October 14, 2020

Destination Event Planning: What You Need to Know

Have you always dreamed of traveling to a stunning destination to marry the love of your life? Or perhaps you are eager to celebrate a milestone birthday with cocktails by the pool on a tropical island? Or maybe your company is hosting employees for a luxury incentive trip? Regardless of the occasion, destination weddings & events are a great way to extended the celebration beyond the event itself, creating a lifelong memory for all involved. As guidelines are continuing to update regarding travel in and outside of the US, we are eager to start planning our client’s upcoming destination celebrations. For example destinations such as the Bahamas, Mexico, & Hawaii, are now accepting tourists but are requiring visitors to obtain an online health visa, present a negative COVID-19 test, and adhere to specific travel plans. As you start thinking about your next event, we’ve outlined all that you need to know for planning a top notch destination event.

Location, location, location.

We always suggest picking a location that is meaningful to you and/or your celebration. It is important to remember that this will not be a single day event, but rather a multi-day experience at a destination that you and your guests will remember for a lifetime. When choosing the location consider climate for the time of year, ease of travel for your demographic, and any local or cultural elements you want to incorporate into your event. All of these factors will help you narrow down where you chose to celebrate.

Venue: Grand Velas Los Cabos | Photo: Larissa Cleveland

Offer seamless travel plans & details for your guests.

Since your guests will most likely be traveling a great distance to celebrate with you, you want to do all you can to make their experience relaxing yet efficient. It is often ideal to have your guests arrive to the destination at the same time so you can offer a transportation plan for your group. You also want to make sure the itinerary and travel plan and details are communicated clearly with your guests. A great solution for sharing these details is via an event website. You can update your site as often as you need to keep all the details up to date and in one concise location.

Think globally, source locally.

Whether you are choosing a rental or linen vendor, specific types of flowers, or specialty gift items we always advise sourcing these details locally. Not only will this help with your budget, but it will offer your guests a bespoke experience showcasing unique items and products from your destination location. Sourcing as much as you can locally also helps keep your event more eco-friendly – another great perk!

Destinations = Details.

Deciding to host a destination wedding or event means there that while there a lot of logistics details to coordinate, there are also endless opportunities for thoughtful, unique details you can use to impress your guests giving them an incredible event experience. A great way to cover those logistics while also sharing something special with your guests is an itinerary. You will likely have at least a full day if not several days packed full with meals, experiences, and events so you want to make sure to share these details with your guests. Another favorite detail we love is welcome bags. Creating a curated bag for your guests is such a nice touch and one that will no doubt elevate the guest experience. Include your itinerary along with snacks, products from local artisans, emergency kits, and any other details you think your guests might love while enjoying the destination.

Planning a top notch destination event means planning unique activities.

Since you will be entertaining your guests for more than just the event itself, you want to be sure to offer exciting experiences throughout their stay. A new trend we are loving is wellness-focused activities and experiences. Treat your guests to a day at the spa, suggest a specialty workout class, or offer a guided hike. Your guests are sure to enjoy a rejuvenating experience centered around their wellbeing.

Photo: Larissa Cleveland

Give your guests more than meals, give them dining experiences.

It goes without saying that food is a big part of travel and events alike. To really elevate your destination event, provide unique dining experiences. A great way to do this is by offering a meal with a tasting menu featuring local ingredients. This allows guests to try more than just a dish or to and lets them truly experience the cultural cuisine. Another way to create a unique dining experience is by changing meal locations throughout the course of your event. Instead of hosting dinners at the same restaurant each night, try different areas on the property or nearby so your guests can take in as much of the area as possible. From patios, to cliff side, to on the beach your options are endless.

Are you ready to starting planning a top notch destination event? Share where you want to host your next destination event below in the comments! If you need help managing the many details and logistics that come with destination event planning, contact us today. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog showcasing top destination resorts across the globe!

October 7, 2020

Top 5 Reasons to Host an Event at Foley Sonoma

Foley Sonoma is a stunning winery tucked away in the Mayacamas Moutntains in the Alexander Valley. Eighty miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, this stunning property is a destination in itself. From the surrounding countryside to the exceptional wines, there are so many reasons to host an event at Foley Sonoma.

1. The vineyards are the perfect backdrop to entertain guests.

The vineyards onsite are truly stunning anytime of day. The landscape looks just as beautiful whether you are hosting a midday tasting or preparing for your first dance as the sun sets to the west. There is no bad lighting when it comes to Foley Sonoma.

