FREE Business Promotion: Support LOVE on Valentine's Day in Loveland, and we will support your business!
Send us your LOGO, preferred link, and item for inclusion. (50 items) We will pick up for offers/samples by February 7th. Email us to participate. The Loveland Sweetheart City Valentine's Day Wedding & Vow Renewal Ceremony is back for the 5th year! MBD Marketing & Events has been proudly based in Loveland, CO for 15 years - and passionate about supporting tourism in the city we work in. Loveland's Annual Valentine's Day Group Wedding & Vow Renewal Ceremony Monday, February 14th, 2022 Location: The Giant LOVE Sculpture by The Loveland Visitor's Center Address: 5400 Stone Creek Cir, Loveland, CO 80538 Ceremony Time: 4pm A romantic ceremony with music you vote on, a customized ceremony, keepsake photos, a LOCK couples can use to "Lock their love" on the famous LOVE sculpture or HEART sculpture in Loveland, gift bags, signature wedding cupcakes, and a chance to win a huge gift basket! What an original way to celebrate your love ON Valentine's Day! Cost: $95 per couple Includes:
Tickets: https://www.valentinesdayinloveland.com/tickets.html Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken By Carrie Stadtmueller, Content Conductor We are smack dab in the middle of prime Engagement Season, and Christmas is the crowning jewel - no pun intended, of dates when smitten gentlemen like to pop the question. And it’s no big surprise why – twinkly lights, decorated trees, winter wonderlands – the setting and decor is pretty much-taken care of for you. It’s practically a Hallmark Movie waiting to happen! The holidays are already a romantic time of year, it’s no wonder, many couples capitalize on the romance of it all! If you are looking into popping the question this holiday season, there are some things you may want to consider before you get down on one knee: Think about what your partner likes Is your partner a private person? If so, a proposal in front of your entire family over Christmas dinner might not be the best option – even if you both absolutely love each other’s families. If they are a more private person, perhaps a quiet walk on a snowy path in the woods? Or a horse-drawn carriage in on a crisp winter’s night under twinkle lights downtown? There are still ways to involve your families and friends after she has said yes — which leads us into the next consideration….. Check with your partner’s friends and family Are you thinking about asking your significant other to marry you during gift opening or some other party or event? You may want to let someone else know so that it isn’t a complete surprise to EVERYONE else there. They are all going to want to be a part of the big event. You’d hate to have someone miss out, and they can all serve as extra help! Weather If you’re planning an outdoor proposal, you will want to keep the weather in mind. If you live in Colorado - this is just a given - you always want to have a backup plan. We think a snowy proposal could actually be very romantic – however, a blizzard, not so much! Plan ahead Don’t assume that you’ll be able to walk into your favorite restaurant or bar for drinks. We are still living in a pandemic. Some establishments are still operating under limited capacity. So please – plan ahead! Don’t wait until the last minute to call for reservations! This time of year is always busier and typically gets booked months in advance. You may also need to enlist other vendors to help you pull off your perfect proposal – florists, event rentals, musicians – whomever you may choose to help with your Big Day – this is a very busy time of year for event professionals. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. Don’t have your dream of a holiday proposal thwarted by poor planning. Creative Proposal Ideas My Big Day has curated an entire Pinterest Board full of creative Holiday Proposals. Follow this Board of ideas to inspire your big ask: https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/the-perfect-proposal/ Contact MBD Marketing & Events
Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken Colorado is so beautiful in the wintertime, with snowy mountains and lots of festivities! It’s the perfect time to have some fun while remaining safe with the whole family. We are bringing you our top picks for activities in Northern Colorado for winter this year! With the COVID pandemic in mind, there are lots of options for safe fun. From festive light displays to ice skating at the Promenade Shops at Centerra, there are plenty of budget-friendly activities outdoors where you can keep a safe distance while having a great time. Getting creative with fun at home activities is another way to celebrate and enjoy your time with your family while keeping warm all from the comfort of your own home. Outdoor Winter Activities in Northern Colorado 1. Downtown Fort Collin’s Santa Quest Go on a scavenger hunt around Old Town for Santa! If you find them all you can be entered for a chance to win gift cards! 2. Loveland Winter Wonderlights See the beautiful lights at Chapungu Sculpture Park this December. A romantic night out or a fun family night to see Santa and his reindeer! 