Gary Duarte
The Brief
When luxury wedding and event planner Sophie Amor approached Lifestyle Marquees to design a marquee for a 21st birthday celebration in Weybridge, Surrey, the vision was clear: a sophisticated yet relaxed garden party atmosphere that balanced elegance with fun and creativity. The client wanted to host a Black-Tie event that would be memorable without being overly formal, accommodating 120 guests in a private home setting.
The Challenges
- Creating a structure that seamlessly blended sophistication and relaxation
- Incorporating interactive food stations and multiple bar areas
Ensuring ample space for dining, dancing, and socialising - Integrating high-quality entertainment and production elements
- Maximising the available garden space while maintaining a good flow for guests
Photography courtesy of Voyteck: Instagram @voyteckphoto
The Solution: A Versatile and Elegant Party Marquee
Lifestyle Marquees’ managing director Iain worked closely with Sophie Amor to design the perfect marquee to bring her vision for the party to life. After an initial briefing and on-site meeting, Iain provided Sophie with two detailed options, complete with drawings showing different layouts for key elements such as themed food stations, a central bar feature, and a dance floor.
The final design ingeniously combined two marquees, maximising the covered area in the garden while allowing for all styling features to be incorporated seamlessly. This flexible solution ensured plenty of space and excellent circulation for guests throughout the evening.
Marquee Features
- Two joined marquees to create a spacious, unified structure
- Central bar feature with flair bartenders and bespoke cocktails by Ace Bar Events
- Themed Monkey 47 Gin Bar
- Multiple interactive food stations catered by Vanilla Bean
- Spacious dance floor with high-energy band and DJ (The Distractions)
- Sophisticated lighting design by Luminaire Events, illuminating the marquee, home exterior, terrace, pool, and garden areas
Photography courtesy of Voyteck: Instagram @voyteckphoto
The Birthday Party Experience
The marquee design allowed for a perfect balance of sophistication and fun. Guests were treated to an array of interactive food stations featuring the birthday celebrant’s favourite dishes, created by Vanilla Bean event catering. The culinary experience was topped off with midnight snacks served directly on the dance floor.
Two feature bars kept the party spirit high. The central bar, complete with flair bartenders from Ace Bar Events, served bespoke cocktails, while the themed Monkey 47 Gin Bar proved to be a huge hit with guests.
Entertainment was a key focus, with the high-energy band and DJ, The Distractions, keeping the dance floor busy all night. Luminaire Events elevated the atmosphere with their sensational production skills, creating a visually stunning environment both inside and outside the marquee.
Client Feedback
The client was thrilled with the result, stating: “It was perfect! It looked sensational, the finish was excellent — it allowed for a great and easy flow of guests throughout the night. The shape and structure worked wonderfully.”
Marquee Specialists for Unforgettable Events
When top tier event specialists such as Sophie Amor choose to work with us to help bring their vision to life, we know we’re doing something right! If you are planning a special celebration, birthday or wedding then contact Lifestyle Marquees on 01483 322070 or email enquiries@lifestylemarquees.co.uk for a free, no-obligation estimate.
