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.
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.
It’s almost that time of year! The fall holidays are rapidly approaching, so we are serving up tricks and treats to ensure Halloween 2020 is fun for your friends and family no matter their age.
As we continue into the colder months, there is no doubt that healthy and safety will continue to be the utmost priority. Like the rest of 2020, our Halloween celebrations will look different than they have in the past. In fact, many are already discussing concerns around the long time tradition of trick-or-treating.
Whether you’d like to offer the opportunity for your kids to gather candy, host a virtual party with your roommates, or increase the company’s morale with fun festivities, we have a handful of ideas to celebrate Halloween safely this year.
Trick-or-treat carefully with these fun Halloween alternatives.
Try trunk-or-treating with a group of family members or friends within your pod. This is a great way to allow kids a more traditional trick-or-treating experience without visiting strangers and risking anyone’s health. Participants can each choose a theme or come up with a collective plan to make the absolute most of the experience.
If you will not be doing door-to-door trick or treating this year, another great alternative is to have a candy hunt in your yard, similar to an Easter egg hunt. You can put candy or treats into glow in the dark plastic eggs for some extra spooky fun! Take it to the next level and transform your yard into a cemetery, or design a haunted house to host a micro party with the candy-egg hunt.
Get intimate with a on-theme micro party.
Whether you have young kids or a group of Halloween-loving adults, there are so many fun ways to celebrate this holiday safely with a small group. Hosting a Halloween craft night is a great way to get everyone in the spirit while showing their creativity. Consider having a contest to let participants vote on their favorite, picking a theme for everyone to follow, or sharing stories to accompany your creations. From pumpkin carving, to cookie decorating, to spooky cocktail creations, the possibilities are endless when it comes to creative contests.
An outdoor movie night is another perfect way to celebrate. Light the space with jack-o-lanterns, prepare snacks, and use hay bails as seats for a fun evening under the full moon, enjoying a festive film.
Speaking of a full moon ceremony could be another great way to celebrate the season.
If you have an all adult crowd, may we suggest a pumpkin beer tasting? There are a surprising number of beers to choose from in this category. Designing tasting cards for guests is a great way to elevate the experience. Specialty glasses also make wonderful favors! And if beer is not your thing, check out this list of spooky wine options to pair with candy.
Celebrate Halloween with your friends and family virtually!
Hosting a virtual costume contest can unleash your creativity, give you a reason to get dressed, and an opportunity to connect with others all at once. With accessible platforms like Zoom, you can connect up to 100 individuals with a free account.
Another way to celebrate virtually is with a Halloween themed karaoke night. Provide a playlist of songs for guests to choose from and set up a que in the chat for everyone to sign up, then take turns serenading one another with spooky songs.
If you aren’t into Halloween traditionally, celebrate the season!
Amazàe Events is your boutique event production company. With two decades of industry experience and accolades, we succeed in offering so much more than event production services. We ensure professional, elegant and enjoyable execution of all your wedding, corporate, social and/or destination event visions.
