There's a very particular kind of British event panic, and it's the one where the forecast changes three times in the space of an afternoon. You've booked the marquee, sorted the catering, printed the signage… and then the sky decides it has other plans. If you've organised so much as a school fete in this country, you'll know the feeling. It's exactly why so many event organisers end up talking to us about branded umbrellas long before the day itself, not as an afterthought once the rain's already falling.
We've supplied umbrellas for everything from weddings to festivals to corporate days out, so we've seen first hand how a good branded brolly earns its keep on the day. Here's what we've learned about using them well.
Not Just a Wet-Weather Backup
It's easy to think of an umbrella as a purely practical purchase, something you grab because you have to, not because you want to. But at an event, a custom umbrella does more than keep your guests dry. It's a photo opportunity, a bit of branding that walks around the venue all day for you, and, if you get the design right, something people are genuinely glad to be handed.
We supply personalised umbrellas for weddings, corporate days, product launches and everything in between, and the brief is nearly always the same: something that looks good in pictures, holds up in real British weather, and carries a logo, monogram or message without looking like a walking advert.
Getting Your Logo Onto a Brolly
This is where our bespoke umbrellas service comes in. You choose your canopy colour, your handle and your umbrella style, and we add your logo, initials or message to it. We've got an in-house design team who'll work with you on logo placement, visuals and proofs before anything goes to print, so you know exactly what you're getting before you commit.
Because every order is bespoke, prices vary depending on how intricate the design is and where it's placed on the canopy, so we'd always suggest getting in touch with your details (logo, quantity, umbrella style, any deadline) and we'll come back with an accurate quote, usually within 24 hours on weekdays.
A few practical things worth knowing if you're planning ahead:
Lead Times Matter More Than You'd Think
Printed umbrellas aren't a same-day job, understandably, given the design and approval process involved. Once your artwork's been signed off, you're generally looking at a few weeks for production, so if your event has a fixed date (and let's be honest, most do), get your inquiry in early rather than a fortnight before the big day. We can sometimes move faster for last-minute orders, so give us a call if you're up against it, but we'd rather you never had to.
Choose an Umbrella That Suits the Event, Not Just the Logo
Not every branded umbrella needs to be the same style. For a golf day or corporate outing, our golf umbrellas give you a big canopy and plenty of room for a logo, which is exactly what you want when you're sponsoring a tee or handing them out as prizes. For weddings or guest gifting, a smaller walking or folding umbrella often works better, something a guest can genuinely use afterwards rather than something that gets left under a chair. We stock a proper range of styles and frames to choose from, so the umbrella itself fits the occasion, not just the print.
Plain Can Work Just as Well
Not every event needs a printed umbrella, and there's no shame in that. Plenty of our clients choose our plain umbrellas in a single bold colour for weddings or events precisely because they don't want logos dominating the photos. A matching set of colourful brollies over a wedding party, or lined up outside a marquee, can look just as striking as anything branded, and it's a good option if you'd rather the umbrella complement the day than promote anything. We've supplied plain umbrellas in bulk for weddings, festivals and theatre productions alike, so we know they earn their place too.
Guest Gift or Event Kit, Either Way It Works
Whether you're handing a personalised umbrella to every wedding guest as they leave, lining them up as branded golf day prizes, or simply keeping a stash of plain brollies on hand for a marquee event, the logic is the same. A good umbrella does its job when it's needed most, and a well branded one keeps doing a quiet bit of marketing long after the event's over, sitting by someone's front door reminding them of a lovely day (or, at the very least, a dry one).
If you're planning an event and want to talk through umbrella options, whatever the scale, drop us a line with your details and we'll help you find the right style, get your logo sorted and make sure it's all ready in good time for the big day.
By Emma Barber
