Happy Holiday Party Planning Ideas

The staff of Gateway Center & Eurest Dining Services would like to wish you
GOOD TIMES,
LOTS OF CHEER,
AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Planning a holiday party? Looking for inspiration? No matter if you are planning a holiday party at Gateway Center or at your home, check out these websites with lots of great ideas for decor and menu.

Hostess with the Mostess
Mad for plaid! This website is always providing fresh and creative ideas for party planning.

The Food Network
Here are some yummy ideas for your holiday menu.

Evite
Evite is a great party planning resource. Evite is not all about the invites or evites. Evite also provides many new ideas for activities, decorations, food, and drinks.

Taste of Home
If you want to impress your guests, this festive main dish will do the trick! And, it's easy to make too!

Incorporating some of these ideas into your holiday party will leave your guests saying, Wow! LET'S EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY!

Gateway Bridal Show

Gateway Bridal Show Dates:
Thursday, January 27, 2011 from 5 PM until 9 PM
Sunday, July 31, 2011 from 1 PM until 4 PM

For more information about the bridal shows, contact Jamie at 618.345.8998 or visit http://www.gatewaybridalshow.com

Wedding Planning Websites

Engaged? Feeling overwhelmed?

These wedding planning websites are designed to help make things easier for you. They have free tools that allow you to create a personalized wedding website as well as set a budget, manage your guest list, and keep you on track with a planning checklist.

The best feature about these planning websites is that they have comprehensive information about local vendors including photos and reviews.


Here is a short list of just a few of our favorites:


Perfect Wedding Guide



Wedding Wire




The Knot




Wedding Channel


Good luck and happy planning!!

Lighting Makes All the Difference

If you are planning a wedding reception or banquet event, I have one suggestion when it comes to your event's decor. LIGHTING. I have seen the amazing effects that lighting has on a room. It can take a boring, or even a pretty room, and make it dreamy and fabulous. Here is what you should consider adding...

Uplights: What is an uplight? It is a light fixture that concentrates light in an upward position and used to create soft illumination. The photos to the right showcase the remarkable effect that uplights can have on a room. The room is washed with color and it makes the room look AWESOME! Uplights are great because you can choose from all sorts of colors. Therefore, you can match the room to your wedding colors, theme or your favorite color.

Candlelight: To quote a friend, EVERYONE looks better by candlelight. It's true! And, candles are less expensive than flowers. So, add candles to your guest tables, cake table, and head table.

Christmas Lights: You can add white Christmas lights behind a backdrop or under a tables skirt to add sparkle to your event. Stock up after Christmas and save money!

Gobo: This is basically an uplight that has a metal sheet over the light with a cut out in it. The cut out can be of your names, your monogram, or just the initial of your new last name. The light can shine onto your dance floor, the front of the room, near the cake or above the head table.

Light Up Tables and Bars: Exclusive Events provides tables and bars that actually light up from within. What an awesome way to add pizzazz to your event!

If you live in St. Louis or the Metro East IL area, these three companies can help you create the perfect atmosphere with lighting for your event.
Weck Events
A-1 Party & Wedding Rental
Exclusive Events

Cake Dive was a Fun Success

Over 150 brides-to-be were brave enough to enter into the Cake Dive at the Gateway Bridal Show sponsored by Gateway Center on Sunday, July 18. Out of all the entries, five names were drawn: Lacey Liebmann, Stephanie Cash, Bonnie Landwehr, Kristi Kush, and Amber Stamper.

Pat Jacoby, owner of Patty Cakes in Highland, IL, built and designed a beautiful cake live at the show. And, Jack Wier, owner of Night Magic Entertainment, was the MC for the event. After a whistle was blown, the brides dove in face first until the second whistle blew and they could use their hands. There were five cards with five prizes written on them inside of the cake. So, all of the brides walked away a winner!

The following companies donated the prizes: Patty Cakes, Night Magic Entertainment, Weck Events & Weddings, Vacation Lover Travel and Gateway Center. Full Moon Enterprise T-shirt Printing made t-shirts for the brides to take home as a keepsake from the messy experience.

All in all the Cake Dive was a success and it was hopefully a fun experience for all involved! We are thinking we should do it again at the next Gateway Bridal Show on Thursday, January 27, 2011. What do you think, should we?

Calling all competitive brides on a budget?

The next Gateway Bridal Show at Gateway Center is on Sunday, July 18 from 1 PM until 5 PM. Brides will be able to enter at the show for their chance to compete for valuable prizes in the Cake Dive sponsored by Patty Cakes, Night Magic Entertainment, Weck Events and Wedding, Vacation Lover Travel and Gateway Center.

We will draw names to select the brides-to-be that will dive in to compete. The brides's names will be drawn at the Main Stage between 4 PM and 4:30 PM. The Cake Dive will take place at the Main Stage at 4:30 PM.

$50 Off Booth Space at Gateway Bridal Show

Do not miss this chance to showcase your wedding business to hundreds of local brides!

The Gateway Bridal Show will be held on Sunday, 7/18 from 1 PM until 5 PM at Gateway Center. Because of Gateway Center's central location in Collinsville, IL, we are able to draw brides and grooms from all over the Metro East IL region as well as from St. Louis.

VENDORS MUST SIGN UP BEFORE MAY 31, 2010 TO RECEIVE $50 DISCOUNT OFF OF BOOTH PRICE!

For more information or to download a Vendor Application, please visit www.gatewaybridalshow.com

Answer to the Poll Question

Poll Question: Which one of these famous guests has never been to Gateway Center?
Choices:
Barack Obama
Prince
George Bush
Carrot Top
Nelly
Galager

Answer: Carrot Top

I wonder if Carrot Top is still touring? Maybe we should try to bring him to Gateway Center!

“FACE TIME. It Matters.”

“FACE TIME. It Matters.” is a grassroots campaign in the events industry to promote the benefits of meeting face-to-face. The campaign was developed in response to one of the most challenging years ever faced by the meeting, convention and exhibition industries.

Why do we need face-to-face meetings?
1) Face-to-face meetings build trust and relationships.
2) Education and training are more effective in a live setting.
3) Live meetings actually save time and money.
4) Live meetings result in a more effective exchange of ideas.
5) Face-to-face meetings provide the human connection that powers business.
6) Face-to-face meetings create jobs and powers the economy.

To learn more about this campaign, click here.