The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

Scentsy, locally headquartered in Meridian, is joining with local refugee agencies to host a special fund raising event. The public is invited to the Scentsy headquarters at 2701 E. Pine Avenue, Meridian on Saturday, August 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. Organizations such as Artisans4Hope and Create Common Good will offer their arts, crafts and services for sale. Food and locally grown produce will also be available. The goal is to raise $100,000 to benefit local agencies and programs. The event will also include music, games and other activities, as well as information on how you can volunteer to work with area refugee organizations. Come on out and join the fun and pick up a few gifts at the same time. You will be glad you did.

Successful events don't just happen. Many people work behind the scenes to handle the myriad details - the good, the bad and the downright disgusting. Following are some of the dirtiest jobs involved in producing a special event. Port-a-pottie transport, set-up and clean-up. If your event requires the use of portable facilities, someone has to provide and maintain them. You probably won't see the person or give them a second thought, but what would you and your guests do without them? Animal pooper-scooper. If your event will be held at an outdoor location or will involve animals in any way, someone must clean up behind them. This includes cleaning up behind the ringbearer dog, cleaning bird droppings off tables and chairs (sometimes off the linens as well) and cow patty patrol at places like Pioneer Park in Stanley before setting up tents, tables and chairs. Dishwasher. Washing dishes for your family is one thing, but doing it for 300 guests can be an ordeal - scraping, ri...

I just returned from a trip to England and Scotland. In St. Andrews, Scotland, the home of golf, I saw my first stretch pickup truck limo. This particular one was being used for a birthday party for a teenaged girl. The limo looks like a humongous pickup, complete with the open bed on the back. It seats about 12 passengers. They are made by Ford using the chassis of an F150 or F350. The bed on the back was small and seemed out of proportion with the elongated body. Apparently, these limos are quite popular in the Edinburgh/St. Andrews area where they are used to transport groups of golfers and their gear and by small tour groups. Will they catch on in this area? Perhaps, but not likely anytime soon. What would you carry in the bed? The loot from your event, your rentals, or something else?

You insure your car, your home, your health, and your life.   Now you can insure your wedding too.  W edding insurance has been popular in Great Britain for several years. Now, a number of U.S. companies offer it as well.    The insurance is receiving much publicity, but do you really need it, or is it a waste of your limited wedding funds? The answer depends on your situation. Most policies offer varying amounts of coverage for varying fees, with the most expensive policies costing around $400 for a U.S. wedding .   If you are planning a destination wedding to another country, the fee will be higher. Most insurance policies will insure against: Unforeseen weather problems (Are you planning a wedding in Florida or the Bahamas during hurricane season?).   The weather issue must be a major problem that will prevent you from holding the wedding as scheduled or will prevent a majority of your guests from...

Whether you are planning a company grand opening or picnic, a conference for your non-profit or Grandma's 80th birthday party, successful events don't occur without planning. Though planning a special event may initially seem easy, it is not if you want the party, meeting, conference or other event to flow smoothly.  Following are the most common event planning mistakes and suggestions on how to avoid them.

A couple weeks ago I posted about the opportunity to assist a local company in planning an incentive trip for their top sales people. The winners did not know their destination until they reached the Boise airport today. They are going to Sedona, Arizona and the Hilton Resort and Spa . They will enjoy golf, spa treatments, jeep rides through the red rock canyons, and much more. They fly into and from Phoenix. On the way to Sedona today they will be stopping in Cave Creek for lunch and a couple hours free time to get acquainted with this historic community and to shop. The company that is rewarding their employees in this special way is Sysco Foods Idaho . Congratulations to the winners.

The southern Idaho chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) honored five women as 2012 business women of the year at a gala celebration held May 5 at the Idaho Historical Museum in Boise. Glenna Tooman, owner of Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC in Boise, was named Business Woman of the Year. She won based on her years in business and her commitment to her clients and to mentoring women business owners and students who aspire to become business owners. Serena Kenner, owner of Southside Floral in Nampa, was selected Up and Coming Business Woman. Sonia Martinez, executive director of Latino Economic and Development Center in Blackfoot, was named Trailblazer of the year for her accomplishments in improving opportunities for Latino women while working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Lori Fascilla, executive director of Giraffe Laugh Early Learning Centers of Boise, received the Leadership award. Boise CPA and NAWBO member Laura Canales ...

I have been working with the local branch of a national company to plan an incentive travel trip for their top sales people in southern Idaho. On May 17, 15 employees and their spouses will gather at the Boise airport for destination - unknown. They will learn the destination when they receive their tickets. They have been told to pack for warm weather and to plan on golf and spa activities for sure. Additional activities will be revealed at the appropriate times. The group will leave on a Thursday morning and return on Sunday afternoon, hopefully with lovely tans and many fond memories. I had the opportunity to research and recommend several locations for the trip, all within a few hours flight of Boise, then the planning committee made the final decision. They chose a lovely all-inclusive resort with a fabulous staff that has been very accommodating to work with. The staff has really gotten into the idea of a mystery trip and all they can provide to mak...

