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How to Plan the Perfect BBQ Party this Summer

Winter has retreated to another part of the world and summer fun has arrived so it’s time to kick off your boots, take out the flip-flops and bust out the invitations. That’s right; it’s time for a BBQ party!

Summertime Party Planning is Simpler than You Think

Summer is all about rest and relaxation, and that applies to the party host too! That’s why we’ve come up with a few tips for throwing the perfect party without breaking a sweat. Good food, good friends, and no hassle: because that’s how it should be.

So, if you want to throw the perfect BBQ party that everyone will enjoy, here’s a little advice to get you started:

Plan an Easy Menu that Tastes Gourmet

You don’t need 10 types of seasoned meats with enough sides to feed an army. Instead, focus on key summertime foods and build a simple menu around them. We suggest using gourmet ingredients to spice up your dishes.

There are a lot of ways to turn simple into gourmet and the following are a few things to keep in mind as you plan your menu:

TURNING SIMPLE INTO GOURMET

Never underestimate the power of putting a little twist on a party classic. Skewered vegetables take on a whole new taste when you add a little sriracha and lime! The best way to get ideas for this is to look into recipes online and always choose a site that allows you to set filters by ingredients and prep/cook time.

MAKE IT A POTLUCK

Most people are happy to bring something to the party, so why not make it a potluck? Not only will that cut down on your cooking time and costs but it will also give your friends the chance to share their delicious cooking too. Just make sure you keep track of what people are bringing. That way, you don’t end up with 20 desserts.

KEEP DRINKS SIMPLE

Cocktails can be a lot of fun, but they also have to be made in small batches. That means you’ll be spending your day bartending so we suggest considering serving beers and wines instead. Much like the food, you can even suggest guests bring their own favourite drinks. If you’d rather do something a little more sophisticated, make a hard punch or Sangria.

Hire a Party Marquee

Nice weather isn’t always a guarantee, so it’s good to have a backup just in case. Instead of bringing everyone inside, why not rent a marquee for the day? You can set up the seating area and some games within it and put all the food onto a buffet table with warmers. That way, hail, rain or shine, your preparation will not go to waste and you and your guests can still party!

Set Up an Area Outside for Games

Games are a must for any BBQ party. They are an excellent way to break the ice between guests that don’t know one another. The classics are great, but don’t be afraid to throw something a little new into the mix.

Here are some ideas for outdoor games you can easily put together:

HUMAN CHESS BOARD

In this game, your guests play as the chess pieces, with two people playing either side of the board. Of course, the chess pieces often have their say in the matter too! You can buy human chess boards, but it’s also easy to make one with a bit of twine and some large wooden skewers. Mark the outside dimensions of your board using the skewers and twine, then fill in the squares. You can play like this or use spray paint to fill in the board.

GIANT JENGA

You can purchase a set of wooden blocks all the same size and shape from your local hardware shop. Stack the tower as tall as you dare and watch as your guests try not to knock it down.

Make sure to relax and have fun!

The last tip we have is to just relax, as an anxious host doesn’t put guests at ease. Besides, summertime parties are all about letting go of your worries for a short while and as long as the company is good and there’s plenty of food and drink, everyone will have a great time!

5 Tips For The Perfect Beach Wedding

Ever been captivated by a beach wedding scene in a movie? Found yourself mesmerised at a beach side wedding abroad? If so, you’ll be delighted to know that beach weddings are no longer just a dream wedding scene for couples in Ireland.

Finally, we are finding ourselves experiencing prolonged dry spells of weather here in Summer time and budding brides and grooms to be are taking every advantage of this opportunity. Enjoying a true fairy tale wedding beach side, with the sounds of crashing waves behind you and a stunning backdrop for photographs, can be a reality on the Emerald Isle.

However, there are some considerations you need to take into account, so we’ve put together our top 5 tips for ensuring the perfect beach wedding:

Take advantage of the views

One of the main reasons to have a beach wedding is to take advantage of the amazingly beautiful backdrop. If you’re seeking permission to hold your wedding by one of our country’s fine beaches, ensure your designated area allows you to have a clear, uninterrupted view during your ceremony and that you work with your photographer to find the perfect spots on the beach to land those dream wedding shots.

Hire a marquee

Beach side wedding venues in Ireland are few and far between. However, by hiring a marquee, you can make any beach destination your wedding day venue. The key is to hire a marquee with windows so your guests can clearly admire the breath-taking views and ensure that the marquee is well secured – even the calmest Summer nights can see winds creeping in on the coast.
In terms of location, choosing to have a marquee weddingincreases the number of potential beach side destinations that you can choose to host your wedding celebrations.

