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

F-O-R-W-A-R-D

1/29/2021

Carrie, My Big Day's Executive, Content Conductor has made a practice for years of choosing a 'word of the year.' Oprah does this too. Smart ladies!

Last year, a few of us on the team picked up on this practice and really felt great about focusing on a word that would help with the trajectory of our year and what we would most like to focus on.

This year... we're thinking bigger. We have personal words, focus words for multiple clients, and a focus word for our company.

In 2021, our word is FORWARD.

For us, forward is the direction in which we are heading. After an unusual and record-breaking year, we remain eternally optimistic about the future of events and our capabilities in being the GO TO Marketing & Events company in Northern Colorado who can reinvent and reimagine... quickly!

Come, move forward with us --- there are great things happening with MBD Marketing & Events!

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

MBD Marketing & Events Partners with Realities for Children

1/26/2021

For nearly 15 years, My Big Day has been serving Northern Colorado in unique and creative ways... events, business development, media buying, marketing, website design, fundraising....

For over 25 years, Realities for Children has been supporting abused and neglected children in Northern Colorado through a wide range of services and with large event fundraisers.

In 2020, Realities reached out to My Big Day to see if we would be willing to take on their annual NightLights campaign. During such a difficult year, fundraising was not the easiest job in 2020 - but MBD Marketing & Events rose to the challenge. Not only did we reimagine the event, we far exceeded their fundraising goal!

Here we are in 2021, and MBD has committed to a long-term partnership with Realities to manage all events and event marketing campaigns. This year will certainly present us with many challenges, but we are eager to help make a difference in so many children's lives.

Carrie Stadtmueller is the event lead who will be managing all of the initiatives with Realities for Children.

"I'm excited and honored to be be the lead on this full time contract, and even more so, because of the organization we are working with!
Realities For Children is a giant among NoCo Non-Profits. I am looking forward to working on their Premier Events that raise money and shine a light on the struggles of child abuse and the possibility of child abuse prevention in our community. We are doing good work, for a good cause, and I am extremely proud to be a part of it all.
I am also thrilled to be jumping into this new adventure alongside Christine, and the MBD team. The creativity and expertise that we are collectively bringing to this contract are exciting!"

Be on the lookout for some incredible ways to support children in our community!

11 Creative, Socially Safe Valentine's Day Ideas for Couples

1/14/2021

Valentine’s Day is yet another holiday that will be different this year, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be special. In fact, you may find that it’s all the more meaningful when you take the time to do something memorable with your partner despite everything else going on in the world.

Here are some of our favorite ideas for a socially safe Valentine’s date.

1. Get married or renew your vows at Loveland’s annual Group Valentine’s Day Wedding
Reimagined for COVID safety this year, this one-of-a-kind, nationally recognized event is a truly memorable way to spend Valentine’s Day with your loved one. Every couple gets a customized ceremony, keepsake photos, a lock to “Lock Your Love” at the famous LOVE or HEART sculptures in Loveland, gift bags from local businesses, signature wedding cupcakes, and a champagne toast, all for just $95 per couple. Find all the details and buy tickets online here: http://www.valentinesdayinloveland.com

2. Watch a Valentine’s Day movie with popcorn
Create the movie theater date experience at home with a rom-com and some popcorn (or another favorite movie snack). The best part about this date is that it can be done together, if you live with your partner, or virtually, if you live apart. Netflix even has a feature called “Netflix Party” that allows you to watch movies in sync and chat simultaneously – with none of the “Press play now!...No, wait, now! Okay, rewind.”

3. Order delivery or grab some takeout for a date night in
Bring the restaurant date night to you. Order in delivery or takeout from your favorite romantic restaurant - even fancy steakhouses and seafood restaurants are offering takeout during the pandemic. If you want to go all out, recreate the restaurant atmosphere at home with tablecloths, your best plates and glassware, and some candles and flowers to set the mood.

