The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

Many thanks to Tandem Wedding Films for sharing their beautiful video of a wedding that Memory Makers coordinated in September at a private home overlooking Lake Lowell. We were blessed to be part of their special day. Enjoy!   https://www.facebook.com/353500854758890/videos/1318816178227348/

In September an Italian woman married herself in a lavish ceremony complete with white dress, bridesmaids and multi-tiered cake. Missing were a groom, groomsmen and a marriage license. The trend, called "sologamy," is becoming increasingly popular in Europe and some Asian countries.

Music is an important element at weddings, reunions, company parties and other events. Making just the right choice of whom to engage, however, may be more difficult than you anticipate. Should you choose a DJ, a string ensemble, a band, pianist, harpist, bag pipes or something else? Maybe you want to download your own playlist onto a laptop or iPod.

Recently, my back yard was the site of a wedding reception. In the past, we have hosted a rehearsal dinner, graduation parties and other events open to family and invited guests. In recent weeks I have been asked by several people who have large yards or unused buildings if they can offer their premises to the public and make a bit of extra income. The short answer is no, not without spending time, money and aggravation to secure required permits.

On August 21st a total solar eclipse will occur. Portions of Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming and other states will be prime viewing areas, mostly in rural, sparsely populated areas. If you plan to travel somewhere to view the eclipse or want to sell food or memorabilia, be sure you are a good citizen, obeying local laws and showing courtesy to fellow viewers.

Many couples enter marriage with stars in their eyes; we will be together forever; we will grow old together; nothing can come between us. And then life happens. Life can be messy and hard. A spouse may have an accident or develop a terminal illness. He or she may become mentally incapacitated. He/she might leave the family or become abusive. During times when emotions are running high the last thing you want to deal with is the nitty gritty details of life, but not doing so could have serious, possibly permanent, consequences.

Summer time and the living is easy, as the song goes. It is also hot, with average summer daytime temperatures in southern Idaho in the 90s. If you are planning an outdoor event and you don't plan for the heat, your guests will leave early or perhaps not attend at all. Fortunately, with a bit of planning, there are a number of ways to keep your guests from melting in the heat.

This is summer party season, a time when bounce houses and other inflatables are in demand for birthday parties, wedding receptions, company picnics and other events. Kids love them, but are they really safe? You may be aware of the plethora of germs found in fast food restaurant play areas. They are also found in bounce houses. If the rental center does not disinfect the bounce house after each use, it can be a breeding ground for staph, chicken pox, measles, athletes foot and other diseases, including topical skin infections. Even a new bounce house can harbor bacteria if it wasn't cleaned after delivery from the factory and before the first use.

Ashley and James are a California couple who love the outdoors. They wanted to do something unique for their wedding, something that reflects their personalities and interests. After considering numerous options, they decided to get married on Mount Everest at the base camp, complete with white gown, tuxedo and hiking boots. Adventure photographer Charleton Churchill was hired to accompany them and take a few photos. The results are amazing and can be seen at   www.charletonchurchill.com/mount-everest-base-camp-adventure-wedding-elopement/ Thank you, Ashley and James, for sharing your special day with the world.

Are you thinking of traveling to Europe anytime soon, perhaps for a honeymoon or vacation? If so, be sure to check the U.S. State Department's travel website for information and warnings. On May 1, 2017 the State Department issued a travel alert to Europe, saying ,         “widely-reported incidents in France, Russia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom demonstrate that the Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS or Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, and their affiliates have the ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks in Europe.”

From time to time I receive RFPs from companies, government agencies and non-profits planning a conference, awards banquet or another large community event. Some are detailed, making it easy to respond. Others are very general, making one guess exactly what the planners have in mind. When I receive a general RFP I need to decide whether I have the time to find out what is needed and do the research to provide a detailed, comprehensive proposal. Often I choose not to respond. A poorly prepared RFP can be a sign of a poorly organized planner or planning committee, making the event planner's work more difficult. The event planner should not have to manage the planners, as well as the event.

Destination weddings have been popular for years. Couples may choose to save money by combining the wedding and honeymoon at an exotic location, perhaps Hawaii or the Caribbean. But what is the etiquette involved? Things change when the location changes, making etiquette issues different. After deciding on a location, one of the first decisions couples must make is who to invite, or perhaps not invite. Will it be the bride and groom only, parents and siblings, close friends? Unless the couple is flush with money, guests should expect to pay their own way, which may in itself reduce the guest list.

If you are like me, you use LinkedIn to connect with business associates and other contacts around the country or even the globe. However, there can be a downside when you receive all the annoying unsolicited emails and spam sent by those who found your profile. Did you know that LinkedIn places cookies on your profile and shares your information with third parties (worldwide)? Do you know who can see your profile? Do you know people can find you by your phone number or email address?

Recently I have encountered brides and grooms, graduates and others in their late teens and early twenties who look like adults and want to be treated as adults but emotionally and socially are stuck in middle school. Could this be you or your child? If so, how do you help them (or you) change your (their) attitude and actions from those of a 12 year old?

When a couple becomes engaged, are about to embark on a dream vacation, or another personal event is looming on the horizon, the tendency is to tell the world via Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and other online sites. But doing so could backfire if you are not careful. You could be telling the world, not just your family and friends. And you don't know who may be lurking out there - a former emotionally unstable boy/girl friend, a stalker, a party crasher, or even a burglar who knows your home will be vacant for that great vacation, reunion or even a funeral.