Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest 2016

Come and join us at the Riverside Marquee as we raise a stein or two to celebrate the famous German Folk Festival. There will be plenty of beer, bratwurst and pretzels as well as some fun games and challenges. Of course there will be the traditional German oompah music as well. Entry is £6 per person and includes a stein for the afternoon which we will fill up for you on arrival. The bar will be fully open so if you’re not a fan of beer there will be plenty of other options. So why not grab your friends and get your self down to the Riverside Marquee and have a beer with us!

Riverside MarqueeOktoberfest
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Party Planner Checklist

We all look forward to parties. Those nights where we can forget about the stresses of work and just have a good time. However the food and the entertainment do not just turn up at random, they need to be booked! This is where organisaiton comes into play. Planning a party makes sure that the good times keep on rolling. To take some stress out of planning a party, we have put together a small timeline to follow when putting together your perfect shindig. We can’t promise that it will help everything go off without a hitch, but we think it will help.

One Month To Go

  • Book your venue – You can’t have a party without a venue! It is important to make sure that you understand the size of your venue compared to how many people you are thinking of inviting. Make sure you ask the venue organisers how many people it can fit, and their opening and closing times.
  • Book in any help – You can’t do it all yourself! Ask for help from friends and family and make sure they have your party in their calander. You must also make sure that any catering companies or waiters or any paid help is booked with their respective companies.
  • Book your entertainment – Book your entertainment when you have secured your venue. Two weeks until the party should be the minimum amount of time. Try to match your entertainment with the kind of party you wish to have, for instance if you are having a dinner party you dont want a rave DJ… unless you’re re-writing the rules of fine dining.

Three Weeks To Go

  • Make an invitation list – It’s not a party unless there are guests! Try to invite 20% more people than you can fit, because the chances are around 20%-30% will not be able to make it to your party.
  • Pick a Menu – If you are having dinner served at your party, you should probably pick a menu. This menu can then be sent out with your invitations so that your guests can respond with their desired dish. Be wary of dietry choices, as well as allergies.
  • Send your invitations – There are so many ways that you can send your invitations thanks to the innovations of technology! Despite the speed of e-mails, it is always nice to recieve a hand written invitation to RSVP too.
  • Book any extras or props – If your party has a theme, you’re going to want to book some props to set the mood and atmosphere of your party. It is important to get the props booked as quickly as possible to ensure that they are available for your chosen date.

Two Weeks To Go

  • Check the playlists your DJ/Entertainment has chosen – Doesn’t hurt to be sure. This will give you the ability to veto any songs that you really dont like/aren’t appropriate for the party.
  • Check RSVP responses – Check how many people have responded, and send any extra enquiries to anyone who hasn’t yet replied

One Week To Go

  • Double check your bookings – There is nothing wrong with checking your bookings, as there can be things that go wrong. By checking your bookings, you are actively ensuring that your party is on track.
  • Create table plan – If you have seating at your party, you might want to create a table plan based off the responses to your invitations.

Date Of Party

  • Get to the venue early – It is always a good plan to get to your venue early to start preparations.
  • Place name cards on tables based on table plan – Only necessary if you have seating.
  • Check decorations – Make sure that all the props and decorations are placed how you want them to be.
  • Get a clear time for when food will be being served – It is good to know when food will be being served so you can have a clear plan for the party.
  • Greet guests – Greeting guests with a smiling face always sets a great tone for the party.
  • Have fun! – This is your party! Make sure you enjoy it!

Sometimes planning a party can be stressful, and you might need a little help. At the Riverside Marquee we have a party planner on hand to help you through every step to ensure that your party is a complete success!

If you would like more information about how we can help you with your perfect party, then please feel free to give us a call on 01628 762700 or visit our enquiry page.

Riverside MarqueeParty Planner Checklist
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Wedding Colour Schemes and Moods

When designing your dream wedding, one of the most important things to keep in mind is your colour scheme. The colour of your flowers, table decorations, lighting and wedding outfits all work together to convey the emotions of your special day.

With so many colours to choose from, the task of settling for just one or two can sometimes seem daunting.  Here’s the Riverside Marquee guide to choosing your wedding colour scheme to help create the right mood for your wedding ceremony and reception.