Embrace the beach theme

If you are going to have a beach wedding, you’ll need to embrace the setting. You don’t need to go all out with inflatable rings, fake palm trees and Hawaiian leis to pay homage to your beach theme.
Subtle additions like putting fold away beach chairs outside for guests to lounge on, colourful bunting, coconut cocktails and driftwood signage can be a really classy touch. You’ve set the scene by setting your venue beach side so allow your theme and decorations to match the setting.

Have a relaxed dress code

Everyone will still want to get suited and booted for your big day but it is important to let your guests know the specifics of the location.
High heeled shoes and sand can be a difficult combination so be prepared to relax the dress code a little – communicate that both male and female guests can wear flat sandals and comfortable shoes. Females can wear lighter material dresses rather than the typical occasion wear, heavy material gowns while males can opt for smart cotton pants or shorts. It’s also wise to provide a stack of flip flops on the day as some guests will miss this important detail!

Know the local limits

When hosting a beach wedding, you need to get to know the local limits. If the beach is in a relatively public area, you will likely need to obtain a permit and obey noise disruption laws as well as committing to protecting the environment and leaving the area rubbish free when you leave.

Beach weddings in Ireland – who would have ever thought that this would be a luxury we could enjoy? Well now it is! You can hold your very own Hawaiian inspired beach wedding by the secret beach hideaway in Ireland you’ve always adored. Happy planning!

Tips for Planning the Perfect Summer Party in Your Garden

Garden parties have always been a hugely popular affair in the U.S., from the formal summer soiree to the all American BBQ party. That trend has made its way across the water in recent years with garden parties now in full flow in Ireland once the summer weather hits.

Summer sunshine is sticking around for longer every year in Ireland, reaching temperatures above the heights seen in holiday hotspots like Spain and Portugal and we’re all finding ways to make the most of it.

If you have a special occasion to celebrate, be it a birthday, Communion, Confirmation, engagement or wedding after party, or you simply fancy gathering some friends and family round, a summer garden party is the way to go.

We’ve put together our top tips to help you make it happen, and ensure it’s a blast!

Ensure everywhere has somewhere to sit

Summer garden parties create a relaxed atmosphere so you can mix up your seating options, providing foldaway chairs, stools, garden furniture, bean bags, cushions and blankets so that everyone has somewhere to comfortably sit if they wish to.

Bring the inside outside

If you’re throwing a summer party, unless you want people nesting inside your home, you’ll need to provide a place to shelter in the shade and to retreat to when the temperatures get a little cooler in the evening.

That’s why marquees are such a popular feature at summer parties. Whatever the weather, once you hire a party marquee, you can be guaranteed to host your outdoor party and provide a covered area that keeps guests comfy and out of your home.

Consider catering

The joy of hosting a garden party at your home is that you can cook and serve the food from your kitchen or get the BBQ going outside. However, this means extra clean up, extra stress and less time spent actually enjoying yourself at the party.

When you weigh up the cost and stress of home cooking vs hiring caterers to prepare and serve a buffet or man the BBQ, it really can be so worthwhile opting for caterers, especially if you have a large number of guests.

Kegs over bottled beer

Another common trend at Irish garden parties is to provide a home bar experience by providing self-serve beer kegs instead of bottled beer. Miniature versions are available from supermarkets and off-licences, while there are lots of providers who offer larger kegs for hire.

It can work out a lot cheaper to get a beer keg in and you don’t have to fret about consistently replenishing the beer supply and keeping bottles cool. Less stress for you and an entertaining feature for your guests.

Be your own DJ

If you have a marquee in place, you will have somewhere to house a music system or Bluetooth speaker. So prepare a Spotify playlist in advance, hook it up to your music system or speaker and you’ve got your background music sorted.

Consider the musical tastes of your guests when putting together a playlist – how much does Granddad appreciate dance music? Will the kids get bored of continuous 80’s throwbacks? If you have an Ipad or tablet, it can be fun to run your streaming service through this and allow guests to go up and add songs to the playlist on the day.

Soak up all the summer sun and fun and take full advantage of your garden by hosting a garden party that your guests will truly enjoy. Follow our 5 top tips and you’ll be all set to throw a stress-free summer soiree – Happy planning!

5 Unusual Uses For a Marquee

“Marquee” and “party” are two words people usually associate together. Marquees are undoubtedly one of the most popular venue options for parties, weddings and corporate events. However, their uses don’t stop there.

A little thinking outside of the box opens up a whole host of new uses for a marquee. We’ve put together a list of 5 of the most unusual yet clever uses for a marquee you may not have ever considered.

Storage

Storage space seems to be consistently in short supply in every home and business. If you are in need of a temporary storage solution for garden furniture, DIY equipment, clothes, kids toys or anything else that just won’t fit in your home or commercial space, a marquee may provide the ideal, smart, storage solution.