If you don’t live with your partner, you can still enjoy the meal together via video chat. You can even surprise your S.O. (significant other) with the romantic meal by ordering the food ahead of time to be delivered to them. Most restaurants with their own delivery system will offer this, as do Uber Eats’ share system and Grubhub.

4. Shop local gifts
Show your partner and struggling local businesses some love this year by choosing unique gifts from a small shop in your area. If you’re worried about going inside, many small businesses are offering curbside pickup, and some have even set up online ordering with shipping. If you live in NoCo, check out MBD’s local-centric Valentine’s Day gifts Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/valentines-day-gifts/ full of unique products from Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, and more.

5. Stream a virtual concert
Virtual concerts are still happening - more than ever. If concerts are a favorite date night pastime for you, now you can recreate the music fan experience at home. You can now easily search Google for a list of upcoming virtual concerts. SongKick also has a great list you can bookmark: https://www.songkick.com/live-stream-concerts of live streaming concerts with times.

Clear the living room for slow dancing (or a mosh pit, if that’s more your vibe), have an in-home concert “tailgate,” and have your favorite concert drinks on hand.

6. Make chocolate fondue
Chocolate and romance go hand-in-hand, and nothing is more romantic than melted chocolate with fruit or sweets. You may not feel comfortable going to your favorite fondue restaurant this year, but you can bring the fondue experience home. You can buy a fondue pot online for as little as $15 these days, grab a box of strawberries, melt a bag of chocolate chips, and voilà.

7. Take a virtual cocktail or cooking class
Cocktails and cooking are popular couples pastimes that are equal parts romantic and team building exercises (with a dash of humor, too).

Cozymeal https://www.cozymeal.com/online-mixology-classes offers affordable cocktail classes for starting at $19 per device, so you can join in from anywhere. If you’re looking for a private experience, you’ll need to book out a class from a site like Equal Parts Co. https://www.equalpartsco.com/virtual-happy-hour-information, which will be pricey, but hey – maybe that’s just the luxury you need right now.

If cooking is your ideal romantic date night, Fort Collins’ own The Cooking Studio [https://www.the-cooking-studio.com/private-holiday-parties.html] offers tailor-made, private virtual or in-person classes for couples starting at $200. You’ll get a list of supplies and ingredients to pick up, a list of decadent savory and/or sweet options to choose from, and 1 - 1.5 hours of class time with your own chef.

8. Send Valentines through snail mail
Maybe you’re in a long distance relationship, or maybe you just want to surprise your partner with a note or two left around the house. Either way, handwritten notes are a romantic tradition that go a long way in today’s world of text messages and Snapchats.

Take your time writing (practice that cursive?) and, if you’re mailing your Valentine, use your nicest stationery or take some time to personalize what you have. Doodles or notes in the margins will make these keepsakes even more memorable, and you’ll love looking back on them together down the road.

9. Serve your loved one breakfast in bed
Surprise breakfast in bed is basically never a bad idea, if you ask us. Sneak out of bed early to prepare your loved one’s favorite meal (pizza is fine for breakfast, by the way) and surprise them with it.

Alternatively, cook breakfast together, then head back to bed to enjoy your culinary creations and spend the day being couch bed potatoes.

10. Connect virtually
If you can’t be together this Valentine’s Day, carve out some time to connect virtually. Phone calls, video calls, and virtual activities like an online class or Netflix movie party are an easy way to show someone you’re thinking of them. Other ideas include eating a meal or sharing a glass of wine “together,” live streaming the same concert, or solving a virtual escape room.

11. Get outdoors together
Coloradoans are known for our love of the outdoors, so take to one of your local trails or head up to the mountains with your partner for a romantic outing in nature. Hold hands, have intimate conversations, take in the scenery, practice teamwork, and boost your health all in one date.

