“We’ve all been to that one work party that the whole office remembers right?!”

As the weather gets slightly warmer, we’re starting to think about planning summer parties!  And who better to speak to than one of our favourite corporate event planners Ashleigh from Pink Palms.

Ashleigh talks about the inspiration behind Pink Palms, the challenges of organising corporate events and her must haves for a fabulous event. 

What was the inspiration behind Pink Palms?

The idea for Pink Palms came to me when we were living in LA, I really needed to break away from a previous career as a cardiac nurse and have more creativity in my day to day life so when we returned to London, Pink Palms was born. I’m really passionate about making people happy, delivering super fun events and with a design that’s bang on trend! I love corporate events as it’s all about increasing the community spirit. Corporate events that go well can really increase collaboration among staff and have a positive effect on workplace relationships for a long while afterwards. We’ve all been to that one work party that the whole office remembers right?! My job is to make you all remember it for the right reasons!!

What are the challenges when organising corporate events?

I’d say the first challenge for corporate events is designing a night that will work for the crowd. The balance between maintaining professional relationships and encouraging people to let their hair down can be tricky! Usually corporate events happen right after work, so it can take everyone a little while to let their guard down and get used to being in a different environment where they can act slightly differently, despite still wearing the clothes they had on at work that day! It’s thoughtful event design that can crack the problem and create an amazing party where people feel comfortable!

Another challenge of organising corporate events is often someone who already has a role in the company has to organise the event, and that can be difficult for them when they’ve already got a full workload. It can take months to organise an event! That’s where I come in, I can take your event and turn it into a party that you’ll all remember. The challenge for me is I really like to know my clients on a personal level, and when it’s corporate it’s less about personality and more about the company. So I’ll research your company brand, your mission statement, your ethos and what kind of work you do so I understand whether you all need a total blowout and relief from a fast paced work environment, or whether you all want a bit more time to chill together as a team.

What are your must haves for the perfect company summer party?

First – Food and drink has to be ON POINT! If the food is not great people will compensate with booze (and we all know how that ends). I’ll only ever recommend AMAZING caterers and super cool bar staff to work a Pink Palms event.

Second – Entertainment! Summer parties are all about relaxing, enjoying being together and giving a focus for people to chat about…think of amazing entertainment as a bit of a covert ice breaker – no one has to get up and announce an embarrassing fact about themselves, but everyone has something to talk about! There’s a really cool magician I always recommend, the buzz around him is like when Dynamo first appeared – people just freak out!

Third – You NEED to document the night! Capturing the night with a photobooth or GIF booth is so often overlooked by corporates compared to other events (like a wedding, where it’s all about capturing the day) but photos of corporate parties are always a MASSIVE hit as no one expects it. This is also where styling your party really comes into its own, so it’s an instant social media hit (GIF booths in particular are perfect for social media). Whenever I’ve done a corporate party and organised a photobooth it’s all people have talked about and the photos keep those relationships at work going long after the night is over.

Organising events can be really stressful! How do you stay calm and make sure you enjoy yourself on the night?

Events can be super stressful, but to make sure you relax on the night – the devil is in the detail. Having a coordinator is key – they will ensure your suppliers are looked after, everyone’s got their meals and any last minute issues are sorted without you having to get involved. I organise parties from the very beginning planning stages, but I also offer a package where I style and co-ordinate the venue so you can all relax and make the most of the party!

What are your top 3 venues in London for company parties?

Ooooh that’s a toughie – there’s way too many! I’d say Shoreditch Treehouse if you’re looking for a small intimate supper club and Dinerama as a private hire is amazing, super cool food and surroundings. Pergola Paddington is a similar set up and has a few more Insta friendly wall murals! And you’ve got to include a rooftop, maybe Queen of Hoxton or Frank’s in Peckham.

Big thanks to Ashleigh for sharing her top tips. If you have an event coming up, be sure to check out Pink Palms.