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My Big Day Marketing & Events has worked with many wedding venues in our 15+ years in business. We have a record number of weddings on the books for 2022, and one question we keep getting from our couples is: What Colorado venues allow me to bring my own alcohol? With mobile bars and micro weddings still trending for the coming year, more and more couples are exploring wedding venues that allow them to bring in their own alcohol, with or without the requirement of a licensed bartender to serve it. In all cases – based on years of experience and hundreds of weddings – we strongly recommend that you have a TIPS-certified bartender serve your guests. TIPS-certified bartenders are trained to prevent underage drinking; limit that guest who has already had plenty; prevent attendees from driving impaired; and properly report any incidents that do arise for insurance and law enforcement purposes – which benefits you and your venue. Our own My Big Day team is TIPS-certified and provides bartending by the hour through On the Rocks, northern Colorado’s own luxury mobile bar and tap service. Contact us now, and let My Big Day and On the Rocks keep the drinks and the big day flowing smoothly. Still researching wedding venues? Here’s our list of Colorado wedding venues where you can bring your own alcohol. LOVELAND The Garden Room | Loveland, CO 697 North Denver Avenue Loveland, CO 80537 Contact: events@gardenroomloveland.com, (970) 556-5766 Alcohol: Bring-your-own  The McCreery House | Loveland, CO 746 North Washington Avenue Loveland, CO 80537 Contact: (970) 310-7383, Contact Form Alcohol: bring-your-own FORT COLLINS AREA The Hillside Vineyard | Fort Collins, CO 3924 Bingham Hill Road Fort Collins, CO 80521 Contact: (970) 520-2617, hello@thehillsidevineyard.com Alcohol: bring-your-own Aspen Grove at Sundance Trail | Red Feather Lakes, CO 17931 West County Road 74e Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545 Contact: (970) 556-5053, Contact Form Alcohol: In-house or bring-your-own *For BYO, a Liquor Liability Insurance Policy and certified bartender are required. ESTES PARK  Fall River Village | Estes Park, CO 200 Filbey Court Estes Park, CO 80517 Contact: (970) 325-6864, contact@fallrivervillage.com Alcohol: bring-your-own The Landing at Estes Park | Estes Park, CO 1774 CO-66 Estes Park, CO 80517 Contact: (970) 820-0118, info@thelandingestespark.com Alcohol: bring-your-own LONGMONT AREA  The St Vrain | Longmont, CO 635 3rd Avenue Longmont, CO 80501 Contact: (720) 534-2635 or Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Bartenders, barware, and mixers are supplied through the preferred catering partner. Boulder Flower Farm | Longmont, CO 4114 Oxford Road Longmont, CO 80503 Contact: Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own The Lyons Farmette | Lyons, CO 4121 Ute Hwy Lyons, CO 80540 Contact: Tracey@LyonsFarmette.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own Stone Mountain Lodge and Cabins | Lyons, CO 18055 North St Vrain Drive Lyons, Colorado 80540 Contact: (303) 823-6091, info@stonemountainlodge.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own BOULDER  The Studio (Boulder) | Boulder, CO 3550 Frontier Avenue, Suite A2 Boulder, CO 80301 Contact: (720) 378-8015, info@thestudioboulder.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own (preferred vendor list available) Rembrandt Yard Art Gallery & Event Center | Boulder, CO 1301 Spruce Street Boulder, Colorado 80302 Contact: (303) 301-2972, events@rembrandtyard.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own Koenig Alumni Center at CU Boulder | Boulder, CO 1202 University Avenue Boulder, Colorado 80309 Contact: (303) 492-2279, Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own *A licensed server is required DENVER AREA  Walker Fine Art | Denver, CO 300 West 11th Avenue #A Denver, Colorado 80204 Contact: (303) 355-8955, sames@walkerfineart.