Everyone says your wedding day goes by in a flash, which is why wedding weekends are becoming increasingly popular. It seems long gone are the days of your ‘big day’ being just one day!

A wedding weekend is not just about adding extra celebrations on either side. It’s a multi-day, carefully curated experience for your guests. They are filled with exciting and memorable moments beyond just the ceremony and wedding breakfast. It provides an opportunity to prolong the celebrations, benefitting the guests as much as the couple! 

In this post:

1. What is a weekend wedding?
2. Why wedding weekends are a great choice?
3. Key considerations for planning a multi-day wedding?
   • Location & Venue
   • Budget
   • Itinerary & Guest Management
   • 3-Day Wedding Weekend Itinerary
   • Planning & Logistics
4. Why should you hire a weekend wedding planner?

What is a weekend wedding?

Any wedding is about storytelling, woven together through many chapters. These chapters tell the story of you as a couple and encompass each event and element of your wedding weekend. Each chapter is perfect on its own, but also weaved together flawlessly with others creating an unforgettable celebration. Every separate moment or event of your multi-day wedding must stand alone and go by without a hitch, while also fitting seamlessly into the overall wedding experience.  

A wedding weekend typically spans 2-3 days, sometimes even more. As destination and weekend wedding planners, we find the most loved format involves a welcome party on day 1, the main wedding day on day 2, and a farewell brunch or lunch on day 3. Some couples choose to add extra chapters, such as a rehearsal dinner or pre-wedding luncheon for immediate family members. Whatever the format, the itinerary and organisation of each moment are everything! You want to ensure there are no awkward gaps where guests don’t know what’s happening, or for anything to feel disjointed. Each element should effortlessly follow the next, ensuring a unified and well-thought-out celebration. 

Why Wedding Weekends Are a Great Choice

Having multiple days allows you to break away from the traditional formalities of a single wedding day. More time equals more fun! It provides more scope to have variety in style and design, and curate meaningful itineraries for guests to enjoy. Across the weekend, there will be time to take it all in at a slower pace, for you to spend with family and friends, and truly experience every moment for yourself. After all, there is nothing worse than FOMO! 

Whether in the UK or abroad, at ByChenai Events we specialise in crafting unique and bespoke wedding weekends, and we absolutely love them!

Welcome dinner at Wynward Hall

Key Considerations For Planning A Multi-day or Weekend Wedding?

Drawing from years of experience, I have summarised my top considerations for planning a multi-day or weekend wedding.

1. LOCATION & VENUE

The location sets the tone for the wedding celebration. It’s understandably quite an overwhelming place to start wedding planning as it requires careful consideration. Think with both your head and your heart – don’t just pick a venue because of its beautiful setting. Consider whether it will logistically work for the wedding you are hosting!  

Single Location

Whether you are considering a wedding at home or at a venue, decide if you want to hold all the celebrations in the same location. If so, is there enough space to play with, to give you a point of difference between each of your events, rather than using the same space each day? When at a venue, make the spaces work hard for you! We’d always suggest keeping the main wedding areas a surprise for the big day. However, get creative and explore other potential locations on-site for your welcome party. Just because the venue hasn’t hosted a dinner in the Market Garden before doesn’t mean they can’t consider it. Try pushing the realms of possibilities (within reason, of course) to create something unique to you! 

If you need to reuse some of the same spaces, don’t panic. Think creatively about how to make it visually different, with a clear but cohesive point of difference. Remember, this may require a decent decor and crew budget to transform the space in a short amount of time.

Multiple Locations

Alternatively, hosting different elements in different locations, such as the welcome party in a quaint local village pub, certainly makes a point of difference between each day. However, you’ll need to plan the logistics and guest experience of getting from A to B more carefully. Consider what is in the local area for guests to explore during free time in the itinerary.

Accessibility

Accessibility is also a crucial consideration for location, especially for overseas guests or a destination wedding. What is the nearest international airport, and how will these guests travel to the venue? Will you be organising transport, or will they need to make their own arrangements? Accommodation is equally important for both overseas and local guests. Are guests able to stay on-site at the venue, or are there nearby hotel options at varying price points?

An experienced wedding planner will help you navigate the location and venue search and present options which fit the criteria of your wedding weekend. 

>> What does a wedding planner do?

2. Budgets

Naturally, adding more elements and days to your wedding will increase expenses. We would not recommend reducing your wedding day budget allocation to allow for added days, as you don’t want to compromise on the wedding day itself. That being said, with careful planning and sensible decisions, extra events in a weekend itinerary do not have to cost the earth. 

Prioritising Your Budget

Start by envisioning your dream wedding day and the events that might surround it. Create a draft budget by prioritising the wedding day itself, as this is the main event. The majority of your budget should be assigned to it. After you’ve determined this budget, you can work from the middle outwards to see what else you can afford to add on. 