Meet ON THE ROCKS

1/4/2021

MBD Marketing & Events is proud to introduce you to our newest client, On The Rocks CO.
These guys have an AMAZING concept and beautiful product - a custom mobile bar perfect for any type of gathering!

Here is a bit about them:

We are Mike and Kate, and we are On The Rocks: the only mobile bar based in northern Colorado. Our renovated horse trailer, Pearl, is the third member of our team, and she has been through quite a journey.

The Beginning
We were married in 2013 at Gull Point State Park in Iowa at a beautiful lakefront lodge. Like many couples, we spent months searching for a beautiful, unique venue that would provide the flexibility we were looking for within our budget. It was a stressful experience that had us visiting dozens of golf courses, hotels, and event centers, ultimately finding that the more the venue charged, the more freedom we lost.

We created Pearl to provide a flexible, elegant, unique, and affordable all-in-one bartending solution for anyone planning a wedding or other special event. Open bars shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars for limited options. We believe in an affordable experience, tailored to be exactly what you want.

Pearl’s Journey
Pearl is a 1960s horse trailer who spent a decade sitting in an open field overlooking the foothills of northern Colorado. In her past life, she hauled a young girl’s horse around the state for 4-H and other competitions. We saw her on our way to work one day, and immediately started dreaming of the possibilities.

A full-body sandblast, metal-fill, custom weld work, and trim and body paint gave Pearl a new life. You can see Pearl’s renovation journey here [https://ontherocksco.com/gallery/]. With a self-serve four-tap “keezer” cooled draft tower on one side and a live edge bartender service window on the other, Pearl is ready to bring your event to the next level.

Why On the Rocks?
With Pearl, you can have an event anywhere – we’ll bring our luxury bar to you. Whether you’re a couple getting married, a company planning an employee retreat, or a concert organizer, customize your drinks, service, and even Pearl’s décor for a unique event experience your guests will be sure to remember.

Not sure where to start? Check out our packages https://ontherocksco.com/reservations/or contact us https://ontherocksco.com/contact/ for a custom quote.

MBD is assisting Pearl with her website, messaging, marketing, social media, blogs and event connections!
We love helping businesses launch!

Ways to Say Good-Bye to the Dumpster Fire That Was 2020

12/11/2020

Wow! 2020 - what a year?! There aren’t quite enough words to describe all of the feelings, emotions, and happenings of this past year. We have a few new words and meanings to add to our vocabularies and vernacular - pandemic (not really new, but used more this past year than probably ever before), virtual, socially distanced, hybrid, and Zoom.

As event planners, New Year’s Eve is typically the perfect excuse to throw an awesome party! This year we won’t be throwing any huge gatherings or celebrations. 2020 was quite a ride of ups and downs. But - we’ve survived and made it, and that is something worth celebrating!

We’ve come up with an extensive list of ways to say good-bye to this dumpster-fire of a year, and welcome in 2021 - what we hope will be a year full of healing, health, and goodness!

Burn Sage. All of the sage. This suggestion might be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but there are actual cleansing practices and rituals around burning sage. It has to do with centering the self and cleansing the energy that surrounds us. Some people who use this practice note that they sense a change in their environment. They sense less negativity around them, and a boost in positivity. We think that anything that puts someone in a positive mindset is a good thing - especially after this often dark year.

Make a 2020 Pinata. What better way to work out your frustrations with 2020 than to beat the heck out of them with a rubber bat? This could be a fun, family centered activity, too! You can make a pinata in any shape that suits you and your family, but we think a Pandemic Pinata is the perfect way to say goodbye to 2020! You’ll literally be beating Covid-19 with a stick!

Dance it out! Get your body moving and your blood pumping, and dance 2020 away! Get everyone you’re celebrating with to choose a song, and then have one big dance party playlist! You can even do this during a virtual party. Spotify has a feature that allows multiple users to edit a playlist. What a fun way to celebrate together - apart!