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Must be served by licensed/certified bartenders; no corkage fee; recommended vendor list available Space Gallery | Denver, CO 400 Sante Fe Drive Denver, Colorado 80204 Contact: (303) 993-3321, events@spaceannex.org Alcohol: Bring-your-own University of Denver Conference and Event Services | Denver, CO 1745 S. Hight Street Denver, Colorado 80210 Contact: (303) 871-4333, events@du.edu Alcohol: Bring-your-own Balistreri Vineyards | Denver, CO 1946 East 66th Avenue Denver, Colorado 80229 Contact: (303) 287-5156, info@balistreriwine.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own  Event Room at the Wheat Ridge Recreation Center | Wheat Ridge, CO 4005 Kipling Street Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 Contact: (303) 231-1315, kwaters@ci.wheatridge.co.us Alcohol: Bring-your-own Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park | Lakewood, CO 801 South Yarrow Street Lakewood, CO 80226 Contact: (303) 987-7806, Weddings@Lakewood.org Alcohol: Bring-your-own Pines at Genesee | Golden, CO 633 Park Point Drive Golden, Colorado 80401 Contact: (303) 526-7939 x221, Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own Calvary Church | Golden, CO 1320 Arapahoe Street Golden, CO 80401 Contact: (303) 279-2188, office@calvarygolden.net Alcohol: Bring-your-own  Boettcher Mansion | Golden, CO 900 Colorow Road Golden, Colorado 80401 Contact: (720) 497-7630, boettchermansion@jeffco.us Alcohol: Bring-your-own *A certified bartender is required; no cash or tips allowed. Evergreen Lake House | Evergreen, CO 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road Evergreen, CO 80439 Contact: (720) 880-1016, kemrich@eprd.co Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Must be served by a Colorado Approved Responsible vendor The Barn at Evergreen Memorial Park | Evergreen, CO 26624 North Turkey Creek Road Evergreen, Colorado 80439 Contact: (720) 340-8574, TheBarn@evergreenmemorialpark.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own *All alcoholic beverages must be served by a licensed and insured bartender CENTRAL COLORADO (NON-DENVER AREA) Main Street Station | Breckenridge, CO 505 South Main Street Breckenridge, CO 80424 Contact: (888) 387-0151, Contact Form Alcohol: In-house or bring-your-own  Lodge by the Blue | Breckenridge, CO 4192 Highway 9 Breckenridge, CO 80424 Contact: (970) 453-2144, manager@lodgebytheblue.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own The Cabin at 9000 Feet | Wolcott, CO Specific address withheld Wolcott, CO 81655 Contact: Thecabin9000@gmail.com, (717) 575-6704 Alcohol: Bring-your-own Guyton Ranch | Jefferson, CO 35293 US Highway 285 Jefferson, CO 80456 Contact: (507) 202-6565, Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own  Bearcat Stables | Edwards, CO 2701 Squaw Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 Contact: (970) 376-4647, Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own Aspen Historical Society | Aspen, CO 620 West Bleeker Street Aspen, CO 81611 Contact: (970) 925-3721 x107, travis@aspenhistory.org Alcohol: Bring-your-own WESTERN COLORADO Black Canyon Stables | Ridgway, CO 362 Golden Eagle Trail Ridgway, CO 81432 Contact: (520) 360-0218, pdunn@blackcanyonstables.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own  Sopris House | Crested Butte, CO 200 Sopris Avenue Crested Butte, CO 81224 Contact: (800) 903-7761, reservations@elevenexperience.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own Sage View Ranch | Paonia, CO 40881 Highway 133 Paonia, CO 81428 Contact: (303) 522-2210, Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own Lock Stock & Barrel | Olathe, CO 5328 CO-348 Olathe, CO 81425 Contact: Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Only beer and wine allowed; no hard liquor  Flying Diamond Ranch Weddings and Events | Oak Creek, CO 30110 Highway 131 Oak Creek, Colorado 80487 Contact: (970) 846-9229, Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own Once Upon a Time Events | Kiowa, CO 31242 Wedemeyer Road Kiowa, CO 80117 Contact: (720) 838-7608, onceuponatimeeventsllc@gmail.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own *An event insurance policy must be purchased SOUTHERN COLORADO  ProRodeo Hall of Fame | Colorado Springs, CO 101 Pro Rodeo Drive Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919 Contact: (719) 528-4732, stadken@prorodeo.