My Big Day Events Blog: Weddings, Events, Deals, Ideas, Planning, Colorado in the Know!

Vintage 40th Birthday Party

5/23/2016

When you celebrate a BIG birthday, you have a lot of choices in how you choose to party. Our birthday girl opted to take advantage of the gorgeous Colorado spring weather, and had a home based shin-dig with 50 of her closest friends. This "Vintage Themed Birthday" had all the personal touches you'd expect for a BIG birthday!

Event Professionals:

Event Planners: My Big Day
Photos: My Big Day
Decorations: James Paige Design
Rentals: My Big Day
Caterer: Fresh Plate Catering
Bartender: BeMixxed Bartending

Contact My Big Day
Have Fun. Be Young. Let us know how we can help.
Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner.

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; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains,
and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, Estes Park, Longmont, Greeley

Event Site Review: Zoe's Cafe, Greeley CO

7/7/2014

Recently My Big Day visited Zoe's cafe in Greeley to learn more about their event space for our clients. Ben Fusco, the Director of Events gave us a fantastic tour!

With 3 different event spaces to pick from, an ideal soda bar, a stage perfect for a band or DJ, and with a 256 person capacity, Zoe's can be the perfect space for your next event, no matter what the occasion!

My Big Day often finds that some of our clients specifically seek out venues where you can choose your own caterer, and bring your own alcohol. Zoe's is one of the rare venues that allows both. Their basic package includes 2 bartenders, and security. Beer and wine can be provided by you! They don't enforce a preferred vendor list, so you can feel free to chose vendors of your liking.

In our opinion, the rental rate is extremely affordable, and the space is extremely flexible! My Big Day has assisted with a wedding at this location, and the staff was very accommodating. If you are researching venues for your next birthday party, holiday party, charity event, company event, shower or wedding, we highly recommend Zoe's Cafe in Greeley, CO!

Event Site Review: Kress Cinema Lounge

6/9/2014

Recently My Big Day visited the Kress Cinema Lounge to learn more about their event space for our clients. The owners, Ron & Linde Thompson have done a great job making this space in historic downtown Greeley a desirable place to host a party, or to go for a fun date night out!

As an event rental option, the Kress Cinema Lounge offers multiple spaces broken out into rentals: the Fireplace Lounge, The Art Deco Bar, and the Theatre. You can also rent the entire facility by hour, by half day, or for the entire day. The entire space can hold up to 300 people.

In our opinion the rental rate is affordable, and the space is unique and fun! My Big Day has assisted with a holiday party at this location, and the staff was very accommodating. If you are researching venues for your next birthday party, holiday party, company event, shower or wedding, we highly recommend the Kress Cinema Lounge!

The Importance of a 'Plan B'

5/7/2014

No event – no matter how well-planned and well-run – is immune to the occasional crisis or disaster.

My Big Day believes a good event planner will be able to think on his or her feet for the small stuff, and have a solid crisis plan in place for dealing with the biggies. You can’t possibly expect to plan for every type of crisis, but a little advance planning will go a long way to ensure that you can handle whatever comes your way!

Maintenance Emergencies:
If your function takes place in a hotel or convention facility you should discuss emergency plans with the Director of Sales and Maintenance Engineer. They should provide you with a contact at the site that will take care of any emergency or maintenance issues. If your event is being held in a private hall, find out who in their organization is responsible for facility management and ask for someone to be available during your event. In your contact list, keep numbers of 24-hour locksmiths, plumbers and electricians.
Technical emergencies fall into this category as well. Having a tech on hand is crucial if your event involved music, lighting, presentations and the like!

Medical Emergencies:
When planning a large outdoor festival or sporting event, it on makes sense to have first aid personnel on hand. Festival-goers may suffer from heat stroke (or hypothermia in the winter), minor or major cuts, sunburn or food poisoning. For large events, it’s a good idea to include in your rental items a tent that can be used to shelter people from the sun or cold while receiving treatment for minor injuries. Discuss options and get advice from your local ambulance volunteer force or contracted service providers. Be sure to include the local hospital, emergency line and non-emergency police number in your list of contacts.