Hold a virtual Festivus Party with friends. Ah, Festivus. If ever there was a year to celebrate this holiday, it would be 2020! Hold a virtual Festivus Party where everyone has a chance to air their grievances. We’ve got some great Festivus ideas on our Festivus inspired Pinterest Board.

Create a Vision Board for 2021 and beyond. Vision boards are a great tool in helping you reach your goals. A collage of images, a vision board represents your goals and dreams. It can be a great way to center yourself, focus on good things to come, and prepare for the new year.

Support a local Chinese restaurant. Order take-out and ask for extra fortune cookies. You are bound to get some good news, right!?!

Dedicate the day to random acts of kindness. What better way to drum up good vibes and karma for yourself than to offer goodness and kindness to others? Spend New Year’s Eve or another day of your choice, seeing who can spread the most kindness. A kindness contest if you will. 2021 will surely be better because of it! Book recommendation: 365 Ways to Live Generously

Research and book sessions with a life coach or therapist. Mental health is important for everyone. This year, more than ever, paying close attention and nurturing our mental states has been even more important. Making a resolution to focus on mental health is a good way to start 2021 off right. Here’s a list of Life Coach Therapists located in Colorado.

Go Axe Throwing. Yet another great way to get your 2020 frustrations out! There are axe throwing establishments and bars opening up all over Northern Colorado. When it is safe to gather, get out and throw a few axes. You can pretend that the bulls-eye is the coronavirus, your failed hopes and dreams of 2020, or anything that vexes you - it’s a safe alternative, and a fun way to celebrate with friends!

However you choose to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021, we at My Big Day Marketing & Events wish you all the best - health, happiness, and fortune in the New Year!

How To Host an Office Holiday Celebration During COVID-19: 10 Unique Ideas

12/8/2020

Non-Party Holiday Celebration Ideas
Not ready for a virtual party but still want to show your employees you appreciate them this season? Check out these ideas for celebrating with them this year – no party needed.

1. High-end holiday gifts. Many employers are finding that the budget for hosting an in-person holiday party can easily cover very nice gifts for each of their employees. Trend forecasters have seen a surge in employer purchases of items like Apple AirPods and bluetooth speakers. Check out Swag in a Box to send custom employee gift boxes with your company’s branding.

2. Virtual group classes. Another trend in COVID-safe holiday experiences for employees is virtual group classes in subjects like cooking and crafting. Classes give employees a chance to bond outside the office, and a cooking class usually costs less per head than catering for your typical holiday office party.

3. Gift exchange. Organize an employee gift exchange via snail mail. Choose a White Elephant theme, or have employees choose gifts they think others would really like. Make sure to set a budget, and use a gift exchange tracking form to stay organized.

4. Virtual beer or wine tasting. Sites like Wine.com send tasting flights to your doorstep. Employees can do the tasting on their own time and view complimentary tasting walk-throughs on the website, or you can set up a virtual meeting for your employees to taste together.

Colorado’s own Denver Microbrew Tour offers a structured 90-minute team building beer tasting activity starting at $200.

5. Virtual escape room experience. Colorado’s Conundrum Escape Rooms offers virtual events starting at $75 with a focus on teambuilding. Employees will solve a series of mysteries to “escape” and beat the challenge. Schedule easily online https://www.conundrumescaperooms.com.

Virtual Holiday Party Ideas
With so many employers going virtual for their office holiday parties this year during COVID-19, unique celebration ideas abound. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Choose a fun theme. Host a virtual ugly sweater contest, or go with a funny COVID-19 theme like, “2020 2021 is Our Year!”

2. Bring the games. A virtual game party can be as simple as asking employees to download a game app (a popular one is Werewolf [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.faudroids.werewolf&hl=en_US]) to participate, or hiring a company like Outback Team Building [https://try.outbackteambuilding.com/virtual-team-building-remote-teams-snacknation/] to create and host a customized game for your employees.