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Alcohol must be served by a hired bartender (not a guest); cash bars are not permitted unless a special events liquor license is purchased by the City of Colorado Springs. La Foret Conference and Retreat Center | Colorado Springs, CO 6145 Shoup Road Colorado Springs, CO 80908 Contact: (719) 495-2743, mail@laforet.org Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Wine, beer, and champagne only; no cash allowed Lodge at Cathedral Pines | Colorado Springs, CO 13977 Milam Road Colorado Springs, CO 80908 Contact: (719) 886-4044, thecplodge@gmail.com Alcohol: In-house or bring-your-own *BYO alcohol must be served by TIPS-certified bartenders. The Loft Music Venue | Colorado Springs, CO 2506 West Colorado Avenue Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904 Contact: (719) 445-9278, info@loftmusicvenue.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own  Black Forest Meadows | Colorado Springs, CO 17104 Goshawk Rd Colorado Springs, CO 80908 Contact: (303) 590-8939, info@blackforestmeadows.com Alcohol: Bring-your-own The Barn at Howard Creek Farm | Howard, CO 356 County Road 4 Howard, CO 81233 Contact: aly@howardcreekfarm.com, (720) 937-1475 Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Alcohol must be served by a TIPS-certified bartender Cedar Ridge Ranch | Carbondale, CO 3059 Co Road 103 Carbondale, CO 81623 Contact: Info@CedarRidgeRanch.com, (970) 963-3507 Alcohol: Bring-your-own  Hatchet Ranch | Pueblo, CO 7600 Hatchet Ranch Road Pueblo, Colorado 81004 Contact: (719) 501-3396 or Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own *A licensed bartender is preferred I Bar Ranch | Gunnison, CO 850 County Road 49 Gunnison, CO 81230 Contact: (970) 209-9796, Contact Form Alcohol: In-house or bring-your-own  LePlatt’s Pond | Bayfield, CO 311 County Road 501 Bayfield, CO 81122 Contact: (970) 759-0748 or Contact Form Alcohol: Bring-your-own *Event liability insurance is required for all events. The Black Diamond Lodge | Durango, CO 48475 US Highway 550 Durango, CO 81301 Contact: (281) 751-3147, hello@theblackdiamondlodge.com Alcohol: In-house or bring-your-own Let the My Big Day team plan your big day and our TIPS-certified bartenders service your wedding at one of these Colorado venues! We are booking now for 2022 and 2023, so contact us to reserve your date. For more Colorado wedding planning tips and ideas, follow My Big Day on Facebook and Instagram. Check out our Pinterest boards for wedding planning advice, wedding decor ideas, wedding themes, and more!  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
Christmas Parties Gone Wrong; All Work and No Play...Celebrating the Holidays with your Work Crew
By Carrie Stadtmueller, Content Conductor There are many types of Christmas traditions out there, but none perhaps as steeped and as important as planning the PERFECT holiday office party! The perfect office party is just the right blend of structure and professionalism with just enough of a relaxed atmosphere where people can cut loose enough with some fun and slight indulgences. A time to celebrate a year of accomplishments! We’ve helped many companies and businesses plan perfect celebrations with class and flair. And, it’s always great for our clients to know that they have an extra set of eyes and hands on site to help should things get out of hand - or slightly out of control. How can things get out of control, you might ask? Well, anytime you mix good food, good drink, good music, and good fun – you run the risk of things getting out of control. Take these examples for instance:
Best of the Christmas Parties - The Office
The Office has great examples for what “not to do” on so many occasions. This compilation of their holiday parties is a gold mine! But, there is one rule that really sticks out in this… Holiday Party Tip: Don’t drink too much! If your employer is offering you a drink and you don’t mind - accept, but watch and limit yourself! If there is one place you cannot afford to lose your senses, it is at an event that is hosted by your boss and attended by your coworkers. You do not want to be the talk around the watercooler the next Monday! Best advice - probably stick to a two drink maximum. This will allow you to enjoy yourself without having to pay for it later!
