Outdoor Events – Tips to Avoid a Summer Bummer

If you are planning an event at a private residence this summer or fall, here are some crucial questions you should ask yourself and your vendors.

Do I need a tent?  It’s always good to have a tent, even if you don’t need one big enough to seat everyone inside. Not only is it good to have in case of rain, but it will provide some shade for guests and your buffet or food stations should be under cover.

What size tent do I need – and will it fit in the yard? Consult with your tent vendor before you start inviting everyone to the party. Perhaps you were hoping to host a formal event for 100 but, in actual fact, your garden will only fit a tent that is big enough to seat 50.

Do I need flooring? Lawns can be uneven and the only way for your event to have a perfectly level surface is to add flooring. This is when things can get expensive. Do you really need it? It depends on the type of event you are hosting; if your garden is on an incline and you are planning a formal, seated affair you probably want to add flooring so tables are not at an angle; for something more casual, probably not. (If there is no flooring, have some of these handy for your female guests….. http://grasswalkers.com/ )

Do I need a permit? Every town is different. Check with your local town or city hall. You don’t want a town official turning up during the party and asking to see your permit and you don’t have one. The party may end before it starts.

Where can the caterer cook from? It’s amazing how versatile caterers can be with where and how they prepare food for outdoor events. Your kitchen may be large enough to handle some of the menu, such as hors d’oeuvres and/or dessert. You may have a garage that can be cleared out and suitable for them to use. Perhaps they have to cook from a truck in your driveway or you may need an additional tent so they can be closer to the party. Your chosen caterer will need to do a site inspection of the party location so they can see what the options are and recommend a solution.

Do I need a generator? Make sure you find out what the power needs are for your caterer, lighting, sound, and entertainment. Are there outdoor outlets? Some items may need a dedicated outlet so you may need to involve your electrician.  If you don’t have enough power, you should rent a generator to avoid a disaster.

Does my home have enough restrooms? If you don’t want to put a strain on your plumbing or don’t want people traipsing though your house, rent portable restrooms. You can choose from a basic port-a-loo (go for the ones that flush rather than the really basic ones – too gross!) or a more elaborate restroom trailer. Check if the one you choose will need a water hook-up or not and, if it is an evening event, make sure there is a light source. And if you go for the basic kind, add some decorations inside and out to make it a more pleasurable experience!

Where will my guests park? If you are not lucky enough to live on several acres, don’t forget to think about the parking issue. If guests can park on the street it would be courteous to warn the neighbors (they may be invited too of course). Is there a parking lot close by that you could make inquiries about using? Should you hire a valet service or someone to assist with directing cars for parking to avoid congestion?

Should my event end by a certain time? Check for any noise ordinances in your town/neighborhood or check with the local police station about what time your event should finish to avoid an unwelcome visit from them. A band may have to finish at a certain time but the party can continue without amplified music.  Again, remember to be courteous to your neighbors; why not post a note through their door a few days before the event to let them know of your party plans.

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Barn Wedding Venues in CT

I wanted to share this link about Barn Weddings Venues in CT from one of my vendors, Rob Alberti (DJ, lighting and photobooths). I love planning events that are not in a hotel ballroom or other type of ‘cookie-cutter’ venue; it gives you a chance to get creative and make it very unique and personal.

Unique, elegant, simple. All of these adjectives describe what your wedding could be if your venue was a barn. When you hear the word barn I can imagine that animals and hay come to your mind. However, believe it or not, some barns can be a simply beautiful wedding venue. Some of them are newly restored and made to look like a banquet hall, and some still have that historical vintage feel (minus the animals of course). Now, how will you find the perfect barn wedding venue in CT? Take a look at these! Read more!

