You will have to be prepared to compromise on all sorts of ways, but remember, the ‘priority list’ and work with that as much as possible.

That should set you up for a great wedding which you have control over and which you can get excited by.

If it all seems alittle over whelming then please download our wedding planning guide here.

Of course if you would like to speak to Gilly without commitment then please do call on 0845 459 9812 or email.

The beautiful engagement photographs in this blog are courtesy of Just Imagine Photography who we have had the pleasure of working with during 2011. Our next blog will focus on the growing popularity of engagement shoots and will feature more of Just Imagine fantastic work, in the meantime  please do take a look at their website: www.justimaginephotography.co.uk

Best wishes,

Laura, Gilly, Romilly & the team.

w: www.thegreatbigevent.com
e: info@thegreatbigevent.com
t: 0845 459 9812/4

Tuesday, 7 February 2012

The big question...

With Valentines day fast approaching there will be some of us expecting, hoping or longing for a marriage proposal! That got us thinking about the whole proposal issue, it must be a terrifying event to plan, where, when & how to proposal are all crucial to the moment because lets face it, if your proposal is success you could me re telling that moment for years to come - no pressure then!

But the thing is it really doesn't have to cost a fortune often the most imaginative or creative proposals that work the best. Last year we loved the You Tube sensation of Adam King proposing to his girlfriend on a London commuter train, with the help of his friends in a choir.



OK we don't all have the friends in a choir that are willing to sing on a packed commuter train, but the idea of doing something personal and unique will bring some very special memories.

For those not expecting a proposal we hope you have a lovely Valentines.

Best wishes,

Gilly & the team

www.thegreatbigevent.com



Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Why Gilly loves a party!


I have been arranging amazing events for some time now and offers an insight into some of the interesting private and corporate events undertaken over the past few years.

Cool parties and major family celebrations are my absolute love!

They get my heart beating fast, my mind races and I need to drop absolutely everything I am working on at the time so I can really pull myself together to listen & hear what the client is saying at the end of the line!  This happens every time I get that call. 

Straightaway I see the party happening in my mind and that is the foundation for me. When I meet clients face to face to further discuss their plans, I have to hold myself back so that once again, I hear what they want and then I take the brief from there.

I often find myself waking up first thing in the morning with a complete visual insight into what a client event will actually look like on the day/evening and often that’s exactly as it is...  Funny this seems funny...but it just reaffirms that I am a visual interpreter rather than a wordsmith!



The best events are those, where the clients really want to enjoy the occasion and share with friends/family/colleagues – they set the scene from the outset!  I do the rest to make it happen and stay cool.


Things that make me smile!

·         Meeting a client for the first time and seeing their face relax as soon as they start to share their ideas and feel a sense of comfort as they release their hopes
·         Being No 1 on an existing clients call list when they have an important family occasion to plan!
·         Making a client laugh...out loud and get excited by ideas.
·         Eliminating any concerns about political correctness.
·         Creating a Buzz before the event
·         Wowing clients and their guests
·         Seeing a family raise their glasses without saying much ... just before the first guest arrives and feeling that warm fuzzy and buzzy feeling of achievement
·         Watching guests arrive at the party all ready to enjoy
·         Watching a husband, partner, father, mother, see each other all dressed up to the nines just before their event starts and look at each other in that amazingly unrepeatable way
·         Seeing appreciation of the guests as they taste the food, see the décor, watch the show, listen to the music...just savour the moments.
·         Knowing the client is happy.

Best Wishes 

Gilly Botte
Founder & Owner of The Great Big Event co.

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