If it seems like we’re reminding you to plan your holiday party earlier than in previous years, you’re not wrong – but now is the time to book your 2022 corporate or private holiday party with MBD Marketing & Events. As the world opened up in 2021, demand for venues, hotel rooms, plane tickets, and event rentals skyrocketed. At the same time, economic difficulties and massive staff shortages have dominated the events industry. We’re already scouting venues for our holiday party clients so they can have the best of the best. If you want the best of the best too, the time to reserve your ideal venue is NOW. Check out our holiday party planning timeline and checklist if you need help getting started. Here are 10 reasons to book your holiday party early: Get Your First Choice Date Whether your date has special meaning, employees have already voted on their availability, or you anticipate a lull between projects that would be the perfect time for your coworkers to let loose, the sooner you book, the more likely you are to secure your ideal date. You’ll want to avoid conflict with other major holiday events that are already booked, which could hamper attendance to your event. The sooner you secure your venue, the sooner you can claim that date as your own. Guest Attendance Between family obligations, spouse work functions, and personal holiday traditions, your potential guests are pulled in many different directions during the holiday season. Boost attendance numbers by planning early, so invitees will plan around your event. Venue Choice It’s not news that venues book early, and the best ones book up first. If you’re set on a particular venue – or, in this crazy year, want to find one at all – start making phone calls now. If you book with an event planner, like MBD Marketing & Events, we’ll do that heavy lifting for you and use our network of clients and partners to give you the best chance of securing your dream event space. Vendor Availability Just like venues, vendors book well in advance, and the best are in highest demand. If you have a favorite caterer, are eager to reserve that up-and-coming deejay, or want better quality photos than you got last year, now is your chance to reserve these vendors. Staff Shortages Historic staff shortages in the event industry have affected almost every aspect of every event we’ve managed in 2022. By planning early, you can:
Venues, vendors, your event planner, and YOU will all appreciate the extra time to work through unexpected challenges that come with current conditions in the events industry. Avoid Holiday Rush Pricing As in any business, supply and demand affect consumer pricing. While venues may have holiday rates set well in advance, holiday travel and accommodation prices skyrocket as demand approaches its peak. Give yourself and your guests time to shop for the best deals by reserving your holiday party date now. Early Booking Discounts Not only does early booking mean you can avoid spending more than necessary, you may even be able to save. Some venues, vendors, and travel companies – though not all – offer discounts for early booking. Whether you’re able to secure these discounts or not, booking early gives your vendors the best chance at exceeding your expectations, which means you’re more likely to walk away satisfied. Time to Think Outside the Box An epic holiday party requires a lot of planning. Even the most creative pros have trouble throwing together a legendary even last-minute. Securing your date and venue early gives you more time to explore the best entertainment options, and even come up with some unique event activities of your own. Our team meets months ahead of our clients’ events for brainstorming sessions to get our creative juices flowing and create something extra special just for you. Build Excitement The longer your guests know an event is coming, the more excited they’ll be! Anticipation gives everyone something to look forward to, which is a great boost to your friends’ moods or your employees’ morale and productivity. Give your guests the holiday gift of something fun in the forecast. Less Stress Before you know it, you’ll find your own calendar filling up with holiday family gatherings, work commitments, and nights out with friends. Give yourself space to breathe by starting the planning process early. By the time you start receiving phone calls and invites in the mail, you can give yourself a pat on the back knowing your event is ready to go and your VIPs have already RSVP’d. When you book with MBD Marketing & Events, we do all the heavy lifting. Our holidays are already 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 Almost a third of brides-to-be get engaged over the holidays, which means some of you will be stocking up on wedding magazines and poring over wedding checklists in the coming weeks (or maybe you already are, while you wait for that ring – we won’t judge). Weddings are part of our business at MBD Marketing & Events --- and for our client, On the Rocks, so we like to keep up with the latest trends, including this list of nine wedding bar trends for 2022. Did you know 2.6 million weddings are forecast to happen in the U.S. in 2022? That’s the most since almost 40 years ago, in 1984. If you’re one of these millions getting married in the new year, read on for what’s “in” in 2022. Mobile Bars Hey, that’s us! Mobile bars are still big for 2022, especially those that are serviced. Portable or permanent bars are traditional at wedding venues, but traditional can get a bit boring. Opt for a unique, whimsical mobile bar like our Pearl instead. You’ll stand out from the rest and get tailored service from our TIPS-certified