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

Great Meeting Spaces in Northern Colorado

8/11/2017

As event planners we get asked weekly - if not daily for recommendations on venues for weddings, business functions, bridal showers, baby showers, anniversary parties, birthday parties, and for meetings.
We have posted a number of blogs on favorite spaces in Northern Colorado. Here are a few to review:

Great Venues for Hosting a Birthday Party, Bridal or Baby Shower or any other private party in Northern Colorado!

Northern Colorado Venues for your Large Corporate Meeting/Event

Affordable Event/Venue Rentals in Northern Colorado

And here is our latest blog on Great Meeting Spaces in Northern Colorado!

Café Vino in Fort Collins:
Accommodates: 55 seated, 80 mingling
Extras: Arrange the room in a variety of fashions
Food: Your choice of style (tapas, seated dinner, buffet, breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Timing: 7 am – 12 am
Gadgets: Nothing extra.
This venue is more for eating and meeting than having a formal meeting.

Address: 1200 South College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: 970 – 212 - 3399

Link: CLICK HERE

The Ranch in Loveland:
Meeting Rooms:

Each room comes equipped with 7’ rectangular tables, chairs, wall mounted white board and projector screen
You may set the room any way you would like with the provided equipment
Additional tables and chairs are located in the storage closet in the hallway. If you need extras- these are available on a first-come first-serve basis.
Upon the completion of your event, the room must be reset according to the diagram posted in the room.
If your meeting requires moving the divider walls, specific rental items (stage, PA, etc.), or catering you must list your needs on the Thomas M. McKee Building Rental Request Form. Special requests will not available less than two weeks from the first day of the event. There will be a cost for the labor, as well as the rental costs for these needs.

Accommodates: any number of guests. They have other facilities on the property. They truly can accommodate any size or type of meeting. The facilities have the technology needed for any type of presentation or speaking event.

Address: 5280 Arena Cir, Loveland, CO 80538
Phone: (970) 619-4000

Link: CLICK HERE

Parks, Recreation & Culture Facilities in Windsor:
Looking for a place to host your special event? Windsor Parks and Recreation offers a variety of venues for weddings or corporate parties, birthday parties, reunions or any occasion. Facilities include banquet and meeting rooms, park shelters, fields and gyms for sporting events, an outdoor pool for private parties as well as a Show Stage.
The Windsor facilities have a full list of AV options, affordable room rentals, and catering onsite!

Address: 250 11th St, Windsor, CO 80550
Phone: (970) 674-3500

Link: CLICK HERE

The Summit in Windsor:
Great corporate event and meeting space. Need a professional, yet entertainment-style venue for a corporate meeting? Want to pep up your multi-day event by adding in a little fun? The Summit rents meeting space that offers everything you need in an upscale event venue. With a modern and comfortable feel, The Summit creates memorable corporate events, meetings, and parties for groups of all types.

The meeting space includes four rooms separated by soundproof partition walls that can be arranged and combined for small gatherings of 10 up to lectures for 90.

They can arrange seating to accommodate interactive discussions, receptions with stand-up tables, banquet meals, small breakout sessions, and more. Each meeting room has a built-in screen, wireless Internet, and power sources.

Enjoy a catered breakfast, lunch, dinner, and break food options available so you can be productive all day. Get your team in sync by focusing on business first thing in the morning, then take a break for a game of bowling or laser tag before your afternoon session. Keep the brain waves flowing while you balance the combination of meetings and fun.

