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

7 Tips for Handling Wedding Planning Stress

10/25/2017

Your wedding day is likely something you have looked forward to most of your life. You’ve been dreaming of it for years, and now that you are engaged, you cannot wait for the big day to get here. Be sure to prepare yourself for the road between your engagement and the main event. Wedding planning can be extremely stressful and exhausting, not to mention the strain it can put on relationships. With these tips, you can help alleviate some of that stress so you can focus on the fun.

1. Know yourself, know what you want. Of course, you want to take your parents, your grandparents, and your friends’ opinions into account, but remember this is your wedding (meaning yours and your partners). Be sure to gauge your emotions and how those weigh on what is important to you in planning your day. Take care to nurture your feelings while also taking others’ into account and handling any disagreements with them tactfully and gracefully. This will prevent conflict and controversy and keep everyone on the same page.

2. Choose your wedding party carefully. Number 1 brings us to Number 2. Be selective in who you choose to surround yourself with while planning and carrying out your wedding. Your bridal party should be comprised of family and friends who know you well, have seen you at your best and worst, and can handle all those ups and downs right along with you. Having people whose opinions you value and you know you can lean on can help you manage tough decisions and the emotional roller-coaster that can accompany planning a wedding

3. Plan ahead. Most wedding planners will recommend starting the planning process 12-16 months ahead of time and to create an all-encompassing checklist. This allows you plenty of time to secure your venue, book your service vendors (think florist, caterer, DJ or band, photographer, etc., etc.), find the perfect dress for you and your bridesmaids and have them altered, order your invitations, and still allow time to make changes or rectify any mistakes that pop up along the way. Waiting until the last minute to plan can lead to difficulty finding availability for everything from a pastor to flights for the honeymoon. You want your big day to go off without a hitch and be magical, not a chaotic hodgepodge, so plan far in advance.

4. Use referrals. Piggybacking off of number 3, use referrals when booking your vendors and service providers. Ask your friends who they used, research local resource guides, and ask for references. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure you know exactly what you are paying for, and they have no question as to what your expectations are. Done in conjunction with plenty of time and planning, this will allow time for any wrinkles to be ironed out.

5. Sweat it out. Be sure to exercise regularly during your wedding planning. Not only will this keep you in shape and prevent stress eating from packing on pounds, exercising will help you work out the stress, clear your mind, and keep you focused. Whether you prefer yoga, hitting the trails, or cross training, maintaining a regular exercise routine is key in counterbalancing stress. Not only will you look fabulous in your dress, you will be relaxed and on top of your game for your big day.

6. Eat healthy. As mentioned above, this can be a very stressful time. Eating a healthy diet packed with all your essential vitamins and minerals will help your body combat stress and stay healthy. You don’t want to be run down or have a weakened immune system and end up sick. Balance this with plenty of water and enough sleep so you will be looking and feeling your best on the big day.

7. Remember to have fun. So often brides get so caught up in the planning that they forget to actually enjoy the experience of planning their wedding and walking down the aisle. This is likely the biggest decision you have ever made and the beginning of a new life together. Embrace all that comes with it and know that even if things don’t go exactly perfect, the most important aspect of it all is enjoying this time with your partner. Take it all in and make the day yours to remember together for a lifetime.

Planning a wedding is a huge task, but with planning and care, it can be an exciting, enjoyable journey. Using the tips above can help you manage the stress and keep your focus on sharing this experience and starting your life together on a happy note.

***And don't forget -- Hiring a Wedding Planner will give you peace of mind and can even help SAVE you money!

Authored by contributing writer, Shannon Lochwood.
Shannon Lochwood currently lives in Southern California. She has a passion for weddings and loves to write about anything related to special "I do" moments. In her free time she loves to hike and spend time with her family and her two lovely dogs
@shannonlochwood
http://shannonlochwood.weebly.com/

2017 Annual Manager's Conference - SAFEbuilt

10/21/2017

For years My Big Day has been a trusted partner in event planning for corporations. We love the variety of customers we have, and the new challenges every conference, meeting, retreat and party can bring!
This year we were honored to work with a new client, SAFEbuilt. Their corporate headquarters are based in Loveland, CO - and they have offices nationwide.

SAFEbuilt is dedicated to improving people’s lives by helping to create vibrant, thriving communities. They partner with communities on the rise—helping them achieve their development, planning, and compliance goals to become the best versions of themselves. They offer comprehensive community development services, they empower municipalities large and small to envision, plan, and execute innovative solutions that encourage ongoing community improvement.

In 2017 SAFEbuilt is celebrating 25 years in business. They are a fast-growing company with passionate employees.

With so much growth and a need to connect folks from all over the US, and put together relevant and useful content - My Big Day was brought in to organize details, manage presentations and overall content, assist with employee activities, oversee hotel meals, AV and operations - and the conference as a whole.