Separate Event Budgets

Each event should have its own separate budget, allowing you to clearly see where costs are allocated. Each individual event budget will then sit within your ‘master budget’, potentially leading to 3-4 budgets to manage. This might seem overwhelming, but an experienced planner can handle these with their eyes closed! 

Guest Considerations

While your budget is important, you must also consider the costs involved for your guests. You are not obliged to pay for everything, but offering inclusive suggestions is polite. Be transparent from the start about what will be included in the weekend and what costs your guests will need to cover, such as travel or accommodation. Provide budgetary guides to help them determine what is personally feasible for them. 

With thoughtful planning and clear communication, you can create a wedding weekend that is both memorable and financially manageable for everyone involved.

3. Itinerary & Guest Management

Having a wedding weekend gives you the time and opportunity to create different experiences for your guests. A well-thought-out itinerary is essential, considering all the touchpoints along the way.  You need to ensure everyone is looked after throughout — from pre-planning to guest arrivals to the main wedding day —striking the perfect balance to avoid overwhelming guests or making them feel rushed between events.

Good communication and transparency are key. Be open and honest about what the weekend will entail for your guests, and make it flexible! While you want all your guests there throughout, be clear that this is not an expectation. You don’t have to divulge every last detail in advance, but inform them about the activities where they may need to bring a pair of wellies, or where they will need to pay for their own drinks. 

Travel & Accommodation

For guests travelling from overseas, make suggestions for the closest international airports or railway stations, and details of transfer or taxi companies they can use. Offer a range of accommodation options to ensure there is something for everyone, including those who are more budget-conscious.

Check if your venue offers check-in, housekeeping and laundry facilities. This is particularly important for private venues as opposed to hotels, as many ‘private estate’ venues with accommodation may not offer these services as standard. Guests will likely expect to be able to have their shirt ironed or dress steamed. If the venue doesn’t offer this, don’t panic —as your weekend wedding planners, we can organise these services for you. 

Extra Touches

Another lovely guest experience consideration is those extra touches – think welcome gifts, in-room refreshments, guides for the local area, and hangover kits (!). A welcome gift sets the tone for the weekend ahead and could be placed in each guest’s room with a personalised note, itinerary, map and local treats for them to enjoy. We feel these are especially lovely when guests are staying in separate hotels if the venue cannot accommodate everyone, as it makes them feel included right from the start. 

Breaking the Ice

While you and your partner will know everyone, it’s important to remember that some of your guests might not know anyone and a weekend of celebrations with mostly strangers might feel daunting. Start your itinerary with something casual and fun to break the ice and allow friendships to start blossoming! 

Downtime & Relaxation

Lastly, consider what guests can do when there isn’t a planned event happening, and don’t forget to factor in some downtime. For example, before the ceremony, guests may have the morning to themselves. Provide suggestions on activities they can enjoy. Perhaps a walk around the local town, a massage at the hotel spa, or simply a lie-in with breakfast in bed? You want your guests to feel relaxed and to have some time to themselves. 

Sunday pool party at Cornwell Manor

Sample 3-Day Wedding Weekend Itinerary

Here’s a sample itinerary to give you an idea of how your multi-day celebration could unfold:

Friday: Welcome Party

• Afternoon Arrival: Guests check into their accommodations and receive a welcome gift bag, including an itinerary, local treats, and a personal note.
• Evening Welcome Party: A relaxed and informal gathering at a charming local venue, such as a quaint pub or a scenic garden. Enjoy light bites, drinks, and live music to kick off the festivities and help guests mingle and unwind.

Saturday: The Wedding Day

• Morning Relaxation: Guests can enjoy a leisurely breakfast and choose from a variety of optional activities, such as a guided local tour, spa treatments, or a yoga session.
• Afternoon Ceremony: The main event, held in a beautiful outdoor garden or a stunning indoor setting, followed by a cocktail hour with passed canapés.
• Evening Reception: A grand seated dinner with speeches, dancing, and entertainment, such as a bespoke photo booth!

Sunday: Farewell Brunch

• Morning Brunch: A relaxed and delicious brunch, featuring a Bloody Mary station where guests can customise their drinks. This gives everyone the chance to reminisce about the previous day’s celebrations. 
• Afternoon Departure: Guests check out and depart at their leisure, taking with them cherished memories of an extraordinary weekend.

This sample itinerary is designed to help you start visualising your wedding weekend. Personalise it to your heart’s content. Whether you envision a fun pool party with a BBQ or a charming picnic featuring a massive Paella station at its centre. The aim is to create a seamless and memorable experience that delights and engages your guests throughout the entire weekend.

