Steps for planning your next event!

You go to the lengths of planning a party, special event and or your wedding and yet what is it that you want your guests to remember?  You might not think that this isn’t important but for whomever you invite to your event you want them to have fun and lots of lasting memories. 

Even for the smallest of events there is always planning that must take place.  You need to start with the 4 basic questions of What, When, Where, and How? 

What are you inviting your guests too?  Is this a wedding, a birthday party, a quinceanera, or a neighborhood block party?  This question is usually the first to be answered because it is typically the basis for why you are even having the gathering in the first place.

When are you going to have the party?  As many of you know timing is everything, even when it comes to a party.  Therefore, planning your event at 10:00 on Wednesday night might work with your schedule but most work with your guests.  Plus you need to take into considerations holidays, your guest’s vacation schedules, and also when you are able to make it.  We haven’t gotten there yet but where you have the party might also dictate when you can have the event as well.

Where do you want your guests to gather?  Do you want to rent a banquet space?  Is your house big enough for the party or maybe your church?  When calling on venues you need to take into consideration the size of your event to coordinate with occupancy levels of the banquet space.  You need to ask about the restrictions of each of your locations you are considering so that you can match up the best location for your party.  I recommend making a list of “must” haves and what you would like to have and then when calling around or doing site visits you are able to match these wants with what each of the locations have as amenities.

How are you going to orchestrate this event?  Are you going to plan it all by yourself?  Do you have a committee that you are working with?  First thing you need to discover is your budget.  What are you wanting or able to spend on this soiree?  This will dictate how much of the event you can outsource and how much of your event you will have to be a do-it-yourselfer? 

There are a lot of questions that you have to ask yourself when gathering a few people to a few hundred people.  The main thing is start at the beginning and start making decisions that point you towards your goal.  A fun memorable event that your friends and family will talk about for years……

For a local indoor option for your next gathering don't forget to check us out at the Ferndale Events Center.

What is your theme?

One of the things about events is that you want your guests to walk away with a memorable experience.  You want your guests to enjoy your event and be excited about coming back if you do one annually or if it is a monumental event such as a wedding, one that they will talk about for years.
So how do you leave the lasting memories for your guests?  You need to make sure that you focus on what your goals are and what you want your guests to walk away with.  Keep in mind that adding a theme to your event help keeps you focused and can add a lot to an event. 

Once you have a theme incorporate it everywhere from your invitations, to the activities at the event to the menu.  Keep the internet close since there are so many resources for DIY or even event coordinators at your finger tips to do the planning for you.
Here are a couple ideas that I have seen as well as found that were unique:
As a client appreciation event this local company did a heading back to the “Old West”  theme with costume contest for the guests as well as Texas hold em contact, bull riding and even a line dancing exhibition.   

Are you a tea fan?  Here is a great idea for a wedding but it can also be used for a garden party with friends and family.  You can see more information from this blog that outlines the details.

As well here is a circus theme that can be done for a fundraiser or a wedding.  You pick!

Here are further pictures of how to create a vintage circus wedding.

The circus is all about color which is well displayed at this fundraising event.
Whatever you do have fun and enjoy the planning part whether it is tapping into either your inner child or highlighting something that you enjoy!

Food Display for your special Event.

  Whether it be friends gathering at your home, potluck at park or it is your wedding reception don't get trapped displaying your food on a straight buffet line. 

Here are a few things to consider when building your buffet lines and or food stations.

1.  Height!!!  It is a must.  Adding height to a buffet line is crucial to adding some pizzazz to your food.   Don’t know where to begin.  Go to your kitchen or your pantry and find anything that will support your food such as:  cake pans, pots, cereal boxes, use cans as a base and support with a cutting board.  Keep in mind that you want the heights to be different so don’t grab three of the same cake pans and think that is enough.  Now cover these up with napkins, table linens, or a bed sheet all scrunched up.

 2.  Bring in the textures.  Adding different textures to the mix draws your eye to the food but adds a great canvas to present your food.  Looking for classy, then stick with glass, silver/gold platters and fine china.  Going for a rustic look, cutting up disks of wood for elevations, adding burlap or even grape vines add a fresh clean look.  Or if you are doing a potluck ask your guests to bring dishes in their favorite pottery dish so that guests can enjoy the many colors that will adorn the table.

 3.  Tables.  If you have a round table, oblong, or two rectangle tables, change it up a bit.  Put the round table first then a rectangle table behind for the buffet.  Or if you are making a food station, add two rectangle tables together to make more of a square or a round table so that guests can get to the food from all directions.  Don’t forget rule number one!  Do something dramatic in the middle for the theme of your event.  Go tall and big or go home.  