White

Moods – Innocence, peace, comfort

bride in a white wedding dress with white roses

White is the classic wedding look.  Traditional white radiates the beauty of the bride and shows the world that this is a new start to her life. White allow you to independently shine, whilst remaining understated and elegant.

Ivory

Moods – Warmth, quiet, luxury

Closeup ivory cloth for wedding dress with pearl' beads pattern

Ivory is a softer white and a popular choice for a wedding dress as it is flattering to most skin tones. Like white, it radiates a calm demeanour but is a lot warmer and softer than a pure white.

Red

Moods – Passion, excitement, confidence

bride and groom with red shoes and socks and a bouqet of red flowers

Red is the colour of fire and passion and is always exciting to see. It portrays you as a confident partnership and demonstrates your enthusiasm for a new chapter in your life. This colour is sure to demonstrate your energy and love for life.

Yellow

Moods – Happiness, intellect, imagination

yellow wedding bouquet laid on a concrete stairs

Yellow is the colour of happiness so your wedding guests can’t help but smile when they open the doors to your wedding and feel the warmth it radiates. Yellow brings a sense of creativity and is always an exciting pairing with other colours.

Orange

Moods – Optimism, motivation, enthusiasm

Beautiful orange Wedding Flower Arrangements Along the Aisle

Orange is a colour that ensures your wedding guests understand that you want them to have fun whilst they take part in the greatest day of your life. This warm and happy colour is sure to keep your guests chatting away and enjoying the social atmosphere it creates.

Green

Moods – Calm, nature, unity

Groom in a green shirt with a wedding bouquet in his hands

Green is the colour of unity and always evokes a peaceful environment that your wedding goers are sure to love. Although it is a choice that many people overlook, green is the colour that gives your wedding the final touch and brings everything together for your special day.

Blue

Moods – Calm, safety, peace

chairs with blue sash and yellow flowers

Loved by many people around the world for the calmness that it radiates, blue evokes trust and devotion which is why it is the perfect colour for a small ceremony surrounded by friends and family. Navy blue is also a fantastic alternative to a black suit, as it is softer and a fantastic match with softer whites such as ivory and eggshell.

Turquoise

Moods – Happiness, confidence, balance

Champagne wedding clothing in turquoise and white with bow

Turquoise is a refreshing take on the standard blue variations and brings an harmonious balance between the masculine and feminine coming together in the wedding ceremony. As well as a sense of balance, turquoise also emits a friendly and happy mood that is sure to put some smiles on the faces of your guests.

Pink

Moods – Love, passion, understanding

pink wedding

Pink is a fantastic colour for portraying the same message as the colour red but with a softer tone that blends better with other colours. Pink is an exceptionally positive colour and portrays a strength and sophistication.  When blended with darker colours such as navy blue, grey and darker greens you can achieve some stunning schemes that set your wedding off beautifully.

Silver

Moods – Femininity, purity, elegance

Silver gray writing paper or invitations with envelopes laid on bridal lace with several wedding gifts and white rose bouquets. Space for copy.

Silver is a dignified and elegant alternative to a dull grey.  An understated colour of luxury, silver shows your creative and imaginative side as it reflects the emotions of the colours it is paired with.

At the Riverside Marquee we make it our mission to ensure that your wedding day is as perfect as you always imagined it to be.  We always work to ensure your colour scheme tells the story of your wedding in the most amazing way.

If you would like to enquire about The Riverside Marquee for your wedding, or any other occasion, then please feel free to give us a call on 01628 762700 or use our contact form.

Riverside MarqueeWedding Colour Schemes and Moods
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Bray’s Easter Eggstravaganza

We are very excited to announce that we will be hosting Bray’s Easter Eggstravaganza on Saturday 26th March. We are offering a fun packed afternoon of Easter activities for the little ones, delicious street food stalls and refreshments. A great way to kick off the Easter weekend with all the family. We hope you can make it. Easter PP

 

Riverside MarqueeBray’s Easter Eggstravaganza
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Questions You Forgot To Ask Your Wedding Planner

When you are planning your wedding, you are likely to have thousands of questions running through your mind all at once. Unfortunately some of these questions can get lost during preparations because more pressing matters may be at hand. Here is our handy guide to questions that you may ask yourself when you are planning your wedding.