When you choose to celebrate appropriately, your office holiday party can be a great way to build strong team ties and camaraderie and celebrate a year of accomplishments or milestones. Follow these tips to have a great time!
-Your MBD Event Planning Team 
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 If you’re dieting for the holidays this year, you’ve come to the wrong place – the My Big Day team has rounded up ten of our favorite guilty pleasure party appetizers. No counting calories allowed! Whip up any of these recipes (double or triple them to feed a crowd), and you’ll be getting all the compliments. To promote safe partying during the pandemic, we’ve chosen bite-sized apps for your guests. Bonus: Dishes are optional and clean-up is easy.  Whether you need a little help planning your next event, or want to show up the day-of with everything done, our team with over 15 years of experience in the event industry is here to help. Book now. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers A little spicy? Yep. Super indulgent? Yes. Totally addictive? You bet. Yield: 12 poppers Ingredients
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Cream Cheese Tortilla Bites Quick and easy (only 4 ingredients!) and vegetarian. Yield: 36 bites Ingredients
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Feta and Spinach Puff Pastry Appetizers These fancy pastries look as good as they taste and are sure to impress. Vegetarian. Yield: 27 pastries Ingredients
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Ritz Crackers Party Sandwiches Yes, the nostalgic snack is still a party favorite. Customize with your own favorite cheese and meat, or cheese and roasted veggies. Yield: 48 sandwiches Ingredients
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Crockpot Apple Butter and Bourbon Meatballs Sweet and tangy. Add hot sauce for an extra kick. Yield: 32 meatballs Ingredients
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 Cranberry Havarti Bites Decadent, creamy, and tangy. Yield: 16 bites Ingredients
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Cranberry Brie Crostini Bites Cranberry + brie is a sophisticated holiday combo, and this recipe can be made in advance and then assembled in just minutes on party day. Yield: 24 toasts Ingredients
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Twice Baked Potato Bites Like a mini baked potato with all the toppings, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Yield: 12 Ingredients
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 Antipasto Skewers These snacking skewers are like a portable charcuterie board, without the touching-something-someone-else-has-touched. Yield: 18 skewers Ingredients
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Mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Balls on a Pretzel Stick These salty, satisfying game-day snacks make a popular party app. Yield: 30 Ingredients
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Visit our Party Appetizers Pinterest board for many more party-worthy recipes. For more party planning tips and ideas, follow My Big Day on Facebook and Instagram.  Event Sponsorship can benefit your marketing and sales By Carrie Stadtmueller, Content Conductor Event sponsorship can be a great cost-effective way to reach your customers, and allow you to reach targeted niche markets without the expense of traditional advertising. Through sponsorship, your business won’t directly promote your company or product, but you will pay to support an event or cause that your customers care about. Through this support, your business is then associated with the event by customers, attendees, media, and the larger community as a whole.  The many benefits of sponsorship There are many benefits associated with sponsorship - many are related to promotional opportunities. If you are looking to sponsor larger events on a nation-wide level scale, there are multiple opportunities to get your branding on items and in the hands of event attendees. Local causes such as sports teams or charity drives might offer more limited spaces for branding and products, but they also allow you to reach a more specific local audience. In all its forms, event sponsorships offer a certainty that traditional advertising simply cannot. They can also help you meet multiple marketing goals at once. Here are just a few:
If it’s a non-profit you’re supporting, you’re getting your name out in the community, building brand visibility - perhaps getting your logo on a t-shirt, creating brand visibility long past the event!