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World Party Day, April 3 – Decor & Entertainment Ideas

WORLD PARTY DAY is observed to recognize peace and celebration as the opposite of war. What better excuse is there to party or celebrate?  Your event could take on one of two themes:

AROUND THE WORLD

Divide your venue into sections (or use different rooms in your house) and have each area/room represent a different country or part of the world
Give guests a passport – if this is a large affair, guests could receive a passport they have to get stamped at different stations during the event; this will encourage them to explore and enjoy different experiences; enter all guests who receive all stamps into a raffle to win a prize
Decorate  the space using colors, travel posters, books, to create the right look and feel of each country or region

For food & drink you will have so many options. If it is a reception, have a variety of international appetizers; if it is a plated dinner, perhaps each course represents a different part of the world. And don’t forget to have some fun with cocktails!
Music from around the world –  representing hire musicians representing each country/region to play at short intervals during the event
Want to make it simple? Just choose one country…..

WOODSTOCK (what doesn’t say ‘Peace & Love’ more than a Woodstock theme?)

Have people dressed as hippies hand out daisies to guests as they arrive
Pop up some tents, blankets, picnic and lawn chairs not just as décor but places to sit and hang out
Completely cover the venue floor with AstroTurf to create a true outdoor experience
Make it a costume party – tie dye tees, flared jeans, head bands, long dresses
Decorate your venue with giant fake daisies, peace signs, posters of bands from the era, vintage Woodstock posters; dress tables with tie-dye fabric; hang beaded curtains in doorways
Serve comfort food such as meatloaf, mac ‘n’ cheese, brownies

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Leaping Leprechauns! Ideas for a St. Patrick’s Day Party

Who doesn’t know how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? This has to be one of the biggest party excuses of the year. Of course it’s easy enough to just invite people to your house to drink Guinness all day and wear green. (And Emerald is this year’s Pantone color so St Paddy’s Day is right on trend!) But if you are thinking of planning a larger event with an Irish theme, you might want to take it one (or a few) steps further.

Hire some Irish musicians to perform traditional Irish music or a band that can play more popular music from Van Morrison, the Cranberries, U2.

Transform your venue into an Irish bar by renting a custom mahogany bar and create a backdrop with books and whiskey bottles and other bric-a-brac; add high cocktail tables with stools, long communal tables with stools, low lighting, old pub signs and Irish poetry books

Serve small plates of Irish pub food such as fish and chips, Irish stew, Shepherd’s pie

Create a specialty green cocktail for those who don’t want to drink beer

For those that do prefer beer, invite a local brewery to hold a tasting of their popular and/or seasonal brews

Hand out shamrock beads to guests or flashing shamrock pins

Hold an Irish jig dancing contest

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Light Up Your Wedding

I am a huge fan of lighting at any type of event. Lighting sets the mood and can transform any space or venue from humdrum to WOW. Colors and intensities and textures; this is what you will see in the photos and what makes your event more memorable. So if you want to set the right atmosphere for your wedding and make it one that guests will remember, lighting is a must.

Check out this blog post from Rob Alberti for more about lighting and ideas for venue and tented weddings.

http://www.robalberti.com/blog/2013/01/lighting-for-wedding-receptions-in-ct/ 

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LGBT Wedding Without the Wait in MA

Gloria & Sandy from Florida contacted me back in the Fall to ask if I could assist them with a ceremony in Boston. They had a big wedding with friends in the Sunshine State and now they wanted to make it legal. Their aim was to come to Boston for just 2 nights and get married in one day. I was, of course, happy to oblige.

After picking up the happy couple from their hotel on Monday morning, we headed straight to Cambridge City Hall to apply for the marriage license. (If you are choosing to get married in Boston, I would recommend going to Cambridge City Hall instead of Boston; much more pleasant surroundings and a warmer, more friendly experience all round.) There is a 3-day waiting period for a marriage license in MA so we headed to the Middlesex Probate Court to apply for a waiver. More friendly people to deal with, especially the lady checking people in outside the courtroom who, when we explained what we were there for, immediately cried ‘Lovebirds!’. After the court ‘hearing’ we waited for a certified copy of the waiver then drove back to Cambridge City Hall for the license and the officiant was available to perform the ceremony right away. Ta-dah! I had the now married couple back to their hotel by lunchtime. What a successful morning. Mission accomplished.

