Hello and welcome to the Serenity Blog if this is your first time visiting us. We have been super quiet this year but it ends here. We are back like we never left and better than ever! The Serenity Blog is a space covering all things events, hospitality and lifestyle with honest opinions and findings and hopefully an easy read for you all.

Jumping straight into today’s blog, I am sure you are all expecting me to discuss a new design or decor trend that has developed over the last couple of months or even a type of event that everyone is hosting. For all of those who like to jump in on the trends this may disappoint you.
2019 has been the year of the 4 week turn around; yes your read correctly, we have had at least 70% of our clients this year enquiring for events within 3-5 weeks of their preferred event date.

Now we are not saying this is a terrible thing for us event planners although I can only speak on behalf of Serenity London however we thrive with working under pressure when we have clients who are ready to make decisions and get things done. The challenge we have found with short turn around clients is managing their expectations of availability.
We cannot express enough how busy our fantastic suppliers or London, Essex and Hertfordshire venue are throughout the year. The event season as it once was is no longer, venues are booked all year round for all types of events which means short turn around clients may not get their first venue of choice or the entertainment they hoped for due to the last minute enquiry.

Luckily this year we have always found a way to make our clients happy even if they did not get the venue they thought they wanted, we will always find a like for like or a better alternative.
Depending on the event we always suggest 7-12 months a great period of time to plan an event to ensure you get the Venue or Photographer of your choice.

We also strongly advise to those who are planning an event in a short turn around to follow these key points:

Avoid too many cooks in the kitchen.
This applies to planning events in general, even more so when you are working in a short time frame. Having to many people involved without clear roles can cause more mayhem that results. We suggest hiring an event planner who will coordinate the mayhem and have direct contact with you.
Be open to suggestions
This is key to get the ball rolling and the papers sign sealed and delivered.
Decisions Decisions
Be prepared to make decisions promptly, time is everything. Taking 5 days to decide on the font of your invite is TIME WASTING when we have 3 weeks to plan an engagement party for 150 guests.
Is it too late?
Although you may be planning an event in a short time, it is a waste of time messaging your event planner at 1am. We too tend to sleep and you may become anxious, concerned or frustrated waiting for a response.
Have a clear budget in mind
This is important as it will help your event planner piece together your perfect event and minimise back and forth negotiations because elements are out of budget.

We hope this has been a little insightful read and prepares any readers planning an event to get their ducks in a row and check lists ready. Should you make the right decision and want to hire a reliable and trusted event planning we can be reached at events@serenitylondon.co.uk or weddings@serenitylondon.co.uk.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you back her soon!

S xo

It's the season to be jolly they say and I think I know why!

From my experience all the events that take place in the wonderful city of London during the Christmas period are truly filled with great spirits and a sense of togetherness.

Having worked in the world of events for 10 years now I have a little habit of analysing each event I attend (do not worry friends this usually stays within my mental notes :)).

However I find it amazing when the mental note is “I should have taken more photos!”.

I recently attended a Wreath Making Workshop at Your London Florist which well & truly threw me into the Christmas Spirit and my only mental notes were;
1. I didn't take enough photos (however there are a few on instagram and below), and 2. There is so much to learn about floristry!.

This then inspired today’s blog; because I know when planning events and activities during the festive season there is very little room for ‘‘We should have gone there instead’’.

So here are my list of events/experiences I highly recommend:

Your London Florist - Wreath Making Class at £70pp.
The next class is on the 4th Dec 2019 from 6pm -9pm.
YLF is based in Crews Hill in North London and can be found on instagram @yourlondonflorist or online www.yourlondonflorist.co.uk .
Your London Florist - Christmas Table Centerpiece Workshop at £70pp
The next workshop is on 10th Dec 2019 at 6pm-9pm.
All details can be found on www.yourlondonflorist.co.uk
Dans Le Noir
Dining in the dark!
This was one of the most unusual experiences for me. I believed I was a certified foodie until visiting Dans Le Noir; I thought I would know exactly what each dish was just through smell… Well I was wrong! Even with the sense of touch I still could not guess exactly what all the dishes were (I did however guess the deserts correct which isn't shocking! #Sweettooth).
I highly recommended this experience for couples and groups of friends at any time of year but December is always a great time to try something new with the closest people to you.
Your communication and social skills are pushed to its limits and it is really quiet refreshing to not have any distractions from a mobile phone.
It would be amazing if a few more restaurants restricted phones at the table :).
They also host a handful of other events throughout the week which all can be found on www.london.danslenoir.com.
Let us know if you do visit, we would love to hear about your experience!
Lapland UK
Although this is one is not actually in the capital and for the children I will say I was in awe of my surroundings and the magical setting.
I visited Lapland UK 4 years ago and recommended it every year since.
If I didn't know any better and managed to sleep on my journey there I really would have believed I was in lapland!
The settings, staff & the activities get a 10/10 from me; there wasn't any Churros however I am sure it did me no harm to go without!
This experience starts from £60 and can be booked via www.laplanduk.co.uk/.

That is the power 4 events on my Christmas list, if you do attend any of the above share your photos and experiences with us, we would love to know if you had as much fun as we did.

I would love to hear about any Christmas events, workshops, restaurants you’ve attended and loved; we are always looking for new places to visit… comment below and let us know!

I hope this was a useful read and you all have a blessed Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year.

SX x

The Event Trend of 2019!

Christmas in the CAPITAL (no punctuation intended!)