bartenders. Mocktails and Low-ABV Cocktails Having guests at your wedding who don’t drink alcohol is nothing new. But more and more brides and grooms are deciding they’d rather avoid drunken family drama and other inappropriate guest behavior by offering alcohol-free mocktails or “low-alcohol by volume” cocktails. Non-alcoholic beer has been around for decades, but alcohol-free spirits mimicking the taste of tequila, vodka, and flavored liqueurs are increasingly popular. Low-ABV cocktails still contain alcohol, but in percentages similar to those of beer and wine, rather than hard liquor. Customization and Personalization We love the trend of couples wanting to infuse every part of their big day with their personalities and interests, and this includes cocktails. The signature cocktail came about as a way for couples to create their own drinks, rather than follow recipes from a bar book. Consider a signature cocktail for each newlywed, or one that celebrates the couple. Special touches like monogrammed drink stirrers or personalized napkins are another way to make a statement. Creative Presentations The signature cocktail movement has translated into seemingly endless cocktail presentation possibilities. Couples with a carnival theme may serve drinks in striped cups rimmed with frosting and sprinkles, movie buffs might skewer popcorn for a garnish, and dessert fanatics can serve boozy milkshakes in cookie cups or ice cream cones. Fresh Floral Bar Decor Fresh flowers and greenery aren’t only for bouquets and boutonnieres. Bars are becoming a decor focal point at weddings, incorporating the style of the wedding ceremony and reception. Whether your budget allows for some sprigs of greenery or elaborate bar arrangements, fresh florals make your bar an inviting focal point instead of an afterthought. Canned Beers, Wines, and Cocktails Canned drinks are ideal for small, intimate weddings or at venues with a strict no-glass rule. They’re also convenient, with less spilling and easier cleanup. You’ll save money on drinkware rentals and washing. Plus, there are so many canned alcoholic beverages available these days, you can find can designs to suit your wedding colors or theme. It’s still good practice to let an experienced bartender (like our TIPS-certified ones) be in charge of canned drinks, to prevent incidents due to guests being over-served. In Colorado, for example, you could even be held liable for an over-served guest who drinks and drives after your event. Vintage Drinks Traditional cocktails are back in style, most notably the aptly-named Old Fashioned. Vintage touches lend elegance to modern weddings. Even the champagne tower, where champagne is poured over a tower of old-fashioned champagne coupes, is making a comeback that doubles as both refreshment and eye-catching decoration. re-Ceremony Refreshment Bar Another growing trend is the pre-ceremony refreshment bar, which offers guests non-alcoholic options like fruit-infused waters in summer or a hot chocolate station in the winter. It’s not a bad idea to provide some light snacks too, especially for guests who traveled a long way the day of the ceremony and to prevent fainting at a hot summer wedding. Themed Bar and Drinks Your bar and drinks can emulate the overall style of your wedding, or you can get creative with themed cocktails and bar decorations that mean something to you as a couple. One popular option is a travel-themed bar, with cocktails from countries or regions you’ve traveled to as a couple. A cocktail hour bar can also be decorated to suit a theme different from your ceremony and reception style, such as a favorite hobby of the groom or the couple. Drinks themselves can be customized to suit that theme, with creative names and garnishes. Need a wedding planning team? Look no further than the gals at MBD Marketing & Events!
You can learn more about our Colorado and Wyoming wedding packages HERE. Ready to book mobile bar services for your 2022 wedding? Contact ON THE ROCKS now. Choose from one of their ready-made packages, or they can create a custom package for you.
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
Directions
Cream Cheese Tortilla Bites Quick and easy (only 4 ingredients!) and vegetarian. Yield: 36 bites Ingredients
Directions
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
Directions
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
Directions
Crockpot Apple Butter and Bourbon Meatballs Sweet and tangy. Add hot sauce for an extra kick. Yield: 32 meatballs Ingredients
Directions
Cranberry Havarti Bites Decadent, creamy, and tangy. Yield: 16 bites Ingredients
Directions
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
Directions
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
Directions
Antipasto Skewers
These snacking skewers are like a portable charcuterie board, without the touching-something-someone-else-has-touched. Yield: 18 skewers Ingredients
Directions
Mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Balls on a Pretzel Stick These salty, satisfying game-day snacks make a popular party app. Yield: 30 Ingredients
Directions
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. When the holidays draw near, do you feel the need to reach for a beer? The relatives are in town, and you are putting in your time with the family... Well, spike that eggnog, Sparky, grab your favorite moose mug, and play My Big Day's "Christmas Vacation Drinking Game!" What you will need for this game: an beer, eggnog, wine, or your drink of choice, a Santa hat & a single shot of your choice (perhaps a lime Jello shot topped with cat food). *** Disclosure: please don't drink to put up with family, then drive.
