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Finding the perfect spot for your next photo shoot! Northern Colorado has no shortage of scenic backdrops that are perfect for photoshoots - both professional and impromptu selfies. As event planners who are often asked for recommendations, we have pulled together a list of some of the best locations in NoCo. Reference this list for your next family mini-session, graduation shoot, engagement photos, or a fun afternoon with you and your closest friends! Favorite Spots for Family & Senior Photos Rocky Mountain National Park - This location offers some of the most majestic mountain views around! It is very popular in the fall - especially with the variety of golds, oranges, and reds - perfect for family photos that are worthy of a Christmas Card! There are multiple locations inside the park to choose from, including, but not limited to, Bear Lake, Sprague Lake, and Moraine Park.  Horsetooth Reservoir - Located just west of Fort Collins proper, this picturesque setting has great options for foothills and water backdrops. Also a great spot for engagement and wedding photos!  Riverbend Ponds Natural Area - This location is a hidden natural area surrounded by city - making it a perfect spot if you want more than one location for your photoshoot or session. You can easily travel from this beautiful natural setting to downtown Fort Collins for a completely different look. We are partial to this location in the fall - it is often full of vibrant yellows and oranges - perfect for fall senior photo shoots!  Arapaho Bend Natural Area - Perhaps one of the most photographed areas for family photos! This iconic bridge and beautiful wooded areas are the perfect setting for any shoot!  CSU Annual Flower Trial Gardens - Located in the heart of downtown Fort Collins, this spot is perfect for family photos, engagement sessions, group photos before school dances, or just some fun selfies with friends. Depending on when you go, there will be different background colors to suit your taste!  Stunning Engagement and Wedding Spots All of the previously mentioned locations would work for engagement and wedding photos, too, but these next spots are undeniably perfect! South Mesa Trailhead - Located near Boulder, CO, this location is a perfect spot to capture important engagement poses or a quick post-wedding photoshoot. Gather shots on the trail itself, or find a nearby stream.  Chataqua Park - Also located near Boulder, CO, this spot has some beautiful vistas and scenery great for any time of year. Hike through fields of yellow grass or snow to catch a perfect shot!  Old Town Fort Collins/Downtown Loveland - Downtown Fort Collins or 4th Street in downtown Loveland offer some chic and more urban shots to suit weddings and group photos. Perfect for family and senior photos as well!  You can find examples of all of these locations and more under the weddings tab on our website. Use our website for inspiration! You can also find more inspiration and locations for the perfect photoshoot on our curated Pinterest Pages: Married in the Mountains and My Big Day Weddings. Book the Northern Colorado experts at My Big Day Marketing & Events. We take on the behind-the-scenes stress, so you can enjoy your event. For business and private event tips and ideas, follow My Big Day on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Making Business Personal
As a connected collective of experts, My Big Day specializes in creativity. With superior organization, marketing experience and original ideas, we pull off amazing events and campaigns! My Big Day makes business personal by bringing JOY to the job in everything we do. As purveyors of fun with My Big Day, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! Contact MBD Marketing & Events ***Bringing Joy to the Job*** Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us Holiday party season will be here before we know it, which means it’s time to start planning your company holiday party. Read on to find out how to host a company party, with our My Big Day event planning experts’ list of dos and don’ts.  DO We’ve learned a thing or two after more than 16 years in the events industry. Here are our top 10 DOs for your company holiday party. Find the right date The holiday season means travel and a full social calendar for many people, so it’s important to plan early and get input on your event date. Choose several potential dates and poll employees to see which date will have the greatest attendance. Once you’ve chosen a date, book that venue – and we mean, like, yesterday. Find the right location (not the office) Since your company probably isn’t the only one throwing a holiday party this year, secure your location ASAP. Even if your office is big enough to host your party, your employees probably spend 40+ hours per week there. Why not switch it up with a fun venue downtown? Be sure to consider proximity to the office (so the travel time will be similar to the time it takes your employees to get to work), parking space, venue capacity, and amenities like a kitchen, stage, or projector wall. And don’t forget restroom access!  Consider food preferences Don’t just buy the tray labeled “party food” at the grocery store. Consider your employees’ food preferences. Maybe you have a lot of vegetarians in the office, or sweet treat fanatics. A vote also comes in handy in this situation. Be sure to ask about any food allergies, particularly if that means you’ll need to keep certain foods out of the event space completely. Hire an event planner Feeling overwhelmed yet? We recommend hiring a local event planner who already knows where the venues are and what’s available. Event planners can create a timeline for your event, suggest caterers and entertainment, and make suggestions about how much food and alcohol to purchase. Let us do the heavy lifting – the holidays are busy enough. Incorporate team building Any time most of your team is in the same place is a great time to do some team-building. Your employees probably don’t want to spend their holiday party watching cheesy videos about teamwork, but there are plenty of creative alternatives. A Secret Santa or White Elephant gift exchange is a popular choice. Here are some others:
