-by Jessica Weimer, My Big Day Keeping your wedding memento’s or selling them is a tough decision. If you’re sentimental you will most likely keep most or your décor, but is it worth the space it takes up in your home/garage? If you sell everything most likely you will regret it when that special occasion comes up and you are missing the cake knives you didn’t think you’d need. Here is a list of must keep items and some items you need to sell. Toasting Glasses: While this might not have been the item you spent days deciding on, it is still something that could come in handy in the future! If you are fond of traditions this could be something worth saving for future anniversaries. They are a great conversation piece when people admire your glass cabinet; it could remind you of that great toast your brother gave. These are also something that may be hard to sell, especially if they are engraved or have a personal touch. Cake Knives: Cake knives are something that can be sold or kept. If you are an entertainer then they may be a must to keep, since you will probably need something to cut a cake in the future. In that case they are also a great conversation piece, every time you pull them out you can reminisce of the cake at your wedding. Or maybe you really want to store them in a shadow box and show off the amazing detail or engraving you chose. They can be used as a tradition you hand down to your child when they get married. If you aren’t attached to them they could be sold or even give them to another friend who is getting married soon! Wedding Gown: This is definitely a personal choice by the bride, some brides really don’t put much sentimental value into their bridal gown but to others it is the most important dress you will ever wear. There are some businesses who will preserve it in a box for you, or even a more unique idea is to get it preserved in a shadow box and hang it in your closet one day, depending if your closet is big enough! If you don’t mind changing up your dress, you could alter it into a different dress you could wear for a vow renewal or a significant anniversary! These are great ways to keep the dress looking good and the sentimental value intact. If you don’t mind selling your wedding gown, there are always re-sale shops you can go to. (My Big Day recommends Wed Wisely in Loveland, CO.) Or even donating your dress to be given to a woman less fortunate who needs the help and would love her dream wedding! Décor: When your wedding is over you are left with great memories and tons of the décor you spent many hours perusing and then purchasing! If like most people, you don’t have use for 50 cylinder vases, there is hope to still sell some of it. Recycle Your Wedding is a great website that lets you list your wedding goods and the suggested price and people can look through and buy. It also has a wanted section in which people describe what they’re looking for and the amount they would like to pay. This will at least let you hopefully sell the majority of your things. There is no good or bad time to sell your wedding goods, as brides look year round for the perfect find! Though if your wedding was trendy it is best to try to sell as soon as possible, because chevron may have been the cutest thing ever this year but next year it may be out. Craigslist is also a good site that can help you unload your wedding decor, but don't expect to get even half of what you paid. The site is best for re-homing your goods, but not making money.
Some décor is worth keeping such as the gorgeous arch you may have constructed to get married under. If you and your new husband are moving into a home and have a backyard, it would be the perfect garden accent and be a really good conversation piece. My Big Day offers affordable rentals for clients looking to have the latest trends with decorations, but who don't want to purchase 25 centerpieces that will never see the light of day again. When it comes to selling things from your wedding, it can be a tough decision to part with things that have so many memories, but also it could save you the headache of having to store it and then just throwing it out eventually. My Big Day was honored to be chosen as the planners for this stunning garden wedding. The event was hosted at the lovely home of Gary and Carol Ann Hixon of Fort Collins, near Horsetooth Reservoir. The bride and groom, Nikki & Ryder, were surrounded by loved ones who helped with all the little touches that made the day extra special. Hosting a large event a a private home is no small feat. Not only are you bringing in decorations and rentals to a location vendors haven't been to before, but you need an XXL emergency kit available to trouble-shoot any accessories needed, should the home not be equipped with traditional supplies you would find