 How you can add sponsorship to your marketing plan Adding an event or non-profit sponsorship to your marketing plan should be a part of your overall marketing strategy. You should spend time asking the following questions:
It doesn’t have to be a huge event to make a huge impact on your business. You should choose something that makes the most sense for your brand and mission, and most of all, something that you believe in. My Big Day Marketing & Events can help My Big Day Marketing & Events works with a variety of non-profits and can help your business find an organization to partner with. We can do the research for you and find the right sponsorship level that will benefit your business as well as the non-profit, making it a win-win for both! If you are interested in finding out more about how an event sponsorship might benefit your small business, please reach out for a consultation.  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  Halloween has come and gone and My Big Day Marketing & Events, along with Thompson Education Foundation are thrilled with the turnout of NoCo’s Greatest Drive Thru Trick-or-Treat Experience! This year it was held at the Thompson School District Building in their parking lot. With 40 staff and volunteers and many amazing sponsors and booth vendors, 3,000 attendees were able to enjoy driving through the most festive parking lot this season!
Tickets were up for grabs for less than a week before selling out. Having tickets booked in advance ensured a safe event and that every kid would get candy, as the booth vendors knew how much to bring in advance. Parents and kids from all over Northern Colorado drove to the venue in full costume and stayed comfortably in their vehicles for the entire duration of the event keeping it a socially distanced and safe time for everyone involved.
A bright colored numbered paper was placed on the windshield of each car letting booth vendors know how many kids were trick-or-treating from that vehicle. TEF provided bags to hang on the mirrors on each side of the vehicle to help keep up the flow of the event. Some came in small cars with one or two children but others found it best to bring large vans packed full of trick- or-treaters. Smiling parents, kids, volunteers, and booth vendors was one of the many highlights of this event. The sun was out and smiling with everyone as they all celebrated the community and had fun dressing up and snacking on sweets! We were so fortunate to have fantastic Fall weather!  A HUGE thank you to all of the wonderful sponsors and booth vendors! This could not have happened this without your generosity and holiday spirit! Our supporters: Center for Advanced Dentistry, UCHealth, Aims Community College, Bank of Colorado, Foothills Credit Union, Perch Real Estate Loveland + South Lifestyle, Xfinity, No DUI Larimer, Toothzone, Tutoring Excellence Loveland, Conduct All Electric, Scheels, , Ascend Orthodontics, My Big Day LLC, Family Promise of Larimer County, Advance America, NOCO Style, Macaroni Kid Loveland CO, Loveland & South Magazine and Janice Ververs Remax Alliance Thank you also to Thompson School District, Loveland Barricade and Golf-N-Fun Carts for helping provide a venue and all the necessary means that it takes to get hundreds of vehicles safely through!  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 The event industry is closer to “normal” than this time last year, and venues are responding to the pandemic in different ways. We know many of you have safety concerns but still want to give your child the birthday party they’ve been asking for, especially if they missed out last year. Of course, every family is different – we encourage you to make the best decision for your family’s safety. One of our clients is The Family Center/La Familia. They serve families and children in Northern Colorado. Our team has compiled a list of indoor Colorado kids’ birthday party venues still operating this winter (2021). Visit the links below for more information about each venue’s protocols and restrictions. Happy planning!  Photo via Wooden Mountain on Facebook Loveland Wooden Mountain Bouldering Gym: https://www.woodenmountain.com Jumpin’: https://jumpinfun.com Premier Gymnastics: https://www.premiergymnastics.net/parties/birthday-parties/ Loveland Laser Tag: https://www.laserfuncenter.com/birthday-parties/ Build-a-Bear: https://www.buildabear.com/birthday?sc_cid=pslk:google:Birthday:20210825:US:co:acq:0:bb:birthday:birthday:energy:sl:null&gclid=CjwKCAjw_L6LBhBbEiwA4c46ujanNNrUenCZP4IKRhfZaJozFvPkaz6iz24TLkPVp0hDxFoOzIYYeRoCjP4QAvD_BwE Chilson Center: https://www.lovgov.org/services/parks-recreation/chilson-recreation-center/-fsiteid-1 Fiona’s Fairy Garden: http://www.fionasfairygarden.com/parties Artisan You: https://www.artisanyou.com B Sweet