The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

It seems each year we are inundated with predictions of the latest trends for the coming season. Some make sense or are a continuation of a current trend. Others make you wonder where the idea originated. Some of what are considered "national" trends, have actually been in vogue in this area for a couple years or more. The following are predictions for this year culled from several sources and presented in no particular order. Wedding Trends - the following are compliments of OneWed. Food trucks - Whether it be a taco truck after a party or an ice cream truck at a wedding reception, if you have a favorite truck food, invite them to your event. You can even hire the corner hotdog vendor to drop by. Unique head pieces - Brides are replacing the typical veil and/or tiara with wedding hats, headbands and big, beautiful barrets and clips. Feathers for the hair are "in." Royal wedding inspiration - In the tradition of Kate Middleton, simple and underst...

I am currently working with a bride who is a 66 year old widow marrying a 70 year old gentleman. Through the years I have planned numerous weddings for brides in their 40s, 50s and 60s. Some were marrying for the first time, some were divorced, others widowed. When a couple is older, both bride and groom often  have many more decisions to make than younger couples. A mature bride's body has changed and the gown that looks great on a 25 year-old will not look the same on a 50 year-old. One or both may have children and possibly grandchildren. They may have homes, own a business and/or have investments they want to leave to their respective families. Health issues may be part of the picture. To protect yourself, your family, and each other, all these issues and more need to be addressed before saying "I Do."  Wedding Gown: Many mature women find choosing a wedding gown to be the most...

The 33rd annual Wedding Party Show was held this weekend. Approximately 1,000 brides plus grooms, moms, sisters, friends, children, non-participating merchants and others streamed through the show looking for everything from planners to catering, flowers, gowns, tuxes and unique venues. It was a great show. Below, Caitie receives a big kiss from show mascot Chloe.

Happy New Year! Christmas and New Years are behind us. The next big event, other than the 33rd annual Wedding Party Show this weekend, is Super Bowl Sunday, February 5. Many people have Super Bowl parties, some at restaurants or pubs, others at private homes. If you are among those planning a party at home or perhaps at your community club house, you are probably not looking forward to the mess at the end of the day. Unfortunately, when a group gets together and food and football are involved, messy happens. You can control some of the messies, and help the environment, with a bit of preplanning. You might start with what you serve. If you order in pizza, you will have boxes, crusts, sauce and other possibly gooey and messy items to deal with, so be sure to have plenty of large trash cans and bags on hand. If, on the other hand, you prepare a crock pot of soup or chili, you will have considerably less clean up, even if you use disposable bowls and spoons. Serving beverages in in...

When the economy took a nose-dive in 2008 company holiday parties were one of the first casualties. As the economy slowly begins to stabilize and businesses see sales increasing, some are again hosting holiday events, though not usually as lavishly as in years past. In a survey of 2,600 employers, CareerBuilder.com found that 58 percent of companies will have some type of celebration this year. That is up from 52 percent in 2010 and 49 percent in 2009 but way down from 96 percent in 1997. In contrast, just 36 percent of employees who were surveyed plan to attend their company's event. No reason was given for the lack of interest in the parties. Most parties will continue to be simple and less expensive than a few years ago. About 60 percent of business owners are limiting attendance to employees. Most will hold their party during the workday or near the end of the day with many luncheons and potlucks planned. The reasons given for hosting a party include improvin...

It's that time of year, time for personal and company Christmas parties followed by New Years parties; then it will be Super Bowl parties and more. Nearly every event includes food, much of it provided by a caterer. But how do you choose a reputable caterer who will enhance your event, not create unpleasant, and perhaps costly, surprises? The following tips will help. First, decide on your budget. Be sure to consider the cost of sales tax, gratuity and other incidentals, which can add as much as 24 percent or more to the food cost. Next, decide on the type and quantity of food you would like to serve. In this area we are fortunate to have a wide variety of catering choices, including Basque, Mexican, Italian, barbecue and more. You might serve a meal or perhaps you need only appetizers. If your party is casual and not too large, you might ask a caterer to drop off food rather than paying a server to stay during the event. Some caterers have alcohol or beer a...

If you love specialty bakeries, those that make their products from scratch as opposed to those that bake using pre-packaged mixes, you are in for a treat. Sugar Rush Cupcakery opened in late October at 10804 W. Fairview Avenue in Boise. This is the latest endeavor of Family Ties Catering and Cakes, a Caldwell company well known for their baking. Though the shop specializes in cupcakes, they also offer cakes, cookies, muffins, cinnamon rolls and scones. You can also order Family Ties' famous wedding cakes. The shop includes a coffee bar with specialty coffees and plenty of space for relaxing or meeting friends. On a recent visit I tried a maple bacon cupcake. It was delicious. Be sure to check the wide variety of flavors available, including blueberry ham waffle and more. You might discover a new favorite. For more information on the bakery, visit  http://sugarrushcupcakeryboise.com/ Ruth Joanne's Bakery opened at 8716 Fair...