at a venue. Luckily, My Big Day carries a large amount of supplies with us, AND the Hixons are no strangers to hosting large galas at their home. Aside from some unpreventable weather just prior to the wedding, the day want off without a hitch! Thank you to all the vendors who made Ryder & Nikki's wedding a spectacular celebration of love! Flowers: Florals by Rhonda Cake: Fiona’s Deli & Bakery DJ/MC: Robert Krueger Photographer: BlueHaus Studios Videographer: Forget Me Not Media Caterer: Café Mexicali Bartending: With a Twist LLC MakeUp: Keegan Steele Hair: Alysse Riccio Rentals: Best Event Rentals -My Big Day LLC by Randi Juric, My Big Day Being a good hostess doesn’t take a lot of skill. Being a good hostess is all about the timing and the come one come all attitude. All you need to remember is smiles, full drinks, full plates, great atmosphere. Here are a few structure points to being the best hostess you can be. As a hostess you are the greeter, server, entertainer, problem solver, and cleanup crew unless of course you hire someone for any of these jobs. Even if you hire someone a super hostess still eyeballs the help to make sure it’s getting done right. A great hostess can super charge the room just by their smile and presentation as you greet a guest. Be infectious and make the crowd happy and go lucky with a smile! We call that a Super Hospi Hostess, hospi stands for hospitality. 1. Set a clear start and end: When you send out an invite be sure you list time, place, start and end dates. This will allow people to plan for the event accordingly. This will also ensure your party loving friends don’t overstay their welcome. Be sure to add an RSVP due date for a better had count for your event. 2. Confirmations: Be prepared to make confirmation calls to those who haven’t RSVP yet. Always be sure to ask if you think you may need to make special accommodations for some one. 3. Comfort: When guests start to arrive be sure to make the rules clear “take your shoes off and head on in” or “There is/is not a smoking area out back”. Be sure you keep the environment comfortable for all guests and you too! Welcome them in and shoe them the layout. Everyone loves snacks and drinks, it’s the best part of the party!! Remember as your walking around mingling and welcoming new guests it’s OK to eyeball everyone’s plates and drinks. Be sure to ask in passing if they need a refill on any food or drink or if you can take their plate. Remember to SMILE SMILE SMILE! 4. Mingle, Mingle, Mingle: It is very important to mingle and mix things up. Walk around and talk with your guests, catch up and maybe get people who may not know each other to start a conversation. Keep your background music in mind should you decide to play some. Always put together a playlist that fits your crowd and don’t play it too loud. We want the music to entertain but not blast away! 5. Clean up: Clean as you go! It makes things so much easier as you go to pick up and clean as your walking around mingling. Offer to take some ones trash for them. A hostess never leaves their guest with their hands full. 6. The wind down and long good bye: Read your crowd! Timing is everything on the wind down. About an hour to thirty minutes before your scheduled end time take the time to look around and see if your guests seem to be winding down or going strong. If they are winding down you can turn your music down in the background more and start cleaning up a little more heavily as you mingle and say your goodbyes to those leaving. You can also thank people for coming as you’re cleaning up in their area before you move on, this will give the guest the impression the party is coming to an end politely. On the other hand if your guests seem to still be going strong and you don’t have to be out by a specific time start asking for refills again or if you can get them anything else. You can also turn the music up just a smidge. Mingle and ask your guests if they have met so and so yet and see if you can make some new connections. 7. The morning after: Give some of your guests’ calls over the next week and thank them for coming again and see if they have any feedback for you good or bad, just listen to what they have to say there is always room for improvement. This helps you refine your hosting skills and see what works and doesn’t so well. This also gives you an opportunity to give more invites if you have other events you want to have some guests to join. Your guests will love the follow up and the time you took to say thank you again. It leaves a great impression that you cared to call them and ask if they had a good time. These hostess tips have been brought to you by My Big Day Events! Serving the Front Range, Mountains and S. Wyoming. Parties - Planning - Weddings & More! More Sloshball photos are posted!
