Winter White Weddings

Any brides out there that love Flagstaff and have thought about having a winter wedding in Northern Arizona but still have doubts and questions?


Don’t rule out a Northern Arizona Wedding in the winter. Imagine photos with the snow Cap Mountains as a back drop or even a snow covered ground with the mountains behind to set the scene for your beautiful special day!


We can help you plan a simple affordable and even last minute wedding for the 2011-2012 winter seasons. You can have a Grand Canyon or Flagstaff Wedding for a fraction of the cost when choosing a date that is not during high season. Don’t forget a Sedona Destination Wedding this winter. The weather is perfect and mild during the winter months


At Peak Events we are here as your Northern Arizona Wedding Consultants to connect you with the vendors offering amazing deals for winter weddings. There are some beautiful ceremony and reception sites lodge or formal style that would love to host you this season for your special day.


Whether you live in Northern Arizona or just love it as a location for a destination wedding, contact us today to discuss some of the options available. There are some beautiful places to choose from. You can keep it small and quaint with a small guest list or have a large celebration.


Voted Best in Flagstaff the last two years in a row, Peak Events specializes in working with each individual to create your best day ever!

Photos provided by Cameron Kelly Studios

Throwing a Dinner Party

Oh my!  Where or where did my summer go?  Well…….. there were the weddings, the events, the dinners, the fundraisers oh and …….  It’s AUGUST????  Not only is it August, but it’s halfway through August!  I saw a client yesterday who reminded me I needed to block off her birthday in April.  Is time really flying THAT fast??  Just to be sure – I blocked off her birthday and she’s on the books.    What I’ve discovered is that some things in life are just true.  1.  If you want a clean house – throw a party, 2.  If you want time to stand still take a spinning class and 3.  If you want to be a guest at your own party – hire Peak Events! 

I held a dinner party for a friend of mine last week and was once again surprised by everyone’s response – WHERE DO YOU FIND THE TIME?  Now in all honesty, finding time to throw a dinner party is something that everyone can do.  It’s all in the planning.  I start each year with an idea of the parties I plan to throw and then try to come up with “themes” for them all.  After all, what fun is party if you’ve gone to the same one year after year?   Themes may come across as intimidating, but it can be as simple as a decorating theme or a food theme.  Once you have an idea of how you want things to look or taste – the rest just falls into place.  For instance – this last party was a garden birthday party.  I looked at my linens (I’m always on the lookout for good linens), and then went on the softer side  - pinks, blues, floral.    Once I had the linens dialed in, I started to think about what foods would compliment a “garden” feel and there it was staring me right in the face with my vegetable garden.  I planned a very easy bar with white and red wine, and a few beers to satisfy the non wine drinkers iced down in a metal tub and the within an hour, I had the backyard set up, draped with linens and everything ready for people to enjoy.

Parties are what we do.  We can do a small simple backyard soirée, or a large family reunion and through it all we can make sure you’re not stressed and enjoying your own party.  I realize that summer is just about over and with that the outside parties I LOVE, but very soon the holidays will be arriving and if you have always wanted to host the perfect party, but feel as though you might not have the time – call Peak Events.  We’ll make your holidays worth celebrating.

Blessings!

Debbi

Themed Events

Themed events can be so much fun, I feel like the hardest part is choosing a theme! The possibilities are endless. So once you’ve decided on a theme or if you can’t seem to pick just one, go online for ideas, then it’s time to start planning your party! This might sound redundant but once you’ve picked your theme, you’ll need to incorporate this theme throughout your event. Invitations, decorations, food, drinks and event costumes if you choose to have your guests dress up. You want your guests to be wowed by your theme from the moment they open their invitation. We recently threw a baby shower, we had the invitations hand made to look like little pink onesies and then we incorporated the baby’s bedding into the design of the invitation as well. The next step is to wow your guests when they walk through the doors of your event venue. I saw event venue because it could be anywhere! While your guests received your invitation weeks ago, they need to be reminded and wowed the moment they walk in the door. But don’t stop there, make this them flow through the entire event. The decorations and the table setting. If you’re having a formal dinner then do a great centerpiece, linens and place holders. If it’s more casual just skip the large centerpiece and place cards. Just because you’re not sitting down for dinner doesn’t mean you should skimp on your table decorations. The music should also be carried out in your theme. Will you be having games or contest? Just remember to keep them in your party theme!



