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If you’re planning a large fireworks display, it’s usually in aid of an important event. Whether you want a display for your upcoming wedding or you’re organising a large public display, you need to know that everything will be safe and go according you your plans. Many fireworks companies will ensure your event goes exactly to plan and stays safe at all times, but one or two companies may not do everything you need them to, to enjoy your event. Here’s everything you need to know to choose a fireworks company who are going to make your event a success.

Safety certificates and credentials

Fireworks companies are around explosives all day, so they should understand just how essential it is to set up a safe display. All fireworks companies and all their staff need to be tested and certified, as well as being regularly re-tested to ensure their knowledge and experience is up to date. One of the first things you should always ask a fireworks company is if you can see their safety credentials and certification.

All the Alchemy Fireworks team undergo regular training, testing and regular training to remain qualified and our head designer is BPA Level 2 qualified, the UK’s highest firework industry qualification.

They’ll be interested in your event and want to talk about your ideas

Any fireworks company you’ll want to work with will be passionate about talking through your ideas. You may know exactly what you want or that you simply want a fireworks display. Most fireworks companies will take into account your budget and timeframe, showing you lots of options and talking about the various ways they’ll be able to achieve want.

Not only should there be online galleries on their website, they should be more than happy to show you their portfolios of previous displays. If you visit their Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages, you should see plenty of positive reviews on their safety, high standard of work and excellent customer service.

They’ll build on your ideas to present you with initial plans and designs

After speaking to your fireworks company, they should get to work, planning the fundamental and basic aspects of your display. This should include how long your firework display will go on for, the types of fireworks used, the colours of the fireworks, music and any climactic point.

Once these fundamentals are decided, you and the fireworks company can discuss the finer points of the display, adding visual depth that’ll transform your evening from good to great!

You will be spending hard-earned money and precious time on organising this fireworks display, so you need to know your fireworks company is as committed to making the night as magnificent as it possibly can be. At Alchemy Fireworks, for example, we love nothing more than helping our customers’ dream fireworks display come to life and we’ll go the extra mile to find a solution to any issue.

A good fireworks company has immense attention to detail

We all know the phrase ‘the devil is in the detail’, and it’s no different when it comes to designing a fireworks display. Once you’ve agreed upon the initial design for your fireworks display, your fireworks company should then start looking at the finer points of the fireworks display and how they’ll achieve your display. This includes determining the shape and size of the fireworks to be used, the timing of lighting each firework and even hand-crafting bespoke lance-work sculptures if necessary.

We at Alchemy Fireworks believe in leaving nothing to chance, instead we use our skills, knowledge and experience to hand pick every firework and device, and work out the perfect moment to use them for a perfect display.

 Look for a fireworks company that utilises cutting edge technology for an unforgettable experience

Fireworks companies should want to offer the very best experience and service to all their customers, and constantly look for ways to build upon their processes to increase customer and viewer satisfaction. By constantly looking to improve their displays, fireworks companies will put all their effort into ensuring your event is a success.

We do this by always taking lots of videos, photographs and notes of all our displays, allowing us to perfectly sync displays with pieces of music, organise increasingly larger displays and develop the brightest fireworks for daytime use. Alchemy Fireworks even uses drone footage to constantly improve what we can offer.

The team at Alchemy Fireworks often uses pre-visualisation software so you can see exactly how your display will look on the night, including with any music or pyrotechnics. Pre-visualisation technology is so good because it gives us the perfect way to time and monitor your actual display and you can be confident that everything will look exactly as you want it to.

What to expect on the day

All of this preparation should mean that your fireworks company arrives early on in the day to organise your display with plenty of time. Expect to see lots of cables and fuses as all the fireworks, are set up and mounted to their frames. A good fireworks company will test all connections and run at least two dummy runs to ensure that everything is set up safely and correctly.

There’s nothing we love more than helping you to pull off a fireworks display everyone will be talking about for weeks afterwards! For more information about how the team at Alchemy Fireworks will work with you to develop a mind-blowing fireworks display for your event, don’t hesitate to call us on +44 (0)8000 66 58 37 or send us a message online.

If you’re a dog owner, it’s likely that you dread the time between October and New Year’s Eve, especially if your dog is one of the 45% who displays signs of stress whenever there’s a fireworks display happening nearby. Having worked with a number of clients who worry about their dogs, we’ve put together a survival strategy for you to help your dog through the firework season and see him back to his happy, care-free self.