Cupcakes: http://www.bsweetcupcakes.com/index.html  Larimer County Garbage Garage Fort Collins Larimer County Garbage Garage: https://www.larimer.org/garbagegarage Urban Air Trampoline Park: https://www.urbanairtrampolinepark.com Fly High Fort Collins: https://foco.flyhightrampolinepark.com The Farm at Lee Martinez Park: https://www.fcgov.com/recreation/the-farm-lee-martinez-park Chipper’s Lanes (two locations): https://www.chipperslanes.com Foothills Activity Center: https://www.fcgov.com/recreation/foothills-activity-center Fort Fun: https://www.fortfun.biz Rollerland: https://rollerlandskatecenter.com The Gardens on Spring Creek: https://www.fcgov.com/gardens/youth-birthday-parties Fort Collins Museum of Discovery: https://fcmod.org Mountain Kids: https://www.mountain-kids.com Mulberry Pool: https://www.fcgov.com/recreation/mulberry-pool City of Fort Collins Pottery Studio: https://www.fcgov.com/recreation/pottery-studio Poudre Fire Authority: https://www.poudre-fire.org/online-services/request-a-station-tour-firefighter-visit Piano & Guitar Institute: https://pianoandguitarinstitute.com  Greeley FunPlex via Greeley Tribune Greeley Greeley Recreation Center facilities: https://greeleyrec.com/about/parties-and-rentals/ Windsor The Summit: https://playatthesummit.com/windsor/ Windsor Gymnastics Academy: https://windsorgymnasticsacademy.com Piano & Guitar Institute: https://pianoandguitarinstitute.com AmericInn Hotel pool party: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/americinn/windsor-colorado/americinn-lodge-and-suites-windsor-ft-collins/overview Windsor Community Recreation Center: https://www.recreationliveshere.com/167/Community-Recreation-Center  WOW Children's Museum Lafayette WOW! Children’s Museum: https://wowchildrensmuseum.org Westminster The Butterfly Pavilion: https://butterflies.org/event/birthday-parties/ Broomfield Warrior Challenge Arena: https://www.warriorchallengearena.com/kids-parties Denver Challenge Island: https://challenge-island.com/denver/programs/birthday-parties/  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 Covid Response - Events during the Delta Variant
Events during a global pandemic This past year and a half, the events industry has had to learn to adapt quickly. Shifting on the fly from fully in-person to full cancellations to hybrids to covid safe events has been a metamorphosis to behold. The change in dynamics within our company alone has been amazing to witness. And while we can all agree it has been one of the most challenging periods, the growth that we have seen - both personally and professionally - has been life and business-changing. We (My Big Day Marketing & Events) have learned a lot during the pandemic. We have discovered how to creatively manage and pivot live, in-person events, into exciting and engaging virtual and hybrid events. We have figured out ways to deliver points of connection for our communities and clients in covid-safe events when it hasn’t been safe to gather together. And while we are more than ready to be back together, celebrating weddings, anniversaries, business milestones, and community accomplishments live and in-person, we know that we can continue to do so in creative ways until it is safe to do so together in one place. Our Covid-Safe Practices Event planning begins months and sometimes over a year out. We have been living and workin moment by moment, day by day, following every recommendation and order by our counties, our state and the CDC. Our clients are counting on us to help them decide what events to keep and how to 'get creative.' We are making sure that we are keeping our clients and our employees safe by implementing and following all CDC recommended guidelines and best practices for events that take place in person. This means we are:
 How We Are Planning for the Fall and Beyond Typically during this time of year, our workload consists of venue tours and vendor meetings for the busy upcoming holiday party season. And while our calendars are still filling up with community events, non-profit fundraisers and weddings, many of these are hopeful events for later, reaching further into 2022. Unfortunately, we are feeling the effects of this latest surge in hospitalizations due to the Delta Covid Variant. With the new CDC recommendations that everyone - regardless of vaccination status wear masks indoors, businesses and corporations are rethinking their holiday parties and celebrations. Many are canceling. Our own MBD team is even considering hosting a virtual holiday party happy hour instead of gathering together, just to play it safe. Moving Forward As we move forward, we will continue to create events with multiple scenarios in mind. We aim to have a plan A, B, and sometimes a C in place -- just in case lockdowns, restrictions, and