There is so much more we could go into but why when you can call the Peak Events Team?


Give us a call today for your free consultation today! 928-606-7600

Grand Openings

Grand openings are a great way to people excited about your business. Whether your business is old or new, a grand opening or a grand re-opening is a great way to spread the word about your business while also showing your potential new customers that you care.

We have helped with the opening of Flagstaff Ranch over the Fourth of July 2001. We had a BBQ picnic which included live music, hay rides, free food and drinks. Everything was decorated in Red and Blue with lots of stars and stripes. It was a very fun day and we knew our clients enjoyed it as well. Flagstaff Ranch not only wanted to welcome Flagstaff to its newest private club and golf club but to show that they cared about the community.

We also helped First State Bank with a grand opening. This event was a Hawaiian themed event. Again we had live music, great decorations, free food and drinks. It was a great turn out and again the client was very happy.

When Findlay Volkswagen came to Flagstaff, they knew they wanted to have a Grand Opening party. Over 200 people attended and enjoyed a local polka band, free food and drinks. At one point the VW staff jumped in and did the chicken dance. While Grand Openings are fun parties it’s also a great way to showcase you business.

During the Flagstaff Ranch Grand Opening, staff members were giving tours and showing properties for sale. At the First State Bank Grand Opening, their staff was busy inside signing up new customers. At the Volkswagen opening employees were busing showing all the new VW models and scheduling test drives.

Still not convinced a Grand Opening is for you? Call Peak Events to schedule your free consultation today!

Jennifer

Event Marketing

Event Marketing is always changing, and not all event marketing is for every event. Before you being any event marketing campaign you need to know your audience and the best ways to reach them. Not only is event marketing constantly changing but there are so many ways to market an event.



You’ve got print which could mean newspapers, magazines, flyers, banners or posters. I’ve even seen car magnets advertising events. TV commercials, TV interviews, giveaways on TV. Radio Commercials, radio interviews, radio giveaways. Street teams can be very helpful when promoting events. Then you have social media and online marketing. Website banner ads, online social calendars and that’s just the beginning. I’m sure you know that social media is growing every day. What you might not know is that Facebook advertising can be very targeted, even down to what interests someone has. Not only can you set up a Facebook page, but you can have an event page and ads. You can utilize twitter the day of you r event and create a new hashtag so it’s easier for people to follow you. Then you can send out specials, deals or giveaways for the event as well.


Always being engaged with your audience before and during your event is key!


If you would like to sit down and discuss any of these event marketing tools, please feel free to call Jennifer @ 928-606-7600

Weddings and Romance

Weddings and Romance…….. they go hand in hand, throw in a Marine and the woman of his dreams waiting patiently for his return from Afghanistan and you get a wedding made for the movies.



Amber and Josh were married December 18th at Flagstaff Ranch while the snow was flying and the clouds hung low on the San Francisco Peaks. The fireplace was roaring inside, while Amber and Josh had a private moment before the wedding outside in the Pavilion. Everyone sighed as Amber went outside and her Marine slowly turned around taking in her grace and beauty. There wasn’t a dry eye among us as Josh quickly wiped his eyes and embraced her as she walked into his arms. After a few moments alone as well as the snow flying, they were ready to walk down the aisle and start their lives as husband and wife.


Amber and Josh were day of clients and with family coming from out of town, it was good that they hired us to take all the stress off the big day, so they could visit and enjoy their day. Amber, a student at Northern Arizona University and her mother, a Martha Stewart clone, had almost everything dialed in for the big day and needed Peak Events to run the event as well as decorate the space. We made sure the vendors all had timelines, the Club House was set up to mom’s design and helped everyone involved get set up and ready for big day. Because of all the out of town guests, we were happy to help our couple set up hotel rooms and events for all the visiting family and friends.