Address: 4455 N Fairgrounds Ave, Windsor, CO 80550
Phone: (970) 663-6363

Link: CLICK HERE

Front Range Business Centers in Loveland:

A professional business atmosphere for meetings of 2 to 25 people and include internet access, beverages, and receptionist services. All of our rooms are available at hourly rates on a "per use, pay-as-you-go" basis.
Room Options Include:

Training Room - seats up to 25 (Loveland@Centerra location only)
Board Room - seats up to 8
Small Conference Room - seats up to 4
Day Office - seats up to 4
Counseling Office - seats up to 4 with loveseat and lounge chairs for more casual conversations

Each room includes:

Wireless Internet
Coffee, tea and water
Phone Access (unlimited local and toll free calling)
White Board (small conference room, board room, and training room)

Also available onsite:

LCD projector rental
Photocopies and printing
Scanning
Incoming and outgoing faxing

Address: 1635 Foxtrail Dr, Loveland, CO 80538
Phone: (970) 776-3300

Link: CLICK HERE

The Chilson Center in Loveland:

The Hatfield Chilson Recreation/Senior Center is one of Northern Colorado's most complete facilities for special events, meetings, socials, birthdays, conferences, fundraisers, luncheons, banquets, wedding receptions, quinceañeras, and other activities both social and recreational. Close to downtown Loveland, the Chilson Center is easily accessible from I-25, Highway 34, and Highway 287. The professional, experienced staff is happy to assist you in planning your event and is committed to ensuring a memorable experience for you and your guests.

In our experience, the Chilson Center offers a variety of options at affordable rates!

Address: 700 East Fourth Street Loveland, CO 80537
Phone: (970) 962-2503

Link: CLICK HERE

The Greeley Guest House in Greeley:

This classic venue is a boutique hotel with historic charm. They offer a conference room, board room and event center. Greeley Guest House & Suites is an exclusive luxury property in Greeley, Colorado perfect for business travelers and vacationers alike.

Address: 5401 W 9th St, Greeley, CO 80634
Phone: (970) 353-9373

Link: CLICK HERE

The Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley:

The Union Colony Civic Center is the premiere site to hold your event; rental and staffing rates are among the most competitive in the Rocky Mountain region. The equipment selection is the best and most affordable, and the staff is trained to deliver high standards of excellence. Our experienced team will meet with you before your event and help you determine all your needs well in advance of your performance or event, then provide you with an estimate of the costs.

Address: 701 10th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 356-5000

Link: CLICK HERE

Contact My Big Day

Have Fun. Be Young. Let us know how we can help.
Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner.

~Event Planning, Coordination & Management~

My Big Day llc

Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068
Email Us

Located in Loveland, CO

As event planners, we serve the entire Front Range; Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken

Northern Colorado Venues for your Large Corporate Meeting/Event

11/8/2015

by Randi Juric

As event planners, one of the most common inquiries we receive is about event space. People are always looking for that needle in a haystack, or bargain deal. As Northern Colorado grows, so does event space demand. This is why we will continue to blog about it and give you some options!

One of the best places to have your meeting in North Colorado would have to be Colorado State University. Why you ask? They offer so many options for medium to large groups. (Even some small ones too.)
CLICK HERE to learn more about their event space options.

900 West Plum
Fort Collins 80523
United States
Phone: (970) 491-6222

Largest Group:
7000
Number of Meeting & Event Rooms:
75
Largest Classroom Style:
900
Largest Theatre Style:
6000
Number of Overnight Guests:
5000

The next venue is beautiful and offers team building as well! Consider 4 Eagle Ranch. This place is stunning. It would impress for sure. They offer on-site lodging and breathtaking views.
CLICK HERE to visit their website.

4098 HIGHWAY 131
PO BOX 70
WOLCOTT, COLORADO 81655
970-926-3372

Largest Group:
650
Number of Meeting & Event Rooms:
3
Largest Classroom Style:
650
Largest Theatre Style:
650

Another option is the historic Sylvandale Guest Ranch. They have cabins onsite if you want to plan a retreat. They offer team building, or great rooms for meetings.
Sylvandale can host groups up to 130 people.
CLICK HERE to learn more about their property and meeting options.

2939 N. County Road 31D
Loveland, Colorado 80538-9763
Office: (970) 667-3915

My Big Day maintains a list of Colorado venues based on size, amenities and budget. As your event planners, we can find the perfect venue for your next meeting or event!