4. Planning & Logistics

Admittedly, logistics are not the most exciting part of a wedding, but they are one of the most crucial elements. 

Planning multi-day weddings requires a considerably larger amount of time to design, plan and bring to life. Any wedding has many moving parts to consider and manage, so when you add the extra layers and intricacies required for multi-day weddings, it really can become a full-time job. This is why many couples look for additional planning support. We act as your on-the-ground person at every stage, being equally proactive and reactive on your behalf. 

Contingency Planning

While you decide on plan A, you also need to think of plans B and C. You may have your heart set on a garden ceremony, but what if the forecast is wet? Where will the ceremony be relocated, and what impact does this have on your supplier schedules and wider itinerary? Does this impact at what time guests need to be ready or when the food service will start? 

Seamless Transitions

Be sure to think of logistics carefully when transitioning between each element of your wedding weekend. This ensures everything runs as smoothly as possible on the day. By planning these logistics clearly in advance, you will avoid confusion, and guests will feel relaxed and at ease, allowing them to fully enjoy the weekend. 

We touch more on why a wedding planner is so useful in the next section, but planning the event flawlessly and being your support throughout is our main priority. 

Why should you enlist the help of a weekend wedding planner for your wedding weekend?

Let’s be honest, not every wedding planner is equipped to successfully manage a multi-day wedding. For many, a single-day wedding has enough moving parts without adding the complexities of additional venues, suppliers to manage, multi-day timelines, and logistical planning to coordinate. Our extensive experience in weekend and destination weddings means we are equipped with the knowledge, network and passion to create the wedding weekend of your dreams. 

We’ve already touched on wedding weekends being a curated experience, not just a means to extend the celebrations. You spend so much time, money and effort planning the wedding; you want to spend quality time with each guest, rather than just a fleeting hello, and feel comfortable and relaxed throughout. But how do you create this amazing experience, with so many moving parts, and actually be able to enjoy every second? 

This is where we come in! 

The Role of a Weekend Wedding Planner

A wedding planner acts as a secondary host, running around quietly behind the scenes to make sure everyone is where they should be and has what they need, whether that’s for our couples, their guests, or all the trusted suppliers we enlist. We act as a guest experience point of contact, answering questions about timings, gift registries, available taxi companies, and everything in between. We look after everyone so you don’t have to! 

You don’t want to worry about changes to the table plan while trying to enjoy your welcome party or worrying about who is clearing up the tables from the wedding day, when a Bloody Mary is in hand at your farewell brunch! This should all be left to your wedding planning team to manage on your behalf. 

Focus on Enjoying Every Moment

You only get this moment once. We want you to focus on being present, soaking it all in, and enjoying every moment with your guests without having to worry about the details and bringing it all together. 

Enlisting a wedding planner is an expense, but we truly believe that the investment is worth its weight in gold. Working with us enables you to tap into years of expertise, logistical planning, and our extensive supplier and industry network. In return, saving you time, alleviating worry and making the experience JOYFUL throughout.  Get in touch with us today to discuss your dream wedding weekend or check out some of our past weekend weddings for inspiration. 

Brand activation might be something you’re not familiar with or considering for your company, but not quite sure where to start. I thought I would pop together a quick guide on Brand Activation—what it is, why it’s important, and how it can benefit your brand.

In this post:

1. What is Brand Activation?
2. Who Can Benefit From Brand Activation?
3. Types of Brand Activation
   1. Experiential Marketing
   2. Sampling or Gifting Campaigns
   3. In-store & On-Site Activations
   4. Social Media Engagement
4. Why is Brand Activation Important?

What ‘Really’ is Brand Activation?

To put it simply, brand activation is a marketing strategy that involves creating interactive and memorable experiences for consumers to create brand awareness and increase engagement. Unlike traditional advertising, which is often passive, brand activation engages consumers directly and builds a relationship with your target audience.

In recent years, consumers have been seeking more authentic engagement with brands, moving away from traditional advertising methods.  So it’s key to remember: while brand activation is a marketing strategy, it is distinct from general marketing and advertising, which are ongoing processes of maintaining brand image and promoting products or services. Brand activation focuses on creating specific, isolated events or experiences designed to resonate personally with your consumers. It’s a powerful way to differentiate your brand from competitors, ensuring each brand activation is unique and memorable with multiple touchpoints and interactive, surprising elements along the way. 

Who Can Benefit from Brand Activation?

Brand activation isn’t just the cherry on top for established businesses; it can be incredibly beneficial for a variety of brands at different stages:

New Brands and Businesses: Launching a new brand is like planting a seed in a vast field. Brand activation is the sunshine and water that helps your seedling grow into a flourishing tree. By creating memorable and engaging experiences, you can introduce your brand in a way that leaves a lasting impression, quickly generating awareness and building a strong relationship with your target audience from the ground up.