Aromatherapy isn't just for personal relaxation anymore. More and more event hosts are using aroma to set the mood for their special event. Planning a beach theme far from the ocean? Add the aroma of Ocean Breezes to your party location along with the sand and seashell decor. Store owners use pleasing scents at grand openings or to entice shoppers to purchase. Real estate agents use it to attract potential buyers and teens use it just for fun. Most of us have used scent to set the mood at one time or another. It might be using scented candles or flowers for a dinner party or baking cookies just before an open house. Now, there are companies that will take your event to an all new level. Scent Events, www.scentevents.com/ , is one such company. Scent Events both rents and sells fans and accompanying "scent sleeves." The scent sleeves are available in a wide variety of aromas and two or more can be combined, such as chocolate and cinnamon, to crea...

Want to invite your boyfriend or girlfriend to the prom or to homecoming? No longer is it cool to simply ask. Teens today are finding unique and creative ways to ask and to respond to invitations to school dances and other special activities. For instance, an invitation saying "It would be cool if you would go to the homecoming dance with me" might be presented frozen inside a block of ice. An invitation that says "I am dying to go to the prom with you" might be presented inside a box of fabric dye.  The receipient of the invitation is then expected to respond in a manner similar to the method used for the original invite. If presented with an ice block, the response might say something like "I'm shivering with delight" and be placed in a cold beverage. If given a box of dye, the response might be "Roses are red; violets are blue; I'd love to go to the prom with you" presented with a box of the appropriate dye color, or in this case, tw...

We served these colorful cake pops at a recent wedding. (They were actually dark purple, not blue, as they appear in the photo.) Guests were delighted with them and with the contrast between the soft, sweet interior and the smooth outer coating. A cake truffle is simply a cake pop without the stick; the process to make them is the same. Though easy to make, the pops are time-consuming and a bit messy. If you plan to make your own, you can find recipes on the internet. Any cake flavor can be used, though the coating is limited to either white or chocolate candy coating, though food coloring can be added to white coating. Let your imagination run wild with the accents. You might use chopped nuts or candy, baking sprinkles, coconut, designs made with icing or many other items. For Halloween you might use spice cake dipped in orange coating and add a jack-o-lantern face. For St. Patrick's Day, add green food coloring to both the cake batter and the icing. T...

In two days it will be October and time to begin thinking about Halloween parties, despite the current 90 degree days. Halloween has become as big a party time for adults as for children, so let the fun begin. Having a party may be a safer alternative for children than going door to door to trick or treat in the cold and dark. Costumes are a must, whether you are five or sixty-five. You might have a theme party and ask guests to dress appropriately, perhaps as their favorite fictional, movie or historical character. Your decor and food should also reflect the theme. Halloween also provides an opportunity to decorate with pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns, corn stalks and other fall favorites. Plan activities to fit the ages of your guests. Many children today have never bobbed for apples, either in a tub of water or with the apples hanging from a string. You might create your own haunted house. It is easy to do in a dark place by creating a winding trail complete with "body p...

When the British government designated April 29, the date of the Royal Wedding, as a national holiday, a large conference planned for a Best Western hotel in Britian was rescheduled. Rather than have their event space and numerous guest rooms sit empty on the new holiday, the staff decided to host their own royal wedding and to auction it off on ebay. They created a package for 50 guests that included cocktails, dinner, an evening dessert buffet, music and dancing, and a guest room for the bride and groom. The auction was posted four weeks before the wedding date and ran for three days. During that time, 27 couples expressed an interest, many calling for information, and several visiting the hotel. The winning couple paid 1,999 pounds (about $3,200 U.S.) for a package valued at 4,000 pounds. The winning couple had met on-line and this seemed like the perfect way to begin their marriage. Congratulations to the happy couple and to the hotel for creat...

When George Crookham left Iowa in 1911 to grow popcorn seed in Idaho, he probably never dreamed his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would continue in his footsteps. Today the company he founded, Crookham Company, is known for its sweet corn and onions as much as for its popcorn.Yesterday, after more than two years of planning, we held the last of four centennial celebrations. During the past month we have celebrated with buyers, employees, retirees, family, friends, and local businesses. The Canyon County Commissioners designated September 9 as Crookham Company day in Canyon County. On August 19 the company hosted their national and international sweet corn seed buyers. Attendees from Europe, South America, Japan, Asia, Australia, Canada and across the U.S. gathered for a full day of activities, including tours of the production fields and research stations and a catered picnic lunch at Ste. Chapelle Winery, as well as special activities for sp...

We are seeing less alcohol served at recent social events, both because of tight budgets and the liability involved. Hosts are increasingly seeking creative alternatives and serving unique and intriguing beverages that offer guests a pleasant surprise. At a recent wedding reception the couple served Italian sodas. We printed menus with drinks named for places the bride or groom had lived or traveled. A guest could order a "Manhatten" and receive a combination chocolate and caramel soda. A "Phoenix" might be strawberry. The hosts purchased the ingredients, then two people were hired to make the drinks to order. If you prefer to serve a hot beverage, you might opt for an espresso bar. In this area we have mobile espresso bars you can hire to come to your event. They bring all the necessary ingredients and staff to prepare the drinks; you supply the guests. Is tea more to your liking? If so, set up a tea st...