Contact My Big Day
Have Fun. Be Young. Let us know how we can help!
Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner...

My Big Day llc
Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068
Email Us
Located in Loveland, CO

As event planners, we serve the entire front range; Northern Colorado, Southern Wyoming
and mountain venues.

My Big Day and Warren Federal Credit Union

10/27/2015

Recently Warren Federal Credit Union decided to host a "Discover Day" for all of their employees. The purpose of Discovery Day was to aid in the personal and professional development of credit union employees. Senior Management wanted to inspire, uplift and educate employees in areas that would better their personal lives and careers.

My Big Day was hired to help structure the day and hire professional from all areas to speak to employees. Throughout the day, employees attended sessions on a variety of topics: Stress and Work/Life Balance, Financial Planning/Life Event Planning, Career Planning, Organization, Health and Fitness, Hiring and Interviewing Practices, Social Media, etc.

We would like to thank all of our speakers: Chris Prendergast - Director of Online Marketing with Click Rain, Andrew Flanscha, Financial Consultant CFP®, LUTCF, FIC, RICP, CLTC with Thrivent Financial, Alice Burron with Wyoming Fitness Council Cheyenne, WY, Katy Piotrowski, M.Ed., LPC with Career Solutions Group, Fort Collins, CO, Dr. Mark Benn, Psy.D Fort Collins, CO, and Coach Sean McCarthy with Colorado Coaching Company, Loveland, CO.

A handful of photos from Discover Day:

Have Fun. Be Young. Let us know how we can help!
Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner...

My Big Day llc
Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068
Email Us
Located in Loveland, CO

As event planners, we serve the entire front range; Northern Colorado, Southern Wyoming and mountain venues.

Site Review: Platte River Fort

8/18/2015

Recently the My Big Day Team visited the Platte River Fort in Greeley, CO. This needle in a haystack of a venue is the perfect place for a family reunion, corporate retreat, or large party!
The venue bodes a variety of options...
There is a large dining room that seats 50 people indoors, a courtyard with porch and patios, a party barn that can seat 250 guests, fire pits, yard games, and an upper deck that offers the best views in the area!

Packages are available for every season. You can rent out the entire facility, or just pieces of it.
We found the pricing to be very reasonable!
With barn weddings and Western weddings and events being so popular in Colorado, the Platte River Fort is an ideal place for the person looking for a rustic environment that just so happens to be upscale!

As far as the TOP selling points are concerned.... we love that this venue is located off a main road (34), so it's easy for your guests to get to. The ambiance feels like you are in another time... back in the old west! There is lodging available onsite - a rarity for unique venues like this. But best of all.... you can BRING YOUR OWN CATERER, and you can BRING YOUR OWN ALCOHOL! Licensed vendors are required of course.
***Should you need help planning your event at the Fort, My Big Day has both the experience necessary for a DIY venue such as this, and ALL of our team members are Tips Certified, allowing us to serve alcohol at this venue.

For more information on the Platte River Fort for your wedding or event,
email: info@platteriverfort.com or call 970-590-4414

Contact My Big Day
Have Fun. Be Young. Let us know how we can help!
Original Ideas, superior strategies, your own private party planner...

Christine Kovacs Forster, Owner/ Party Planner
My Big Day llc
Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068
Email Us
Located in Loveland, CO
As event planners, we serve the entire front range; Northern Colorado, Southern Wyoming and mountain venues.

Event Site Review: Party Island

7/11/2014

Recently My Big Day visited Party Island in Fort Collins to learn more about their event spaces for our clients. Kelly Benedict gave us a fantastic tour!

With 3 different event spaces to pick from, up to a 400 person capacity, Party Island can be the perfect space for your next event, no matter what the occasion!

My Big Day often finds that some of our clients specifically seek out venues where you can choose your own caterer. Party Island does offer a preferred caterer list, but you can also 'pick your own!'