Brands Looking to Rebrand: For businesses undergoing a rebrand, brand activation is an excellent way to communicate your new identity. Think of rebranding as giving your house a stunning makeover, and brand activation as the grand unveiling party. It allows you to present your refreshed image, values, and message in a way that captivates both loyal customers and new prospects. 

Brands Entering a New Market: If your brand is expanding into a new market, brand activation can help you make a significant impact. It’s a powerful way to introduce your brand to new audiences, ensuring they understand who you are and what you stand for from the very beginning.

Launching a New Product or Service: When introducing a new product or service, brand activation can create buzz and excitement. It offers an opportunity to demonstrate the value and benefits of your new offering in an engaging way, encouraging consumers to try it out and share their experiences.

Types of Brand Activation

Now that we’ve explored who can benefit from brand activation, let’s dive into the different ways you can bring your brand to life. Here are four key types of brand activation that can create memorable and impactful experiences for your audience:

1. Experiential Marketing

This involves creating an isolated event or occasion where consumer invitees experience the brand firsthand, away from their day-to-day lives. Picture a swanky dinner in a hotel ballroom, an overnight stay at a countryside retreat or wellness-focused activities. These types of events are typically designed for a specific, invitation-only guest list, ensuring the brand gets in front of the ideal consumer to drive results.

2. Sampling or Gifting Campaigns

3. In-Store & On-Site Activations

Activations which are in-store or on-site at a specific location allow face-to-face interaction with the brand for a much broader audience. However, you cannot always guarantee the calibre of the audience and engagement, and some interaction might occur just for the “freebies”. These activations are usually in place for a longer duration compared to experiential events.

4. Social Media Engagement

Social media engagement can stand alone as a type of brand activation but equally ties in with each type of brand activation already mentioned. Brands often work with social media influencers to broadcast their experience of the brand or product to their channels, reaching a wider audience. This often comes with added incentives like discount codes or gift-with-purchase. 

If you’re allocating budget, time and effort on brand activation, it’s essential to ensure your event gains the exposure it deserves. You cannot rely on your audience alone to do the work; social media engagement is crucial for achieving a much wider reach. Participants or invitees often interact with the brand and its products or services via social media both during and after the activation, and you as the company should be doing the same. PR is also intrinsically linked here, as inviting PR professionals and writers from noteworthy publications to the activation can result in positive printed features, all contributing to the end goal.

Why is Brand Activation Important?

Brand activation is essential because it goes beyond mere awareness. It creates a tangible connection between the consumer and the brand, builds an emotional connection and opens new channels of communication, fostering loyalty and long-lasting recall. Here’s why brand activation is crucial:

Drives brand awareness and differentiation: In a crowded market, unique experiences help your brand stand out and leave a lasting impression.

Improves customer engagement and trust: Direct engagement builds trust and meaningful interactions, making your brand more relatable and memorable.

Increases brand loyalty and long-lasting recall: Emotional connections foster loyalty, turning consumers into brand ambassadors who promote your brand passionately, often without any incentive.

Achieves branding objectives: Whether launching a new product, rebranding, or entering a new market, brand activation ensures your branding goals are met with creativity and precision.

Boosts sales and increase repeat customers: Engaging activations encourage purchases and foster repeat business, driving long-term growth.

Achieve The Results You Deserve with Effective Brand Activation

The end goal of brand activation is not just measured in sales figures or social media followers, although these are important. The ultimate aim is to raise awareness, reach new audiences and build an emotional connection that encourages engagement and loyalty.

Whether you’re planning a small-scale sampling campaign or a large experiential event, the benefits of brand activation are undeniable. At ByChenai Experiences, we support you in bringing your brand activation to life and driving the results you deserve. We bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table, leveraging an enviable network of trusted suppliers and contacts to ensure your activation truly represents your brand. We handle everything from location scouting and logistics to guest management, ensuring a seamless and impactful event. If you’re ready to take your brand to the next level, get in touch with us today. Let’s start planning your next brand activation.

Stepping out of the usual office setting into a unique event space can transform a regular corporate gathering into an extraordinary experience. In London, the possibilities are endless—no need to settle for dull, uninspired spaces when you can choose venues brimming with character and style.

At ByChenai Experience, we understand the power of a great venue to disrupt the everyday office monotony and ignite creativity and connection among teams, and as event planners, we have a whole host of unique corporate event venues up our sleeves to offer a location that suits your needs. That’s why we’ve hand picked our current top 8 venues across the city. From intimate leadership meetings and vibrant client receptions to immersive experiences and large-scale conferences, our selection promises to match every corporate occasion with its perfect backdrop. Read on to explore the best that London has to offer for your next corporate event.