  The simplest things can enhance the appearance of your menu selections as well as entice your guests to want to come back for more.  You do “eat with your eyes” so make it fun and exciting for how you display the food at your special event.

    Here is what some local vendors are doing as well as above and beyond ideas for those who want to go all out!  

  Cutting different disks of wood added great height to this beverage station and fit right in with the Ski Lodge Chalet wedding reception theme.

See the full gallery on Posterous

 Floating buffet lines or doing a verticle food station adds a big draw for clean lines to your food station.  For the complete article check out Catering Magazine's Station Innovation .

 A clean look of both candles and white orchids were utilized as this centerpiece for a angled buffet line.  No straight lines here!

Haggen Market Street Catering demonstrates a great way of both adding texture and different dimensions to this food station.

 

 

Sidney and Scott Wedding and Reception on St.Patty's Day

  It might of been St. Patrick's Day and the bride's side of the family has Irish blood in them but, when it came to the wedding and reception of Sidney and Scott there was no green to be found.

  The black table coverings with accents of white, silver and fuchsia made the room sparkle!

  Guests were greeting at the entrance with tall glass trumpet vases filled with black feather highlights and white floral arrangements.

Guests sat on chairs that had black covers with fuchsia satin chair ties.

The Bar was adorned with crystal accents.

The head table had tall crystal arrangements and silver wrapped pillar candles. 

Seating for 240 guests with sheppard hooks, hanging crystal chandelers and a lit archway set up as a back drop for Sidney and Scott's ceremony.

The room also was decorated with a favor table, sweet table and the guests sat at zebra printed table toppers with fuchsia satin napkins tied with a black gerber daises.

Venue: Ferndale Events Center

Flowers:  M and M Floral

Dj:  Audio Inovations

Catering: Chihuahua Mexican Restaurant

Table Linens: Bellingham Event Rentals

Special Events Whatcom County Style

Special Events Magazine always catches my eye when I get the new issue.  What are the trends of the event world and what will people think of next? 

For the numerous special events and fundraising that take place in Whatcom County it always amazes me the talent and resources that are pooled into the great events locally.

Recently at the Ferndale Event Center we had two fundraising events.  Each of them brought around 325 guests together for a night of education and an opportunity to support a great cause.

The entertainment for one of the events was even recently featured on a local TV Station.

Whether it be a silent auction or a dessert dash here are their pictures that showcase how they molded the banquet space for their guests to enjoy.

Ski Chalet Wedding

 If you love to ski then President's Day weekend is the known time to head to the mountain.  This happy couple and their bridal party got to have it all.  Saturday they headed to Mt. Baker enjoying the slopes and then Sunday they enjoy their nuptials with family and friends at their very own transformed Ski Chalet Wedding.  

  From when the guests walked in the door and were greeted with a Hot Chocolate station to the "How to Ski" video on the big screens guests were taken back in time to experience what Alexa and Berndt are both passionate about.. each other and skiing.

  The foyer of the Ferndale Event Center had options for the guests of either a hot or cold beverage.  With one corner set up as a Hot Chocolate station and the other corner with a Punch/Champagne table.  Guests also had boards where they could find there seat assignments and another table with pictures show casing other married family members dear to the couple.

See the full gallery on Posterous

 As guest entered the main room they could lounge in the corner with soft seating or check out the elaborate head table set up for the bridal party.  The cake continued with their theme as a topper of the bride on top of her husband on skis!  

 

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[[posterous-content:pid___1]]  Guests enjoyed seated at the "Resort" labeled tables with antique china and place cards made from pine cones.  

See the full gallery on Posterous

  Congratulations Alexa and Bernt!

Hair and Make Up:  Tart Beauty with help from The Looking Glass Salon

Venue:  Ferndale Events Center

Catering:  Memorable Events & Catering

 

Rentals:  Bellingham Wedding & Event Rentals

Photographs: Brandi Foisie

DJ: Audio Innovations with DJ Nathan Cox

 

 

How do you add your unique flare at your wedding reception?

Depending on the time of year it always a suprise what special touches brides and grooms will add to their wedding receptions.  One's wedding reception is a direct reflection of who you are and what you stand for.  Sometimes hard to tap into your creative side one needs to reach to the internet and or magazines to find those ideas that real pool the resources necessary to make your special day just the way you want to. 

Saying this and what actually transposes is a hard task.  Most weddings become diluted due to family and friends input and therefore, as a recommendation always stay true to what YOU want. 

This recent reception was one that had special touches everywhere you turned.  It was great to see all the different centerpieces as well as the bars who were set up as mini vignettes.  Best Wishes to Rachel and Joshua!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Wedding Reception Location:  Ferndale Events Center

Caterer:  Laura's Kitchen

DJ:  Fred Hartsook

Wedding Coordinator:  April

Photographer:  Dave Christensen