Their packages include something for everyone: a boat ride for you and your guests to/from the island, grills, fire pits, volleyball, water trampolines, canoes, slushie machines, stereo system, horseshoes, paddle boats and MORE!

My Big Day loves and original event venue... and Party Island is most certainly that! A tropical island in the middle of Colorado is certainly rare.

Contact Kelly at Party Island for more information:
islandpromotionevents@gmail.com

Event Site Review: Zoe's Cafe, Greeley CO

7/7/2014

Recently My Big Day visited Zoe's cafe in Greeley to learn more about their event space for our clients. Ben Fusco, the Director of Events gave us a fantastic tour!

With 3 different event spaces to pick from, an ideal soda bar, a stage perfect for a band or DJ, and with a 256 person capacity, Zoe's can be the perfect space for your next event, no matter what the occasion!

My Big Day often finds that some of our clients specifically seek out venues where you can choose your own caterer, and bring your own alcohol. Zoe's is one of the rare venues that allows both. Their basic package includes 2 bartenders, and security. Beer and wine can be provided by you! They don't enforce a preferred vendor list, so you can feel free to chose vendors of your liking.

In our opinion, the rental rate is extremely affordable, and the space is extremely flexible! My Big Day has assisted with a wedding at this location, and the staff was very accommodating. If you are researching venues for your next birthday party, holiday party, charity event, company event, shower or wedding, we highly recommend Zoe's Cafe in Greeley, CO!

Affordable Event Rentals Now Available from My Big Day!

6/24/2014

As an added value to our clients, we now offer affordable event rentals! All My Big Day clients have access to our large list of party rental supplies.
Prices are listed, Additional rentals are available if you don't see what you're looking for, just ask!

A special thanks to Michelle Badger Photography for capturing all of our rentals on camera!

CLICK HERE to view party supply rentals from My Big Day Events

Tips For Planning A Community Meeting

6/12/2014

Need assistance with your next company meeting or community event?
Contact My Big Day!

Christine Kovacs Forster, Owner/ Party Planner
My Big Day llc
Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068
Email Us
Located in Loveland, CO

by Brielle Welch, My Big Day

Community meetings are held to bring a together a group of various viewpoints to discuss issues, ideas, and information. For these things to be shared in a timely fashion, and in a way that has a purpose, follow these tips:

Plan early- When guests know that an event is going to happen ahead of time, they are more likely to attend. This also gives much more time for you to plan and ensure things will go off without a hitch. Have a planning committee. Other people can assist in planning so you are not overwhelmed and they can have valuable insight and suggestions.

Set a goal- What is the purpose of the meeting? What are you hoping to accomplish? You should ask yourself these questions when developing the goal of the meeting. This will also help attendees stay on track with their discussion and problem solving.

Create an agenda- Community meetings tend to get off topic because there is no set plan. By creating and keeping to an agenda, there will be less off topic discussion and attendees will feel like they are there for a reason. It will also be easier to accomplish your goal this way.

Encourage participation- Community meetings need be all inclusive. You should invite adults, children, business people, elected officials, and everyone in between. Everyone has valuable ideas and the decisions made in their community will affect them; they should have a say.

How to increase participation- Your event should be publicized. How can people come if they do not know it is happening? Twitter is a great tool for this. Have community members follow your group on twitter so they can be updated 24/7. Other media, such as radio, newspaper, and television, are also good resources for publicity. Ask other people on the planning committee to bring a few guests. These people are likely to invite another guest and attendance keeps growing.

The Importance of a 'Plan B'

5/7/2014

No event – no matter how well-planned and well-run – is immune to the occasional crisis or disaster.

My Big Day believes a good event planner will be able to think on his or her feet for the small stuff, and have a solid crisis plan in place for dealing with the biggies. You can’t possibly expect to plan for every type of crisis, but a little advance planning will go a long way to ensure that you can handle whatever comes your way!

