APOLLO?S GUIDE TO DELIVERING A CRACKER OF A CHRISTMAS PARTY The 'C' Word - it comes around every year on the same day so it should be easy to plan for right? Yet it seems that for many, that the role of organising the corporate Christmas party is a thankless task and a poisoned chalice. There's so much pressure on getting it right and pleasing everyone. How do you better last years and where on earth do you start?  All of this stress and worry on top of doing your day job at one of the busiest times of year. DON'T PANIC help is at hand! Here at Apollo, Christmas is one of our favourite times of year

CREATIVE CATERING IDEAS: STREET FOOD STYLE If you're looking for event catering with a difference and want your guests to really experience the WOW factor? then street food is the answer. Whether you want to add a sassy twist to a wedding, or a unique alternative to a corporate event dinner, street food is the up-to-the-minute phenomenon in must-have cuisine. It's the perfect solution for any event aimed at offering your guests a relaxed atmosphere to eat, drink and have fun and one that's sure to leave a lasting impression. From Italian ice-cream carts to continental cocktail bars, this quirky form of catering is becoming increasingly popular for anyone wanting to create an entertaining and memorable event. You

WEDDINGS: BLENDING RESPECTED TRADITIONS WITH CONTEMPORARY TWISTS - Part 1 Our concept of marriage today is a total contrast from what it was a hundred years ago. These days, far from committing themselves to a lifetime of domesticity and financial dependence, modern brides are savvy and financially secure and in the same way, how we host and celebrate weddings has naturally evolved and we are now presented with more opportunities to blend tradition and personalise the day than ever before. Styles and trends come and go, traditions are passed down the generations and respected more over time however there are a number of ways you can still honour the time bound traditions of a formal wedding ceremony whilst still making it

TEENAGE PARTIES Teenage parties are a major source of worry for parents and with summer here and exams at an end the party season is ramping up. These guidelines come from both personal experience and 25 years working in the party planning industry. We hope that they will help ensure a fun, enjoyable and safe party for both teens and parents that will be remembered for all the right reasons. TOP 10 TIPS FOR PARENTS 1 Guest list. Ask your child for a list of those they want to attend and how they know them. Contact details should also be provided should there be a problem later. Be sensible on the number of guests. Anything over 50 is

THE SURVIVOR'S GUIDE TO NEW YEARS EVE If it's your turn to host a New Years party don't panic! ?Simply follow our top tips and you're guaranteed to have a fantastic?night.... 1 Get the invite right!?Make sure your guests know exactly what?s happening, the dress code, catering, what to bring and the timings! 2 Timings.?Really important. It?s a long night so DO invite guests a bit later, say 8.30pm ? prevents everyone peaking too soon! 3 Theme/dress code. If you?re going for a theme then give guests plenty of warning as no one wants to be stressing about costumes post-Christmas! If in doubt, keep it simple ?Festive frocks?, ?A touch of sparkle? ?.it?s a great excuse for everyone to get

TOAST is the UK's definitive source for inspiring ideas and we are delighted to be featured in their latest life style edit? - Autumn / Winter entertaining trends...   Creative Themeing Expert event consultants Apollo are renowned in the industry for organising some of the most breath-taking and amazing themed parties in the UK. Rather than sticking to the same old ideas, Apollo's Managing Director Tim Hanbury encourages people to be brave when choosing a theme and with 30 years in the party planning business - Tim loves a challenge! Our recent Apollo parties include a Cuban themed 21st birthday, Rococo themed 50th birthday, a Russian 18th, a Hockney themed 50th, an Artist party and a Mamma Mia themed party for

Nestled among 195 acres of private parkland at the heart of the stunning Cotswold countryside, the exclusive Cotswold Park Barns is the epitome of a luxury corporate event venue. Situated on the historical Cotswold Park Estate, just seven miles from Cirencester and a little over eight from Gloucester and Cheltenham, this small exclusive-use venue offers the perfect setting for any corporate activities or client entertaining. Owners, Simon and Louise-Jane Hanbury, have many years of experience in corporate and private hospitality. They inherited the estate over 20 years ago, with the idea of creating a wonderful atmospheric venue, where people from all over the world could come to enjoy the beauty of the Cotswolds. And they?ve done just that by

FLOWER POWER: FLORAL DECORATOR PAUL HAWKINS TALKS STYLE, COLOUR & TRENDS {PART 1} Floral decorator Paul Hawkins and Apollo Event Consultants share an overriding passion ? to transform spaces into something breathtaking, extraordinary and unrecognisable. Having worked with Paul on some spectacular weddings and parties, we can count on him to help turn dream concepts into a reality. "We love working with Paul for his super-creative energy, years of experience, wonderful instinctive connection with our clients and because he is just such great fun to be around!" Based in London and West Sussex, Paul?s passion for flowers and horticulture has established him as one of society?s most sought after floral decorators. Paul's work is

BLOOMS & BOUQUETS: FLORAL DECORATOR PAUL HAWKINS TALKS WEDDINGS It is both a huge honour and a delight to be involved in planning a wedding. With so many big decisions to make, it is our job to make the planning process as stress-free and enjoyable as possible and this includes recommending and connecting our clients with the right trusted suppliers for their special day. This is why working with Paul is such a joy, as he instantly puts people at ease and with twenty years as a leading and innovative floral decorator, he always delivers a wonderful service and outstanding quality. Here Paul shares his tips on wedding style, managing budgets and choosing the right flowers.

WEDDINGS: COMBINING RESPECTED TRADITIONS WITH CONTEMPORARY TWISTS - Part 2 Our concept of marriage today is a total contrast from what it was a hundred years ago. These days, far from committing themselves to a lifetime of domesticity and financial dependence, modern brides are savvy and financially secure and in the same way, how we host and celebrate weddings has naturally evolved and we are now presented with more opportunities to bend tradition and personalise the day than ever before. Styles and trends come and go,  traditions are passed down the generations and respected more over time however there are a number of ways you can still honour the time bound traditions of a formal wedding ceremony whilst still making