Looking for some ideas on how to host Thanksgiving, but need assistance getting creative during a global pandemic? My Big Day has a helpful list for you! Keep it small - The safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is with just your immediate family. Traveling is still considered risky - hotels, airports, planes, and gas stations are more crowded during the holidays. Hold your immediate loved ones close and sit down for an intimate dinner featuring everyone’s favorites. Swap recipes - Try something new and feel closer to your family at the same time by swapping recipes with grandma via email or text. The 2020 holiday season may leave your relatives – particularly the older and more vulnerable – feeling lonely. Involve them by reaching out for recipes or decorating tips and spending time on a phone or video call while you’re cooking. Go virtual - In addition to individual video and phone calls, many creative planners are already gearing up to host Thanksgiving dinner virtually on a simultaneous video call. Invite friends and family (you can even send a paper invitation, if you want to be fancy) to gather around the (virtual) table and eat together. After all, what would Thanksgiving be without Aunt Judy’s unsolicited advice and Grandma’s etiquette corrections? Enjoy already-COVID-friendly traditions - There are plenty of Thanksgiving activities that are already COVID-friendly: watching parades and sports on TV, playing family board games, and going for a walk or run post-turkey. Others can be modified, i.e. moving your Black Friday shopping online this year. Give thanks - There are countless activities to be found online (check out My Big Day’s “Saying Thank You” Pinterest board [https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/saying-thank-you/] for some of our favorite ways to say thanks) to encourage kids and adults alike to express what they are grateful for. It is especially important this year to remember what we do have, when so much seems missing or different. You may surprise yourself and find that you appreciate Thanksgiving this year all the more for its simplicity and quality time at home. Finally, if you must invite someone from outside your household: Host outdoors - Try moving your festivities outdoors (weather permitting). Not only is it a fun change of pace to spend the day outdoors in the fresh air, it reduces the risk of COVID spreading among your party. If you’re feeling adventurous, try a barbecue-style Thanksgiving dinner. Clean before and after - This is another one that’s important if you’re hosting a guest from outside your home. You’ll want to be extra-diligent this year about cleaning your home and, especially, dinner table before and after your guest arrives. Make sure you take the same approach to bathrooms and doorknobs, known as high-touch areas. Ask guests to wash their hands before they come to your house, and use hand sanitizer when they arrive and periodically throughout the day. Consider a buffet - By far the safest way to host a meal this season is to have each guest serve themselves. Have clean utensils and a plate already set out for each guest, so they can bring them to the buffet rather than reaching into a shared utensil cup or stack of dishes. Consider using disposable utensils, plates, and napkins, or for an eco-friendly approach, ask guests to bring their own place setting from home that they’ll take with them when they leave. Also encourage guests to clean up after themselves by having a foot-touch or already open trash can ready for any unfinished tidbits of food. Mask up - It may feel extreme, but you can reduce the risk of COVID spreading to your family and friends by having everyone wear a mask except when eating or drinking. Remember, the more alcohol people consume, the less likely they are to wear a mask or to wear one properly. If you don’t want to spend the day dishing out reminders, it may be best to limit the alcohol this year. Get tested and stay home if you have symptoms - Guests who are traveling should get tested before hopping on an airplane and travel only if they have a negative test and no symptoms, to minimize risk to others. The same goes for hosts: Even if dinner is an hour away and the turkey is in the oven, the safest option for everyone is to cancel. Here is a list of symptoms to watch out for:
Stay safe, be creative, and enjoy this (unusual) Thanksgiving! Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken The MBD team has been extremely fortunate to have some amazing partners who have trusted us with their valued community events. Knowing that we are invested in our community and we still wanted to bring fun to local families, My Big Day worked with Thompson Education Foundation and The Centerra Marketplace to put on some amazing Halloween experiences! Our socially safe Trick-or-Treat event hosted at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland was a huge success! Over 30 vendor booths, over 40 volunteers, and over 3,000 guests came through on Saturday, October 31st. This event was FREE to the public. The Halloween Hullabaloo hosted by McWhinney at the Centerra Marketplace provided 7 drive-in movies for FREE for families to enjoy! What a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday, dress up, and enjoy some old fashioned fun! Our good friend, Jen West Photography, captured some photos of the fun over the Halloween weekend. Thank you for supporting our small business while we support others. We love what we do! Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken October 1 - 25, 2020 Online & Around Northern Colorado The Family Center/La Familia has had the honor to serve our community for 25 years. We want to celebrate our birthday by hosting a scavenger hunt and you're invited! Participate using an easy app you can use on any device. Solve clues at home, or venture out into the community! Anyone can participate. Great for families, creative dates, and social distancing fun! Participate at any time during the 25 days. Earn points - win prizes! $$$ The $20 registration is a donation to The Family Center/La Familia. Date: October 1 - 25, 2020 Location: Online and around town Website: https://thefamilycenterfc.org/fiesta Prizes: 1st $200 Visa GC 2nd $100 Visa GC 3rd $50 Costco GC 4th $25 King Soopers GC 5th $25 King Soopers GC plus, all players are entered in a chance to win our Grand Prize! Thank you to our sponsors for your generous support! Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken You may have friends or family members – dubbed “COVID Couples’ – who have had to postpone or cancel their weddings because of the pandemic. For most couples, this is a difficult decision to make, and may bring up feelings of sadness, anger, or even loss. Here are some ways to support the special people in your life whose weddings have been affected by COVID – and some things to avoid. DO: 1. Send a surprise gift on their original wedding day. This is likely to be the most difficult day for the couple. Consider sending flowers, sweets, or a gift card for a takeout date night with a note saying you are thinking of them. If you’re on a budget, stick with a handwritten note dropped at their doorstep or surprise them with FaceTime or a phone call. Don’t forget about the groom! 2. Listen. Be a shoulder to cry on for your friends and family. Venting can be a therapeutic way to deal with negative emotions from having to postpone or cancel their wedding. Be open and understanding, but not dismissive or overly positive. 3. Contact vendors. A lot goes in to planning a wedding. If your couple has hired a wedding planner, they can help with reaching out to the vendors the couple has chosen. If not, consider the numerous contracts with the florist, photographer, caterer, cake decorator, venue, DJ, furniture rentals, day-of coordinator, and many more that may exist. Depending on the vendor and the wording of each contract, meetings with vendors may involve renegotiating the contract, maintaining it but postponing the date, or asking for a partial refund. 4. Give them resources. There are many couples in the same boat, and many community and support groups online. The Zola Facebook Community has almost 12,000 members in the throes of pandemic wedding planning. For more local advice, check out Colorado COVID-19 Wedding Support. 5. Deal with guests. Offer to help contact guests to notify them of changes to the event. This could involve a formal, mailed update, or an email or text if the wedding was scheduled for just a few weeks away. Be sure to introduce yourself to the couple’s family and friends if making calls or sending texts on their behalf. You can also help answer guests’ follow-up questions about reservations they had for the wedding or the timing of the rescheduled event (if there is one). DON’T: 1. Give opinions or advice unless it is solicited by the couple. It is complicated and confusing trying to reschedule a large event with many moving parts, never mind with unwarranted opinions thrown into the mix. Give advice only if you are asked to by the couple. 2. Be overly positive or dismissive. Saying, “It’s going to be fine,” may not go over well. Things may not be okay for your friends or family members, and they don’t have to be. Try saying, “I’m sorry. I wish things were different,” or “I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but I’m here for you.” 3. Expect to be able to fix it. As a friend or family member, the best you can do is listen and offer help or advice if it’s requested. Do not try to fix their feelings or the situation. Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken The Family Center/La Familia is celebrating 25 years serving our community. We are hosting a 25 day scavenger hunt! Participate using an easy app you can use on your phone, tablet or computer. Solve clues at home, or venture out into the community! Anyone can participate. Great for families, creative dates, and social distancing fun! Participate at any time during the 25 days. Earn points – win prizes! $$$ The $20 registration is a donation to The Family Center/La Familia. Date: October 1 - 25 Location: Online and around town Website: https://thefamilycenterfc.org/fiesta FAQs: Coming soon Prizes: 1st $200 Visa GC 2nd $100 Visa GC 3rd $50 Costco GC 4th $25 King Soopers GC 5th $25 King Soopers GC plus, all players are entered in a chance to win our Grand Prize!
Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken Now that stay-at-home orders have been lifted, some venues are reopening for socially-distanced gatherings. The My Big Day team has put together a list of ten Colorado venues going above and beyond in COVID-19 safety to consider for your upcoming wedding, corporate or private holiday party, or company meeting. Drumroll please... Where: DoubleTree by Hilton, Greeley at Lincoln Park Number of guests: Per Weld County regulations, DoubleTree is hosting events of up to 100 people in their over-12,000-square-foot ballroom. Precautions:
Contact: Lora Hassen, 303-941-4816 Website:https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dengcdt-doubletree-greeley-at-lincoln-park/meetings-events/ Where: The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs and mountain properties Number of guests: Options are almost unlimited. The Broadmoor has a 5,000-acre property that includes indoor and outdoor spaces at their Colorado Springs location and at mountain wilderness retreats. Indoor spaces include 90 meeting rooms and a large, 125,000-square-foot Exhibit Center. The Broadmoor is also happy to cater to events as small as 40 guests. Precautions:
Contact: Submit proposal request here Website:https://www.broadmoor.com/meetings-events/meeting-at-the-broadmoor/?utm_source=destinationcolorado&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=meetings Where: Block One, Old Town Fort Collins Number of guests: 50 attendees for public events or 95 attendees for Life-Rite gatherings (gatherings that bring members of a household or family together, such as funerals, memorials, or wedding ceremonies) in 4.102 square feet. “Attendees” includes, DJs, caterers, venue staff, etc. Precautions:
Contact: Leah Dunn, 970-420-3692, leah@encompass8.com Website http://www.rentblockone.com/events Where: The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins Number of guests: Up to 50 people for private events Precautions:
Contact: Event booking, 970-221-6733 Website https://www.lctix.com/rent-our-spaces Where: The Cleveland Room at desk chair, Loveland Number of guests: Up to 50 Precautions: · Guests must sign in upon entry for potential contact tracing · Masks must be worn when entering or exiting the event space · Indoor and outdoor capacity will be limited to 40% to allow for social distancing · Sanitation stations throughout event space · Staff will wear masks when interacting with guests and serving food or drink Contact: 970-462-9464 Website https://www.theclevelandroom.com Where: The Elizabeth Hotel, Fort Collins Number of guests: Contact for more information Precautions:
Website https://www.theelizabethcolorado.com/meetings-events Where: Embassy Suites, Loveland Number of guests: Contact for more information; largest available single space is the 28,800-square-foot Front Range Ballroom Precautions:
Contact: 970-593-6200 Website https://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/colorado/embassy-suites-by-hilton-loveland-hotel-conference-center-and-spa-FNLESES/event/index.html Where: Edwards House, Fort Collins Number of guests: Up to 30 for meetings, up to 50 for weddings Precautions:
Website https://edwardshouse.com/conferences-and-events Where: The Curtis, downtown Denver Number of guests: Currently offering steeply discounted meeting and event prices for 20 or fewer guests; click here to view the “Mini-Mony” wedding package starting at $1500 for 20 attendees. Contact for info about larger events. Precautions:
Website https://www.thecurtis.com/events/meetings-events-offers/ Where: The Candlelight Dinner Theater Playhouse Number of guests: Social distancing at it's finest! Guest count varies depending on event space. There are a number of available event spaces for rent/private parties. Precautions:
Contact: Allison Clark(970) 744-3748 or allison@coloradocandlelight.com Website: http://www.coloradocandlelight.com/ Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken While the physical toll of this pandemic has been highly publicized and studied, we are just beginning to understand the social and emotional effects of this pandemic. Isolation and social distancing, while proven to help limit the spread of the virus, can also have long-term effects on individuals and society alike. One of the most visible social effects of this pandemic is the cancellation of many important milestone celebrations. This has been an issue that is at the forefront of our industry, but it has been felt far beyond. Milestones and events like weddings, graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, and funerals have all been impacted. Why celebrating and acknowledging milestones is important: Celebrating milestones is how we as a society commemorate the progression of life. These celebrations serve as a connection - with family and friends and beyond. Missing these events can prove to be more than disappointing - they can affect emotional and social development milestones as well, especially in children and youth. While one benefit of social distancing is more dedicated time with family, we miss out on the connections with others that contribute to our development and emotional well-being. Important milestones are visual and experiential representations of growth. Without them, we miss opportunities for growth. Practical solutions: Cancelling important events and milestones can be hard to process - not just for children and youth, but for everyone involved. Milestones are typically “once-in-a-lifetime” events. Processing the disappointment of losing these moments is extremely difficult. Some strategies that might help ease the pain of these missed milestones are:
Ideas and recommendations for celebrating during Covid: As experts in the event planning industry, we have been tasked with coming up with creative solutions for celebrating milestones during these unprecedented times. We have developed and discovered ways in which our clients can safely celebrate life’s most important events. Here are just a few examples of alternative celebration opportunities: Birthdays We’ve already highlighted a variety of ways in which you can help someone feel special on their covid birthday. Our blog “10 COVID-Safe Ways to Make Your Child’s Birthday Special” is full of great ideas that can be adapted to celebrate someone at any age! Graduations Graduations bring a feeling of pride for both graduates and their families. Cancelled graduation ceremonies are difficult to replace, but there are some alternative options that will still allow you to celebrate these great accomplishments!
Weddings If Covid has forced you to postpone your dream wedding and reception, why not consider the following as an alternative?
Anniversaries While anniversaries tend to be celebrated by just the couple alone, COVID restrictions can still make planning a fitting celebration difficult. There are a ton of special date night options that can be planned to mark this milestone, but here are a few ideas that go beyond ordering in dinner and a movie:
Funerals Funerals might just be the most difficult event to miss. Families and friends often need the closure and social support that a funeral provides. Social distancing guidelines and the nature of a funeral make it even more difficult to plan. While postponing may be a viable option, some families might not want to delay or prolong this part of the grieving process.
Social Entertainment Just because you can’t frequent your favorite bar or restaurant together, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some fun together while keeping safely apart!
When it comes to celebrating missed milestones, creativity provides limitless possibility. While we know that nothing will ever bring back the actual missed opportunities of these special moments, planning to intentionally acknowledge them is a good practice to adopt. Everyone deserves to celebrate these special times. If you would like help in planning a virtual milestone celebration, please reach out to our talented team of event planners and memory makers. We can help you plan an event that you and your family and friends will remember forever. Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken One of our many passions is supporting local non-profits in our community. The Family Center/La Familia is an agency that is a vital resource in our community. We are proud to be their trusted partner in 3 core areas: Events, Marketing and Development. As part of our development focus, we launched their "GROW" campaign, which is an effort to grow their monthly, continuous donors. This is the best way for a non-profit to predict what resources they can offer based on projected donations. With the help of a couple strong community partners, our campaign has received $30,000 in just the first month as a way to kick-start our lofty $100,000 goal. Below is the public statement made about this initiative. Over the course of three months, Fort Collins Foothills Rotary helped raise $93,000 to benefit six local organizations who are directly serving families impacted by the pandemic: Food Bank, Rescue Mission, Neighbor to Neighbor, La Familia/The Family Center, Teaching Tree, and Putnam Elementary. This was in cooperation with each organization's fundraising efforts and partnering with Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. We are SO thankful for the heart Foothills Rotary Club of Fort Collins has for Early Childhood Education. Their 10k donation was a great kick-off to our GROW campaign, and a 20k donation from the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado is such a blessing. We are filled with gratitude! "With the generous contribution made by the Foothills Rotary Club of Fort Collins and the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado we will make the required concrete leveling of the preschool playground and install a long lasting and secure fence around it. This work has been desired for a long time and thanks to this funding it will be possible!" -Gloria Kat, Executive Director & Family Support Services Director If you are able to give a little extra, we encourage you to support The Family Center/La Familia. Their GROW Campaign can be found HERE. Thank you for supporting