Check if there are events happening near you

Knowing how close fireworks displays are happening to your home will help you to plan your arrangements for helping your dog. It’s good to check the website of your local council authority to see if there are public displays happening, as well as politely asking your surrounding neighbours if anyone’s planning a New Year’s Eve display.

Exposure therapy

Slowly expose your dog to the sounds of thunder, loud bangs and fireworks gradually, using a CD. Initially play it at a low volume whilst you give him treats, play a game or give him some fuss. If you have the time to gradually do this, it’ll help you to build positive associations to the firework-like noises as you turn up the volume to a point where your dog will tolerate the noise.

Wrap them up!

Try using an anti-anxiety wrap on your dog, but try to get him acclimatised to wearing one before New Year’s Eve. Some studies show that dogs find comfort in the wrap’s constant and gentle pressure, similar to swaddling a baby. Signs of anxiety such as hiding, shaking, drooling and panting may be reduced with an anti-anxiety wrap.

Build a doggy den

Crate training your dog is incredibly useful for a number of reasons, including if your dog gets anxious during firework season. Build a doggy den for your dog to hide in. Keep it in the centre of your living room, away from the walls and windows. Leave the door of the crate open, put a comfy dog bed in there, along with lots of blankets for burrowing, tasty treats and some well loved toys.  Then cover the crate in more blankets to muffle the sounds of fireworks outside.

Give your dog an action movie film night

Action films with plenty of explosions, gun shots and loud noises are quite effective out masking the noise of the fireworks outside. Make sure your curtains and doors are closed, turn up the surround sound and give your dog an action movie film night to see in the New Year.

Act normally

When your dog is upset, it’s all too tempting to comfort him and make a fuss of him, but this will only cement in his mind that he has something to worry about and could even make his anxiety worse. The best way you can help your dog is to act normally around him, showing him there’s nothing to worry about. Ensuring you’re as relaxed as possible will help your dog to mirror your mood.

Additionally, you should never tell your dog off for being scared or nervous as this will make the entire night significantly worse for both of you.

Take an early walk

Help your dog to relax by taking him for a walk when it’s still light outside, giving him food a couple of hours before the fireworks will start and provide him with lots of fresh water. Although you’ll be walking your dog when it’s light outside, make sure your dog’s collar fits correctly and his microchip has your current contact information on it, just in case the worst happens and he runs off.

Whilst we at Alchemy Fireworks love a good display, your dog definitely doesn’t want to be at a fireworks display as you try and get him to face his fear.

Visit your vet

If your dog expresses extreme fear and anxiety during fireworks season, you may want to consider visiting your vet. They may give your furry friend an anti-anxiety prescription, or suggest an Adaptil pheromone plug-in that will help to soothe and calm him.

Signs of canine anxiety

There are a number of ways you can tell if your dog’s stressed out during fireworks season, including:

• Shaking
• Barking, howling, whining or growling
• Cowering and looking for somewhere to hide
• Pacing
• Panting
• Drooling
• Decreased activity
• Destructive behaviour
• Excessive scratching
• Going to the toilet indoors
• Yawning
• Loss of appetite

At Alchemy Fireworks, we understand that sometimes, you may want quiet fireworks that don’t cause as much stress and anxiety to nearby dogs, pets and wildlife. Our quiet fireworks are the best way to have a stunning fireworks display this New Year’s Eve without stressing out neighbouring animals.

Bonfire Night is undoubtedly the best night of the year to throw a party, an event where you’re guaranteed lots of people will show up and mingle and talk to each other without really having to do much. The best firework parties are fun for everyone, regardless of age, and a good fireworks display will provide the perfect conversation starter for the night. Once your guests have talked at length about your fireworks display and the food, they’ll soon be in their own conversations as you relax and enjoy your success.

You can create a great firework display even if you don’t have a massive garden by choosing fireworks that have been designed for home use. Alternatively, if you have the space, investing in a larger display will definitely be worth it. Your clearance should be at least 5 metres for a small display and between 25 and 40 metres. You will then need another distance of the same length as a fall-out area.

Types of fireworks to include

The best firework displays contain a wide range of different fireworks, including:

• Cakes – essentially a group of Roman candles taped together. You only need to light one fuse to set them all off.
• Mines – Like Roman candles, but shorter in duration, mines all set off in one go or a few at a time.
• Rockets – Rockets are classic fireworks and an integral part of any firework display.
• Fountains – Slightly quieter than other fireworks, fountains shoot wonderful plumes of stars into the sky.

