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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 At a time when our world has been turned upside down and our business could have come to a screaching halt... we reinvented and reimagined what our business looks like. From March-July 2020 we have hosted 69 COVID-19 safe, socially distanced events & virtual/online events & fundraisers! Need help? We have experience! Contact My Big Day  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 Did you know NoCo’s farmers’ markets are still open this summer with social distancing measures in place? We’ve compiled a list of locations, times, and other details for you! If you are at increased risk for Covid-19, or live with someone who is, the Loveland Farmers’ Market even offers curbside pickup.  NOCO Virtual Farmers’ Market
 Fort Collins Farmers’ Market
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
 Larimer County Farmers’ Market
Drake Road Farmers’ Market - now operated by Fort Collins Farmers’ Market (see above) Greeley Farmers’ Market
Loveland Farmers’ Market *curbside pickup available
 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  My Big Day is a small business, and we know first hand how challenging it is right now to be a small business owner. As such, we are interviewing other small businesses so that we can help cross-promote them among our followers and offer support in this uncertain time. Today we are featuring John Buoniconti, the owner of Colorado Candy Company.  How long have you been in business? This is our fifth year in business. What inspired you to get into the candy-making business and how and why did you start The Colorado Candy Company? When I first moved to Fort Collins back in 1996, I applied to an ad in the newspaper that simply said. Do you like candy. Seasonal positions available. So I went to the address in the add and six years into working there I found myself trying to buy the business. The purchase didn’t work out and so I went and moved on. No matter what job I had, anytime someone asked me what my dream job was, the answer was easy, making candy. Then, in 2015 my wife and I bought and sold a business and decided to use the proceeds of the sale to start Colorado Candy Company. We came up with all original formulas for our products and started making candy batches in our home kitchen. I still remember making our first ribbon candy sitting on a kids stool in front of the oven to keep the candy warm. Once I knew the formulas were solid and we acquired some vintage candy making equipment, I knew I was going to need some help to get this business going. So I brought on two business partners, both long time friends of over 20 years. I actually met Brian at the original candy shop and he currently has 17 years of candy making experience. My second business partner Jade not only heads our packaging department but he is also a homegrown artist, born and raised in Fort Collins, Co. He actually made our two marble tables out of slabs from Marble, CO. He also has a piece of carved marble in the Benson Sculpture Park in Loveland, CO.
How has the recent COVID-pandemic impacted your business? Are other social, economic, environmental impacts that affect your business? Like many other companies, our business model has been turned upside down. We were mainly a wholesaler and this time of year most Of our business revolved around tourism and events like weddings and fairs. None of which are happening any longer. Now 80% of our business is from our online store but joining the online space at the same time as some many other businesses has proven very challenging. How do you currently market your business? We market CCC online thru both social media and Google and with small print articles. We also use digital billboard marketing as well as product sponsorships. Where can we - your consumers - find your products? Do you have an online shop, onsite store, or do you partner with other businesses to carry your products? We have both an online store as well as many brick and mortar retail customers alongside the front range and in surrounding states. You can find both on our website www.coloradocandycompany.com. Is there anything else you would like our followers and potential customers to know about The Colorado Candy Company or yourself? For the Love of Candy is not just our tag line but it is why we started this small family business. It is why we make small artisan batches with great ingredients. Colorado Candy Company is one of just a few candy shops left in this country that still makes thin hand spun ribbon candy.  Join us in supporting Colorado Candy Company! https://www.coloradocandycompany.com/ Insider tip.... Did you know you can purchase their candy, and food from other small businesses AND have it delivered through NoCo Virtual Farmer's Market? Check it out! https://nocovirtualfarmersmarket.com/shop-category/food/  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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My Big Day Company LLC 2021 www.MyBigDayCompany.com
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
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