8 Unusual & Cool Venues In London For Corporate Events

1 WARWICK, Soho

Neo-Baroque Gem in the Heart of the City

Capacity: Meeting: 6-16 Reception: 80 Full Hire: 100

Location: Soho

Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus

Ideal For: Away Days, Intimate Dinners, Receptions, Meetings

Nestled within a neo-baroque mansion block, 1 Warwick presents a facade that’s unassuming at first glance. Yet, step inside and you’ll discover a world of thoughtfully designed interiors set across six floors. Managed by the renowned Maslow’s hospitality group (also behind Mortimer House), 1 Warwick offers an array of spaces, from cosy meeting rooms and chic lounges to dynamic event spaces, a studio, gym, and even a rooftop restaurant with a bar and terrace.

1 Warwick would be an ideal event space for a senior leadership away day with its beautifully designed meeting rooms, seating between 6 and 16 attendees. Their restaurants provide “room service” throughout the day, keeping things more informal and relaxed. The Library offers a welcome retreat from the lively streets of Soho, with a secret screen thoughtfully hidden behind artwork, alongside top-notch AV facilities. This space invites you to settle into its lounge-style furniture for relaxed presentations or breakout sessions.

For events that demand a grander scale, consider exclusively hiring Yasmin, the rooftop restaurant, bar, and terrace. It’s perfect for larger gatherings, accommodating up to 100 guests for a drinks reception, boasting panoramic city views, a Middle Eastern-inspired menu, and a contemporary cocktail and drinks offering, all within a stone’s throw from the city centre. 1 Warwick combines luxury with functionality, making it a great choice for your next corporate event in London.

100 BARRINGTON, Brixton

Modern Blank Canvas with Industrial Charm

Capacity: Reception: 190 | Dinner: 120

Location: Brixton

Nearest Tube: Brixton

Ideal For: Receptions, Dinners, Christmas Parties, Product Launches, Summer Soirees

100 Barrington, with its origins as a furniture factory, has been thoughtfully restored into the venue we know today, retaining its original brickwork, high ceilings, and exposed beams. Located in the heart of Brixton, an area buzzing with music and culture, 100 Barrington stands as a tranquil oasis away from the hustle and bustle. 

This venue serves as a versatile blank canvas, comprising three distinct spaces that cater to a variety of event formats. The large warehouse space is perfect for formal dining or food stations, as well as dancing the night away. Outside, there is a wonderful courtyard, partially covered and filled with plants and festoon lights, perfect for a breezy outdoor gathering. Connecting the warehouse and the courtyard, the venue boasts a magnificent bar nestled within an old railway arch. This space features an impressive 24-foot ceiling and a stunning statement chandelier. The bar area is not only perfect for hosting drinks receptions but also offers a unique, intimate setting for dining beneath the chandelier’s glow. 100 Barrington merges industrial charm with modern functionality, making it a unique venue choice for corporate events.

EXHIBITION LONDON, Shepherd’s Bush

Historic Venue with a Contemporary Flair

Capacity:  Reception: 2,250 | Dinner: 1,120

Location: Shepherd’s Bush

Nearest Tube: Wood Lane / White City

Ideal For: Large Scale Events, Brand Experiences, Conferences, Launches, Gala & Awards Dinners, Large Scale Receptions

Exhibition London, originally a historic Victorian railway engine house, has been reimagined for contemporary culture, offering one of the largest event spaces in the city. The 1,200 square meters of multi-purpose space is set across two floors, combining a heritage look and feel with contemporary design and cutting-edge functionality.

The dramatic design of the space features high ceilings, exposed roof trusses, original windows, and the original train crane structure. These elements, combined with modern materials and fixtures, infuse personality and character into the vast space in a considered way.

From a corporate events perspective, Exhibition London is a truly versatile venue, providing a broad scope for various event types and design possibilities. While the spaces are large, clever set designs can create more intimate areas for different elements of the event, enabling you to craft something very special and unique.

The team behind Exhibition London has also prioritised practicalities, which are often overlooked yet crucial. The venue boasts bespoke kitchens, cloakrooms accommodating 3,000 people, production access and parking, a production office, dressing rooms, a box office (perfect for registrations or end-of-event gifting), and high-end technical facilities. This attention to detail ensures that your event runs smoothly and impresses your guests.