When putting together your firework display, try to make sure there’s as much as variety as possible. Don’t set off all your fountains or rockets at the same time as this will leave people looking at the same spot in the sky. Three minutes of the same fireworks will become boring very quickly.

Safety first!

Safety should be your number one concern when you’re hosting a firework display, and there are a number of things you can do to minimise the safety risks that come with a fireworks display.

• Increase your clearance zone if the wind is blowing towards your guests
• Securely stack the fireworks into the ground until they’re in tight and don’t wobble
• Keep a few buckets of water close to hand
• Research first aid on treating burns
• Carefully read the instructions of every individual firework and make sure every part of the firework has gone off – particularly with cakes. If it only partially goes off, leave it for half an hour before dousing it in cold water and ensuring no one goes near it

Food and drink

November is a cold month, and close to the depths of winter. This means it’s time to stop with the finger food and offer some hot and comforting autumnal food. Chilli is always a great choice, as are hotdogs, burgers and cheesy chips.

If you want to make use of your Halloween pumpkin, you could make a creamy and spicy pumpkin soup, perfect for any vegetarians or vegans in your group. Offer a range of hot chocolate, teas and mulled cider for people to drink and everyone will be feeling great.

Don’t worry if cooking isn’t your strong point, though. You can easily ask people to bring a dish of food with them, this way you can massively cut down on your washing up afterwards and you will know for certain that everyone will be able to eat something they love.

The bonfire

No bonfire night celebration is complete without a bonfire. After the wonder of your firework display, the bonfire provides the perfect centre for people to sit down, discuss the night’s highlights and eat the wonderful food that’s on offer. Glowing embers are perfect for catching up with old friends and learning more about new ones. If you have space for a firework display rest assured you have space for a bonfire.

If space does come at a premium, a bonfire just a couple of metres in diameter will be perfect, just make sure there are no overhanging tree branches or shrubs nearby. If you’re looking to build a large bonfire, you can make one over 6 metres.

At this point, you can dig a shallow hole where you plan to start your bonfire, lay down a circle of stones to contain the bonfire, or you can do both. It’s good to remember that if your bonfire will be taking place in your garden, you will need to fill the hole and reseed it or re-turf the area.

Wooden pallets are ideal for bonfires as they will let air get to the bottom of the bonfire and create a good updraft. Wooden logs are also a good choice for your bonfire and you should stack them in the same style as a log cabin, leaving plenty of space between the logs and the centre. In the centre of your logs, put in newspaper and other kindling materials.

You will need to find someone to watch over the bonfire throughout the night. This is to ensure no one falls or children get too close to it, and also to ensure that it doesn’t go out before the end of your party. It will need feeding more logs and kindling regularly throughout the night, and if you want your bonfire to be going until the morning, looking after it is essential.

Decorations

You can create a wonderful and inviting atmosphere with just a few simple decorations and finishing touches that will really make your guests think you’ve spent all day getting ready. Outside fairy lights leading your guests to your party is a small but effective way to welcome everyone, and as it gets darker, you may find their invaluable for helping people to find what they’re looking for.

Make sure you have piles of blankets close to hand around your party. It helps to make people feel comfortable and relaxed and as it gets colder, they’ll become essential for keeping warm, even if you do have the bonfire too.

Finally, place some apples and squashes (including pumpkins) in strategic places to really give your party an autumn feel. Everyone loves a good bonfire party and at the end of the night, you can rest assured that all your guests will be talking about your party for weeks.

Find the perfect fireworks for your bonfire party with Alchemy Fireworks. Call us on +44 (0)8000 66 58 37 or get in touch with us online.

Whilst many of us think of bonfire parties and fireworks as an essential part of autumn, there are few ways to celebrate in summer than having a laid back and relaxed summer bonfire party with your close friends and family. The long, warm evenings are perfect for enjoying the outdoors and spending quality time catching up with your loved ones, and once it gets dark you can continue the night with a fireworks display to remember.

Bonfire parties are also incredibly easy to throw together. The fireworks and bonfire mean that people will mainly be in your garden rather than your home, so you don’t have to worry about your house looking immaculate. In just one afternoon, you can quickly throw together a summer bonfire party that looks as if it’s been carefully planned for at least a week in advance.

Decorations

One of the joys of bonfire parties is that because they’re held outside, you already have natural surroundings of plants, trees, shrubs and grass to act as the perfect decorations. Everyone appreciates bunting, as long as you place it where it’s not at risk at catching light from the fireworks and bonfire, and fairy lights offer a magical atmosphere in the twilight.