You plan the guest list, the menu, the music, the activities, but do you have a security plan for your event? If not, you may need one. Depending on the type of event, the location and the number of attendees, you may need to consider several types of security measures, including the following. Gifts - If your event involves gifts and/or cards (they often contain money or gift cards), they need to be kept safe. Someone with theft on their mind may not be an intruder, but a member of the catering staff, one of your guests or even the DJ or bartender. It is easy to slip a card or small item into a pocket or under a napkin without being seen, so be vigilant. If your event will be held at a public place, such as a hotel or restaurant, place the gift table inside the room where the party occurs, not in a hall or foyer. Bring a closed container for cards, not a basket. Once everyone has arrived and the party gets started, you or your event coordinator should place the card container...

Rachel and John chose a perfect July day for their wedding beside the Salmon River in Stanley with the Sawtooth Mountains in the background. John is a native Idahoan. Rachel is from England. They wanted their wedding to be unique and memorable for all guests, particularly those coming from abroad and throughout the U.S. The reception was held in a tent erected beside the Salmon River Lodge, where many guests stayed. The ceremony occurred nearby on the banks of the Salmon River. A barbeque reception catered by H and M Meats of Nampa followed the ceremony. Gelato, made by the bride,  was served for dessert. In traditional English style, the fruit cake wedding cake was served later in the evening accompanied by a spread of European artisan cheeses. Rachel purchased English lavender, both dried and plants, at Lakeside Lavender Farm's festival in early July. When the couple was pronounced husband and wife, guests tossed dried lavender - on their heads, dow...

We are all familiar with baby showers for new moms. A couple of years ago baby showers for grandparents were an emerging trend. Now it is showers for dads, often called Diaper Parties. The idea behind the parties is to acknowledge a major event in a man's life and to celebrate what may be a first time dad's last opportunity to freely spend much time with his buddies. Today, most dads are actively involved in day-to-day child care, from diapering to feeding to walking the floor at 3 a.m. That may not leave much time for golfing or fishing with the guys or other male bonding activities. So, why not celebrate the new life stage rather than mourn the end of dad's "freedom." At a diaper party, each male guest usually brings a package of diapers, which can help the new parents financially for a few months. They may bring other gifts as well. What the guys do at the party depends on their personalities. For some, it may be a back yard barbeque. For others, it might be ...

Ice cream socials have been around as long as ice cream. They are an easy, informal way to entertain a group, whether it is neighbors, a block party, an end-of-school party, a youth group, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, 4-H club or another group. When my boys were in junior high, we ended the school years with an ice cream social with parents bringing unique flavors, such as peanut butter, peppermint, and cheesecake ice cream. The kids loved it; the more unique the flavors, the better. Preferably, the ice cream should be homemade, but if you aren't into that, any good quality ice cream works. You might ask a few of your guests to each bring a different flavor of ice cream. Others can bring toppings and things to sprinkle on the ice cream, such as nuts, chopped candy and cookie crumbs. You will need bowls, spoons, napkins, a table or two and chairs or blankets, as well as beverages. Have fun, indulge your inner child and enjoy a summer evening with family and fri...

On August 6 the city of Cascade will dedicate a bronze statue in memory of all fallen war heros who have lost their lives in combat. The statue was donated to the city by the family of John Borbonus, a 19 year old Boisean who lost his life in Iraq in 2007. The bronze statue was commissioned by the Borbonus family and created by Young Fine Art Studio of Salt Lake City. The day begins with an air show at the Cascade airport then proceeds to Kelly's White Water Park on the north side of town for the dedication ceremony at 3 p.m.  Representatives of the Idaho National Guard and the Air Force will speak. You won't want to miss this special tribute to Idaho's veterans.

Are you planning a party? Want to make your own flower arrangements? If so, the Treasure Valley's u-pick flower farms offer a variety of flowers at reasonable prices. Wild Rush Farm ( www.wildrushflowers.com ), located on the east side of Nampa, offers a wide selection of blooms from July till October (or first frost), dawn to dusk, for $10 per bucket. A bucket is usually enough to make three or four bouquets or centerpieces. Flower arrangements, including flowers, vase, a card and delivery are also offered, starting at $35. The farm is located at 6016 E. Carson Court, Nampa. Drop-ins are welcome or set an appointment by email to wildrushflowers@gmail.com . If you enjoy the fragrance of fresh lavender and lavender products, check out Lakeside Lavender Farm ( http://lakesidelavender.com/ ), 1003 W. Locust Lane, Nampa, or The Lavender Merchant ( www.thelavendermerchant.net ) in Kuna. Fresh lavender is available only briefly, usually in early to mid-July. However, lavend...