Go to Michelle Badger Photography's SmugMug online gallery to view photos of your team! CLICK HERE Every wedding is unique and My Big Day treats every day as such. When planning your wedding, smart brides ask for tips to pull the day off smoothly. The secret to a stress-free wedding day? Giving yourself enough time to prepare for a VERY full day! Get the complete breakdown below to what happens on your wedding day. (in general of course) Getting Ready: Bride's hair: One hour, depending on the style. This gives enough time to get it right and make any tweaks or changes from the trial run. Bride's makeup: 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the makeup style the bride selects Bridesmaids' hair: 30 minutes per person. (depending on style) Bridesmaids' makeup: 45 minutes per person. The order: When your hairstylist arrives, have her start on your bridesmaids first. This way, the bride can go last so that when her photographer arrives, they catch those last-minute 'getting ready' shots, and the bride looks the freshest. Photographer arrival time: One hour prior to formal photo time. This gives your photographer time to walk your wedding site for any last minute photo ideas, and to capture photos of the bride getting ready. 5+ Girls Requiring Hair/Make-up Styling: ask your stylist to bring an assistant to cut down on time. For makeup, add an assistant after yourself plus two. Traveling to a Salon: Double the travel time you anticipate — better to have too much time than not enough. Photos: Pre-ceremony photos of the bride with her family and attendants/groom with his family and attendants: Two to three minutes per shot; more if the groups are very large, and less if they are very small. "You must also consider how punctual the groups tend to be and possibly cushion the schedule to allow for unexpected delays. First look: 15-30 minutes. Groom and groomsmen arrive: An hour and a half before the ceremony. Bride and bridesmaids arrive: An hour before the ceremony. We want to make sure you are hidden before your guests arrive, so they don't get an early peek at your gown! *If the bride won't be taking photos at the church or ceremony site prior to the ceremony, then she can arrive moments before walking down the aisle and wait in the limo until it's time. The Ceremony: Ideal ceremony length: 30 minutes. It's enough time to have meaningful readings and music to make your ceremony unique and memorable. Receiving line: For a ceremony with 100 guests or less, this will take 12-15 minutes. With 150 guests, allow 20+ minutes. If you're expecting more than 150 guests, consider skipping the receiving line and visiting guests at their tables during dinner instead. Maximum gap between ceremony and reception: One hour. Any more than that, and we’d recommend suggesting places for your guests to visit between the ceremony and cocktail hour. Family photos: Two to three minutes per shot — if your family is properly organized! Bridal party: Two to three minutes per shot. Didn't have a first look? Allow 30 minutes post-ceremony for photos of you and your groom. If you did have a first look, you'll still want 15-20 minutes post-ceremony for just the two of you. *Save photos of very large groups (like classmates, coworkers, and large extended family groups) for the reception, when your DJ or band leader can make an announcement to gather everyone. You'll be able to take the photos much faster than trying to track down 50 people during the cocktail hour. The Reception: Ideal event length: Six hours. This will allow an hour for cocktails, two hours for dinner, and three hours for dancing. First dance: This can take place immediately after the bride and groom enter the reception, following the conclusion of dinner, or right after dessert. Father/daughter dance: Immediately following the first dance. Mother/son dance: Immediately following the father/daughter dance. Or, sometimes, this dance is shared with the father/daughter dance. Welcome toast: Given by the father of the bride or by the bride and groom. Toasts: Ladies first! Start with the maid of honor, followed by the best man. Guests invited to dance: Open up the dance floor, and get the party started! Dessert: Two hours before the reception ends. Cake cutting, cupcakes, or whatever you have planned. Bouquet and garter tosses: Right after the cake cutting, or about two hours before the end of the reception. Late-night snacks: A popular trend, many couples start passing around bite-size snacks at this point to refuel guests. Farewell: If you're doing a sparkler farewell, for example, have guests start lining up about 10 minutes before you plan to exit. For more tips and helpful hints, or to hire My Big Day as your wedding planner - Contact My Big Day! Christine Kovacs Forster, Owner/ Party Planner My Big Day llc Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us Located in Loveland, CO As event planners, we serve the entire front range; Northern Colorado, Southern Wyoming and mountain venues. Our photography friend, 2M Photography captured some amazing photos of our event rentals. Our client and mom to be, Heather, has a beautiful shower hosted by her mom and sister. They asked My Big Day to decorate, provide serving dishes, and fun baby games. B.Sweet.Cupcakes in Loveland provided the delicious cupcakes.
Thank you, Vikki (mom), for thinking of us and allowing us to assist in your special day!
The reception was help at the park pavilion. Table were names with their favorite stadiums, and decorated with baseballs, sunflowers, and of course - Cracker Jacks! Guests signed homeplate as the guest book. The snack bar was filled with peanuts and pretzels, and the caterer, Common Link, hosted a smorgasbord of baseball themed gourmet food! The day was simply perfect --- filled with joy and surprises!