3. Bundle up for a Cross Country Ski Everyone can cross country ski! In town or up in the mountains, get on some snow gear and explore a beautiful snowy day! We recommend some of the trails in Estes Park! 4. Hunt for the Loveland Holiday Gnomes Back by popular demand, get ready to hunt for Herbie (Loveland’s holiday gnome) and all of his gnome friends around Loveland! Herbie and his friends have homes at various locations throughout the city. To play, you must download EVENTZEE, a free mobile app, to find out where they are, meet each of them, and complete each of their challenges. You’ll snap photos of yourself with the gnomes and be entered into our contest through the app to be able to win one of the grand prizes below. All players who successfully complete all of the challenges on the app will win a holiday prize! Home for the Holidays-Fun Activities to do at Home 1. CP Holiday Train at Home"Canadian Music Hall-of-Famer Steven Page and The Strumbellas will lead an all-star cast of performers aboard the CP Holiday Train for the 2021 "Holiday Train at Home" concert." 2. Make a Hot Cocoa Bar for a Family Movie Night Make an ordinary family movie night extraordinary with a hot chocolate bar. Marshmallows, caramel, peppermints, cookies, you name it! Let the family have their way with their hot cocoa! 3. Make Snow/Ice Sculptures Give your snowman a mohawk! Design a winter wonderland with not just snow but ice as well! For more ideas check out our Pinterest Board https://www.pinterest.com/MyBigDayEvents/education-k-12/winter-activities/ 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 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. Blog by Sarah Biekert, Punctuation Prodigy Local regulations have changed significantly since Thanksgiving last year (with a bit of back-and-forth). We know many of you aren’t ready for a big indoor gathering this year. We’re big fans of finding a way to celebrate no matter what – so here are 10 non-traditional ways to observe Thanksgiving 2021. 1. Share a meal with a neighbor. This isn’t a new tradition, but it’s especially suited to this year. Many of your older and/or immunocompromised neighbors have been spending lots of time alone for the past year and a half. And, let’s face it – most of us, whether we live alone or not, could use some extra kindness these days. What better way to cheer someone up than to bring over a warm Thanksgiving dinner plate? 2. Share a meal with a stranger. The pandemic has also been especially isolating for those who are homeless. If you have qualms about giving out cash, why not share a warm meal instead? Prepare a few extra plates this year, and give them to others in need. 3. Drive-by decorations. To share some holiday cheer with anyone who drives by, consider decorating your yard or home exterior for Thanksgiving. Purchase your own decorations for a DIY project, or hire a company like Card My Yard for decoration and cleanup services. You can even order decorations for a loved one’s yard! Card My Yard Wellington serves Fort Collins, Laporte, Windsor, Timnath, and Wellington; Card My Yard Greeley serves Greeley, Evans, Windsor, Severance, Johnstown, Milliken, Eaton, and Loveland. 4. Video call with built-in games. New video-call apps are multifunctional. Developed with the pandemic in mind, apps like Bunch and WAVE allow you to video chat while playing real-time screen games with participants. Game options range from family-friendly classics like Uno and Scrabble to video games like Call of Duty. 5. Or...play a board game on video with friends and family. If figuring out a new app sounds more like a chore than good entertainment, use the video platform you’re most comfortable with and play with a real board and cards. Make sure the other participant has the same game available. Bingo is an easy video call game for all ages; simply take turns calling. You can even find Thanksgiving-themed Bingo games. 6. Simultaneous movie night. Cue up a Thanksgiving film or favorite holiday movie while on the phone with a friend (make sure to press play at the same time!) or use an app like Teleparty (previously Netflix Party) that synchronizes video playback for a group and adds a group chat (compatible with Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO. 7. Send thank-you notes. Thank-you notes aren’t just for Christmas and birthdays. Take some time to consider the people you are thankful to have in your life, and make Thanksgiving an opportunity to show them how much you appreciate them. Show gratitude for friends, family, coworkers, and your neighborhood trash pickup workers and postal workers. A handwritten note is always extra meaningful. 8. Recipe exchange. Switch things up a bit this year by adding someone else’s favorite recipe to your Thanksgiving meal. Before the holiday, swap a recipe with a friend or family member who won’t be at your house for Thanksgiving. Each participant cooks the other’s recipe – extra fun if you’re on a video call while you’re doing it. You may just find a new favorite recipe. 