Marquees protect against the elements and can be constructed on site at your home or business property. You can hire a marquee of any shape or size to meet your specific needs. It can prove a more cost-effective option than hiring a storage container or renting a storage unit.

House/Business/School Extension

When renovating a home, business or school, a marquee can offer an ideal solution as a temporary extension of space. Your day to day life or business operations should not need to come to a halt due to temporary works or renovations. Hiring a marquee to provide a temporary extended space can ensure that business, classes and day-to-day life can continue as normal whilst work is on-going.

Marquees can also provide a much needed extension of space when events are taking place in your home, business or school. Whether there is a school fundraiser or concert night, business launch or home gathering, a marquee can provide the ideal additional temporary space you need.

Bridal Suite

Spending the last night of your single life with your bridesmaids and close friends and family is incredibly special as are the morning preparations for your big day. A popular trend emerging is the use of marquees as a personal bridal suite.

Hiring a marquee for use as a bridal suite offers brides the option of preparing for their big day and getting pampered and dressed with their bridesmaid and family, even if space is short in the home or they have chosen a small venue. A marquee can be easily decorated as your very own pamper room, creating a “VIP” area for you to kick back and enjoy getting ready for your walk up the aisle.

Use in Public Services

Hire marquees have played an important role for public service organisations too. Marquees can be used by police and emergency services at crime and accident scenes to preserve evidence as well as for processing and interviewing individuals during various policing security checks (road traffic, airport, marine). Marquees are also used for vehicle and visitor checks at government buildings or in locations where important government officials are visiting.

Catering at Outdoor Events

When catering for outdoor events, it can be a wise choice to hire a marquee to house a catering area as the unpredictability of our weather conditions can pose a problem, even in summer.

Whether you’re catering at a craft fair, car boot sale, sports day or benefit gig, setting up your operations within a marquee ensures you can cook and serve food and provide paying customers with somewhere comfortable to sit whatever the weather.

And there you have it! Marquees are more than just event venues they are a multi-purpose space with the flexibility to be adapted for a range of different uses and applications.

Marquee Hire for Christmas Parties

So, you’re looking around your living room or office and trying to imagine where all the people will sit. Even if they stand it’s going to be cramped, right?

If this is you during each year’s festive season it’s time you change your perspective. Don’t look inside the room anymore. Your solution lies outside. Or rather, you can create it outside by simply hiring a marquee.

Here’s why those in the know often use these stylish party tents.

Benefits of Hiring a Marquee

When you stop trying to convert your home or office into the ideal party venue, you can benefit from these marquee features:-

Your outside event can be a dry one no matter the weather since marquees are weatherproof.

– They’re often more budget friendly than hiring a venue or transforming another room.
– You have a range of customization options:
o Pick the size you want
o Decorate in an appropriate theme
o Different styles are available
o Different sizes allow you to pitch it wherever you need it
o With no other furniture using up floor space you can place exactly what you need in terms of tables and chairs.

Here’s the last benefit, unknown to many: Contrary to belief, these marquees are remarkably easy to heat, making them perfect for cold seasons too.

So, where will you use yours? Not sure yet if this applies to your scenario? Let’s count down some possible uses to help you get creative.

One Item — Multiple Applications

Corporate Christmas Party

When you’re catering for the entire office you need space for their partners too. Don’t even think of squeezing them into a boardroom. Whether your available space is on the sidewalk, in the garden or the local school’s sports grounds you can give everyone a spacious area to reminisce about the past year.

Make it even more fun by asking everyone to dress up according to a theme. Decorate the inside of the marquee accordingly for the perfect backdrop to selfies.

Inside a marquee, there can be enough space for a stage and speakers can be hung high enough to produce quality sound. That means you can have a live band or people making speeches and the crowd will hear everything clearly, without distortion.

Christmas Dining Space

If you prefer a more formal event—whether for your friends or colleagues—a garden can be the setting for a magical Christmas dining experience. Hire a small tent for caterers’ equipment if necessary so food doesn’t have to be transported across long distances.

You can set up the ideal event venue by combining different sized marquees.

Christmas New Year Parties

The festivities don’t stop after Christmas though, do they? Hire your marquee for a week and have your New Year’s party there as well. Set it up in a garden area and when the clock strikes 12 everyone can go outside to look at the fireworks.

With the amount of traffic on the roads during these busy nights, it’s much safer and convenient to celebrate at someone’s home or office. But of course, it has to still feel like a party. A marquee gives you the chance to create that environment.

Hire for Christmas Market

Long term hires can be accommodated according to your needs, so why not consider this solution the next time you organize your church, school or community Christmas market? There’s no limit to the number of stalls you can have, apart from how much space you have available. Why not simply change the venue, hire a sports field and see your project grow each year?

That’s the best thing about marquee hire: The versatility. With all that space available there’s no stopping you now: This year’s parties can be legendary.