Congratulations Josh and Amber!

Debbi

Vendors

Venue & Reception: Flagstaff Ranch Golf Club

Event Planner: Peak Events

 

Floral: Family Family Friend

Cake Designer: Bashas

Entertainment: AZ DJ Express

Photography: Family Friend

Fabulous Wedding Websites To Check Out

For weeks my brother has been bothering me to check out http://www.stumbleupon.com/. I don’t know if any of you readers have ever visited the website but I decided to stumble upon wedding stuff… These are some awesome sites and things that I found:


Anthropologie is creating a bridal line!


That’s right—the store that we all love is launching a bridal line this spring! Anthro will be selling jewelry, dresses, and bridal inspired household items! Vintage wedding gowns will range in price from $750 to $5000. Not only are they launching a site but they will also be opening bridal stores in some cities.

Love & Lavender
This is a website created by two women that love everything about weddings! The site is a summary of inspirations, projects, and weddings that they wish to share with you! As I searched through this site I found a blog called “Ceremony Signs” and fell in love! Check out the link for some really awesome and creative photographs at different weddings!

 
 
TOMS Shoes are Walking Down the Aisle
We have all heard about TOMS shoes and their movement to provide outside countries with shoes. They have a great idea “one for one”, this means that for every pair of shoes sold TOMS will give away one pair of shoes to someone that needs it. Since the TOMS movement they have added wedges, apparel, botas, and now a wedding styles collection too!
You can buy men and women shoes for weddings. They are nicer styles, fabric, and come in different classy varieties. Sizes and styles are available for all roles in your wedding party whether it be bridesmaids, groomsman, the flower girl or the ring bearer. Now not only can you purchase the shoes to help the TOMS movement but you can also turn it into your wedding theme.

TOMS has created a “tool kit” to help you include TOMS in your wedding. On their website they provide you with ready-to-print place seating cards, table number cards, double sided post cards, and invitation inserts!
There are so many outside the box things that can turn your wedding experience into a one unlike any other!
Belle

My First Flagstaff Wedding Expo

                I was warned.  I had heard that wedding expo's are composed of company booths with brides running around, like chickens with their heads cut off, trying to plan their weddings within 2-4 hours.  So that is what I expected when I pulled into the Radisson parking lot.  What I found when I walked in the doors though was unlike anything I presumed.  

                The Northern Arizona Wedding Expo was the complete opposite of what I imagined.  Yes there was lots of people and certainly some brides on a mission, but I found it to be enjoyable... maybe even a calm enjoyment. 

                There were cake samples you could die for, floral arrangements that you wanted to take home with you, fun photo booths like you see in the mall, and beautiful wedding decorations that would drop your jaw. 

                If you missed it this year... don't next year!  Honestly, what bride could ask for anything better than being able to walk around eating cake and drinking champagne while meeting all the contacts that would create their dream wedding!

 -Belle

P.S. Did I mention the FREE cake?!

2011 Event Trends

In just a few weeks will be the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011. As with all new years, there are resolutions abound and new trends galore! 2010 was a year of thriftiness and learning to be creative with what one has. Whether that was having a rustic themed event in a spacious back yard, having your bridesmaids wear mismatching dresses (that they happened to already own), or even choosing the same style table throughout your event, everyone was becoming resourceful. With Twenty-Eleven on the way, here are some event trends to help ring in the New Year:



~Details – Every little detail should be looked at! Make your event personalized, in the end all the little detail create a HUGE difference!


~Vintage Photography – Creating a backdrop to look like wedding albums from the 1950-70’s. It makes semi-old look new again!


~Multiple bold colors with black – Choosing a few bold colors instead of the normal one accent color is going to be a fast spreading trend. Also pairing them against black will allow the bold colors to shine that much more.