9. Outdoor games. Colorado weather permitting, let the family burn some energy (or calories) with outdoor games. Outdoor air circulation means you can invite the neighbors over, too. Games like cornhole, Badminton, horseshoes, and charades are fun for adults and kids. 10. Surprise someone with their very own parade. Cooped up grandparents and at-risk family and friends will love watching from the front porch as you drive by in decorated cars or strut down the sidewalk (in full costume, of course). Share some Thanksgiving cheer with those who aren’t comfortable with or able to leave the house this year. Happy Thanksgiving from the My Big Day team! Put our team in charge of your next private, corporate, or nonprofit event and have decades of combined marketing and event planning experience at your disposal. Contact us to get started. 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 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 MBD Marketing & Events is honored to work with a growing number of nonprofit clients. Our marketing team recently began a second year of work for the state-sponsored No DUI Larimer initiative, a branch of our local nonprofit client Partners. No DUI Larimer aims to keep impaired drivers off northern Colorado roads. Fatal alcohol and drug-caused crashes increased 22% between 2020 and 2021, making this mission more important than ever. In Larimer County, alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs are of great concern when it comes to impaired driving. Colorado past month marijuana use for ages 12 and older is ranked 3rd in the nation and is 85 percent higher than the national average. Larimer County is home to Fort Collins’ Colorado State University, a university with a large student population – one of the reasons rates of alcohol abuse and DUI are higher than in neighboring counties. No DUI Larimer’s call to action, “Make the Call,” is multifaceted. The program encourages the public to Make the Call for a sober ride home, to Make the Call about whether they should get behind the wheel, and to Make the Call to 911 to report suspected impaired drivers. No DUI Larimer engages the community through print, online, and television advertisements, as well as through social media with Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest accounts.
No DUI Larimer collaborates with government agencies, local law enforcement, emergency medical services (such as Thompson Valley EMS), and the Colorado Department of Transportation to deliver effective messaging and community education. Driving Under the Infuence (DUI) charges in Colorado may come with fines, jail time, community service, education requirements, and license suspension or revocation. Of course, the greatest consequence of impaired driving is loss of life. No DUI Larimer needs your help to stop impaired driving before it happens, and when it’s happening. Visit No DUI Larimer online to learn more about the program, and share what you learn with your family and friends. When everyone does their part, we can overcome impaired driving in Larimer County. We had the pleasure of planning the early September wedding for long-time My Big Day friends Eriq Sanders and Ashley Schwindt. It was a joy to witness their beautiful wedding ceremony on top of the Elizabeth Hotel! Classic Elegance with a Colorful Twist Eriq and Ashley chose The Elizabeth Hotel as the backdrop for their wedding because of its classic and elegant style. Ashley had dreamed of having their first look photos on the grand staircase, and her dream did not disappoint -- it was a bucket-list shot, for sure! The Rooftop Terrace was a perfect mix of classic elegance that Eriq and Ashley spiced up with a mix of colors that fit their bright personalities. Their color palette of oranges and deep purples blended nicely above the beginning changing fall colors in the Old Town trees below. Friends and family were treated to a beautiful ceremony that included deeply personal touches like a live musical rendition of “Two Men in Love” performed by friends, favorite movie quotes, and personal vows. It was intimate, beautiful, and Eriq and Ashley all the way! Block One - Old Town Fun After the ceremony, guests made their way to the reception that was held at Block One Events, north of Old Town. While guests enjoyed a refreshing cocktail hour, Eriq and Ashley and their wedding party made their way throughout Old Town Square on a Bar Crawl to a couple of their favorite Old Town spots. They enjoyed shots and drinks at Lucky Joes and Old Elk Distillery. Eriq and Ashley had originally planned for their reception to be held at the Agave Room above the Rio, but unfortunately, a fire in the facility made that impossible. Fortunately, The Rio was still able to cater their reception at Block One. Guests were treated to Rio tacos and nachos for dinner! Guests spent the evening dancing, drinking, and celebrating! Eriq’s son, Kobe, kept the fun and music going all night long as the event DJ. We were thrilled that Eriq and Ashley asked us to be a part of their Big Day! It was an honor that they trusted us to help them navigate all of the uncertainty that came with planning a wedding during the time of covid and with all of the last-minute changes that the fire at the Rio threw at them. They met every challenge with grace and patience.