3. Hire entertainment. Let’s face it – we could all use a few laughs right about now. Bring a professional stand-up comedian to your virtual party using a service like Laughter on Call . Laughter on Call will handle all the Zoom planning and hosting, while you sit back and enjoy the fun with your employees.

4. Let employees order food simultaneously with Hoppier. Like catering for virtual events, Hoppier allows employers to designate a food allowance to each employee to use for food delivery during a virtual party. Even better, employees get to choose what they want to eat, meaning no cold buffet leftovers at the end of the night.

5. Send party decorations. Ahead of your party, mail a gift box to each employee with balloons, streamers, party poppers, crowns...the sky is the limit! Each employee can decorate their own space and get in the festive spirit for your holiday party, even from afar.

2020 Realities for Children NightLights

12/6/2020

My Big Day was proud to be asked to help pull together a new way to pull off a historic event in Old Town Fort Collins, the Realities for Children NightLights Tree Lighting.
A 23 year old tradition embraced by the community, we knew that COVID was going to make re-inventing this loved event quite a challenge.

With the help of many community partners, we were able to pull of a spectacular Live Stream of the NightLights tree lighting, with thousands of live viewers and impressive donations to this deserving charity serving Northern Colorado.

If you aren't familiar with Realities for Children, you should be.
Realities For Children provides for the unmet needs of northern Colorado children who have been abused, neglected or are at-risk. We do this by providing emergency funding, youth activities, critical distributions and collaboration resources for our Partner Youth Agencies.

Realities For Children was incorporated in 1995 and has been funding the unmet needs of Larimer County children who have been abused, neglected or are at-risk since 1996. Currently, Realities For Children supports the services of 39 Partner Youth Agencies and represents nearly 250 Business Members invested in making it their business to make a difference.

The many amazing businesses and talented folks who made this fundraiser possible include:

DUDE DAD (Taylor Calmus)
Built 13
EQ Concerts
The Via Company
Vi Wickam & Friends
Emma Marie
Julia Kirkwood
Larimer County Sheriff, Justin Smith
Craig Vollmer Photography
The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Pastor Corey Nelson
SANTA
Blazen Illuminations
Townsquare Media
Blue Federal Credit Union
Davinci Signs
My Big Day Marketing & Events

Below are some photos captured by Craig Vollmer of the Live Stream event.
You can continue to support Realities and their NightLights fundraiser all December long HERE: https://www.realitiesforchildren.com/events/night-lights/

"Play It Forward" The Family Center/La Familia's End of Year Campaign

11/25/2020

We are approaching the end of 2020, and that means it’s almost time to launch The Family Center’s annual Play it Forward year-end campaign.

My Big Day has been proud to support this amazing non-profit and help lead their fundraising efforts!

If you’re familiar with The Family Center/La Familia, you know our goal in an average year is to raise at least $50,000 for families. This year has not been an average year. The needs of our community are greater than ever. Larimer County’s childcare assistance program has now been closed for three years due to lack of funding. And, if you received our Play it Forward 2020 letter, you know the pandemic has not slowed us down - in fact, it has only increased the needs of families in our community.

Here are some of TFC’s 2020 achievements so far, by the numbers:

Over $68,000 in scholarships for 23 children
Over $37,000 in rent assistance to 62 families
Over $150,000 in energy outreach utility assistance to 335 households
293 households have accessed the Advocacy Closet
112 households are enrolled in Family Development Services

Our goal for this year’s Play it Forward event is to raise $80,000.