Consider an off-season party Two of the major challenges of holiday party planning – guest attendance and securing a venue – can be offset by having a party just before or just after peak holiday season. Beat the crowd with an early November event, or bust the January blues with a post-New Year’s gathering. You’ll have more venue options and fewer scheduling conflicts. Recognize your employees A holiday party is a great time to show some employee appreciation after another hectic year. Present a slideshow of accomplishments as a company or present awards to each employee. Bonus: Incorporate team-building by asking colleagues to recommend awards for each other.  Consider an alcohol limit Alcohol is not uncommon at company parties, but if you’re serving it, consider having a cut-off of two or three drinks per guest. Nobody wants to drink too much, do something embarrassing in front of their colleagues, and then have to see them Monday morning. Having a drink limit allows guests to relax and enjoy themselves without taking things too far. Give a gift Gifts are a seasonally-appropriate way to show appreciation for your employees and engage in some team building. Gift exchanges are great for team bonding, and presenting employees with gifts during the holidays boosts morale throughout the year. Plan entertainment Your party entertainment may be built-in with planned activities like gift exchanges, rewards ceremonies, and other team-building exercises, but some holiday background music creates a fun ambience. Bluetooth speakers are budget-friendly, while a DJ or live musician is lively and memorable. If you don’t have any activities planned, consider making your holiday party an outing to a play or comedy performance. DON’TS Unfortunately, we’ve also learned a thing or two NOT to do when planning a company event after 15 years in the biz. Download the FREE printable below and avoid the top 10 mistakes companies make when planning an event. 
When you book with MBD Marketing & Events, we do all the heavy lifting. Our holidays are filling up with contracts, so book ASAP with our team of creative, experienced event planners for an unforgettable company holiday party. For business and private event tips and ideas, follow My Big Day on Facebook and Instagram. Visit our Venues in Colorado & Wyoming Pinterest board for more location inspiration for your next gathering  Small Business. Big Impact.
As a connected collective of experts, My Big Day specializes in the creative touches so many marketing campaigns & events these days are lacking. With superior organization, marketing experience and original ideas, we pull off amazing events and campaigns! Allow us to WOW you and your guests! As purveyors of fun with My Big Day, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! 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 What is a corporate recipe for success when it comes to building healthy and successful professional (workplace) relationships? A sprinkling of a positive company culture that promotes interaction and connection between coworkers. How do employers promote these connections? Easily through team-building activities and exercises. Team building exercises or activities are games, meetings, experiences and events that are designed to motivate group members to get to know and respect each other - often times on a different level that what they are used to in the office. While often silly or far from “work-related”, team-building exercises are activities that are thoughtfully designed to encourage teamwork. They produce a variety of benefits, including - thoughtful communication between participants (coworkers), motivation to try new approaches to problem solving, creative thinking, and building trust.  The 5 main types of corporate team-building Ultimately, the activities you choose to focus on depend on your goals. Some experiences are strictly designed to foster relationship building, while others focus more on developing specific skills. There are 5 main types of team-building:
Icebreakers Quick games and icebreaker activities are a great way to kick-off a professional gathering. They are often used to motivate employees to participate. Some easy meeting icebreakers are:
Communication Activities that focus on healthy and thoughtful communication patterns are a great way to develop strong communication skills in a low-risk environment.
My Big Day Marketing & Events has developed a variety of scavenger hunts for corporate clients – some focusing on the communication part, some focusing on fun.
 Problem Solving Activities that focus on creative problem solving often lead to better results in the workplace. Escape Rooms could again be used to hone these skills, but here are a few other activities that will help your group find creative solutions to challenges:
Creative Thinking Encouraging creativity in play often translates to success in the board room!
Employee Bonding Happy people produce good work! You can encourage relationship building outside of the office with these suggestions:
 My Big Day Marketing and Events has a team of professional planners and facilitators who can help you plan engaging activities for your team. We can develop an itinerary that will help you reach your team-bonding goals, which in turn will help you find success - both in and out of the office! For more inspiration, you can check out these curated Pinterest Boards dedicated to Company Retreats and Adult Party Games. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for updates and tips.  Small Business. Big Impact.