Congratulations, Eriq and Ashley! Venue: The Elizabeth Hotel, Block One Events Photographer: PhoCo Florist: CC’s Flower Truck Officiant: Matt Workman, Friend Northern Colorado’s weather is cooling off, and that has us in the mood for fall-inspired cocktails ideal for a wintry wedding or a fun Friendsgiving. We wrote a blog for our friends at On the Rocks and wanted to share it here as well! Try the recipes below from two of our favorite regional partners – master alcohol deliverers Wilbur’s Total Beverage and vodka connoisseurs Spring44 Distilling. Mulled Wine from Wilbur’s Total Beverage Fun fact: This cold-weather classic drink dates back to the Roman Empire.
1. Combine ingredients. Add wine, orange slices, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, honey, and any add-ins to a large saucepan or slow cooker. Stir to combine. 2. Stovetop: Cook the mulled wine on medium-high heat until it just barely reaches a simmer (do not boil – you do not want to cook off the alcohol). Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the wine simmer for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 hours. Slow cooker: Heat on low for about an hour until hot, and then reduce heat to warm until ready to serve. 3. Using a fine mesh strainer, remove and discard the used orange slices and spices. Give the mulled wine a taste, and stir in extra sweetener if needed. 4. Serve warm in heatproof mugs, garnish with orange rounds, cinnamon sticks, and star anise. Spring 44’s Spiced Pear Martini A rich cocktail for a formal fall get-together, with pear, almond, and cardamom. To make, combine:
Grand Old Fashioned by Wilbur’s Total Beverage This version of the traditional, elegant drink incorporates subtle flavors like orange oil to balance bitter and sweet flavors.
Combine aromatic bitters, Grand Marnier, and whiskey in an old fashioned glass. Add large ice cube and stir until cold and well incorporated. Garnish with orange twist, expressing oils over glass rim. Boozy Chai from Spring44 Distilling The warm spices of chai evoke the coziness of fall: cardamom, clove, ginger, and black pepper. Booze it up with some Spring44 Vodka, add a splash of cream and you've created a sipping dessert. To make, combine:
Apple Bees Knees Cocktail A seasonal twist on a classic gin cocktail. For the honey syrup:
For the cocktail:
1. To make syrup, place water, honey, and rosemary in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let steep for 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature before using. Remaining syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week. 2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add in, lemon juice, apple juice, and honey syrup. Shake to combine and strain into a glass. Garnish with rosemary and apple slices. Shop local and celebrate the season at your next event or date night in with these warm, nostalgic signature cocktails. For more cocktail recipes, check out our list of eight local-inspired signature cocktails for all seasons.
Let us help you brainstorm signature cocktails for your next event when you partner with MY BIG DAY or book with On the Rocks. |
Search our blog
About MBD
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!
Search Categories
All
Monthly Archives
May 2022
|