Maintenance Emergencies:
If your function takes place in a hotel or convention facility you should discuss emergency plans with the Director of Sales and Maintenance Engineer. They should provide you with a contact at the site that will take care of any emergency or maintenance issues. If your event is being held in a private hall, find out who in their organization is responsible for facility management and ask for someone to be available during your event. In your contact list, keep numbers of 24-hour locksmiths, plumbers and electricians.
Technical emergencies fall into this category as well. Having a tech on hand is crucial if your event involved music, lighting, presentations and the like!

Medical Emergencies:
When planning a large outdoor festival or sporting event, it on makes sense to have first aid personnel on hand. Festival-goers may suffer from heat stroke (or hypothermia in the winter), minor or major cuts, sunburn or food poisoning. For large events, it’s a good idea to include in your rental items a tent that can be used to shelter people from the sun or cold while receiving treatment for minor injuries. Discuss options and get advice from your local ambulance volunteer force or contracted service providers. Be sure to include the local hospital, emergency line and non-emergency police number in your list of contacts.

Weather Emergencies:
The weather is always unpredictable, or at least you should embrace this philosophy when planning an event. Don't ever count on perfect weather. Have a backup plan. If your event is outdoors, ask your venue if there is an indoor option, should the weather not cooperate. Also consider tent rentals, or even another site that doesn't have an event booked that day. (You know, because you did your research)
Never underestimate the importance of extra umbrellas, raincoats and blankets.

If you are well prepared, chances are you won't need the Plan B. But that one time when everything goes wrong, you'll be glad you were prepared!
-My Big Day

Affordable Event/Venue Rentals in Northern Colorado

2/24/2014

Looking for that needle in a haystack for your meeting or event? A good, affordable, flexible, centrally located venue is hard to find!
My Big Day receives requests from friends, clients and complete strangers weekly to pass on our 'little known secret' venues.
While we can't promise any of our favorite venues are secret, we can say that the places below do meet much of our commonly requested criteria.

Check out our recommended venues in Northern Colorado below.

And... to pull your event off without a hitch, consider hiring an event planner!

LOVELAND: The Rialto
The Rialto building and theatre in Downtown Loveland offers a variety of spaces for meetings and events large and small!
The variety of spaces can accommodate groups from 12 -1,000 people!
The beautiful, new rooms in the Rialto Theater Center are the perfect place for:

Business Meetings and Events
Fundraising Events
Holiday Events
Weddings
Anniversary & Graduation Celebrations
Learn More: http://www.cityofloveland.org/index.aspx?page=1178

FORT COLLINS: City Buildings
Whether your planning a wedding, a birthday party, business conference or corporate function the City of Fort Collins Recreation Department can offer you a clean, convenient and affordable location that fits your needs and your budget. Recreation’s primary rental facilities, Northside Aztlan Community Center and Fort Collins Senior Center, are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology, modular rooms and full-service catering kitchens. Their attentive facilities staff will be available during your event and prepared to assist you while making your event a success.
Learn More: http://www.fcgov.com/recreation/rentals.php?7#clubtico

Loveland: Mc C Ranch
Once a well kept secret, this ranch is now often booked every Saturday of the year for 'barn weddings'. An affordable and flexible event center indeed! You can bring your own caterer and alcohol, which few venues allow. A "DIY Bride's" delight!
Our only caution is that you may want to have some extra helpers on hand. Pricier venues have to account for staff. If you reserve the Mc C Ranch, you may want an event coordinator by your side, and some helpful friends!
Learn More: https://www.facebook.com/pages/McC-Ranch/122449521107894

GREELEY: Zoe's Cafe
Located in the heart of Downtown Greeley, Zoë's is a locally owned, non-profit coffeehouse & event center. Centered on the themes of beauty and justice, they are passionate about engaging the community on every level. Theylove the arts! So, there is an emphasis on supporting local artists and musicians through the art gallery and live music venue; they also host a wide variety of groups and community events through the use and rental of their space.
Learn More: http://www.greeleydowntown.com/businesses/zoes-caf%C3%A9