us and the community we serve. -My Big Day Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken Keep it small. Obviously, large gatherings are off the table right now. But birthdays can be just as special with immediate family members. Research shows kids find these birthdays just as meaningful and memorable as a big, expensive party. Create anticipation. Build up to the big day - present your child with seven envelopes, each containing a small privilege (15 minutes of extra screen time, 30 min. later bedtime, etc.) He can open one each day in the week leading up to his birthday. Celebrate the night before, too. This is a great way to help your child reflect on and feel proud of another year of life, minus the distraction of presents. Take this time to give them some special attention instead of material things. Surprise decorating. Decorate with balloons, streamers, and signs while your little one is sleeping. It will be a fun surprise and a great photo op in the morning! Entertainment via Zoom. Parents can book a virtual professional magic show or a video chat with Elsa. Check out Send In the Clowns . Go for a birthday cruise. Deck out your family car with decorations and special messages written on the windows and drive around town! Your child is sure to get lots of honks and happy birthdays from passerby. Go on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Divide into teams with one adult and one or more kids each, and set out with a list of items and some phones or digital cameras. Have each team snap photos of a purple flower, someone with a stroller, a house number with the birthday child’s age. Give them a “Yes Day.” Let the birthday child choose all the day’s meals and activities (within reason of course). Let them create their own cake. The birthday child chooses the cake flavor, fillings or frosting, and decorations. It will be all the more special because it was their creation. Big-kid smash cake. If you don’t mind some clean-up, put a twist on the traditional toddler smash cake and let the entire family eat cake sans utensils. Laughs guaranteed! Contact My Big Day
Marketing & Events Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us As event planners, we serve the entire Front Range; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken By Carrie Stadtmueller, My Big Day Lead Event Planner & Marketing Manager Does the idea of accepting one more virtual happy hour invite with your co-workers and socially distanced friends fill you with a sense of loathing and dread? You might be suffering from the Zoom Blues! It’s been hard to watch the hopeful Summer of 2020 turn into the Summer that Wasn’t. People all over the world, country, and internet have been looking for ways to stay engaged and entertained - all while socially distancing and looking towards the slow process of reopening. We’ve pulled together an extensive list of activities for your summer at home - some just as fun and special as your traditional summer plans - check it out: Water Day Even though your public pool might not be open, that doesn’t mean you have to forego any water fun! Why not bust out your swimsuits and set up a sprinkler or slip-n-slide in the backyard? Cool off with some time in a refreshing kiddie pool - with a cocktail of course! If you have a small group of friends who you feel safe socializing distantly with, invite them over for a backyard game of Water Balloon Volleyball. You can spread out across the court - although we recommend that you find a facemask that matches your bathing suit ensemble.
Start a Virtual Book Club Use the encouragement of your friends to get excited about reading again! Take turns suggesting books, pick a regular date and time, and chat up your favorite characters and chapters! Bonus - have the person who suggests the book also come up with a special cocktail, beer, or wine for the evening, too!
Online Workouts If you’re like us, you may have noticed that quarantine hasn’t been your waistline’s best friend. How about gathering an online bestie for some Zoom/FaceTime at home workouts? There are thousands of fitness gurus who are offering exercise routines and advice on Instagram and Pinterest. Find your favorite and start sweating! Encourage your quarantine workout partner, and check in each week to keep each other accountable!
These are just a few fun ideas to pass your days away. While this time of social distancing is often boring, and thinking about how long it might last can be depressing, we hope you take the time to enjoy the little things. Adjusting to this time at home and social separations involves adjusting expectations. You can still feel like you have had a fun, productive and entertaining day with the right expectations. And at the end of the day, you can rest easy knowing that you have done your part to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe. Contact My Big Day Marketing & Events Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us As event planners, we serve the entire Front Range; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken |
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