other regulations are put in place by the government and local agencies. Part of being an event planner means being prepared for anything and everything. This is the nature of the job. We must say, however, that it is getting somewhat tiresome, trying to keep up with all of the constant changes that this pandemic has thrust upon our society and industry as a whole. We have had to add the title of “community health expert” to our role, and that is a hefty expectation to fill. We are learning on the fly - and we’re just as scared and confused as the next person. That is why we rely on experts to lead and guide our decisions. We have learned a lot over the last year - a lot of new, exciting, and somewhat scary stuff. We hope that if we can continue to apply what we have learned, listen to each other, and follow guidelines with each other’s health and safety in mind - we’ll find that normal we are all so desperately wanting again.  Being in the event planning industry for 15 years, we have experienced ups and downs -- arguably more ups than downs! We have had the pleasure of creating and executing some awesome events, and undoubtedly awesome experiences and memories. Along the way, we have often had to educate our clients and the larger community on what it exactly is that we do. There are many myths out there regarding what it is we -- professional event planners -- do. Event Planners Like to Party All the Time, Party All the Time… While many of our events are actually parties or celebrations, we are actually working throughout all of the festivities.  It is a pleasure to watch our clients and their friends have fun. Occasionally, we get to participate, too -- just one of the many benefits of working in this industry. During any event, we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that everything is running smoothly. This event is the culmination of months and sometimes years of planning and hard work. Event planners are the cushion between the client and any emergencies that might arise. I Planned My Best Friend’s Wedding, So I Can Now Add Wedding Planner To My Resume! Wedding planning is a major part of event planning -- arguably an industry in and of itself. Weddings garner a lot of attention in this industry because of the romance, excitement, and drama that can surround this type of event. There are event planners that focus entirely on weddings. These planners are wedding planners.  Wedding planning and event planning are high-stress jobs. Planning your own wedding can certainly be stressful and of course, rewarding, but planning with someone else’s dreams and expectations at the forefront is something on an entirely different level. There are short timelines, cancellations, tight budgets, and other details that creep up that an event planner must tend to, on behalf of their client. It’s very different handling all of these for a paying client. Event Planners must have a keen business sense. They work for years to build organization, problem solving, and master communication skills. The Bigger the Better. When it comes to our clients and the events that we plan - no event is off limits. Big or small, we are ready to step in and make it a success.  It is a myth that event planners only work on large scale events. We have had the pleasure of planning all sorts of events from large garden parties and backyard concerts for 600+ guests to small, romantic wedding proposals. No event is too big, or too small for our team! Event Planning is Glamorous Hollywood tends to spin this myth. Movies such as 'The Wedding Planner' and pop-culture shows about wedding planning can make it seem that everything is luxurious and glamorous. In reality, event planning involves:
When you commit to becoming an event planner, you need to be prepared to be on your feet for hours upon hours. We have worn through many pairs of shoes, and oftentimes pack extra outfits and shoes as backup throughout the event. Event planning means always having an emergency kit ready for use. It means managing not only the details of the event, but also people and personalities, too.  A Well Polished Instagram is a True Reflection of What an Event Planner Does As we have already mentioned, Event Planning is not all fun and games. Event planners work evenings, weekends, early mornings -- we work until the job is done. In between the actual events, we focus on all of the work that goes into building and running a business. Why We Do What We Do We wouldn’t put up with tired and sore feet or Bridezillas if we didn’t love what we do. Nothing can replace the sense of pride and accomplishment that a successful event or campaign can provide. For 15 years we have enjoyed creating outstanding events. We have loved building healthy partnerships within the communities we serve. And, we absolutely look forward to what the next 15 years brings. We have a feeling it will be more connections, more memories, and more fun! Call our talented team of professional event planners to receive a consultation for your next event or life celebration!  