LOVELAND: The Majestic Gathering Place
The Majestic Gathering Place is in the Historic Building operated by the Fraternal Organization, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Built in 1903, and listed on the City of Loveland Historic Places, this building is a great space for any event. With over 4,000 square feet of space and capacity for 250 guests, the Majestic is one of the largest gathering spaces in the Loveland area.
They are also located on 4th Street, in the heart of Downtown Loveland.
Learn More Here: http://www.majesticioof.com/index.html

FORT COLLINS: Crescendo
Crescendo is a fun place to come for tastings, gatherings or meet-ups. They are a surprisingly large space, and offer a great deal of flexibility for your event. Since Crescendo is located in Old Town, Fort Collins --- it is an ideal and centrally located establishment. Call, stop by or email them for pricing.
Website: http://crescendo-usa.com/partners
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crescendo-Fort-Collins/391695417586243

LONGMONT: Firehouse Art Center
The Old Firehouse Art Center is a historic landmark in downtown Longmont. Renovated in 1999, the Firehouse Art Center is now a permanent art gallery and facility for art education and classes. The main gallery can hold up to 100 people standing, 80 people seated auditorium style and 40 people seated at tables. The back room/classroom features a kitchen with two sinks, microwave and small fridge. It can hold 40 people standing and 16 seated at tables. There are two bathrooms, one in the main gallery and one in the back room/classroom.
See more at: http://venueplease.com/venue/firehouse-art-center#sthash.KYM4aiqt.dpuf

FORT COLLINS: Elks Event Center
The Lodge Room in their new facility accommodates 220 people which makes it a perfect setting for most gatherings. The room has a very warm vaulted wood and beam ceiling with elegant lighting designed to create the perfect mood for your event. The walls are painted with warm shades of color and the terrazzo floor lends itself perfectly to dancing. The room is equipped with a handicap accessible stage ample for live music set-ups. Since they only allow one event in the Lodge Room per day, your event will have their staff’s full attention.
Learn More Here: http://www.fortcollinselks.org/facility

LOVELAND: B Sweet Cupcakes
This small space seats about 30... perfect for meetings, parties, clubs, small receptions, baby showers, birthdays, etc! And the best part, they only charge $25 an hour to rent the space!
Oh wait, the better part is that it's INSIDE of a cupcake shop!
B Sweet Cupcakes is a gem in Downtown Loveland.
The space is a private room, tables, chairs, private bathroom access, etc. It's quiet and smells like cupcakes. Need we say more?

Location: 425 E. 4th Street, Loveland, Colorado 80537
Website: http://www.bsweetcupcakes.com/index.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bsweetcupcakes/132419660136742

FORT COLLINS: Pappy's Corner Pub
This venue is great for small, private parties. They have a private room with seating for up to 35. Pappy's doesn't charge for the room as long as you are ordering some food from them. And their food is delish!
Although Pappy's is called a pub, it's a nice, clean restaurant, where many parties are help in the private room!
They tend to book up, so call ahead to reserve the room.
Learn More: http://www.pappyscornerpub.com/

LOVELAND: The Chilson Center
City buildings often offer the most flexibility at a great price.
The Chilson Recreation and Senior Center is one of Northern Colorado’s most complete facilities for meetings, wedding receptions, conferences and other activities both social & recreational.
There are a large variety of rooms of all sizes available for rent by the hour.
Learn More: http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/index.aspx?page=261

GREELEY: City Buildings
Just as with Loveland and Fort Collins, Greeley has a large number of rental options available through the city. The Recreation Division has several options to choose from when looking for the perfect space to host your event.
Click on the link below to see more. You won't believe the number of options!
Learn More: http://greeleygov.com/Recreation/Facilities.aspx

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