Weather Emergencies:
The weather is always unpredictable, or at least you should embrace this philosophy when planning an event. Don't ever count on perfect weather. Have a backup plan. If your event is outdoors, ask your venue if there is an indoor option, should the weather not cooperate. Also consider tent rentals, or even another site that doesn't have an event booked that day. (You know, because you did your research)
Never underestimate the importance of extra umbrellas, raincoats and blankets.

If you are well prepared, chances are you won't need the Plan B. But that one time when everything goes wrong, you'll be glad you were prepared!
-My Big Day

My Big Day Hosts It's LARGEST Easter Keg Hunt to Date!

4/23/2014

Six years ago we had no idea how popular this silly event for adults would be. What started as a fun way for adults to act like kids again has turned out to be an annual spectacle in downtown Fort Collins!

Christine Kovacs Forster started the Event/Marketing company, My Big Day, in 2006. Since then she has helped businesses with marketing plans, websites, social media, and events! Her clients range from couples wanting an anniversary get-away, surprise birthday parties, flash mobs, scavenger hunts, holiday parties, corporate meetings, company retreats, weddings, anniversaries.... and her own 'signature events.'

One of these signature events is the annual 'Easter Keg Hunt.' The Easter Keg Hunt is a public scavenger hunt for adults, held in Old Town Fort Collins. Teams register to play in groups of 6-9. Prior to the event they are given a team color and a list of 'tools' to bring, which will help them solve clues. Teams show off their Easter spirit with wild costumes on the day of the event.

At kick-off teams are given their first Easter egg, which contains their first clue to a business on the scavenger hunt route. Once they make it to that business, they are given another egg with another clue. Stops along the route include dares, challenges, and some drinking! The final clue leads teams to a restaurant where we toast the winning team and share stories.

In our 6th year hosting this event, we have hit a cap. Due to space limitations in restaurants in Old Town, we have grown the Easter Keg Hunt to capacity in Fort Collins. This year we had 125 participants and 15 teams. Not only did we hit capacity, we SOLD OUT in less than 24 hours.

As a result, My Big Day will be adding an Easter Keg Hunt to Downtown Loveland in 2015!

If you missed out on the fun this year, or simply want to see what this wild event is all about, check out this year's photos!

2014 Easter Keg Hunt Photos

Site Visit: The Odd, The Unusual... Mead's "Scooterhinge"

3/25/2014

Their tagline is, "Scooterhinge, A Nostalgic Rental Hall." But this venue in Mead, Colorado is more than nostalgic. It's eclectic, it's strange... it's downright a museum of the odd and unusual!

The My Big Day team went on a site visit of Scooterhinge to get an idea of what future signature events might makes sense in this space. We also receive requests for affordable event spaces where clients have the option to bring their own caterer and alcohol. This place offers all of that and more! So we wanted to get a feel of what this venue is all about before we make referrals to our clients.

Located between Loveland and Longmont, Mead is a town of less than 4,000 people. The owner of Scooterhinge is a collector of sorts. He purchased this building and started bringing in his collectibles (old motorcycles, classic cars, vintage dolls, nostalgic toys, the list goes on.)

Here are some quick stats, should you consider renting Scooterhinge for your next event:

Seats 280
Bring your own booze
Bring your own food/caterer
5 disc CD player and sound system available
Big Stage available for band or DJ
Multiple rooms
Indoor smoking room
Outdoor patio
Indoor outhouse (and working bathrooms)
Pool table
Kitchen available
Photo opps galore!
Clean up staff available at $1 per person (on your guest list)
Rental fee: $150/hr

See our slideshow below with some photos of Scooterhinge.
To visit their website, CLICK HERE
Do you need more event venue recommendations?
Contact My Big Day!

My Big Day's "Favorite Things"

2/26/2014

Balloons...
        Confetti....
                Glitter...
                        Champagne...
                                    Dancing....

These are a few of our favorite things!

But what most of our clients look to us for is vendor recommendations. A good event planner knows who and where to find the right service that suits what you are looking for. And when they find a venue, vendor, or valuable contact - they refer them!

Visit our "Favorite Things" page on our website to find a list of places, people and things we love!

