The Main Event by Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC

Crowdfunding is a relatively new concept in which businesses raise small amounts of money from many contributors to fund the launch of a new product, musical score, movie, book, art project and more. Kickstarter is one such site. Contributors receive a special gift in exchange for their contribution.

Unfortunately, not every engagement ends with a marriage. I answer viewer questions on websites and one question we see several times each year concerns broken engagements and how to pick up the pieces. The first reaction of many brides, who are often caught up in the emotional distress of the moment, is a desire to distance herself from the whole situation - forget about the guy, the wedding, and anything associated with it. However, unless she has someone who is thinking clearly to help her through the process, she may inadvertently make the situation worse, lose money, and prolong the agony. So what is a girl (and guy) to do? It depends on how close to the wedding day the event was cancelled. If the engagement is broken months before the wedding, it may be fairly easy for the wedding planner to contact merchants and cancel services. If the wedding day is right around the corner, the bride may have arranged special services, such as manicures for her bridesmaids, that she hasn...

Looking for a unique location for your next sales or training meeting, company retreat or family reunion? Look no further than a nearby summer camp. Boy Scout, Girl Scout, 4-H and church camps are busy in summer, but are often available at a reasonable rate in the spring before school is out or after school resumes in the late summer and early fall. Holding your event at a camp invites greater interaction among attendees, something that may not happen at a hotel or conference center.  It also reduces the dependency on technology, getting people away from their phones and laptops and back to nature. Your employees can also engage in a variety of team building activities that wouldn't be possible at more urban locations. Should your event last more than one day, camps have overnight accommodations, usually in cabins or dormitories, which again promotes interaction and develops relationships.  Many camps have cooks who will...

Traditionally,   near the end of a wedding reception the bride tosses a bouquet and the groom tosses a garter which he first removes from the bride's leg.   Today, however, many couples are choosing to forgo the tossing of one or both items for several reasons.   Often, when the bouquet or garter toss is announced, young children rush to the front, crowding out the “eligible” ladies and men.    The bride may want to keep her bouquet and she didn't order a separate toss bouquet, or she may be embarrassed by the manner in which the garter is removed (no teeth, gentlemen, please).   Not all couples have single friends to catch the bouquet or garter. And some venues are simply not built for tossing anything if the room is small or the ceiling too low.   If you do choose to toss the bouquet or garter, the following tips can make the occasion more fun and less chaotic and embarrassing.   If a number of children w...

You are getting married and you and your intended are choosing the members of the wedding party.   He can’t decide which of his good friends he should ask to be the best man. No matter whom he chooses, someone’s feelings will be hurt. So, he decides to ask his sister. Or perhaps the bride has a friend since childhood that she wants to be in her line, but he happens to be a guy, not a girl. Can she have a male bridesmaid? Today, it is common to include a person of the opposite sex among your attendants. Older couples with adult children have been doing this for years. The criteria for choosing attendants remains the same as it has always been – choose people that are close to you and will continue to be a part of your life in the future.   If that person is of the opposite sex, that is fine in most instances, unless your wedding will be held in a conservative church or synagogue. Then, you may need to obtain approval from the pastor/priest/rabbi. When a person of the ...

This is wedding season. Literally thousands of women around the world will share the big day with a sister, cousin or friend as a bridesmaid or maid/matron of honor. Some women will love the experience. Others will consider it to have been their worst nightmare. How a bride treats her attendants in the months and days leading up to the wedding makes all the difference. Asking someone to be a bridesmaid should be an honor. It implies friendship and the desire to share the big moments in life with someone close to the bride. Unfortunately, too often friendships are strained or broken as stress and self-centeredness take center stage. But how do you keep your cool during what is one of the most stressful times in a woman's life? First, a bride should carefully consider before asking someone to be part of her wedding in any capacity, whether bridesmaid, reader, soloist or helper. Think long term. Will the person be part of the bride's life in ten years or is she a new fri...

Today's article is by guest blogger Lori Gershaw. In August 2010 I blogged about the realities of becoming an event planner in general. Lori shares specifically about the realities of becoming a meeting planner. Four Reasons not to Become an Independent Meeting Planner   The new catalogue from your local adult education center came in the mail today. You open it up and find a course on how to become an Independent Meeting Planner. “Wow! That sounds glamorous! I think I’ll give that a try!” Before you jump in with both feet, here are some things to consider. Paperwork, yuck! Once you open the doors to your new business, there’ll be all sorts of paperwork to fill out… and it never ends! Local, state and federal governments want to know about you, there’s insurance to get, bank accounts to open, all sorts of boring, time consuming details. Consult with professionals about what you will need to do to start a new business because that’s what you’re do...