I am sure it doesn’t go this smoothly every time; I think Gloria & Sandy had good karma. But I have to say this experience reminded me how proud I am to live in a state so accepting of LGBT couples.

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Add Some Pizazz to Your Holiday Party

Start with the invitation. The invitation sets the tone for the event. If you have the budget for it, send something in the mail; people love to receive something in the mail that isn’t a bill. Save money by accepting RSVPs via email instead of including a stamped addressed envelope. You want guests to realize your party is not to be missed; include a teaser in the envelope such as a string of holiday beads or balloon (deflated…); or something connected to the party theme – perhaps the password for party entry if you are having a Speakeasy theme, or a simple mask for guests to wear to the event to create mystery and conversation.

Focus on the entryway. Make your guests feel special the minute they walk through the door. Who doesn’t love to walk down a long carpet? If you are having a themed event incorporate the theme from the get-go, such as
Paparazzi for a Hollywood theme; hippies sitting by tents, playing guitars and handing out daisies for a Woodstock theme; or a living statue to create an instant Wow. Things like this are guaranteed to make people smile before they even get to the main event.

Sociable menus. Instead of a buffet have food stations – a slider station here, a taco station over there, a salad station somewhere else. This encourages mingling rather than being stuck at the same table talking to the same people all night. Or have the food come to guests on rolling carts or human strolling tables. On a small budget? Have a caterer drop off some appetizers and hire a couple of servers to pass them to your guests to take things up a notch. If it’s a late night affair, bring out a ‘midnight snack’ such as ice cream bars or have coffee and pastries ‘to go’. And,  even if you don’t provide a full bar, don’t leave sparkling wine off the menu; every holiday party should have bubbles!

Take guests on a journey. If you are hosting a reception style event in several rooms of a venue – or your home – make each room look different. It could be something as simple as a complete color change, different seating configurations, or utilize a theme such as seasons, movies, or countries. This helps creates intrigue and make your guests want to explore. Even if you are working with just two different spaces for cocktails and dinner, do the same thing. Take your guests from Heaven to Hell, through Fire into Ice, or simply take them from a humdrum cocktail hour with nothing but a few high cocktail tables with boring linens, into a room with over-the-top lighting, décor, and entertainment.

Create a WOW moment. You don’t have to have a big budget to create that ‘WOW’ moment. Keep doors between the cocktail and dinner spaces closed until the last moment to reveal the room inside. Choose a unique form of
entertainment such as a human strolling table with hors d’oeuvres, place cards, or goodie bags. Have a mid-event surprise such as a dance performance or flash mob – people love surprises and it will create a buzz. Your ‘WOW’ could even be
as simple as having one huge, visually stunning decor piece at the center of the room such as a giant floral arrangement or a dramatic living statue. And if you are on a tight budget and worry about the minimal catering or modest decor at
your event, having a WOW moment or element will help distract people.

Get interactive. Foosball or Ping-Pong, casino tables or carnival games, virtual reality challenges or a Wii tournament. Interactive activities are especially fun for corporate events because they allow the big boss to show his or her fun side too. It can be a fun form of teambuilding without the constructive feedback.

Don’t forget the small details. They may not seem important but your guests will remember the small touches. Hide ugly garbage cans or cover them with fabric or vinyl tablecloths. Some rental companies have actual garbage can covers. Put fun amenity baskets in the restrooms. If your event is themed, make sure the theme is carried throughout including food item signs, passing trays, and (again) restrooms.

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Halloween Decor: Small Budget, Big Impact

My SPOOKTACULAR Halloween decor designs for the Branford Chamber of Horrors Halloween Bash may have been created on a very small budget but they made a BIG impact. The party was held at a local furniture consignment store, Consign & Design, housed in an old barn. The existing furniture was used at the event helping to extend the budget because no rentals were required. Plus we could throw sheets over sofas/chairs to help create an abandoned, spooky house feel.