FRAMELESS, Marble Arch

Immersive Experience Combining Art, Technology & Creativity 

Capacity: Full Hire Reception: 450 | Blank Canvas Reception: 130 | Full Hire Dinner: 250 | Blank Canvas Dinner: 80

Location: Marble Arch

Nearest Tube: Marble Arch

Ideal For: Immersive Experiences, Product Launches, Brand Events, Private Dinners, Receptions, Fashion Shows

When we say Frameless is perfect for an immersive experience, we mean it! Frameless comprises four multi-sensory gallery spaces, showcasing 42 masterpieces from 29 of the world’s most iconic artists – think Monet, Van Gogh, Klimt, Cezanne, Kandinsky and more. These artworks are reimagined with hypnotic visuals and set to thought-provoking musical scores, creating an unusual and engaging atmosphere. 

For larger events, you can hire all four gallery spaces. However, for up to 120 standing guests or 80 seated guests, their Blank Canvas space is ideal. As the name suggests, this space allows you to create your own environment for a truly unique setting. As London’s foremost immersive venue, Frameless offers state-of-the-art technical facilities to help you create a bespoke event design. This would be perfect for product launches or brand events, as you can display your own video campaigns, content, branding, and sponsor materials, creating a never-seen-before backdrop for your event. 

Frameless combines art, technology, and creativity, making it an exceptional choice for corporate events that aim to leave a lasting impression.

MALL GALLERIES, St James

Versatile Venue with Artistic Flair

Capacity: Reception: 350 | Dinner: 150

Location: St James

Nearest Tube: Charing Cross

Ideal For: Receptions, Product Launches, Fashion Shows, Exhibitions

The Mall Galleries comprise three unique spaces, each offering varied sizes, layouts, aesthetics, designs, and features, making them ideal for hosting a wide range of events. They curate an inspiring programme of exhibitions throughout the year, with artworks providing an interesting and varied backdrop to events, sparking exciting conversations and engagement.

Set within a historic building on the prestigious Mall, just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace, The Mall Galleries offer a blank canvas venue space. This allows ultimate flexibility to design your event’s look and feel. You could curate a private exhibition as part of a product launch or completely transform the entire space into a speakeasy or sensory woodland. 

Hiring the Mall Galleries for an event also supports the charitable objectives of the Federation of British Artists, empowering artists through not-for-profit programmes and events, which is a lovely mission and a nice way for a company or brand to incorporate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into their event. 

THE ORANGERY, KENSINGTON PALACE

Royal Retreat for Exclusive Corporate Events

Capacity: Reception: 300 | Dinner: 200 | Reception & Dinner: 120

Location: Kensington

Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington

Ideal For: Receptions, Dinners, Christmas Parties, Summer Soirees

The Orangery, nestled within the beautifully manicured gardens of Kensington Palace, has recently reopened for private event hire after being closed for restoration since 2017. This truly exclusive space hosts a limited number of events each year, set amongst the grounds of a royal residence. You can also opt to include private tours of further spaces, such as the State Apartments which adds an extra layer of something special for guests to enjoy. 

The renovation includes restored south-facing windows and pristine white walls, creating a light-filled space to add your personal touch, whether with floral arrangements or corporate branding. The new extension to The Orangery provides additional space, making it suitable for a variety of event types.

Despite its proximity to Kensington High Street and its grounds’ popularity amongst visitors, The Orangery offers seclusion, privacy, and exclusivity. We feel the Orangery is perfect for receptions and dinners, especially in the summer, when guests can enjoy the private terrace and grounds before and after dinner. 

Hosting an event at Kensington Palace supports the work of Historic Royal Palaces, a charity which gives the palaces a future, for everyone; through research, preservation and restoration. Their portfolio also includes Hampton Court Palace and Banqueting House, which are firm favourites of the ByChenai team.

THE LOOKOUT AT 8 BISHOPSGATE, The City

Sky-High Blank Canvas with Panoramic City Views

Capacity: Reception: 280 | Dinner: 130 | Reception & Dinner: 80

Location: City of London

Nearest Tube: Bank / Liverpool Street

Ideal For: Receptions, Dinners, Conferences, Brand Events

The Lookout offers an unparalleled event experience with the city of London at its feet. Located on the 50th floor of the 8 Bishopsgate building, the Lookout boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that provide stunning views of the city skyline, impressive both day and night.

The venue features a large, L-shaped main event space that can be thoughtfully divided to create separate reception and dining areas. Adjacent to this main space are executive suites with moveable walls, offering ultimate flexibility. These suites can either extend the main space or be used independently as breakout spaces, green rooms, or production offices, allowing you to tailor the layout to perfectly suit your event. It serves equally as a blank canvas, ready for you to decorate or brand as needed, and a simplistic space with the London skyline as your stunning backdrop.

One unique feature of The Lookout is the Think Tank, a state-of-the-art auditorium, located within the same building. It’s perfect for conferences, seminars, performances, and awards, with a theatre-style capacity of 200 people. The seating is fully retractable, allowing for creative use of the space for other activities, such as yoga or wellness sessions, making it an incredibly versatile venue for any corporate event.