And if you think someone or someplace is missing, let us know. We love meeting new people too!
CLICK HERE to visit our "Favorite Things"

Affordable Event/Venue Rentals in Northern Colorado

2/24/2014

Looking for that needle in a haystack for your meeting or event? A good, affordable, flexible, centrally located venue is hard to find!
My Big Day receives requests from friends, clients and complete strangers weekly to pass on our 'little known secret' venues.
While we can't promise any of our favorite venues are secret, we can say that the places below do meet much of our commonly requested criteria.

Check out our recommended venues in Northern Colorado below.

And... to pull your event off without a hitch, consider hiring an event planner!

LOVELAND: The Rialto
The Rialto building and theatre in Downtown Loveland offers a variety of spaces for meetings and events large and small!
The variety of spaces can accommodate groups from 12 -1,000 people!
The beautiful, new rooms in the Rialto Theater Center are the perfect place for:

Business Meetings and Events
Fundraising Events
Holiday Events
Weddings
Anniversary & Graduation Celebrations
Learn More: http://www.cityofloveland.org/index.aspx?page=1178

FORT COLLINS: City Buildings
Whether your planning a wedding, a birthday party, business conference or corporate function the City of Fort Collins Recreation Department can offer you a clean, convenient and affordable location that fits your needs and your budget. Recreation’s primary rental facilities, Northside Aztlan Community Center and Fort Collins Senior Center, are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology, modular rooms and full-service catering kitchens. Their attentive facilities staff will be available during your event and prepared to assist you while making your event a success.
Learn More: http://www.fcgov.com/recreation/rentals.php?7#clubtico

Loveland: Mc C Ranch
Once a well kept secret, this ranch is now often booked every Saturday of the year for 'barn weddings'. An affordable and flexible event center indeed! You can bring your own caterer and alcohol, which few venues allow. A "DIY Bride's" delight!
Our only caution is that you may want to have some extra helpers on hand. Pricier venues have to account for staff. If you reserve the Mc C Ranch, you may want an event coordinator by your side, and some helpful friends!
Learn More: https://www.facebook.com/pages/McC-Ranch/122449521107894

GREELEY: Zoe's Cafe
Located in the heart of Downtown Greeley, Zoë's is a locally owned, non-profit coffeehouse & event center. Centered on the themes of beauty and justice, they are passionate about engaging the community on every level. Theylove the arts! So, there is an emphasis on supporting local artists and musicians through the art gallery and live music venue; they also host a wide variety of groups and community events through the use and rental of their space.
Learn More: http://www.greeleydowntown.com/businesses/zoes-caf%C3%A9

LOVELAND: The Majestic Gathering Place
The Majestic Gathering Place is in the Historic Building operated by the Fraternal Organization, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Built in 1903, and listed on the City of Loveland Historic Places, this building is a great space for any event. With over 4,000 square feet of space and capacity for 250 guests, the Majestic is one of the largest gathering spaces in the Loveland area.
They are also located on 4th Street, in the heart of Downtown Loveland.
Learn More Here: http://www.majesticioof.com/index.html

FORT COLLINS: Crescendo
Crescendo is a fun place to come for tastings, gatherings or meet-ups. They are a surprisingly large space, and offer a great deal of flexibility for your event. Since Crescendo is located in Old Town, Fort Collins --- it is an ideal and centrally located establishment. Call, stop by or email them for pricing.
Website: http://crescendo-usa.com/partners
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crescendo-Fort-Collins/391695417586243

LONGMONT: Firehouse Art Center
The Old Firehouse Art Center is a historic landmark in downtown Longmont. Renovated in 1999, the Firehouse Art Center is now a permanent art gallery and facility for art education and classes. The main gallery can hold up to 100 people standing, 80 people seated auditorium style and 40 people seated at tables. The back room/classroom features a kitchen with two sinks, microwave and small fridge. It can hold 40 people standing and 16 seated at tables. There are two bathrooms, one in the main gallery and one in the back room/classroom.
See more at: http://venueplease.com/venue/firehouse-art-center#sthash.KYM4aiqt.dpuf