Why are weddings important?

You may be asking yourself why the whole day is even that important. We can wholeheartedly tell you that your wedding day is one of, if not the most, special days in your whole life. It’s one of those rare and precious occasions that brings so many people together for the sole purpose of celebrating two people’s love for each other. After all, what is a wedding without being able to share this love with your family and friends?

Why Do The Bride & Groom Give Each Other Rings?

The idea behind the ring is that love has no beginning and it has no end. A wedding ring is to symbolise eternal love and is placed on the aptly named “ring finger” of the left hand. People used to believe that this finger was the only one that contained a direct vein to the heart.

Do I Have to Follow Wedding Traditions?

No, you do not have to follow wedding traditions if you do not want to. Traditions are usually followed because of religion or culture, but that does not mean you cannot have exactly what you want on your special day. An example of tradition that is not always followed is that you and your partner must read traditional vows. This does not have to be the case if you have thought up your own. Speak to your planner about how you can tailor traditions into your wedding, and maybe ways that you can tweak their ideas to make your wedding more unique and personal to you.

Do I Need a Wedding Rehearsal? And If So Who Should Attend?

Wedding rehearsals are not a fundamental part of planning a wedding and are only really necessary if your wedding involves a lot of moving around, or if the order of procession is slightly different because of your environment. That said, rehearsals are a great way of ensuring that everyone knows what they need to do when the special day comes around and ironing out any problems that might arise before your big day.  Wedding rehearsals usually involve the newlyweds, the parents, the officiant and the wedding party.

Group Of Bridesmaids Blowing Bubbles In Garden

I Want To Include My Children In My Wedding, What Wedding Roles Can They Fill?

Children have played a vital part in weddings for years and years, whether it be as a cute bridesmaid or the young boy who giggles when the happy couple share their first kiss.

There are a variety of roles that a child can fill and it never hurts to be creative. Children are usually just delighted to be involved! Roles such as table entertainer, or Flower-Hander-Outer can be made up especially for young ones and it will keep them occupied and out of trouble. If you have an older child, or you want them to play a more traditional part in your wedding, these are other more formal roles they can fill:

  • Ring Bearer
  • Flower Girl
  • Bridesmaid
  • Usher/Groomsman

What Do I Say In My Wedding Toast?

Wedding toasts can be tricky as you will have all eyes on you when you are telling the story of your love. Wedding toasts generally change depending on the person doing the speech, for example the best man’s speech is usually funny, lighthearted and intended to show their friendship with the groom.

If you are having trouble with your wedding toast, then try to remember why you love your partner so much and why everyone is here to see you get married. Maybe tell the story of how you met your partner? Where you first realised you were in love? Stories like these tend to get a good reaction. Above all remember that, no matter how nervous you are, everyone watching is behind you 100% and that the odd slip up is okay.

When planning a wedding, it can be easy to forget about the little things. These have been a few small answers to some of your unanswered wedding questions. If you would like some more information about the Riverside Marquee and how we can make sure your wedding is as special as possible, then please feel free to contact us on 01628 762700.

Riverside MarqueeQuestions You Forgot To Ask Your Wedding Planner
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Riverside Wedding Venue Open Day

The Riverside Marquee invites all brides to be to join us on Sunday 27th September for our wedding venue open day.

From 11.00 am to 4.00 pm we’d be delighted to show you around the stunning grounds of our beautiful Bray location.  We’ll be on hand to talk to you about how we can make your special day one to remember.  And share with you a selection of refreshments.

Based just minutes from the small village of Bray, you’ll find us at

Weir Bank, Monkey Island Lane
Bray-on-Thames
Maidenhead
Berkshire
SL6 2ED

Please RSVP to: enquiries@riversidemarquee.co.uk

Wedding Open Day 27th Septeber 2015

Riverside MarqueeRiverside Wedding Venue Open Day
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