Summer Party

So I have decided to pick up my virtual pad and pen once more and get back to blogging.

After thinking I had deleted the account and then later today discovering it was here all along, I am back. ( modern technology - don't you just love it?)

As some of you are aware from my previous blogs, I have been planning Events for Hastings Direct in Newmarket , and most recently we had our Summer Party.

I absolutely love getting my hands on these parties, and yet again the feedback has been overwhelming. 

I decided on a theme of a Traditional Summer Holiday; the kind you have as a kid by the seaside with candy floss and a coconut shy. No stress, just good old fashioned fun!

I also wanted something with the WOW factor and thought on this for a while.

We picked a local venue, The Bedford Lodge , Newmarket. 

It has a modern yet homely feel, and the gardens and patio area were perfect for our needs. 

We also used a company called fun4events who gave us some great seaside themed games , plus Candy floss and Popcorn. 

We had an ice cream parlour supplied by Toni's Ices , offering traditional home made Ice Cream.

Cupids Wish yet again wowed us with their talents , performing current and classic tunes all evening, the dance floor is never empty with these guys ... trust me!

Last, but by no means least, I give you Captain Jack Sparrow , otherwise known as Melo Sparrow; UK's Award Winning Johnny Depp and Captain Jack Lookalike.

Melo was hired as a surprise to our guests and we were all blown away.

He captured the essence of Captain Jack Sparrow entirely, making us truly believe he had spent the day sailing the sea's.

Melo is not just a lookalike though, he embraces all of Captain Jack's mannerisms to a fine art and amazed us all.

All in all a great evening and I'm now looking at Christmas for us all.... 

Countdown Begins......

Well, what a Christmas and New Year.

Very busy, but yet very rewarding too. 

We are one week away from the work's New Year Party, only seems 5 minutes since I was asked to plan it back in September 2013.

We have a fab night in store for our staff, with some hidden surprises on the night as well,,,,

The venue itself is enough to give the wow factor, however plans for the night are looking just as good. 

We still have the amazing Cupids Wish performing, we have the talented Edward Crawford, illusionist/magician and the lovely Gemma Dorling taking photo's for the memories. .

We have awards , honouring staff's talent's as well

To be a part of it all has been amazing to say the least, and I can only thank Hastings for allowing me to get my hands on it all....

Let's just hope it all goes swimmingly...

Life's A Catwalk....

We want the Event in 2014 to be a night to remember, and more importantly to never forget.

We needed a photographer who would capture this evening for all of us at Hastings Newmarket, and who better than Life's A Catwalk photographer, and fellow blogger, Gemma Dorling.

 Gemma is a freelance writer and blogger from Newmarket. She blogs and writes for brands, events, fashion shows, and much much more. She also writes for Urban CoCo magazine, where her articles are published internationally, currently interviewing an American artist for the international magazine.  ( She also happens to be my best friend of 23 years, but there was no favoritism here, PROMISE!)

Gemma has studied photography for the past few years, and I have included some examples of her photography. We picked Gemma for several reasons, but her enthusiasm for the job won us over.

Taken At Norwich Gala Fashion Show by Gemma

Gemma will not only be catching us dancing the night away, but obtaining us some stunning images of the venue itself and our guests, so we all have fantastic memories of the night.

Fashion Fusion at The Apex




Check her blog on beauty, fashion and lifestyle at http://lifesacatwalk.com/

If I Could Make One Wish, It Would Be For Cupid......

So, as part of the biggest party of 2014, 
( well for Hasting's anyway), I needed a band.

I had looked at DJ's, jazz bands, I had listened to snippets online of Madness and Queen Tributes,  however no one came close to Cupids Wish.

I know of this fabulous band as Georgia, the lead vocalist, used to assist her sisters Slimming World in Newmarket, and through being friends there, I learnt of Cupids Wish.

Colleagues at work had mentioned them too and said, ' I know of a great band, they played at my sisters wedding' or ' I went to a party the other night and had this great band Cupids Wish' , so I knew they had to be booked.

Cupids Wish have, and continue to have, outstanding success as a wedding band, but through talking to Georgia, I asked if they perform at corporate functions as well, and to my delight they do! 
They cover classic floor fillers, such as Celebration by Kool and the Gang and I Gotta Feeling, by Black Eyed Peas and the latest tracks, such as Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke and Get Lucky by Daft Punk. 
Also they will be entertaining us with a truly stunning acoustic set as we arrive.  

We were lucky enough to get them booked and we can't wait.... Stay tuned for further blogs about the event and also a coverage blog in January 2014 reviewing the event.


Check them out at http://cupidswish.co.uk

Picking The Venue..... And Falling Head Over Heels...

My first task as a Trainee Event Planner has been a tricky challenge as I have to please 200 people. ( cue the panic stations now) 

Hastings Direct have annual Christmas parties, as do most companies, however this year the pressure is on to make it bigger and better than ever. 

I have had a ball looking at venues, and we wanted something different, something almost unique, and more to the point the wow factor.

After looking at several venues we discovered The Granary Estates, http://www.thegranaryestates.co.uk/

The website made it seem to be everything we were looking for, special, hidden away, and a brand new venue. 

We organised a visit, and were blown away. 

Granary Estates 

The idyllic scenery, the peaceful ambiance, it was everything we wanted and more. Amy Burns, the event organiser there, showed us round the venue, and as cliche as it sounds , I was head over heels with this venue. 

Entrance Hall

The entrance hall is just breathtaking, and will be the perfect starter point for our guests to have their welcome drinks and the main venue itself is just amazing. Superb lighting which creates the perfect mood.

Main Hall

The Party is taking place in January 2014, and will certainly be a memorable occasion I'm sure. I will of course keep you informed of the planning and also blog about the entertainment too.

"All women keep score, only the great ones put it in writing" Bridget Jones

So my blogging adventure begins...



Blogging seems to be the new modern day diary keeper, airing our views and thoughts on life, careers, and other stuff.

So a little about me....

I'm Sara, 27 and a wannabe event planner to the stars!! ( one day.... )

I am studying in Event Management, and have been since May 2013, and am loving it. Think I have finally found my niche in life. 

While I Study I work for Hastings Direct in Newmarket, ( que the song 0800 00 1066)  and am lucky enough to be using my event skills in being an Operations Coordinator, booking everyday meetings, boardrooms for 'Sir Alan Sugar' style meetings, but also get to plan a few shindigs too....

However , this blog will not just be about my work/studies, I shall be reviewing products I use, places I go, and discussing topics of everyday life. 

So .... Let's Get Blogging.....