Albion Parties

Describe the most creative party you have organised?

One of the most creative parties we organised was a Wes Anderson-themed 40th birthday party for 400 people in a privately-owned stately home. We had the run of the house, and we themed each of the 4 interconnecting downstairs rooms after a Wes Anderson film. We let our imagination go wild! To set the scene, we created a surreal first impression for guests as they arrived up the drive, with a series of giant inflatable animals outside the house, and a 30' inflatable octopus with its tentacles emerging from the windows. The main hall was themed after the Grand Budapest Hotel, with barmen dressed as bell boys, and hundreds of umbrellas on moving rotors suspended from the ceiling. The Drawing Room was turned into an Indian train carriage from the Darjeeling Express, showcasing a feast of curries. The Library was themed as The Life Aquatic with diving paraphernalia from under the sea; and the Music Room was themed as Fantastic Mr Fox, where we created a woodland tunnel across the room, with a foxhole, and an actor dressed up as Mr Fox, surreally playing an organ. For visual effects, we video projected each film, which turned into a laser show as the evening progressed. For music, we had a team of 5 DJ's who played until the last man was standing at 6.00am. What was our biggest worry? The music was so loud we thought the windows would shatter...

Describe our favourite wedding last year?

One of our best weddings was a stylish wedding for an English/international couple, which we created at Wrotham Park. The bride and her mother had a vision of an Italian garden in the marquee. We built giant Farrow & Ball-painted mirror-backed trellis structures, and installed them around the dinner marquee, reflecting and refracting the light, and creating a sense of the garden outside being brought in. The marquee ceiling was hand-painted to give the impression of the sky, crystal chandeliers were suspended from the ceiling. Large vases of lime green Bells of Ireland floral displays hovered over the tables on their clear plinths, with fuschia peonies and sweet peas adding texture and a colour pop. The overall effect was breathtaking and undeniably chic. After dinner the nightclub was revealed, with a deliberate style contrast to the dinner marquee. Bright jewel-coloured nightclub sofas and armchairs clashes with the vibrant floral arrangements in disco ball vases on the bar. We worked with all of the following HOPP suppliers at this wedding: Invitations: Pemberly Fox Marquee: JB Marquees Catering: By Word of Mouth Cocktails: The Rum Runner Band: Velvet Entertainment DJ: ALR Music Flowers: Rob Van Helden This was a real dream team!

Where do you get your inspiration from?

We are always on the search for new ideas. Our most usual go-to sources are interior designers, art galleries, restaurants, fashion designers and anything to do with travel. Everything can be translated into a party!

Are you there on the day of the party?

Yes, we are always onsite from before the first supplier arrives until the supplier has left, and the site is left as spotless as it was at the start.

What is your number one rule?

Keep building the energy, so you build the fun at every stage and end on a high. Apart from that there are no rules!

How do you put together your budgets?

After an initial brainstorming meeting with the client, we put together a complete budget and moodboard based on everything we discussed. We procure comparative quotes from a variety of suppliers to give the client a choice in both style and price point. Together with our client, we go through the budget working out where they want to spend and where to save. We also suggest expert ways to maximise their budget by focusing on aspects that will give the biggest impact without blowing the budget. We send updated budgets after every meeting, so that our clients are able to keep track of where they are financially at all times. We are precise about staying within budget, to ensure there are no surprises after the party.

Which suppliers do you work with?

We work with a huge range of suppliers, and because we choose not to be tied to anyone specifically, it allows us to recommend to our clients the best suppliers to suit their style, budget and character. In addition, we can work with any suppliers our clients would like to bring on board.

What is your USP?

We are big believers in the alchemy of partying. In order for the energy to develop during the evening, it's our job to make sure we are one step ahead of the guests revealing different aspects of the party as the night progresses, and always leaving guests wanting more. A party should always end on a high!

How do you charge?

We are totally transparent in how we charge. We do not mark up any supplier costs and do not take any supplier commissions. The only income received is from the fee. All negotiated discounts are passed on directly to the client. We work in this way to get you the best and most honest prices, which enables us to give our expert opinion based on what will best suit each client, rather than due to receiving supplier backhanders from companies who might not suit the style of the client. We choose to do this to build trust, so that there is a happier working relationship and a better party overall.