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  Summer is in full effect and as we begin to see the world open back up, a number of events are back in full force. A constant favorite is golf tournaments. Thompson Education Foundation is a partner with MBD Marketing and Events and this August we have planned their first ever golf tournament fundraiser! Planning an event for the first time always takes time and energy researching how others have done it in the past and asking for helpful tips from experts. While we have planned others, no client wants a carbon copy of someone else's event. Here are some ideas on how to make any golf tournament a success!  1. Location Location is key to a successful golf tournament. Christine with MBD Marketing and Events say that “It's great to have a committed and supportive golf course partner, as they can make all the difference in the success of the event!” Part of this process involves being prepared for bad weather so having a golf course that can accommodate tents or an inside venue for your guests is something to consider when choosing a location.  2. Number of Players and Inventory The location of the golf tournament can determine how many players you can accommodate. Some golf courses will open up the entire course for your event while others like to reserve only nine holes at a time. You also need to consider the style of play. Timed play, shotgun, 'best ball' or scramble? Each has pros and cons regarding timing. Once you have your head count confirmed, figuring out inventory such as golf carts, caddies, food, goodie bags and any other things needed for the event is important!  3. Food Depending on you golf course partner, food can be offered through their kitchen and snack carts! Now it is time to decide what will be offered to your players. Will you have an early start? Breakfast, mimosas and bloody mary’s are a great way to kick off your event! Maybe you have multiple starts throughout the day and would like to offer a buffet of finger foods instead. Some like to have a banquet after the tournament is over to celebrate and give out awards and say thank you to their guests. There are usually a lot of options when it comes to the food and snacks at a golf tournament. Food and beverage can be the greatest cost at any event, so weighing that cost with ticket prices for your foursomes to ensure monies are still being raised for your non-profit require careful planning and balance.  4. Fundraising Event Sponsors Is the golf tournament you are planning for a non-profit to help raise funds for a cause? Soliciting sponsors for each hole, snack cart, golf carts and to help ensure the players are well fed can be great ways to advertise local businesses while saving on costs. You can easily have 18 sponsors with 18 holes. The rest depends on how large the golf course is and how you would like to accommodate the other sponsors. Christine said that this was part of her more exciting and interesting aspects of the planning process stating, “Creating fun sponsorship opportunities and contests for our golfers brings me the most joy in golf tournament planning.”  5. Contests, Raffles and Giveaways! Planning interesting ways for your players to interact more than just playing golf at your event can really help peak guest interest. From trophies for all sorts of reasons to silent auctions, to having “Hole-in-One” prizes are all a great way to get your players excited to be there and hopefully to make them want to come back again to future events! Everyone loves to help raise money for a good cause but when you can add in a little extra fun with side bets and giveaways, people feel even more rewarded for being a part of a meaningful event! There are always unseen challenges, Christine said that “Making our tournament unique and special, so it's not like all the rest,” was one of her more challenging tasks. “Just like any event, there are tons of moving parts, so organization is key.” Remember to have fun and plan ahead! Happy Golfing!  Cheers to 15 years! My Big Day Marketing & Events is proud to be owned an opperated by outstanding women. We've been a lot of places and seen a lot of things. 15 years of hard work and community support. Thank you for being a part of our wild ride! Here is to 15+ more! Thank you to David Tutera for the shout out!  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 |
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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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