![]() Hiring a great caterer can help eliminate so much unnecessary event stress. The best team will help with some of the small, yet very important details. Often when considering a variety of caterers, people base their decision on one of two things: a sample tasting, or the price. Of course, there is so much more to consider outside of those two things. Ensure you get the best of the best by asking your potential caterer the following questions in your interview process.
![]() A big, chocolate-covered thank you to all our Pinterest and Blog followers! Our Pinterest page, and blog posts have been blowing up! We're happy to know that our social media has taken off. Keep following My Big Day for more on:
-Cheers! ![]() My Big Day realizes that when planning an event, you often have many venues to choose from! When interviewing a venue, we can often forget to ask enough questions, or the same questions from each venue. Below you'll find a list of all the questions you'll need when interviewing your potential event space. Should you need a customized spreadsheet to help you with all the items that are a priority to YOU, just CONTACT US! Feel free to download our helpful list of questions below.
![]() Whether you are planning a corporate event, a baby shower, a bridal shower, a birthday party, or a wedding... you have a number of vendors out there to choose from. How to you pick? While referrals are great, how to you widen your options, and easily narrow down the vendors who you'll trust to pull your event off with grace? Easy... You do your research You ask them carefully prepared questions You go with your gut! Here Are The Top 10 Things You Should Consider When Interviewing Vendors: 1. Will the vendor commit to your budget and not push you in the direction of things you simply can't afford? 2. Will the vendor pay attention to the smallest of details? Are they prompt and articulate? (You can gage these things by their promptness in returning phone calls and emails, showing up for your meetings early or on time, and by giving you more information that you even asked for) 3. Can the vendor give you thoughtful and original ideas, showing that they are not only invested in their industry, but experienced? 4. Is the vendor familiar with multiple florists, photographers, caterers, planners, bands, and DJs in your price range? Can he/she explain their strongpoints to you briefly? 5. Can the vendor score you some discounts with any other vendors, help you negotiate pricing, or in the least, speak of general pricing for other vendors in the industry to help you with your negotiations? 6. Is the vendor legit? Do they have a website, a Facebook page, a Pinterest page, etc? Can you find reviews about their company online? Can they give you a list of referrals? 7. Can the vendor counsel you on industry etiquette matters and speak to hot trends on the horizon? 8. For the day of the event, can the vendor commit to working with only YOU (not juggling multiple clients)? 9. Will the vendor act as your advocate, conveying your visions and desires to others when you don't feel up to the task? 10. PASSION. Does the vendor have it? If you ask them about their favorite part of their job, do their eyes light up? If you ask them to tell you about why they got into the industry, do they have a compelling story they love to tell? If they can’t tell you why they love their job, will they put passion into your Big Day? Probably not. Note: A professional should have plenty of questions for YOU too. They should easily be able to determine your wishes, needs, level of maintenance, budget, scope of imagination, and more! ![]()
![]() My Big Day has thought of writing this article for quite some time... but Colorado Come to Life beat us to it! So, we are cross-posting their clever idea! Take a look at their top 14 places to steal a kiss in Colorado! My Big Day will be sure to do a follow-up with more of OUR favorite places to steal a kiss!
More Halloween photos are posted! CLICK HERE
Thanks to all who put so much spirit into their costumes this year! Cheers! -My Big Day ![]() Quite often we get the question, how much should I tip my vendors? Honestly, tipping suggestions vary from person to person, and expert to expert. Based on our research, and years of event experience, here is what we recommend. Be sure to download our handy tipping sheet for future reference! My Big Day Guide to: Tipping Vendors and Weddings and Events Tips are never expected, but always appreciated. Tips are meant solely as an expression of appreciation for especially good service. Unless the service provided was less than satisfactory, it is customary to show your gratitude by tipping many of the people involved in making your event a success. My Big Day Tipping Tips: Check Your Contracts & Agreements Many gratuities are built into quotes for major items, such as, catering. This will appear as a ‘Service Fee,’ a ‘Service Charge,’ or any amount that is approximately 15 - 20% of the total contract. Read your contract carefully to avoid unnecessarily double-tipping. Don’t Tip the Venue /Owners If your photographer owns the studio, there’s no need to tip them. The same goes for bands not booked through an agency, the owner of a wedding venue, and the beauty-shop owner who does your hair. Reward Extraordinary Service Beyond the customary tips, when someone goes out of their way for you―the DJ digs up that old recording that will make your Grammy misty-eyed… the florist finds you that rare flower not in season… the event planner goes above and beyond adding little touches not contracted, etc… consider thanking them with a gift certificate, a bottle of wine, or another thoughtful token. Put Someone in Charge Assign someone you can rely on… one of the fathers, the best man, your super-organized maid of honor - to hand out envelopes with the non-contract tips in cash, either at the time of service (hair and makeup people), at the end of the wedding (which allows you to adjust the size of the tips to reflect the service), or at the beginning. Simple Tip Chart: Bartenders: 10 percent of the total liquor bill (to be split among them) Band or DJ: $20 - $25 per musician; $50 - $150 for DJs Photographer/videographer: If you’re paying a flat fee with no overtime, $100 Catering manager: $200+ or a personal gift Makeup artist: 15 to 20 percent Event/Wedding planner: 15 – 20 percent of fee Hairstylist: 15 to 20 percent Waiters: $20 and up each (distributed by the catering manager or maitre d’) Wedding Musicians: 15 percent of fee for ceremony musicians; $22 to $25 per musician for reception Delivery Staff: Cake, Flowers, Rentals, Etc. $5 to $10 per person Bathroom attendants: $1 to $2 per guest Chef: $100+ Coat check attendants: $1 to $2 per guest Hotel chambermaids: $2 to $5 per room; $10 to $15 if you used a suite as your dressing room Limo or bus drivers: 15 percent Valet or parking attendants: $1 to $2 per car; 15 percent for valet parking Maitre d’hotel or headwaiter: 1 to 3 percent of food and beverage fees ![]()
![]() Quite regularly we get asked about private event space rentals up and down the front range. I try to write about as many venues as possible, and post them to the My Big Day Pinterest page. Yesterday I just learned of a perfect space in Downtown Loveland, CO that 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. I only wish I had known of this space earlier! The space is a private room, tables, chairs, private bathroom access, etc. It's quiet and smells like cupcakes. Need I say more? B Sweet Cupcakes Location: 425 E. 4th Street, Loveland, Colorado 80537
Phone #: 970-430-7073 or 970-532-2680 Email: b.sweet.cupcakes@gmail.com Website: http://www.bsweetcupcakes.com/index.html Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bsweetcupcakes/132419660136742 ![]() Everyone is talking about the BEST Halloween party in town! "Slash-back to the 80's" is featured on these popular event websites: Visit Fort Collins: CLICK HERE Zevents: CLICK HERE KickTickets: CLICK HERE Twitter Followers: CLICK HERE Halloween Costumes N More: CLICK HERE Tickets are ON SALE now! Grab yours before they sell out! ![]() It is already time to start booking your holiday parties! Believe it or not, there are already a number of venues completely booked up for the holiday season. Check out the hot and little known secret venues on Northern Colorado below. And... to pull your event off without a hitch, consider hiring an event planner!
For additional venue recommendations, contact My Big Day!
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