~Eco-friendly – Local foods and recycled paper invitations are just a few of the ways your event can begin to go green.


~Social Media – Just like Peak Events, everyone has a Facebook or blog. In 2011 these hotspots aren’t going anywhere. Use them to keep your guests updated on every detail of your event!


Though 2010 is coming to an end, there is still one trend that will be popular, outdoor events. In Flagstaff, it would be a shame not to use the beautiful scenery around us. Though with this snow, I would much rather be looking out upon it from a well heated room! 2011 is a brand new year with glorious things to come, so get ready, they’re almost here!

Stephanie

10th Annual Northern Arizona University Native American Golf

On September 18, 2010 Peak Events had the pleasure of producing the 10th Annual Northern Arizona University Native American Golf Tournament. This is such a fun event and this year, the weather was spectacular, allowing golfers to enjoy Flagstaff at its best. Continental Country Club was the venue for this event and with nearly 100 golfers; the event raised $5,000 for NAU Native American Scholarships.



This was the second year Peak Events produced the golf tournament for the NAU and we enjoyed meeting all the new players as well as reconnecting with golfers from last year. This year’s tournament experienced the same challenges that many golf tournaments have experienced in the last few years. We found that while sponsorship dollars were down, the player’s enthusiasm was up and they were willing to purchase more raffle tickets in an attempt to support the NAU Scholarship Fund.


One of the things that I’ve found interesting is the number of organizations that want to hold a golf tournament because they’ve heard that tournaments make a lot of money. They have and they can, however, before deciding to put on a golf tournament there are a few things you might consider.


1. Has anyone on your committee ever put on a tournament?
Many people think that golf tournaments are a quick and easy means to raise money. First, they take a lot of planning and a lot of time. Second, you must have sponsorships. In order for a golf tournament to be profitable, you must have sponsorships covering the tee prizes, the winning prizes as well as shirts and preferably food. Without sponsorships for all of these, you will at best break even.


2. Does anyone on your committee golf?
 I’m a golfer, as well as my husband. If I had to guess at the number of golf tournaments we’re asked to participate in, I’d say we could easily spend around $20,000 just in entry fees for the two of us. Look at your golfer base. If there aren’t a lot of golfers in your organization – how do you plan to get golfers to play in your tournament verses all the other tournaments they are invited to play? Golf tournaments are usually cause based and although I haven’t seen bad causes, everyone has to pick and chose where they can afford and if they have the time. As much as I’d love to support them all – in this economy, everyone is pairing down. Many golf tournaments were canceled this year or scaled back considerably because there are too few golfers to support too many tournaments.


3. Are you charging too much for the course and the type of food served?
I’ve seen some tournaments charge a stupidly high amount of money for a public course you can play any day of the week. I’ve also seen tournaments charge very low for a private course in hopes of getting more golfers. Sometimes this works, sometimes it backfires. I’d rather charge a little low and over deliver, than to charge too high and have people walk away feeling like they didn’t get their money’s worth. Golfers are picky. They will applaud and become quite loyal to a tournament they feel is loyal to them. They will turn if they feel they are being nickel and dimed or if they feel as though they are being taken advantage of in the name of fundraising.


4. Are you planning on having raffles?
Everyone loves to win, the more raffle prizes, the more raffle tickets sold. I’m torn on the silent auctions. I’ve seen them successful and then I’ve seen people put out the same old thing year after year expecting to make what they did the first year. If you’re building a loyal golfer base – give them variety. People will bid on new and exciting things, but if it’s the same old products, people will pass that up first. Silent Auctions need their own committee in my opinion. You need to be getting unique items that everyone wants to bid on.


I love golf and I enjoy tournaments (more so when I win), however, I am always cautious when groups think this will bring in big bucks year after year. A golf tournament takes a lot of time and a lot of relationship building in order to be successful. If you do decide to put on a tournament, make sure you have a lot of dedicated people working with you and remember, a tournament is only as good as the golfers are treated.


Debbi