July 2010. Finally a Blog

Planning a wedding takes all of the technical competencies of planning a corporate event with a sensibility and compassion of a saint. We all have seen Bridezilla stories portrayed on television, so when assembling a team to pull off a wedding ceremony, reception and the most amazing party in two locations, it is important to trust that your suppliers will get it right.

There is a reason that event planners work with the same suppliers over and over again…TRUST! Why would you turn to a new supplier when the team you have worked with time and time again is successful at making your events run smoothly? 

Now, here is a list of all the amazing suppliers that made this spectacular wedding in Canmore, AB so special…you all deserve recognition to being the best at what you do and for taking your role as part of the event seriously and performing to the top of your game. This is an example of everyone doing their job to the best of their abilities and creating that WOW Factor!

Asian Inspired Chic at District 319

District 319 is a stylish, state-of-the-art private event and multimedia facility located in the city’s urban core.  
Carefully transformed from its abandoned Asian movie house state to its contemporary revitalized form, District 319 offers clients an exciting and unparalleled event experience. Easily accommodating large groups, the licensed reception/lounge and screening room are ideally suited for film industry screenings, corporate presentations, private parties, live performances, fundraising and festival events.

Total Area: 4000 sq ft + -

Screening Room

The ambiance of the District 319 screening room is unique. With its 150 red leather club chairs complete with foot rests, the room has a modern and luxurious feeling. It is fully equipped with a 37' X 17’ white screen with side masking, 37' x 17’ Silver Screen for 3D formats, Christie CP2000 Digital HD Cinema projector, Christie 35mm projector with platter film server system, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and full multimedia capability including: CD/DVD and Blu Ray DVD; HD Cable; computer and other media sources.

The room has a front stage riser with stair access on both sides and a two-tiered floor system. Theatre Seating is non-fixed providing opportunities for multiple configurations or removal of all seating.

Screening Room: 3000 sq ft. + –
 

Bar and Lounge

The distinctive Asian-themed lounge and reception area, with licensed full-service bar,  is adaptable to a range of hosting uses and catering opportunities.
The lounge area is connected to the Screening Room with an innovative curtained glass wall allowing for privacy or full view of the screening area.
The lounge area has 3 overhead digital projectors, HD Cable, Internet Access as well as a Sound System with flexible inputs for DJ, computer and Ipod sources.

Lounge: 1000 sq ft. + – ric

www.district319.com

k walls, polished concrete floors and a loft-style timber ceiling.

Gallery: 2750 sq ft. + -

Take Your Events Back in Time in Edmonton

With all the venue choices Fort Edmonton Park has to offer, you’re bound to find the perfect setting for your event.

Each facility at  offers a unique setting for your event or meeting. Imagine the warmth of a crackling fire and an evening cast amidst the rustic surroundings of the Clerks’ Quarters, or the honky tonk atmosphere of the old time Kelly’s Saloon for some “spirited fun” or perhaps the western flavour of Egge’s Barn for your next Barn Dance! Quaint, cozy and with a touch of modern amenity, it’s the perfect atmosphere for any occasion. On-site catering and beverage services available.

The park’s unique ambience is ideal for innovative business functions. The park's eight rental locations are available for meetings, retreats, conferences, workshops or seminars, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You can also hold your wedding ceremony and reception, birthday party, family gathering or social function at any one of our rental facilities seven days a week….ask us how!

• Historic Buildings & Rooms 
• Historic Churches 
• Picnic and Outdoor Activity Sites
• Period Transportation

For more information contact
Phone: (780) 423-4069
Fax: (780) 496-8797
E-mail

Branding on a Bean?

The Nature's Greeting is the New Generation of Branding 

 Looking for a new way to add green to your events? This creative magic bean provides all kinds of options for special events. From bridal gifts to corporate branding opportunities, this little bean is a BIG hit with planners everywhere. This unique gift idea is designed and guaranteed to surprise, excite, and amaze!  The Natures Bean is a rare bread of bean. In Each can, one bean is pre planted in a special soil. Each tree can grow to 25-30 cm. You can give them as gifts and have guests grow them at home, watching the message develop or pre plant them and give them fully grown to guests at their tables or as parting gifts. They are all natural and may be kept as a keepsake or planted. They are non toxic and easy to use. Its a green gift idea sure to be a big hit at your next event.