When you think of a birthday party, what comes to mind? Gifts? Fun? Friends? Cake and ice cream? Or how about a wedding or an anniversary party; people tend to think of cake as the dessert of choice. After all, what is a wedding without wedding cake? But what if you don't like cake with its surgary, calorie-laden icing? Then don't serve it. croquembouche Many alternatives are available to the traditional birthday or wedding cake. Perhaps the guest/guests of honor prefer pie or cheesecake. Maybe an ethnic specialty, such as German kuchen or a French croquembouche (a tower of cream puffs), are more to your liking. I have had clients who served cheesecake, pie, ice cream baked potatoes (an Idaho specialty), croquembouche, German obstkuchen, Norwegian kransekake and more. ice cream baked potato Serve what you enjoy. Your guests will be delighted.  Norwegian kransekake

This year is unusual in that about half my clients do not live here but are planning to hold an event in this area. They need to choose florists and bakers, decide on event decor and more. Enter Pinterest . My clients can create a board on Pinterest, then pin their favorite items and send me the link. I can then print pictures of their favorite dessert, decor, centerpieces and bouquets and share them with local merchants. We schedule a conference call with the client to go over the details and - presto - that portion of their planning is complete. Clients have been very happy with the results. If a client is concerned about the ability or creativity of a recommended vendor, they can visit the vendor's Pinterest page to see examples of completed work, putting their mind at ease. (Vendors, you do have a board, right?) Pinterest is also a great place for those who do not consider themselves to be creative to find ideas they can copy or modify. Looking for a fabulous cake for mom...

Have you ever attended an event where you sat around wondering when things would get started? Maybe you waited 20 or 30 minutes or more with no communication from the hosts. A few years ago I received an invitation to a relative's wedding with instructions to call a friend of the bride's mother to RSVP. When I called, I explained that I had a wedding rehearsal that evening so I would be attending only the reception. The person responded, "We won't be starting on time, so you shouldn't be late." What? Excuse me! This was several weeks before the wedding yet they intentionally planned to start late. Beginning an event late, whether intentionally or because of an unforeseeable situation, is extremely rude and disrespectful of everyone's time. The guests didn't arrive at the stated time only to be held hostage, possibly in the heat and/or on uncomfortable chairs, while the hosts scurry around in the background finishing dressing or adding the last touche...

On the television show, "Say 'Yes' to the Dress," brides travel to a fashionable salon in New York City to choose a gorgeous and flattering one-of-a-kind gown - one that makes the bride feel like a princess on her special day. But is there ever a time to say "no" to the dress? Oh, yes. Not all designers desire to create beautiful and flattering gowns. Some choose instead to focus on the shock value of a bride walking down the aisle in a dress that reveals more than what may be considered tasteful. Consider, for example, the dress on the right with its see-thru midriff. It looks as if it more appropriately belongs in a lingerie shop, not a bridal salon. Not only is hubby getting a peek at what is to come, but so are all the men on the guest list. Or consider this gown on the left; elegant, but not really appropriate for a wedding. Be very careful on the dance floor. The gown, below on the right, is perhaps the ultimate in ...

Food trucks are hot right now (pun intended). Need to grab a quick lunch? Want a snack? Local trucks can fill just about any craving, from tacos to cupcakes and ice cream. So why not delight your attendees or guests by inviting a food truck to visit your next event. If you are planning a business meeting, break up the day by hosting lunch at a food truck or two rather than serving a typical restaurant or catered meal. Planning a birthday party for a child or a teen? Invite an ice cream truck and/or a cupcake truck to join you. Make it a surprise and really delight the guests. If you are planning a festival or another community event, holding soccer or little league play offs or a school carnival, invite several trucks to share their fare. Local trucks offer a wide variety of foods, including Asian, Cajun and soul, Greek gyros, tacos, even British style fish and chips, as well as ice cream and cupcakes. Monthly food truck rallies are held in the Boise and Nampa areas at whi...

You are planning Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary party, a wedding or a special birthday party and you want to remember who attended but the typical guest book seems boring and outdated. When the party is over it will remain in the bottom of a drawer somewhere to be looked at perhaps once every 10 years. What to do? Today, with advances in technology and lifestyles, numerous alternatives to the old fashioned guest book are available. The following are just a few ideas. Photo book - It is easy and relatively inexpensive to create a photo book either on-line or through a photo processing center, such as Costco. Planning an anniversary party? Create a book containing photos of the couple through the years beginning with their wedding photo. Planning a wedding? Create a book containing photos of the couple during their relationship. Leave enough white space around the photos for guests to sign. Cook book - If the guest of honor enjoys cooking, choose a special cookbook, perhap...