The 2017 conference was held at the world-leading Embassy Suites in Loveland, Colorado. Management traveled from all over the US to be part of this 4 day knowledge sharing, training and bonding retreat.

Below are some photos from Michelle Badger Photography.

We were thrilled to be the corporate event planners for this conference. Meetings, retreats, conventions, business luncheons - we love to plan it all!

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

Tips for Cancelling Your Big Day (Parties, Corporate events, Weddings, Meetings, Retreats, etc.)

10/9/2017

Tips for Cancelling Your Big Day (Parties, Corporate events, Weddings, Meetings, Retreats, etc.)

Having been in the planning business for over 20 years, we've experienced a thing or two when it comes to cancellations. Whether it's an illness, tragedy, weather related issue, or a 'life change'... we know how life can throw you curve-balls.

Below is a list our team came up with that EVERY event should use or at the very least consider when planning a large event.

Planning in Advance

Make sure your vendors will take calls and emails on weekends- and will respond.
Event insurance is an option. It comes in many forms that you can purchase online. We highly recommend it!
Read your contracts carefully. (For both vendors and insurance) What is their cancellation clause? Can you reschedule?
Have a document available with every vendor's phone number and email for emergency contacts. It doesn't hurt to have contact information for VIPs with your company or bridal party so that those who can make decisions are available to you.
Have multiple ways to contact you attendees. Keep a spreadsheet with emails and phone numbers for quick access. Or, if you have a website or social media page - keep it updated for your guests.
Consider the time of year you are planning. Look at past weather to predict future complications.
Always have a 'plan B' - for every element of your event. Both postponing and cancellation.
Let's your guests know what you plan B is in the case of potential cancellation- that way there are no surprises.
Be aware of your surroundings. If you are holding a conference and need technical supplies, is there a store nearby that you could run to? If you have a mountain wedding and your florist is in an accident, is there a flower shop nearby?

Post Mortem

Inform your vendors
Inform your guests
Contact your insurance company ASAP to get the paperwork rolling
Offer succinct, clear messaging
Can you reuse materials, sell decorations you purchased?
Breathe. This happens. Feel confident in your decision - don't second guess!

Next time - hire an event planner to manage all of the details, plan B's and emergencies!

Adventures in Event Planning

7/21/2017

Adventures in Event Planning:
When you do a site visit at a client's ranch, and end up in a field of longhorns...

We go the extra mile for our clients!

Mother's Day Recommendations from My Big Day

5/5/2017

It's just around the corner... and if you don't have a regular tradition with your mom, we've composed some ideas and our own stories about how we celebrate with our moms. Whether you are a mom, have a mom, or have someone in your life who is like a mother to you... all moms deserve to be celebrated.

Enjoy some thoughts, advice and recommendations from the My Big Day planning team!

My mom loves to garden and we've always been outdoor adventure buds growing up (and to this day)! Growing up we would often go to the garden store in town on Mother's Day or the day before. My brother and I would each pick out our favorite flower then we would go home and spend the day outside planting flowers together. I think it's a great way to spend quality time as a family and we always enjoyed it as kids! Other years we would go to Powell Gardens, which was the big flower gardens near town.

Now, I don't get to see my mom on Mother's Day so I often send her cards with little notes and promises that "this card is good for...." and fill in the blank. Usually it's a voucher for either a trip somewhere, a day planting flowers or hiking, or something else we've always loved to do together when I get to see her next.

Here's a picture of my mom and I when she came out to visit once and used one of her "this card is good for" cards I made her in college!

-Katie

One of our favorite things to do is get up early, get ready together, and go to a Mother's day brunch. It is usually a day spent eating good food and sitting in the sun (if nice enough)! We also like getting pedicures together!

I love my mom as she is a hard working business woman. She has provided for my family my whole life.

It's a very special day for my mother and I. It's the simple things that end up meaning the most when life is stressful and clouded by work. All she wants do to on this day is spend it with me relaxing, and sometimes that's the best gift she could ask for. (Also, Mimosas)

-Victoria

I've always heard that you should wait to plant your flowers and gardens until Mother's Day weekend in Colorado (because we could always have that late season snow or hard freeze). My mom doesn't live here, but I've spent a couple different Mother's Days planting flowers and doing yard work with Anna's Mom, Colleen, and Dave's Mom, Sue.
Maybe I'll plant my own flowers this year?