UNIT X, HANOVER SQUARE

Modern Space in Central London with Endless Possibilities

Capacity: Reception: 400 | Dinner: 120

Location: Mayfair

Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus

Ideal For: Receptions, Dinners, Еxhibitions, Product Launches, Brand Events

Unit X at Hanover Square is a super modern space, unassuming from the outside yet a tardis once inside, set across two floors and boasting an impressive 600 square metres of space for such a central location. The venue is well-equipped for a range of events, featuring state-of-the-art lighting, sound and video facilities, with ample branding opportunities. 

With its industrial-style interior, the space also acts as a gallery, with a rotating collection of artworks that change every five weeks, offering guests a more immersive experience. This allows you to design an event that holistically links the menu, beverages, tablescape, and artwork.

We feel Unit X at Hanover Square would be a perfect spot for a client dinner, offering a modest exterior but providing a super special, intimate setting within. The variety and flexibility of the space mean you can seamlessly transition guests from reception to dinner and post-dinner drinks without repeating the space, keeping guests engaged and making a memorable event! 

Let’s find your perfect corporate event space in London

London’s diverse and dynamic venue landscape ensures that your next corporate event can be anything but ordinary. Whether you’re aiming for an intimate gathering, a grand gala, or an immersive brand experience, the right venue can make all the difference.

At ByChenai Experiences, we specialise in curating unforgettable corporate events that leave a lasting impact. Our expertise in venue selection and event planning ensures that every detail is meticulously managed, allowing you to focus on your goals and enjoy the process.

Get in touch with us today, and let’s craft an experience that will inspire, impress, and be talked about for months to come.

People often think planning an event is easy and glamorous – just a matter of choosing food, deciding on activities, booking entertainment and working out a colour scheme. But once you dive in, you quickly realise how time-consuming and complicated it can be. Planning corporate events involves more than just booking a venue and selecting a menu. It’s about creating an impactful experience that aligns with your business goals and resonates with your audience. For busy marketing teams, HR departments, and executives, the complexity and effort required can be overwhelming.

Another common misconception is that working with a corporate event planner is a costly expense; however, there are so many benefits of partnering with a professional event planner, regardless of the event size, many of which you probably haven’t considered. 

I’ve put together this guide to explore the intricacies of corporate event planning, the essential role of corporate event planners, and why you should work with one. 

In this Post

1. What is Corporate Event Planning?
2. 8 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Corporate Event Planner
3. Role of a Corporate Event Planner

What is Corporate Event Planning?

At its core, corporate event planning involves the conceptualisation, coordination, and execution of business events on behalf of a company or brand. These events can range from award dinners, press trips, and product launches to team-building retreats and corporate away days. The goal is to create engaging experiences that align with the company’s objectives, whether that’s fostering team spirit, generating leads, or showcasing new products.

Successful corporate event planning is more than just logistics. It’s about coming up with creative concepts and crafting a narrative that tells the story of your brand. This includes designing experiences that meet and exceed expectations, ensuring your event has that ‘wow’ factor. Every detail, from the venue and decor to the lighting and entertainment, should be planned intentionally to ensure the event stands out and resonates with your audience, providing shareable experiences to increase your brand’s reach and drive tangible results. 

8 Reasons Why You Should Hire A Corporate Event Planner

1. Save You Time

Planning an event of any kind, whether it be a gala dinner, product launch or away day, takes a huge amount of time, which takes your attention away from the other responsibilities of your working role. When you decide to engage with us as your planner; we will undertake an initial strategy meeting to understand your ideas, the audience, objectives and goals, budget, cultural requirements and so forth, providing us with the tools to create your event. Our insight and guidance will make the decision-making process much more structured and streamlined. We keep you involved only when absolutely necessary because your time is money, so we ensure everything is concise. 

2. Experience & Expertise

While every event is unique and requires a bespoke approach, planning a corporate event requires a seamless process and trusted methods to deliver an experience that exceeds expectations. It involves tapping into a varied skill set and fast-tracking the planning process to meet tight deadlines. Knowing who to call, understanding supplier costs, and streamlining decisions are all critical for success. At ByChenai Events, we’re adept at handling these challenges. Our well-oiled machine of experienced professionals fast-tracks the planning process on your behalf, leveraging our expertise and connections. We know who can deliver to deadline and have ballpark costs for many suppliers, saving you from the hassle of cold calling and ensuring a smooth, efficient process.

