The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

'Tis the season for gift giving and pre and post-Christmas sales. If your closet wasn't overflowing before, it may be soon. So, what to do with all the duds you or family members rarely wear or have outgrown? Why not plan a clothing exchange.

You have a menu, a guest list and a master plan for your big day, maybe even a security plan, but do you have a disaster plan? Depending on the location and time of year when your event will occur, you may need to consider possible issues that could negatively impact your event. Disasters may include:

Every industry has its frustrations. Event professionals are no exception. After talking with photographers, DJs, venue managers and others, the following list of the most common issues we face on an all too frequent basis was created. The issues are presented in no particular order.

 If you enjoy wine and you are looking for a venue for 100 or fewer guests, Cinder Winery in Garden City may be the place. This past weekend I coordinated my first event there. The venue includes tables, chairs and linens. You can choose your own caterer. A minimum wine purchase is required and the winery can secure beer for your event; coffee, tea and other non-alcoholic beverages are your responsibility. Hard alcohol is not permitted. Don't be put off by the exterior, which looks like a warehouse, and the small parking lot. The interior has an industrial feel with galvanized steel, high ceilings and even a small art gallery on the balcony level. If you are having a wedding, the ceremony usually occurs in front of the rack of wine barrels (see below). The rental fee is in line with most local venues.  The winery is open to the public until 5 p.m., so your event must occur in the evening and must finish by 10 p.m. For information about having your special event here, visi...

I recently returned from Scotland where I learned that the government has reduced the legal drinking and driving limit to what is essentially .01, much lower than the .08 limit in most U.S. states, including Idaho, and lower than England's current limit. The change reduces the legal limit allowed in a blood test from 80mg to 50mg per 100ml of blood. With the change, the Scottish government expects to see a reduction in alcohol-related deaths and serious injuries.

If you are a follower of the popular television show Shark Tank , you are surely familiar with Kevin O'Leary, also known as Mister Wonderful. O'Leary is also a wedding officiant, which led to the creation of  Something Wonderful, a company that combines his business ventures with his interest in special events .

Want to add something unique to your next event? If so, consider gourmet marshmallows. Yes, really. Fireside Mallow Company, located in Caldwell, is a new gourmet marshmallow company specializing in many unique flavors. They have created a s'mores bar that can be rented for weddings, birthdays, graduation parties, reunions and much more.

If you are planning a large event that might be enhanced by the use of aerial photography, you may want to engage the services of a photographer or videographer who can provide a drone. Drone usage at personal events, such as weddings and reunions, is still in its infancy and not everyone likes it. Many photographers feel it takes away the intimacy associated with having a live photographer. Others feel it adds another dimension to their work. Some viewers find the drone's speed and movement make it difficult to enjoy the finished video, making it not worth the extra expense.

We all plan events - big ones, small ones, family ones, business ones and more. One of the first decisions that must be made is where to hold the event. Depending on the number of people involved in making the decision, this may be one of the biggest, and possibly most contentious, issues.

If you are a photographer, professional or hobbyist, or just love good photography, join us Saturday, July 9, for the grand opening of Studio Boise, 4619 Emerald Street, from 6 to 10 p.m. Studio Boise offers two studios for rent by the hour. They also rent photography equipment, so why purchase a lens you may use only occasionally when you can rent it. The lower level gallery provides display space where photographers and other selected artists can display their works. The space can be rented for private showings and other events. Join us at the launch party and vote for your favorite photo in the "My Idaho" contest. For details, see  www.studioboise.org/launchparty . See you there.

This year I have booked more 50th anniversary parties than in the past. What an accomplishment! Fifty years together through the ups and downs of life, the good times and difficult. Couples who have reached that milestone deserve to be feted, but how is up to them. Two primary issues affect the planning. One is the health of the couple and the other is budget.

Today we learned from someone in the McCall city clerk's office that their business license ordinance has been revised to reflect the need for all businesses, even those not located in McCall, to secure a business license to conduct business there. The wording is rather nebulous, saying, " Any person or entity seeking to engage in, prosecute or carry on any trade, business or profession within the limits of McCall must obtain a General Business License from the City Clerk.  "

The article below is from Money magazine's most recent issue. Much of the information seems fairly accurate for an Idaho wedding except the cost of clothing. Most brides don't pay over $1,200 just for a gown; the gown, veil, shoes and jewelry maybe. The cost to rent a tux is a bit high as well. I was also surprised to see the percentage of bride's parents who pay for the wedding. In this area, the costs are more often covered by both sets of parents and the bride and groom, though not usually equally.  Enjoy.

You found the perfect outdoor venue for your wedding, graduation or birthday party or another event. But the property manager says your event must end at 10 p.m. What a killjoy! No, not really. She/he is complying with local noise ordinances. Every city and many counties have a noise ordinance requiring loud music and other noisy activities, such as shouting, clapping or engine noise, to end at a particular time. The ordinance is for the benefit of neighbors who want to sleep or enjoy their own yards and homes without interference from your event.

Tis the season for graduation parties, weddings, family reunions, company picnics and more. Perhaps when choosing a venue you discovered that some have "preferred" vendors they expect you to use. But is it really a preferred vendor or is it a required vendor? Though the meanings are different, some people use them interchangeably in an attempt to soften the fact that your choices have been limited.

When you think of naked, do you think of cake? Not usually, but some bakers do. A naked cake is one devoid of icing so the filling/fillings show through.  Christina Tosi, chef and owner of  Milk Bar , a bakery with locations in New York and Toronto, is credited with starting the trend. The idea is to let the elements of the cake shine through rather than covering them with a layer of icing.

Do you love crepes in all their goodness? If so, you will love the crepe cakes made by Petite Reve Chocolates of Ventura, CA. The cake pictured contains 300 very thin crepes (its bigger than it looks) filled with vanilla cream and dusted with powdered sugar. If you prefer another filling flavor, such as chocolate, lemon, coffee or raspberry perhaps, any would be delicious. The next time you want to wow your guests, whether it be a wedding, anniversary party or another event, get out the mixing bowls and try your hand at making your own crepe cake.

The bride and groom were on a tight budget so she agreed to let a friend who works in a restaurant handle the food preparation and service for the reception. That evening the bride met a number of her guests at the emergency room, all, including her, suffering from food poisoning. The culprit was determined to be improperly stored Ranch dressing, which had been made in advance and left at room temperature for several hours.

Wedding season is fast approaching. Each year brides seek to do something different, something their friends have not yet done, something to set their wedding apart without bending tradition too much. A current trend is mismatched bridesmaids' bouquets. Some brides choose to give each attendant a bouquet containing one of the flowers in the bride's bouquet - roses for one lady; calla lilies for another and freesia for yet another. Other brides bestow their bridesmaids with brightly colored bouquets of unrelated flowers, making all the bouquets totally different. Done carefully, the look can be most pleasing. Done poorly, it looks chaotic. To pull off the look, colorful flowers should be used. The differences will be lost if all bouquets are white or pale pink.

Are you looking for an interesting place to hold team building activities or a trade show? Perhaps a unique venue for a graduation party or even a casual wedding reception? If so, look no further than Idaho Ice World. Their 5,000 square foot private events room can seat over 300 people and comes with overhead projector, screen, microphones and podium and a catering kitchen. You can also rent private time on the ice for skating, private lessons or team building activities.