Big Sound – Little Space

Compact Metal Speaker Delivers Big Sound "Aluminum tube. Planners and creative designers are raving about this tiny little music maker that can be placed anywhere and be virtually hidden fom site. It sounds just like a full size speaker and gets surprisingly loud. All this from an aluminum tube the size of a tube of toilet paper. Perhaps the days of "bigger is better" for speakers are finally going away? It even has a built-in mp3 player and rechargeable battery, so it can play music without being connected to anything. It can be attached to anything and last for hours. Now program different sounds for different vignettes, have a wide array of music and moods in one event for next to nothing. Little investment HUGE idea.

Scotiabank Caribana Festival on Now in Toronto

Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting two-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. In its 43rd year it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Hip Hop, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. This colourful exhibition and display of genius is truly a musical panorama that is certain to bring a pleasing smile to the ancestral titans of Pan and Calypso music.

Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an expression of Toronto’s multicultural and multiracial society. An increasing number of attendees and participants come from the US and overseas. The events are planned months in advance. The costumes and mas band displays are elaborate and oh so delicately worn and designed for movement. Move they do, in a breath-taking spectrum of colours that is best reflected in the King and Queen Showcase on Parade Day. No Scotiabank Caribana Festival is complete without African Drumming along with the Arts and Crafts displays celebrating “Things Caribbean”!

In 2010, Scotiabank Caribana Festival season is destined to be six (6) weeks culminating in the pinnacle of Parade Day on the Lakeshore with a kaleidoscope of music, colourful costumes, theatrical mas band displays, steel bands beating intricate orchestrations coupled with mouth watering feasts of Caribbean cuisine and delicacies. http://www.caribanafestival.com/pagedisplay.aspx?i=233

Vancouver’s Host to MPI This Week!

WEC 2010 comes to Vancouver this week and it looks like Vancouver will be back on the map for event planners world wide. Thousands of planners, suppliers and vendors hit the coastal city for what promises to be a stellar education conference.

Never been to WEC? There is so much to do! MPI WEC  has plenty of opportunities for first-time attendees to connect with peers and get to know more about MPI. Be sure to bring your business cards and get ready to increase your connections to ideas, relationships and marketplace resources. 

There are dozens of exceptional sessions such as Green Meeting Standards Training Workshop powered by Green Meeting Industry Council, sessions on ROI, increasing your conference attendance, Virtual events, an in depth look at the planning of the Olympics and so much more.

What industry conference would be complete without social events? MPI WEC is the mother ship of conference social events. From receptions to galas, creative networking events, mixers and more. If you want to connect, get educated and make your mark in the international event scene… this is IT!

http://www.mpiweb.org/Events/WEC2010/Information

Profiles of Canadian Success: Designing Trendz

Designing Trendz by DMS Video Productions Toronto 

Designing Trendz Inc. is a full service event design and décor company with a talented creative team dedicated to orchestrating every aspect of an event, professionally and with flair.  Based in Toronto, the company has been producing stellar award winning events since its inception in 2001. Today Designing Trendz continues to take pride in dedicating themselves to the needs of their discerning loyal clients and ensuring that each client’s needs are carried beyond décor to include all aspects of an occasion to produce the most stunning events imaginable.

Lead by Creative Director Craig Gruzd, Designing Trendz is comprised of a full service staff: Event Managers, In-House Floral Designers, Decorators, Prop Designers, Drivers and General Studio Employees, housed in a 10,000 square foot: office, showroom, floral studio and warehouse.

Discovering his artistic and creative talents at a young age Craig Gruzd dreamt of an outlet for his passions. Determined to discover a way to use those talents Craig moved from South Africa to Toronto to realize his dreams. Craig came to Canada with a background in catering and quickly gained employment within the special events industry. During that time Craig noticed that a void existed between aspects of the industry, specifically a void between the décor and other elements used to create an event. Recognizing this as an opportunity Craig founded a modest event design company to bridge the gap. Previously decor elements such as centerpieces, linens, lighting and even event entertainment lacked cohesiveness, Designing Trendz Inc. was born.

Craig founded the company on the basic principal of total event design and changed the face of the industry. Since founding the company, Designing Trendz has become one of the largest event design and décor firms in the country. With Craig at the helm as Creative Director, Designing Trendz has created numerous unforgettable events taking inspiration from colour, texture, design, art and architecture.

Craig and his expert team of designers and managers now travel the world in search of the latest ideas and trends constantly raising the bar for event design and décor. Known for setting new standards, Craig is in high demand as one of the most sought after speakers at industry events.