3. Budget Management

We have already mentioned that there is a misconception that working with a corporate planner is expensive. Yes, our services will be an extra line item in the budget, but that does not mean an extra expense! By working with an experienced corporate planner, you’ll gain huge added value of access to our network and expertise. We know where to find quality for the best possible price, using our trusted industry relationships. You’ll be able to utilise our experience to understand what needs investment and where you can make savings, demonstrating the return on investment for each budget element. 

There is no point in robbing Peter to pay Paul if a major element is then compromised. Suppliers often compete for their own piece of the pie, whereas a planner will look at the event as a whole and objectively make the right call to not compromise on any one aspect for the sake of another. 

We know that last-minute expenses can arise – ideas and plans can change. A planner will have a contingency plan in place and be able to manage the budget to mitigate overspend.

4. Location & Venue Sourcing

You’ve been tasked with planning an event but with no steer on where to hold it, where on earth do you start and how do you narrow the options down? We have a little (well actually, ever-growing) black book of venues – we know the best spots for every type of event, many of which aren’t available on the open market! Working with us as your corporate planner saves you scouring the length and breadth of the country, as we provide you with a shortlist of perfect options to consider, ticking all the boxes for your requirements. 

We know that some venues can be quite strict on regulations, and with good reason, as these are often palaces and historic buildings, so we know when these are appropriate suggestions and other venues where you can have more flex to do things outside of the norm. 

Selecting a location and venue is not just as easy as knowing if it accommodates the right number of guests – there is so much more to understand. We know all the peripheral questions to ask and details to check. What would the guest journey be, what transportation would be required, what’s the access like, are there weight loading restrictions, what’s the power access like, are there noise limitations and so forth. These are things that would not spring to mind for someone who doesn’t have the experience of planning events, so leave it to us to help with!

>> Our top 8 corporate event venues in London

5. Fresh Perspective & Creative Designs

6. Cross T’s & Dot I’s

An event planner should be meticulous in their methods. Throughout the planning process, there is a lot of going back and forth between venues, suppliers, guests, and hosts, from the initial enquiry through to contracts, execution, and post-event wrap-up. We handle these details for you, which is time-consuming yet crucial. Our agile events team acts on your behalf, quickly gathering information, creating designs and proposals in a cohesive and detail-oriented manner, while keeping you up to date through efficient and regular communication. 

Behind every faultless event is a clear planning timeline. This ensures you know what decisions need to be made and when, keeping you on track to get the best out of your event. The all-important live event schedule, which takes time to bring together, gives you confidence that we have crossed all the t’s and dotted all the i’s for the event to exceed expectations.

7. Risk Planning & Legal Stuff

We always have plans A, B and C in place, but if something goes wrong (unlikely, but you never know!), chances are we’ve dealt with it before. We go into firefighter mode if needed and know all the tricks to resolve any issues efficiently and discreetly, without you or your guests needing to know or worry! 

Risk management is one thing, but legalities can arise at any point – whether that be in the planning stages with contracts or post-event. We read through contracts on your behalf to ensure their terms are reasonable and align with the experience we are curating, raising any points that require your attention.

8. Be Your Support

Lastly, and on a more personal level, we act as an extension of your team. We aspire to be a trusted colleague, offering as much or as little support as needed. We listen, always give sound and objective advice, and are always honest. We’re here to help you deliver an exceptional event, without taking the glory! 

Role of a Corporate Event Planner

The role of a corporate event planner is multifaceted, requiring a blend of creativity, organisational prowess, and strategic thinking. As your trusted partner, we take on the responsibility of transforming your company’s vision into a tangible, memorable experience.

We’re here to manage every aspect of an event from start to finish, including but not limited to: 

• Creative Concept & Design: Developing a unique theme or concept that aligns with the brand’s goals and vision.
• Budget Management: Ensuring the event stays within the allocated budget while delivering maximum impact.
• Supplier Management: Sourcing and liaising with the best suppliers in the industry, including caterers, florists, audio-visual technicians, and entertainment providers. This ensures that every element of the event is of the highest quality.
• Execution: Overseeing the event on the day, ensuring that everything runs smoothly and any issues are quickly resolved. This allows the hosting company to focus on their guests and the event’s objectives without worrying about the details.
• Engagement & Experience: Creating engaging content and interactive experiences that resonate with attendees. This can include everything from live demonstrations and entertainment to social media integration and influencer collaborations.

Turn Business Goals into Unique Brand Experiences with Expert Corporate Planners By Your Side

Planning an event is not easy, with so many moving parts and intricacies. That’s why having a planner involved at every step is invaluable and worth every penny! Whether you’re planning a small team-building retreat, a corporate away day to boost team morale or a large-scale product launch, the benefits of working with a professional event planner are undeniable. So, if you’re in the process of planning an event to achieve your business goals, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us today to start planning your next corporate event with a big ‘wow’ factor.