As a connected collective of experts, My Big Day specializes in the creative touches so many marketing campaigns & events these days are lacking. With superior organization, marketing experience and original ideas, we pull off amazing events and campaigns! Allow us to WOW you and your guests! As purveyors of fun with My Big Day, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! 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  At Last! After two years of hiccups and postponements - one for Covid, and one for an unexpected Bundle of Joy, My Big Day Couple Kristin and Gary, finally said “I Do”! Guests witnessed their vows and commitment to one another atop a mountain in the picturesque campus of the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park. Even though a pop-up thunderstorm threatened to dampen their ceremony, the happy couple didn’t even consider postponing their special day yet again. Kristin and Gary chose a beautiful palette of greens and blues that blended well with their mountain backdrop. Guests were served a wonderful assortment of appetizers and cool drinks before they dined on a delicious dinner of chicken and beef, provided by the YMCA’s culinary team. A Music Plus Entertainment got the crowd up on their feet in celebration on the dance floor, and guests were entertained by a slideshow of beautiful photos, displaying special moments from Kristin and Gary’s relationship. We were thrilled to be a part of this special day, centered around this precious little family. Congratulations to Kristin, Gary, and baby Zuri - may your new life together be full of many blessings and very few hiccups! Flowers: Wild Blossom Studios Cupcakes and Cake: Gold Mine Cupcakes Photographer: DogDaze Photo DJ: Braedon from A Music Plus Entertainment Hair and Makeup: Candelaria Beauty Venue/Caterer: YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park Event Planners: MBD Marketing & Events  Today we celebrate love. MBD was honored to be asked to help plan the perfect proposal for Kohl and Sara. A hike to Devil's Backbone, hidden photographers, a surprise celebration at Sweetheart Winery with all the little details.... and a very enthusiastic, "YES!!!!" Congratulations to this sweet couple. We LOVE love!         Small Business. Big Impact. As a connected collective of experts, My Big Day specializes in the creative touches so many marketing campaigns & events these days are lacking. With superior organization, marketing experience and original ideas, we pull off amazing events and campaigns! Allow us to WOW you and your guests! As purveyors of fun with My Big Day, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! 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  By Carrie Stadtmueller, Content Conductor We are smack dab in the middle of prime Engagement Season, and Christmas is the crowning jewel - no pun intended, of dates when smitten gentlemen like to pop the question. And it’s no big surprise why – twinkly lights, decorated trees, winter wonderlands – the setting and decor is pretty much-taken care of for you. It’s practically a Hallmark Movie waiting to happen! The holidays are already a romantic time of year, it’s no wonder, many couples capitalize on the romance of it all!  If you are looking into popping the question this holiday season, there are some things you may want to consider before you get down on one knee: Think about what your partner likes Is your partner a private person? If so, a proposal in front of your entire family over Christmas dinner might not be the best option – even if you both absolutely love each other’s families. If they are a more private person, perhaps a quiet walk on a snowy path in the woods? Or a horse-drawn carriage in on a crisp winter’s night under twinkle lights downtown? There are still ways to involve your families and friends after she has said yes — which leads us into the next consideration….. Check with your partner’s friends and family Are you thinking about asking your significant other to marry you during gift opening or some other party or event? You may want to let someone else know so that it isn’t a complete surprise to EVERYONE else there. They are all going to want to be a part of the big event. You’d hate to have someone miss out, and they can all serve as extra help! Weather If you’re planning an outdoor proposal, you will want to keep the weather in mind. If you live in Colorado - this is just a given - you always want to have a backup plan. We think a snowy proposal could actually be very romantic – however, a blizzard, not so much!  Plan ahead Don’t assume that you’ll be able to walk into your favorite restaurant or bar for drinks. We are still living in a pandemic. Some establishments are still operating under limited capacity. So please – plan ahead! Don’t wait until the last minute to call for reservations! This time of year is always busier and typically gets booked months in advance. You may also need to enlist other vendors to help you pull off your perfect proposal – florists, event rentals, musicians – whomever you may choose to help with your Big Day – this is a very busy time of year for event professionals. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. Don’t have your dream of a holiday proposal thwarted by poor planning. Creative Proposal Ideas My Big Day has curated an entire Pinterest Board full of creative Holiday Proposals. Follow this Board of ideas to inspire your big ask: https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/the-perfect-proposal/  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 Congratulations to MBD's own Carrie and Kathy. Carrie is celebrating an engagement! Kathy is celebrating a BIG birthday! We gathered together to surprise them this week and shower them with some love!  