In his busy schedule Craig is committed to giving back to the community. He is active in developing the next generation of event professionals by working with students at colleges, assisting them in realizing their dreams.

This is a profile of a Canadian Event Success Story, just one of the new and creative ways CEP Magazine showcases amazing, talented event professionals in Canada.  CEP Magazine: a Canadian company, dedicated to Canadian business.

They Absolutley Loved it! Chair Decor’s WOW Wedding Lunch

They Loved it!” says’ Tania Newman, GM of Chair Decor and the creator behind The Wedding Lunch, Canada’s first “experiential” wedding event geared towards today’s busy bride looking for an alternative to the traditional wedding show.

The event was a HUGE success and everyone who attended and participated was wowed and inspired… exactly what the planners envisioned. The event was total luxe from the very food to the tiny detailing on the back of the satin chair covers Taking place in a lavishly designed ballroom it focused on the key elements required for a spectacular wedding: linens, lighting and flowers, food, dress and entertainment; Guests dined on a scrumptious plated lunch while enjoying the striking decor and chatting with some of the city’s most knowledgeable wedding planners about their upcoming nuptials. > After lunch they were treated to a stunning a fashion show flaunting some of Vancouver’ s hottest new dress and lingerie designers, topped off with a unique, naughty performance that had everyone on their feet dancing by Amy & Moe from Clear the Floor; This was followed by a Keynote presentation by Diane Anderson, Registered Clinical Counsellor- who shared with the audience her humorous and light hearted stories and anecdotes reminding them how passion and desire can live forever long after the honeymoon is over. This was a rare and special event for Vancouver’s brides and the suppliers who participated with huge success. Plans are underway for next year with even more lavish over the top luxe and magical surprises in store for the brides

Suppliers included:

 Producer – Chair Décor ; Keynote Speaker: Diane Anderson, Dance Number – Amy & Moe, Clear the Floor

Fashion Show - Kathryn Bass, Pure Something, (dresses) and Fire & Ice Creations, Astrid Elston (jewellery)

Design Teams - Debut Event Design & Talla Florists, Christopher J Designs & Flowerz,, Barwick Designs

DJ - Hot Wax, Limo – Elite Limousine , AV – Prospec Production Service , Venue – Delta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre

Media, Shore FM , Photography – Union Photographers , Design/Collateral Materials - Fus Communications , Videographer – 9th Dimension Event & Wedding Videography , Photobooth – Houle Games & Entertainment , Swag bags - Flight Centre, Mr. Fireworks, Mary Kay

ISES Spectacular!

Produced by ISES Board Members Tania Newman; Chair Décor, Heather Baker; Amaryllis Events and Kathie Madden; Kathie Madden Events.  Guests were treated to an array of spectacular food, entertainment and décor at Vancouver's hottest new venue, District 319 which provided the incredible canvas. Decor was provided by  newly established Christopher J Designs. Christopher's sleek and sexy design concept complimented 319's Asian influenced interior and allowed guests to relax and dine in style while watching the entertainment production by Lucy Chan Ng of Key Events & Weddings and True Entertainment.  The production began with the tradition of the skilled Chinese Lion Dancers and moved to the dynamic and powerful vibrations created by the Chibi Taiko Drummers Ensemble. The Secrets of the Orient were truly revealed when Aaron Wong preformed his Asian Elvis impersonation and the amazing and talented Kyle Toy stepped onto the stage and wowed the crowd with a well choreographed Michael Jackson impersonation.

Gourmet Cuisine served an authentic Korean BBQ, traditional Chinese dim sum and complimentary mango desserts; Michi Sushi wowed our guests with amazing and unusual sushi; Azia Restaurant offered their signature dishes – prawns in coconut curry sauce and a selection of fusion sushi; and 2 Chefs and a Table prepared tuna tartar served on a cucumber round.  While enjoying the sumptuous fare, our guests were entertained by the magical fingers of Pipa player, Wendy Zhou, and Magician, Graham Kita, while treated to an apothecary delight from Danielle Tatarin of the Keefer Bar.  Her Opium Sour warmed the soul!

Guests were invited to relax and watch the show while enjoying an array of aromas at the oxygen bar and to cap the night off, The Colin Arthur band pulled us away from the Orient and onto the dance floor with the old familiar songs of the Guess Who and many other classics.  This event was 95% sponsored and was a good representation of the collaborative efforts from the event industry. The night truly was a sensory overload!

 

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