Too often when planning a special event, we think back to what friends or business associates have done and we repeat the same thing - same type of venue, same menu, same activities. We may be afraid to think creatively for fear that business associates, family or friends will raise an eyebrow, or worse yet, question our judgement. But why be predictable and boring? Why not do something different - it doesn't have to be a radical change. Don't be afraid to experiment and think creatively. You can express your personality and tastes at your special event in a variety of ways to create an event your family and friends will long remember. The following ideas will help your creative juices begin flowing. Choose colors and decor that express your personality. Do you like orange and fuschia together? Go for it. Like a rustic outdoorsy feel? Wonderful. Like Scottish plaids? Use them everywhere. Don't add a theme that doesn't s...

Do you enjoy offbeat fashion, particularly wedding gowns? If so, you won't want to miss the 6th annual Reconstruct Fashion Show hosted by Flying M Coffee at their Nampa Coffee Garage. This year's theme is "Here Comes the Bride." Contestants will create wedding gowns from recycled, re-purposed and reconstructed items - the more unique the better - for cash prizes. Local clothing stores will also participate in the fashion show, sharing more down to earth apparel. (The photo is of an entry from a previous show.)

Event promoter - when we hear that term, we tend to think of large events, such as trade shows and concerts. But did you know that if you invite your neighbor's children to sell cookies at your company's open house, you might be legally considered an event promoter and subject to tax laws? So just who is an event promoter? And how large must the event be? According to the Idaho State Tax Commission any person or business who allows two or more people to offer products for sale or exchange or charges admission is considered an event promoter (see  http://tax.idaho.gov/i-1037.cfm and  http://tax.idaho.gov/pubs/EBR00643_06-08-2012.pdf for details). This includes church bazaars, swap meets, yard sales not held at a private home (including those held at churches and businesses), business open houses at which friends and family are allowed to sell products, wedding shows, trade shows, non-profit events that charge admission, and more, even if the profits will go to charity. ...

Tech Cocktail, the nationwide event that showcases start-up technology companies, returns to Boise April 17. The event enables new technology start-ups to present their businesses to a diverse group of local, regional and national technology company owners, investors and others who may be looking for the next great idea. Event organizers have planned networking activities with the goal of promoting partnerships and alliances to further the growth of Idaho's technology industry. Start-up companies interested in having their company and products featured should apply at www.developidaho.org by March 22. Tickets are required to attend and can be purchased on the above website. The event, which is sponsored by the Idaho Technology Council, will be held at the Stueckle Sky Center at Boise State University. Come on out and show your support for the many diverse technology companies, large and small, doing business in Idaho.

Though it is only March, it isn't too early to begin planning a company picnic to honor your employees and their efforts on behalf of your business. Company picnics are as varied as businesses. If you have a large number of employees, you may need to hold the event at a park. If, however, you have only a few employees, you might choose to invite them to your home for a barbecue  What you do at the picnic depends on the ages of your employees and their family members and their educational backgrounds. What works for assembly line workers doesn't necessarily work for professionals. Food, of course, is a necessity. Other than that, your budget and the location are the only limiting factors. If you want to personally limit your time and involvement in the planning, you might hold the picnic at a waterpark or amusement park where entertainment is "built in" and someone else will handle the details, including food. If you prefer your party to be more ...

Congratulations to Courtney and Jason, Boise's "Say Yes to the Dress" wedding couple. In September Courtney traveled to New York to choose her gown. Her shopping experience was televised in December on TLC's "Say Yes to the Dress" TV program. On Saturday the couple tied the knot at St. Mary's Catholic church followed by dinner and dancing at Hillcrest Country Club. A videographer from TLC joined us for the day to catch the highlights,which will air in about three months. Courtney's ivory lace mermaid-style gown was strapless and backless, ending in a cloud of organza that rippled as she walked. It was truly a "Yes" dress.

Congratulations to Frances Corkill, owner of Two Photography , on her appearance on the Today show this morning. Frances is a local banker who runs her photography business on the side. In January she answered a request for applications on the Today show's website and was chosen to meet  with Donny Deutsch for a quick on-air coaching session on how to create success in pursuing a creative passion, in her case making the transition from banker to full time photographer.