James Cracknell's 50th Birthday Party Real Life Party Entertainment

What party were you organising, and who was it for?

The party was to celebrate my 50th birthday, and a way for me to say thanks to my family, friends and neighbours.

Where did your party take place, and why did you choose that venue?

It was set within the grounds of my home, Willow Meade, which is a beautiful thatched cottage situated in the heart of the Colne Valley in Essex.

Did you have a specific theme or format for your party?

The theme of the event was “vintage” and by that I am not relating it to a specific era but more of an emotive feel. Vintage is about setting one’s own clock back to a time when we believed life's values were based on simplicity, a sense of community and real friendships forged in face to face communication.

We used props to evoke and stimulate peoples’ imaginations; old cars surrounded by picnic blankets; traditional garden games that entertained both children and adults; straw bales strategically placed for additional seating; and at night festoon lighting which was strung across the pond and generated shimmering reflections, casting shadows and creating a warm glow. Candles sat on wooden tables and lanterns hanging from the cottage walls all added to the gentle summer hue.

Please tell us about the entertainment you booked through Alive Network, and why you chose that artist

When searching for party ideas, we settled on Mamba Rumba, a two-piece Samba outfit to perform two 1 hour sets throughout the evening. The party band had to be small, they were there not to dominate but to create a backdrop of noise from which guests could either sit back and chill or stand up and dance.

It needed to be about the music and not about the group. Mamba Rumba sounded perfect and the reviews on the Alive Network site helped to make that decision easier.

Please tell us about the performance, and the impact it had on your event

They fulfilled all of my expectations, were truly professional, delivered quality sound and got guests to engage as well as respected those who chose to just sit back and listen. I thought they were worth every penny.

What other suppliers/services did you use, and please provide commentary on any you feel were particularly notable

The event organisation was done by my wife and I under the name of Vintage Settings (a soon to be formed event organisation company). We brought together local businesses to supply all of the components.

The outside bar was supplied by The Thatchers Arms in Mount Bures, the catering by Gray's Catering of Bures who also supplied two excellent hosts for the occasion. The cakes for the vintage tea were supplied by a local cake maker named Clare, whilst my wife and I made cupcakes and scones. Photographs were taken by Philip Pinfold Photography who we found to be excellent, and the images selected are just a few of many that record the very essence of what the day was about. Finally, the marquee was supplied and erected by County Marquees East Anglia of Halstead.

All were notable because all fulfilled their functions within the core theme of the event. The beers were local ales and ciders, the food, locally sourced produce of an extremely high quality, the marquee just felt right and fitted in beautifully.

The feedback on the food has been outstanding, with two barbecues - one at lunch and an evening one, both with different menus, salads, homemade breads etc. The evening barbecue in particular was a real success with legs of local lamb marinated in rosemary and garlic, roasted to perfection and finished on hot charcoal to grab that final element of flavour.

In your own words please describe the stand-out moments of the party

For me it was a chance to see all my hard work produce a lot of smiles on people’s faces. The food was fantastic, the music was wonderful and the weather was kind. We drank an awful lot but no one got silly, it was just about perfect and a great way to see in the next 50 years.

Any pearls of wisdom you would like to extend to other party planners?

I wouldn’t hesitate to use Alive Network’s web site again when booking entertainment. It was professional and extremely accurate in the offering. Other than that, to save time, keep control of costs, and avoid last minute panics, use an event organisation company to coordinate and manage things. Finally, if it’s an outdoor event, plan for rain, and supply funny umbrellas or ponchos. Making provision for something you have no control over is the best way to deal with the worry.