2. The wine selection is phenomenal.

In addition to providing ample beauty, the vineyards produce between four and six thousand cases annually. Whether guests prefer Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Malbec, Merlot, or Zinfandel, they produce them all onsite; as well as several other varietals and blends. This also provides a unique element to the theme for an event.

3. Award winning building onsite.

Step inside for more amazing surroundings. The building at Foley Sonoma has won the Architectural Design Award for Northern California by AIA. Views of the surrounding Alexander Valley and vineyards, continue to offer feelings of peace and serenity.

4. Stunning trees add to the picturesque scenery.

Surrounding mountains and vineyards take your breath away and equally impressive are the grand trees. Providing the property with shade on a hot day is only one benefit. Additionally, they add a dynamic element to photos, and remind guests of the unique California destination.

5. Memorable location and experience.

Foley Sonoma is a unique venue in a memorable location. Event hosting goes beyond the event itself, and this location will impress. Natural surroundings, award-winning architecture, and a wide varietal of wines intertwine beautifully to create this incredible destination.

To learn more about this incredible venue, as well as additional reasons to host an event at Foley Sonoma, visit their website; or let us know if you’d like Amazáe Events to reach out on your behalf. We are always here for you, too.

October 1, 2020

Industry Insight: Sustainable Event Planning

Sustainability is growing popularity in the event world as well as other industries. As fires engulf California, icebergs melt rapidly in the Arctic, and sea levels rise, the importance of environmental change is evident. Events have a huge impact (both good and not so good), on the individuals celebrating and beyond as events often leave an impact on the planet lasting much longer. With this in mind, here are 4 ways you can reduce the harmful impact of your next event – whether its for 10 guests in your backyard or for 300 guests out of state.

1. Choose a venue that supports eco-friendly practices.

For instance, Cakebread Cellars is a sustainable vineyard, and the second winery ever to receive the Napa Green certification. From organic farming to extensive water and energy conservation, the eco-friendly systems in place have allowed them to gain recognition in many areas.

Botanical gardens across the nation also offer wonderful options as sustainable venues. Like many of it’s counterparts, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona offers natural foliage that is maintained year-round so there is no need for excessive floral design or decor in general.

Some venues even offer waste management solutions that reduce the harmful impact of your event such as Casa Real at Ruby Hill Winery, and the Palm Event Center, who both offer composting.

When picking a venue, consider whether or not guests are traveling. Minimizing the travel time will reduce the carbon footprint of the event overall. If a large number of guests are traveling for the event, consider providing shared transportation, as well as accommodations near the event venue.

2. Locally source your food, flowers, and rental items.

When considering the sustainability of an event, local vendors should be at the top of the list.

Caterers like Fraiche Catering rely on sustainable efforts to differentiate themselves from the competition. They offer locally sourced meals, hormone-free meats, fresh caught seafood, and they even donate to food banks regularly, supporting the local community.

Caterers who prioritize the planet will also offer eco-friendly tableware further reducing the harmful impact of your event.

Locally sourced flowers and food not only require less energy to transport, but they will better match the venue location. It is also likely they remain more fresh through the duration of the event.

3. Consider what decor items could be re-purposed during or after your event.

Sometimes when we hear ‘vintage’ associated to events, we automatically think of an antique look – but there are endless options when it comes to re-purposed items for your events. Consider the idea of repurposing attire into your wedding by wearing your mother’s wedding dress or using the fabric from your grandmother’s wedding dress to make your dream gown. Perhaps you’d like to use your grandparents bench at the sweetheart table. There are so many ways to get creative with old items that don’t involve digging through bins at your local thrift store. We helped this client use the fence posts from a recent remodel as the seating chart.

Another example of repurposing during your event is multiple brides who shared the same veil for their different weddings. This simple act further deepened their bond, provided additional symbolism to the ceremony, and reduced the harmful impact of several events by repurposing a single item.

Another way re-purposing can be used in event design is by using decor items that the clients can use after the event. Instead of a traditional card box that would typically get disposed of post-event, try a something that you would use in your home after the wedding. A beautiful patio lantern, jewelry box, or a decorative storage box are all great options.

4. Dispose of all waste responsibly.

We know it’s not exactly glamorous to discuss waste when it comes to event planning, but the truth is, events produce large amounts of waste regularly. Some ways to easily reduce the harmful impact of your event by reducing waste is to:
– use reusable plates, utensils, napkins, and glassware
– opt for plated catering that guests order ahead of time
– provide recycling and composting options instead of trash only
– consider a food and/or floral donation service for after the event

There are many waste solution programs that will manage the waste for your entire event, such as Eco-Cycle.

Let’s do our part to reduce the harmful impact of your next event.

We are always here to help!

Author: kelsiva