STAFF at Party People have every reason to celebrate, after being nominated for another top industry award.

The Sauchie-based business is in the running to be named Decorator of the Year at the Scottish Wedding Awards, a coveted title it managed to scoop in 2017.

It managed to bring it home for Clackmannanshire, edging out the competition, and owner John Dornan is buzzing to be shortlisted again.

He said: "I think the thing for me was obviously we are based in little old Sauchie, and we are clinching the awards from the bigger places like Glasgow and Edinburgh.

"They obviously see something in us that is worth putting us forward, in for the award, and if we were to win it again, two years in a row, it would be unbelievable."

The event planning company has come a long way since its inception and now has a hard-working team of five staff, with recruitment underway for more.

John turned a few roadblocks into an opportunity when he left the army after six and a half years.

He had intended to become a joiner, having taken a few courses, but work was hard to find.

He said: "There was no jobs at all and I had this business idea before and it was in the back of my mind and I thought, you know what, if I don't do it now I will never do it."

Setting up shop in 2011, he started off working in his mum's garage, borrowing her Honda Civic for deliveries, and raised a few eyebrows for starting his venture during a recession.

He said: "Parties and weddings were seen as a bit of a luxury – people thought I was absolutely off my head starting a party and event business but I seen the potential in it.

"I think people in general feel like they deserve a good night out and a good party regardless of their situation, finances or the wider world.

"People like to enjoy themselves and I think especially when people work so hard, weddings and parties give them something to look forward to."

For Party People, the focus is on making sure customers have the best possible experience, from the service right through to the quality of the equipment being provided.

When John looked into the potential of hiring out LED floors he spent around six months researching them, and they also have a certified balloon artist in their midst.

It has been a busy journey for the company – which gets a lot of business both in and outwith the county – with a number of highlights.

John said: "We did the VIP area for the Rod Stewart concert up at the Falkirk Stadium which was quite cool.

"We did a film premiere for a film called Don Jon, we did that in Edinburgh.

"We have done some absolutely fantastic weddings, some absolutely stunning weddings.

"We have worked in Gleneagles, we have worked up in places like Aberdeen, like Marriot Hotels and Hilton hotels."

They also do some smaller weddings and parties with each event "different and special in its own way".

They also now have the services of an in-house florist from The Flower Studio, John's fiancee Sarah Roy, who has been nominated in the Scottish Wedding Awards in the Florist of the Year category.

And John paid tribute to the help and assistance he has received over the years – from customers, family and fellow business owners.

He added: "A huge thank you to everybody that nominated us for the award and a thank you to all our customers who have supported us along the way."