Most of the decor was purchased at stores such as Dollar Tree and Walmart where we could really stretch our dollars. The dolls came from Goodwill. White lanterns were wrapped in cobwebs and hung from the rafters, complete with spiders and green glow sticks. Gold and black votive candles added to the ambiance. Signage by sbcre8tive.

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Holiday Party Planning Prescription

SYMPTOMS: Feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Brought on by trying to plan a successful holiday party while juggling an already busy workload and family life.

TREATMENT: Hire Magenta to plan your event and be there on the day to manage the logistics. Keep calm and relax.

PROGNOSIS: Enjoy your event, impress your guests, look like a star.

Note: this prescription can be repeated when planning any type of special event.

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Fun Fall Activities in New England

The summer might be over but there are lots of activities out there for the fall, a favorite season for many New Englanders. Here are just a few ideas of activities you could do as an outing from the office or just with a group of friends.

Scavenger Hunt or Amazing Race This is a great way to have fun exploring a city or town and is a perfect activity for locals or out-of-towners, private or corporate groups (think team building). Teams will navigate the city/town on foot, finding answers to questions, taking photos in different places or poses, collecting items. Have the finish line at a bar or restaurant where teams can have drinks/food whilst the scores are being tallied and they are waiting to find out the winning team. Or, switch things up and make it a point to point hunt. Teams will receive clues to different locations where they must complete a challenge before receiving the next clue and moving on. I have written several hunts and would be happy to customize one for your group and manage the activity.

Tours for the Epicurious

Food Tours. Almost every city has a food tour that focuses on specialties of a specific neighborhood or takes you on a tour to experience an eclectic mix of local cuisine. They are good for both locals – who will discover places and eateries
that they never knew existed – and out-of-towners, perhaps visiting colleagues from around the country, who will get a good insight into the city they are visiting. Two of my favorites – North End Market Tours in Boston (they also have a Chinatown tour) and a Taste of New Haven in CT.

Wine Tours. There are plenty of wineries in New England that offer tours and tastings. Okay, so it may not be Napa, but it’s on your doorstep so why not take advantage of it. Many wineries have facilities for hosting events so instead of just taking your friends or department for a tasting treat, why not host your next special event there. Check out Truro Vineyards in MA, Paradise Hills in Wallingford, CT, and Sakonnet Vineyards in RI, to name just a few options. Perhaps book
transportation and tour a few wineries in one day, perhaps enjoy lunch at one of them. (Please invite me…..)

Brewery Tour. New England produces some great beer that is enjoyed around the world. Most breweries have public tours and tastings and some can accommodate private groups. Harpoon Brewery in Boston offers a 5:30 Club for private  roups to enjoy the tasting room and you can even bring in food and entertainment. If you are hosting an event, consider inviting a local brewery to provide a seasonal beer tasting for guests.

Let’s Get Physical…… And Outdoors

Take your team out of the office for some teambuilding al fresco or get a group of friends together for a fun day out of the city. There are a whole host of activities to choose from, here are just a couple.

Zip Lining. The first zip line canopy tour in Massachusetts is in Deerfield Valley. The tour is 3 hours long and takes you on an aerial trek through the woods by means of zip lines, sky bridges and rappels. (Again, please invite me…)

Ropes Course. The ultimate team building activity where you will interact with friends or colleagues in a very different and powerful way, offering encouragement, overcoming fears, and developing new self-confidence. And not all ropes courses take place up high; there are some that offer low obstacles for those of us that prefer to stay close to the ground. Check out Riverfront Adventure in Hartford CT, Project Adventure in Beverly, MA, or online for others near you.

Pumpkin Carving Challenge 

Bring out the kid in everyone and have some fun at the office by hosting a friendly carving competition. Divide the office into teams, either by department or mix everyone up. Put together carving kits and have a contest for the scariest and best-carved. Plan a social event where all the pumpkins are on display and the winners are selected for scariest, most creative, and most original. Provide some food, drinks, and music and make it a party atmosphere so everyone can relax and have fun. And don’t forget the bags of candy the teams will need whilst carving! Of course this could also be done with friends at home too.

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