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 We've noticed that our followers really appreciate game ideas... especially drinking game ideas. With a rough couple years behind us, and a global pandemic still lingering, we understand for the need for 'at home' party ideas! Since our "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Drinking Game" is so popular, we decided to add "A Christmas Story Drinking Game" for those of you looking to add some variety to your regular holiday program viewing! "A Christmas Story Drinking Game"Rules: Party safe, try to place with drinks that don't have super high alcohol content! (You will be drinking a lot this game!) To pad your stomach prior to playing, kudos to the host for providing some "Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf."
Drink every time:
Finish your drink:
Group Rules:
Enjoy!!! With the holidays quickly approaching, we know many of you are eager to celebrate with coworkers, family, and friends. During the winter holidays, 40% of highway deaths are alcohol-related. Keep yourself and those around you safe by using one (or both) of these tools to monitor your own alcohol consumption. As the marketing team for No DUI Larimer, we have some great tools we recommend for some extra safety for you and your loved ones. DRUIDapp for iOS and Android The DRUID app applies neuroscience to assess a user’s level of cognitive and motor impairment due to any cause, including alcohol intoxication, marijuana use, fatigue, and injury. It works like a video game, and records hundreds of indicators to detect impairment in just three minutes. The app is comprehensive (tests for many causes of impairment), accurate, fast, easy to use, and free. Unlike impairment due to drugs or alcohol, impairment due to fatigue, illness, chronic condition or injury, like concussion, cannot be determined by measuring the presence of an impairing substance in bodily fluids – blood, urine or sweat. And for some drugs, particularly marijuana, testing for its bodily presence just doesn’t work. Marijuana causes impairment for an hour or two, but remains in your system for three weeks or more. During that time, it has no impairing effect. A test for its bodily presence is not useful to determine your ability to operate a vehicle or other machinery, or your well-being, because it does not measure impairment. DRUID can help keep you safe if you:
DRUID is available in the App Store and Google Play. BACtrack
BACtrack is a personal, portable breathalyzer specifically designed to help you make better decisions while drinking. BACtrack allows you to estimate your BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) in seconds and tells you when your BAC will return to 0.00%, so you can stay safe and consume alcohol responsibly. A number of factors affect how quickly an individual’s BAC rises and falls, including: age, gender, rate of consumption, drink strength, body type, fat/muscle content, metabolism, medications, food, carbonation, and certain medical conditions. Whether you drink regularly or only occasionally, your own BAC may surprise you. Knowing your true BAC at any time allows you to make safer decisions for yourself and those around you. Research suggests that education about blood alcohol content contributes to fewer incidences of impaired driving. BACtrack technologies have helped people avoid fatal accidents. Purchase a BACtrack for yourself or someone you love for as little as $39.99. Coupons are often available. Follow No DUI Larimer on Facebook and Instagram for local news and more safe drinking tips. Entertaining for the holidays can have you juggling many roles: chef, bartender, performer – even family mediator. Setting up a self-serve bar for your holiday party gives you more time to enjoy your guests, but it may not be as simple as you think. Here are some tips to DIY a successful self-serve bar for the holidays. Keep the drink selection simple As the party host, it’s up to you how many drink options you’d like to supply for your guests. You can stick to just beer and wine, add in a themed cocktail, or stock all the basics of a full bar and allow guests to create their own drinks. Here are some staples to consider:
Pre-mix drinks If you’d like to serve a signature cocktail hassle-free, you can pre-mix ingredients and serve them in a large beverage dispenser. To keep drinks cold without diluting them, chill ingredients thoroughly before mixing, then: add ice cubes made out of your non-alcoholic ingredients, add frozen fruit, or choose a beverage dispenser designed to keep liquids cold. Write cocktail recipes for guests If your guests like to be a bit more hands-on, you can provide the cocktail recipe and let guests mix their own drinks. Choose a signature cocktail or two and print the recipes on paper or cardstock, write them on a chalkboard, or even on a mirror. If a drink requires an exact measurement, be sure to have that measuring utensil available. Don’t forget to provide any garnishes. Choose drinks that complement your theme or occasion This is the fun part: brainstorming signature drinks to suit your party theme or occasion. Warm, rich drinks are welcome at a cozy fall or winter party. Traditional drinks like mulled wine are a festive addition to holiday parties. And fresh, fruity drinks are ideal for summer get-togethers. For ideas and inspiration, check out our list of eight signature cocktails for your next event or five fall-inspired cocktail recipes. Purchase the right amount of alcohol for your party Party duration, number of guests, type of alcohol, and type of party all affect how much alcohol you’ll need to purchase. This drink calculator from Evite is a great place to start. Have supplies readily available The supplies you’ll need depend on the complexity of your drink offerings. Even the most basic self-serve bar will need:
Other supplies to consider include:
eep your guests (and yourself) safe
With a self-serve bar, you won’t be able to keep track of how much alcohol each guest consumes. Look for signs of intoxication (loud speech, slurred speech, stumbling, rude behavior, etc.) and discourage any guests you suspect to be impaired from driving. Be ready to call ride services, offer a room for the night, or even to call police if things escalate. Check your local and state laws: As party host, you may be held responsible for the actions of impaired guests, even after they’ve left your property. Sound like a lot? With some planning and drink prep, anyone can provide their own self-serve bar this holiday season. But if you’re short on time or just don’t feel ready, you can book all of these services with On the Rocks. You’ll get a consultation with us to discuss drink ideas, how much alcohol you’ll need to purchase, and delivery coordination. On the day of your event, our TIPS-certified bartenders – trained in safe service and preventing drunk driving and underage intoxication – will serve your guests, so you can be worry free. It’s been over a year now…… It’s been well over a year of pivoting schedules, canceling plans, and re-imagining how we work and play in this new world of Covid-19. Last year, at this time, the decision of whether or not to hold a holiday party was simple -- no one did. In fact - in many parts of the country, we were under strict lockdown orders, and couldn’t have gathered together if we wanted to. The landscape might look a bit different this year, but overall, the looming question remains the same. Is it safe to host a holiday party this winter, 2021? We might be more open, but with covid variants top of mind for many business owners and corporations, many are asking the question - should we hold a holiday party for our employees and teams?
Safety tips for Celebrating If you do choose to host a holiday celebration with your work crew, we suggest the following Covid Safe planning tips: 1. Remember that Sanitation is TOP priority. Many venues are required to follow strict safety guidelines. Make sure you are communicating these guidelines and rules to your guests. Plan on providing extra masks, extra sanitizer, and extra space for your guests as well. 2. Skip the buffet and other congestive serving mechanisms. People don’t really want to grab an appetizer off of a tray in a room of thousands of people - nor should they! Stay away from champagne towers, punch bowls, and buffet lines. Replace these with chef serving stations, hip vending machines, and pre-packaged or individually-boxed food experiences. Food trucks are very popular -- why not hire a few of these to cater your team’s holiday celebration? 3. Think outside the box -- THINK OUTSIDE Don’t plan your typical office holiday party. How about a Scavenger Hunt that takes your staff on a trip around town? Plan a round of “golf” at one of the Top Golf locations in Northern Colorado. Feeling altruistic? Set up a day of volunteering and give back to the community with your crew. Perhaps even give your entire staff an extra day off to spend any way they please. When it comes to celebrating the holidays - there are no said rules -- you can make it up as you go, and thanks to Covid, you have an excuse to “shake things up” a bit! Whatever you do - RESEARCH & COMMUNICATE Whatever route you decide to do, it is important that you do two things -- Research and Communicate It will be up to you to know and follow all of the local, state, and federal rules and precautions. Some of these may impact events. Make sure you are following best practices. It would be bad form to host a party that turns out to be a super spreader - that would not be something to celebrate. Communicating your company’s Covid-19’s response and preparedness is vital, too. Not only with the vendors and venue you choose to use for your celebration, but with your employees, too. Let them know what your expectations are for the event, and the steps your organization will be taking to keep them safe. For more information on Larimer County Covid-19 Health protocols and guidance: https://www.larimer.org/health/communicable-disease/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-19-community-updates-public-health-orders 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 in July? It may seem early, but now is the time to book your 2021 corporate or private holiday party with MBD Marketing & Events. As the world has opened up, demand for venues, hotel rooms, plane tickets, and event rentals have skyrocketed. We’re seeing venues booking events for 2022’s holiday season, so the time to reserve your ideal venue is NOW.
Booking a venue is one of the first steps to planning any event, including holiday parties. Here is an example of a corporate holiday party planning timeline: 12 Weeks Out
8 Weeks Out
6 Weeks Out
4 Weeks Out
3 Weeks
1 Week
3 Days
1-2 Days
When you book with MBD Marketing & Events, we do all the heavy lifting. Our holidays are already filling up with contracts, so book ASAP with our team of creative, experienced event planners for an unforgettable company holiday party. 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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Small Business. Big Impact. Always Dreaming Bigger! We pride ourselves on giving you something to look forward to. We are a connected collective of creatives - owned an opperated by outstanding women. Want More?Never miss an event or opportunity. Sign up for our newsletter!
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