FORT COLLINS: Elks Event Center
The Lodge Room in their new facility accommodates 220 people which makes it a perfect setting for most gatherings. The room has a very warm vaulted wood and beam ceiling with elegant lighting designed to create the perfect mood for your event. The walls are painted with warm shades of color and the terrazzo floor lends itself perfectly to dancing. The room is equipped with a handicap accessible stage ample for live music set-ups. Since they only allow one event in the Lodge Room per day, your event will have their staff’s full attention.
Learn More Here: http://www.fortcollinselks.org/facility

LOVELAND: B Sweet Cupcakes
This small space seats about 30... perfect for meetings, parties, clubs, small receptions, baby showers, birthdays, etc! And the best part, they only charge $25 an hour to rent the space!
Oh wait, the better part is that it's INSIDE of a cupcake shop!
B Sweet Cupcakes is a gem in Downtown Loveland.
The space is a private room, tables, chairs, private bathroom access, etc. It's quiet and smells like cupcakes. Need we say more?

Location: 425 E. 4th Street, Loveland, Colorado 80537
Website: http://www.bsweetcupcakes.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bsweetcupcakes/132419660136742

FORT COLLINS: Pappy's Corner Pub
This venue is great for small, private parties. They have a private room with seating for up to 35. Pappy's doesn't charge for the room as long as you are ordering some food from them. And their food is delish!
Although Pappy's is called a pub, it's a nice, clean restaurant, where many parties are help in the private room!
They tend to book up, so call ahead to reserve the room.
Learn More: http://www.pappyscornerpub.com/

LOVELAND: The Chilson Center
City buildings often offer the most flexibility at a great price.
The Chilson Recreation and Senior Center is one of Northern Colorado’s most complete facilities for meetings, wedding receptions, conferences and other activities both social & recreational.
There are a large variety of rooms of all sizes available for rent by the hour.
Learn More: http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/index.aspx?page=261

GREELEY: City Buildings
Just as with Loveland and Fort Collins, Greeley has a large number of rental options available through the city. The Recreation Division has several options to choose from when looking for the perfect space to host your event.
Click on the link below to see more. You won't believe the number of options!
Learn More: http://greeleygov.com/Recreation/Facilities.aspx

New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball Photos Are Posted!

1/1/2014

WOW! What an AMAZING New Year's Party!
Thank you for all the extremely spirited people who made the night everything we'd hoped it would be!

My Big Day must thank the following businesses for making our night spectacular:

Visit Loveland

"Glitter Kisses" were a HUGE hit!

Our birthday girl was completely SURPRISED!

Our guests ROCKED our games!

MUST-Ask Questions for Your Event Venue!

11/27/2013

My Big Day realizes that when planning an event, you often have many venues to choose from! When interviewing a venue, we can often forget to ask enough questions, or the same questions from each venue.

Below you'll find a list of all the questions you'll need when interviewing your potential event space.

Should you need a customized spreadsheet to help you with all the items that are a priority to YOU, just CONTACT US!
Feel free to download our helpful list of questions below.

• Do you have our date available? If not, what dates are available?
• Do you give discounts for ‘off days’ (Thursdays, Sundays etc.)
• What is the fee for renting the space?
• Is the venue ours exclusively for the entire day/night?
• Are there any restrictions on use of the space?
• How many people can the space hold? Is that number seated or standing?
• How many hours does the rental rate include? How much is an additional hour?
• What does the rental fee include? (catering, tables, chairs, linens, lighting, china, silverware, centerpieces, etc. )
• What is excluded from the rental fee?
• How many parking spots are available for guests?
• Is there storage available for decorations, etc?
• Can I use any vendor or do you have list of preferred vendors?
• Can we provide our own alcohol? If so, what permits are required?
• Do you do all set up and tear down of items you provide? Do you help with set-up for our personal decorations?
• When can I begin set up on the day of the event?
• Do you have staff available to help with event coordination?
• If we have an outdoor element do you provide a back-up location if the weather is bad?
• Are there restrictions on photography or videography?
• Are there any noise restrictions?
• Do I need to get any permits or insurance for the event?
• Can I see a sample of items you provide? This is often tables, chairs, linens and china.
• Can I get a copy of the layout of the space?
• How much is the deposit? When is it due?
• When is the final balance due?
• What forms of payment do you take?
• What is your cancellation policy?