Today we held a traditional Indian wedding in my backyard. Yesterday the couple was married in an American-style wedding. Their plan was to have a second wedding in the fall in India in the groom's hometown until they learned last week that in India there is no such thing as a vow renewal ceremony. If they were to have an Indian wedding, it must occur at the same time as the American wedding. When the groom's mother arrived from India with the news that everything must occur now, we scrambled to create a second wedding. Because we wanted some degree of privacy and the ceremony involves fire, we needed to hold it in an outdoor location and my backyard was the most private (and affordable) place available on short notice.

For her 100th birthday on February 6, Dana Jackson married her 87 year old boy friend, Bill Stauss. Both are residents of Rosewood Health Care Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This is the bride's fourth marriage. Her first was at age 15. Imagine two weddings 85 years apart. How very different they must have been. The bride wore a white gown and long veil. The groom, who is blind and has never seen his bride, was handsome in his tuxedo. The bride had a bachelorette party before the wedding. A champagne toast and desserts were shared at the reception. Congratulations! Here's to many years together.

Want to add a really cool - literally - and elegant feature to your event decor? If so, you might order a custom-designed ice sculpture or ice bowl. We are fortunate to have a local master ice carver, Danny Spangler, owner of Ice is Nice in Star, who can create just about any design you want, whether it be a romantic design for your wedding reception or anniversary party, your corporate logo, sports team logo or another design. Size is not an issue; Danny has created very large designs as well as smaller ones, depending on your budget and space limitations. An ice sculpture will create a focal point for your party. If you prefer something useful as well as decorative, you might order one or two ice bowls. The bowls come in a wide variety of styles, which can include fresh fruit or flowers frozen into the design. The bowl contains a plastic liner that can be filled with punch, salad or a couple bottles of your favorite wine or champagne. A light placed under t...

As we gear up for the summer event season, photographers will be in demand to cover everything from Grandma's 90th birthday party to a wedding, graduation party, reunion or another special event. Unfortunately, all photographers are not created equal. There are good ones and there are really bad ones. Your event will occur only once, so you want the best possible photos. Because most people rarely hire a professional photographer, they are often unsure how to evaluate one. Therefore, the following tips will help you make the best choice for your money (and your memories). First and foremost, check the photographer's web site. Do you see photos of other events like yours? Are most of the photos studio shots or were they taken at other locations as well? Are all or most of the photos posed, or do you see movement and spontaneity? Can you see the subject's entire body, if appropriate, or do you see people with missing feet, legs, or tops of heads? Are there heavy shadows, in...

Congratulations to Boise company InDepth Solutions on the celebration of their 5th anniversary. Employees, family and friends - 180 strong - gathered recently at Boise State University for a fantastic party with great food, music and interactive entertainment. Here is to many more years.

Today we live in a casual society. We rush from one appointment to another. We eat with our hands as much or more than with a knife and fork (pizza, sandwiches, chicken and on and on). We dress casually, even for formal events. Do people today think about, or care about, manners? What about consideration for others? Thoughtfulness? Courtesy? Are they all passe in today's society?

At last week's wedding, the bride and groom asked guests to bring food for their church's food bank in lieu of gifts. By week's end the church had received nearly 1,000 pounds of food and over $600 in cash donations, all from a group of 126 guests. You can do something similar at your event. Many charities have needs your guests can meet inexpensively. You might ask for food for the food bank; for dog and cat food for a local shelter; for underwear, socks and/or gloves for the Rescue Mission; hats and scarves for the cancer society, or many other items. Give your favorite charity a call and find out how you and your guests can bless them. Your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness and you will make a difference in the community.

When is the last time you heard a bride say she was having a bridesmaids' luncheon? If a luncheon was mentioned, did you wonder what the bride was talking about? Unless you live in the southern U.S., there is a good chance you are not familiar with this custom. In generations past, a bride honored her bridesmaids by hosting a luncheon, tea, or a similar social event for them. Other women in the wedding (such as soloists), the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom and perhaps an aunt or two were also invited (but not usually the flower girl). The bride often presented her gifts to the ladies at the party. The event was often held a week before the wedding, though some brides held it the day before the wedding. (The luncheon occurred in addition to a bachelorette party, not in place of it.) The luncheons, tea or brunch were sometimes held at a restaurant and other times at a private home. Dessert was usually a special cake containing charms, such as a ...

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...