-Carrie

How about taking mom on a weekend getaway where she doesn't have to cook or clean? Spend some quality time with your mom at Sylvan Dale’s annual Mother’s Day Celebration. With a bed and breakfast located right on site. After quality brunch, enjoy the day horseback riding, fishing or hiking. Estes Park is just a short drive away too!
This year’s brunch menu has everything from smoked salmon, to quiche-lorraine, brisket, chicken pesto Alfredo, tortilla encrusted Tilapia, ranch-made macaroni and cheese, assorted salads, fruit, and fresh baked breads and desserts.
Seating times are at 10:30a.m., 11a.m., 11:30a.m., 2p.m. and 2:30p.m. For reservations, call 970-667-3915. Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch 2329 North County Road 31D (Loveland)

-Randi

My entire childhood, my sister and I would wake up early and our dad would help us make breakfast in bed for our mom. It was always something fancy and extra special. We'd come into the bedroom with a tray that had flowers, breakfast, juice & coffee and our homemade gifts. Our mom would pretend to be surprised, but she knew what we were up to. There is no way we were quiet chefs!

After breakfast we would go to church and/or spend the day together as a family doing whatever mom wanted to do (which for one day a year was NOT cooking).

As a mom now, being appreciated and simply spending time with my family is the best way for me to celebrate Mothers' Day! Going to a new restaurant, getting a bouquet of flowers that I normally wouldn't buy for myself, or being gifted a day of relaxation (pedicure, massage, facial, NO errands) all sound amazing to me! I can't wait until my son is old enough to make me handmade cards. I know I will just melt.

-Christine

I am such a mommy's girl. I would do just about anything with her. Some of my favorite things to do with my mom are, get coffee together, get our nails done together, see a show (preferably a musical) or just walk around Hobby Lobby/ Target together!
We always have such fun adventures spending way too long in those two stores together dreaming about buying just anything we wanted to, or just actually picking up stuff for crafts to work on together!

-Lynzee

My mom is hands down my best friend, it has just been her and I since I was 6 so we're very close. I love going shopping with her, even if it's just grocery shopping, because it's quality time together, which we usually don't have due to our busy schedules. She always convinces me to get the shirt that I can't decide on, or makes me try on things that I would never think I would like but I turn out loving it. She knows me better than I know myself and I'm so thankful for her.

For Mother's Day I always make sure to buy my mom flowers and bring her out to dinner, I feel like it's a necessity for the day!

When it comes to gifts I usually spoil her with a shopping day or a mani-pedi day. I've always thought that shopping for my mom has been hard so I like to bring her to places that she's usually goes to and let her pick out what she likes and then I'll buy it for her! It's always a fun time buying her a few new outfits to wear that I know she likes because she picked them out.

-Makenzie

My favorite thing to do with my mom is to grocery shop together. As weird as it sounds, grocery shopping is something that is so simple that we get the greatest pleasure out of. We get to have quality time together and catch up on the things we haven't talked to in awhile. Whenever I have the time I offer to go to the grocery store with her and we have endless laughs and gossip to talk about. Every trip we have we pick out a special treat that we can have later that night. Grocery shopping is definitely something that I look forward to with her!

Some things that we also enjoy doing that I recommend in Colorado is hiking, off road driving, and camping! It's leaves for great family time and a lot of fun!

-Kasey

My favorite thing to do with my mom is getting to disconnect from our phones and spend uninterrupted time together, whether that is in the car on a long drive, at home, or out to eat. I love being able to surprise her with a treat or do something small to make her day easier. My sisters and I like to take the day to help my mom plant flowers in her garden on Mother's Day too to celebrate spring.

-Sarah

A Riverbend Wedding

8/11/2016

Wedding Professionals:

Event Planners: My Big Day
Ceremony: Lyons Riverbend & Farmette
Reception: Lyons Riverbend & Farmette
Band: Thunder and Rain
Photographer: Dawson Swan
Violinist: Brittany Hensley
Catering: Spice of Life Catering
Bar: Spice of Life Catering
Cake: Azucar Bakery

My Big Day had the pleasure of planning Kurt & Jaimie's wedding at Lyons Riverbend, Colorado. What a beautiful backdrop for a ceremony & reception!

The Lyons Farmette and Riverbend are known for their flowers and DIY event space... but they are also know for their tiny houses on the property - that you can rent!

Below are some photos from Jaimie & Kurt's Big Day, as well as a list of the amazing vendors who made their day so very special!

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, Windsor, Estes Park, Longmont, Greeley

Christine, Kathy & Carrie

My Big Day and Les Schwab at Loveland High School

11/4/2015

Les Schwab partnered with My Big Day once again for a fun football half-time challenge, as an effort to promote community spirit! This time we were at Loveland High School!
Randi and Becca from My Big Day had fun with the two Loveland student teams: FCA and Track & Field for a giant tire race.
Thanks to all who participated!

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.

Certified Wedding Planners

10/16/2015

The My Big Day team continues to further educate themselves on the industry.
Congratulations to Randi Juric and Becca Barnes for completing their Wedding Planner Certification!

A Twin Owls - Black Canyon Inn Wedding in Estes Park

8/20/2015

Our bride and groom, Chris & Greg chose Estes Park as the home for their dream destination wedding! The Black Canyon Inn and Twin Owls Steakhouse hosted this lovely couple and made their day absolutely perfect!