If you really want to make the most of your decorations, additional lanterns and candles on tables will offer warmth, as well as provide more light as the night gets darker.

For bonfire parties being hosting in your garden, creating a fire pit is the safest way to start your bonfire, and you can easily construct one by digging a shallow hole. Before you create your fire pit, make sure it’s not underneath low hanging branches and away from your house.

Once you have your fire pit sorted, you need to make sure you have enough firewood to last the night – the last thing you’ll want is to run out before your night is over. Not only will it mean that your warmth is gone, but it’ll dampen the overall atmosphere.

Food and drink

No party is complete without some sort of food and drink on offer and summer bonfires are the same. Of course, you could always ask all your guests to bring a drink or a dish with them, and it’s definitely a good way to save more money for your fireworks. If you’ve decided to serve food and drink yourself, nothing beats a good old fashioned barbecue.

Drinks like Pimm’s and sangria will definitely get you into the summer mood, and having a cocktail bar set up will ensure everyone has a drink they love. If you want to update your barbecue a bit, why not look to pulled pork and similar dishes? Burrito and taco bars are also a great idea – that way everyone can make delicious food that’s exactly to their taste and you don’t have to remember who does and doesn’t like sour cream!

Comfort

As the evening wears on, it will start to get a bit cooler, even you started in the middle of a hot and sunny day. Simply make sure you have a number of warm blankets easily accessible for when the sun goes down. Besides, there are few things as magical  as sitting by a bonfire, wrapped up in a warm blanket as you watch fireworks. They also allow you to keep the party going on for longer.

S’mores 

These American imports are too much fun to lump them in with food and drink, so we’ve given them a section to themselves! This magical combination of sweet crackers, toasted marshmallows and chocolate is a classic at every American bonfire and it’s really not difficult to see (or taste) why. If you want to shake things up a bit, you can always try using different types of crackers or biscuits, flavoured marshmallows and different chocolate.

Why not have a range of s’mores experimentation and encourage your guests to try out different combinations. No matter what people choose, you can be sure these will be a hit with guests old and young.

Choosing the perfect fireworks

Choosing your fireworks should be the one part of your night that you spend a lot of time preparing. Whilst you’ll be hosting a private display, you need to ensure that you’re not endangering your guests, your property or the property around you.

Fireworks are designed to have a safety distance, which can be as small as 5 metres, so the good news is that you can set them off with not that much room needed. You also need to remember that you pay for quality for fireworks, so it’s always best to avoid buying the cheapest. One great way to bring the people at your party together is to ask for people to contribute towards the fireworks – that way, you can easily afford high quality fireworks and everyone can have a really special night.

You also need to remember that not many people will be expecting fireworks in the summer. If you have neighbours, it’s a good idea to let them know your plans ahead of time so they can look after their children or pets if they have any. By buying fewer, high quality fireworks, there won’t be as much noise – allowing your party to have a great time whilst minimising any noise problems for your neighbours.

Things to remember for your garden fireworks

These tips and advice will come in handy for anyone planning to set off garden fireworks, especially if you’re hosting a summer bonfire party

• Category 2 fireworks shouldn’t be underestimated because they’re smaller – they still have the power to injure and badly burn people. Keep safe and ensure they can’t fall over before you light them.
• Never let children near the fireworks, whether they’re still unlit or have already been used
• Always read the instructions on all the fireworks you plan to light before setting them off. It’s quite common for people to place smaller fireworks upside down, especially fireworks that have come from selection boxes.
• Never leave any unused fireworks in or near the display area. Keep them far away and safely covered up.
• Make sure that no one at your party tries to hold a firework. Even small fireworks can cause a lot of damage.
• Despite this, it’s common for people to become complacent with small fireworks so make sure you have a first aid kit and a bucket of water to hand, just in case something goes wrong.
• Safely and carefully dispose of your used fireworks.
• Unless you have the space and can set up the appropriate safety measures, you shouldn’t risk including a few display fireworks – the risks are just too big.

There’s something uniquely special about summer bonfire parties – the great company , food, drinks and fireworks will give everyone long-lasting fond memories to look back on, as well as helping you to look forward to autumn and Bonfire Night, with its impressive fireworks, large bonfires, crunchy gold leaves and toffee apples.

For more information about the services at Alchemy Fireworks and how we can help you to organise a professional fireworks display, simply get in touch or call +44 (0)8000 66 58 37 today.