We’ve seen their fun family photos, and have heard a little bit about their Big Day plans. Now, we’re taking some time to really get to know our special 2021 MBD wedding couple - Eriq & Ashley. They have a fun and exciting love story, and we can’t wait to see it come full circle in September when they tie the knot on top of The Elizabeth Hotel in front of family and friends. We sent a series of questions to both Eriq & Ashley and here are some of their responses: How did you two meet? Eriq: Well we met on tinder. I was over tinder but decided to go back through my matches to see if I had missed anyone worthwhile, and there she was! She had orange hair in the pic, and orange is my fav color so I took it as a sign, lol. I hit her up, and we went on our 1st date at the now non-existent Enzios. We pretty much laughed the whole time, and hit it off pretty great, and agreed to more dates. I had to go to Tour de Fat the next day because- obviously - but she had her son Zep, so she couldn't make it. We snapchatted all day and it made her laugh, so that's cool. Ashley: We met on Tinder, and by the time that we set up a date I was almost finished with the tinder experience. We started our relationship on a last hope, lol. What was your first impression? Ashley: First impression was shock, because I actually finally liked the guy I was on a date with! I remember his amazing skin color and how nice his smile was. I could also carry a nice conversation with him, unlike my other Tinder dates.
Why do you love Ashley? Why do I love Ash....sheesh, how long do you want this to get?? I love Ash for who she is, what she's accomplished, and what she's capable of in the future. She's my person, my ultimate ride or die, and even though we can never ever ever play monopoly together, we make a really great team! Why do you love Eriq? I love Eriq because he is my other half. He will always have my back and will love me endlessly. He accepts me for who I am and loves me despite my flaws and weaknesses. What are your honeymoon plans? Eriq: Our honeymoon is kinda cliche. We plan on going to Greece or somewhere in the Mediterranean, and chill for about ten days or so. Ashley: Hopefully, if things go as planned, we will be spending our Honeymoon in Greece! But not before we celebrate Tour De Fat!! So excited to party the day after the wedding as well for one of the biggest events that Fort Collins hosts!  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 Congratulations, you’re engaged! Now what? Before you dive head-first into wedding planning, here are some of My Big Day’s to-dos immediately after you get engaged. 
 5. Discuss engagement length – Make sure you and your fiancé are on the same page about the length of your engagement and the timing of your wedding. For some people, a few months sounds just right. Others wouldn’t dream of an engagement lasting less than two years. You don’t have to pick a date yet, but make sure you and your future spouse’s priorities and timelines are in harmony. 6. Spend time together, alone – Celebrating your engagement can be great fun, but it can also be an overwhelming time that invites everyone’s opinions and advice – whether you ask for it or not. Take some time as a couple to have some fun dates and relax before throwing yourselves into wedding planning. 7. Brainstorm themes, budget, and guest list – Before you really start planning, have some casual conversations about your future wedding. Will it be an elopement, or a blowout event with 500 guests? Do you want to spend your savings on the wedding of your dreams, or would you rather have a small event and save the money for a honeymoon or down payment? 8. Hire a planner! – If we didn’t already help you plan your ideal engagement party, then this is where we come in. We offer packages tailored to large weddings or small weddings, full-service or day-of only, and everything in-between. Learn more about My Big Day’s wedding packages HERE.   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 So you think you’ve found the PB to your J….. The bee to your honey…. The love of your life…. and now you’re ready to take the next step? Before you do, you should really spend some time in personal reflection, and in conversation with your significant other, because in a life changing event such as getting engaged, even some small things can become significant. The team at My Big Day has pulled together a list of questions you should really consider asking your partner before you ask for their hand in marriage.  All of these questions are good to consider when you are thinking about taking the next step in your relationship. Open and honest discussions can help build a strong foundation that will weather anything life throws at the two of you.  "Dream Big, Live Big. For Life's Events!"
Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner. ~Event Planning, Coordination & Management~ 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, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken |
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Making Business Personal. We pride ourselves on giving you something to look forward to. We are a connected collective of creatives - owned an operated by outstanding women. Want More?Never miss an event or opportunity. Sign up for our newsletter!
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My Big Day Company LLC 2006-2022 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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