My Big Day was honored to be the wedding planners for such a special day. And you know we love a theme! August 7, 2014 --Loveland, Colo Ein Prosit, ein Prosit……. Break out your lederhosen and dust off your polka shoes – it’s that time of year again! LOVELAND OKTOBERFEST! This is one of NoCo’s largest FREE community events and it will be held at the Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson complex on Saturday, September 20, 2014. All the free fun will take place from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. The fun will continue throughout the evening when The Epilogues, Proverbial and Flobots take the stage at the Thunder Mountain Apitheater. (Ticket information posted below.) As a proud sponsor, My Big Day Event Company is excited to announce that this year’s Oktoberfest is the largest one yet! Due to the larger venue and participants, a greater portion of the proceeds will benefit the efforts of Colorado Youth Outdoors, a unique non-profit in Northern Colorado that aims to connect kids and parents through hands-on outdoor experiences. Seven breweries will have signature brews available – five of them from local establishments: Samuel Adams Crow Hop Brewery Grimm Brothers Loveland Aleworks Verboten Big Beaver There will also be a number of food venders and musicians providing tastes and entertainment with a local flare. The Waido Experience, Dr. Doctor, and the Harvestmen are ready to rock your lederhosen off and will all be providing family fun entertainment throughout the afternoon. The event’s schedule can be found at http://lovelandoktoberfest.org/schedule/ Ticket information for the evening concert: -Tickets for the concert start at $15 for students, $18 for presale tickets and $20 at the gate. -Tickets include entry to all three performances. Presale tickets can be purchased at Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson, all Loveland and Fort Collins King Soopers’ locations, the Loveland Visitor Center, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse and online at www.lovelandoktoberfest.org. We hope to see you there, enjoying all the fun and festive activities and partaking in some tasty brews! Don’t forget to plan ahead and remember how important that mornin’ after kloche is to cure your Oktoberfest hangover! “Ein Prosit, ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit. Ein Prosit, ein Prosit Der Gemütlichkeit. Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa” --------------------------------------- My Big Day, a Loveland based event company, is honored to be a sponsor of this year’s Oktoberfest. For more information about My Big Day, visit http://www.mybigdaycompany.com or call (970) 613-1455 or 303-886-3068. Christine Kovacs Forster [email protected] For more information about the event, or to become a sponsor, contact: Ingrid Bush [email protected] Website: http://lovelandoktoberfest.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oktoberfestloveland Twitter: https://twitter.com/LovelandOfest by Carrie Stadtmueller If you are planning an event with a Mardi Gras or NOLA flair, then look no further than J. Gumbo’s Cajun and Creole Restaurant to fulfill your culinary dreams! This Fort Collins franchise, located in the Council Tree Shopping Center (by Super Target on Harmony Rd), offers some of the region’s best Cajun tastes – for in store dining and event catering. Managed by David Slocum, the Fort Collins J. Gumbo team works diligently to bring the most authentic Cajun and Creole flavors and traditional meals to their customers. They offer a variety of tasty favorites such as home-style Gumbo, spicy VooDoo Chicken, colorful BumbleBee Stew, and a crowd pleaser – honey cornbread. An added plus: their website offers nutritional values for each dish in addition to vegetarian AND gluten free options for customers to choose from. My Big Day, LLC has had the privilege of working with Dave and his catering team at a large corporate event. Dave was easy going, flexible, and provided excellent service. He brought a team of hardworking and friendly servers. The event schedule had to be modified throughout the evening, and the J Gumbo's team rose to the occasion. Not only did they provide friendly service, the food was delicious and they offered many extras such as fruit and dessert with their Cajun cuisine! For our fellow event planners, or corporate party coordinators, It's worth mentioning that J Gumbo's can cater a party from 3 to 300! My Big Day friends and family members would also say it's worth mentioning that carry-out is a breeze and their pricing is AFFORDABLE! J. Gumbo’s is a national chain, but you can reach our local establishment at (970) 672-8375. You can visit their website at www.jgumbos.com -The My Big Day Event Planning Team Thank you to Michelle Badger Photography for the quick turn-around on photos from this year's Sloshball tournament!
Photos have been posted to the My Big Day website. And there are more to come! Thanks to all who came out to play! We love your spirit! -My Big Day |
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