Here are some examples of how far your donation can go:

$10 provides wipes for the entire infant classroom for 1 week
$30 provides a much-needed, safe car seat or booster seat to a family, and safety program in English or Spanish
$100 supports food for breakfasts for a week for ALL of the children in our center
$250 provides seeds for our garden
$500 provides breakfast and lunch for 60 children for 1 week
$500 can provide hygiene products to approximately 150 families through our Advocacy Closet
$600 provides hearing, vision, and dental screenings to all children in our care twice per year
$1,000 provides care for an entire month to a preschooler in our childcare center
$2,500 supports our community garden for a full year
$5,000 provides our 7 classrooms with consumable supplies for one year (items like construction paper, markers, glue, parent engagement activities, etc.)
$10,000 nearly covers the cost of childcare for 1 year for a child whose working parent(s) earn less than the federal poverty level income

Did you know that your donations to TFC/La Familia also qualify for Colorado’s Child Care Contribution Tax Credit? This means that 50% of your income comes right off your taxable income. If you donate $100 to our Play it Forward campaign, your net out-of-pocket cost is just $50 - for a $200 donation after donor matching.

You can donate to Play it Forward easily online HERE.
Thank you to our vibrant community for another year of support. We couldn’t operate The Family Center/La Familia without you.

HALLOWEEN HULLABALOO DRIVE-IN

10/7/2020

My Big Day Marketing & Events is the proud planning partner for
Centerra's Halloween Hullabaloo Drive-In!

Centerra’s 14th Annual Halloween Hullabaloo spooktacular event is going Open Air Style in 2020! Featuring a family-friendly drive-in with Halloween favorites at the Centerra Marketplace (in the parking lot east of Jimmy John’s and south of Marshall’s). Don’t delay and reserve your tickets, space is limited.

Each vehicle will receive one complimentary bag of freshly popped sealed popcorn, once parked – compliments of our popcorn sponsor: Railway Flats Apartments. Additional popcorn flavors can be purchased onsite (masks required).

Our free community event will benefit Loveland’s House of Neighborly Service (HNS). Please note: we ask each car to make an onsite cash/check donation to HNS or contribute donated items to the food pantry. A complete list of desired food and toiletry items can be found here. Donations will be collected onsite at each movie.

Tickets are now on Sale!

Reserve Tickets

**Please note ONE VEHICLE reservation per family. Tickets will be refunded if more than one are booked.

Friday, October 30th Movie Times:

1 p.m. Hotel Transylvania
5 p.m. Hotel Transylvania
8 p.m. The Addam’s Family (2019)

Saturday, October 31st Movie Times:

10 a.m. Monster House
1 p.m. Monster House
5 p.m. The Addam’s Family (2019)
8 p.m. The Addam’s Family (2019)

Attendees with ticket confirmations may arrive at least 30-minutes prior to show time. Cars will be socially spaced and assigned to designated parking spaces based on car type.

This event is FREE to all guests with confirmed registration, while parking spots remain available.
COVID Safety Guidelines

Event is brought to you by: Centerra, Railway Flats Apartments, Visit Loveland, My Big Day, RythmEFX. Please support our local Marketplace Businesses and consider take-out meals for lunch and dinner while attending the outdoor movie.

Location: Centerra Marketplace
1569 Falls River Drive
Loveland, CO 80538

This event is part of a large collaboration of Loveland entities who are passionate about giving you fun, safe activities this Fall season!

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 Fiesta Flurry for The Family Center/La Familia

9/26/2020

October 1 - 25, 2020
Online & Around Northern Colorado

The Family Center/La Familia has had the honor to serve our community for 25 years. We want to celebrate our birthday by hosting a scavenger hunt and you're invited!

Participate using an easy app you can use on any device.
Solve clues at home, or venture out into the community!

Anyone can participate. Great for families, creative dates, and social distancing fun!

Participate at any time during the 25 days.
Earn points - win prizes! $$$

The $20 registration is a donation to The Family Center/La Familia.
Date: October 1 - 25, 2020
Location: Online and around town
Website: https://thefamilycenterfc.org/fiesta

Prizes:
1st $200 Visa GC
2nd $100 Visa GC
3rd $50 Costco GC
4th $25 King Soopers GC
5th $25 King Soopers GC
plus, all players are entered in a chance to win our Grand Prize!