Memoirs of a Monark Event Planner

Dear VIE Magazine

2010-06-08T11:09:00.007-05:00

Thank you for inspiring us all to give creatively!

Our friends at VIE Magazine have organized a JEEP-tastic Summer Giveaway to support four of our local charities including the Seaside Repertory Theater, Caring and Sharing, the Taylor Haugen Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast! For $50 you can give to these incredible organizations AND have a chance to win a NEW JEEP WRANGLER for all of your beach cruising fun!

Click here for more information on how to give!

VIE, we salute you for creating positive change and initiating an effort to support those in need in our very own community!

Love,

Monark

Dear Vue Photography

2009-05-15T11:02:00.010-05:00

We HEART you! What more can we say?! We are beyond ecstatic that we were able to meet & work with you. Your photography is remarkable and outstanding!

P.S. Thank you for our package...it was THE BEST!

Dear Fellow Event Planners & Caterers

2009-05-15T10:56:00.002-05:00

Here's an A-R-K to chew on:

For anyone who may be involved with events, whether that be planning or playing, this A-R-K is just for you. Have you ever thought about what happens to all of the beautiful flower arrangements after an event? How about all of the excess food?

In almost every community there are Garden Clubs & Food Shelters that are willing to participate in programs that either provide flowers for those that are in need of encouragement or food for those that are hungry. In most cases, the community organization will even come to the event site to pick-up the needed materials. All you need to do is let them know the event location and when the best time to pick-up is!

We encourage you to take this challenge. Just think of the impact we could make if we all agreed to help one-another by feeding the hungry and putting a smile on the face of those who are sick.

If your community does not have programs such as this, START ONE! All it takes is being willing to pick-up and drop-off!

Monark Events is honored to work with the Seagrove Garden Club who initiated a program in our area to pick up flowers after each event and provide arrangements for patients at Sacred Heart Hospital, the Delta House & more! Thank you Seagrove Garden Club!

Remembering, One Act of Random Kindness can create positive change.

Wishing you the Best - Monark Events

Dear Sheriff

2009-03-26T10:36:00.009-05:00

How can I ever thank you for constituting our situation as an emergency? It all began when we were in a desperate search for a chalkboard to place on the corner of 30A and Watercolor Blvd. It was pertinent that we advertise for Art in the Park (8:43am). Hillary's desperation for the chalkboard outweighed my cries for the restroom.

Our first stop, The Watercolor Inn. Thank you Patrick Hurphy for letting us borrow one (854am). From there we head over to the new Hot and Cold, (formerly known as Sugar Pies, and designed by Wade Perry) okay, moving on....

Hillary jumps out of the truck and makes a mad dash past Margaret (or is it Sarah...) at PJ's coffee. She thinks if she sprints fast enough they won't remember her petty coffee theft an hour prior. I glance down at the clock....858am....do I have time to run in and use the bathroom...? I'll go quick, I thought, plus I know it will take Hillary some time to perfect her chalkboard artistry.

I jump out of the truck and because I'm safety girl I reach for the lock button, just before the door slams shut I grab it! But it's too late....the glisten of the key caught my eye through the window. My eyes glaze past our floral arrangements baking inside the interior of the truck....then past the our crisp white linens.....our citron sashes.....Dear Lord! What have I done!?!

As I make my way around the vehicle hoping, praying that one of the doors remained unlocked (like that ever happens) I begin to call in favors. First call: Nicholas Phafvols. He always answers and he has a direct connect with the Sheriff (that's you)!!! One ringy dingy, two ringy dingy, VOICEMAIL! NOOOOO! How could this happen (903am). I still have to go to the bathroom.

I inform my ever kind business partner of my mishap and she calmly states. "I left the key inside." Duh, I know that's why I'm in a state of panic. I call the love of my life, I'm sure he'll come to my rescue. NO ANSWER. I call Hillary's hubby (she loves when I say that). NO ANSWER. I call Nick back, 12 times. Still no answer. Finally, Sheriff, he answers and calls your fabulous, sassy wife who comes to our rescue (933am). I still have to go to the bathroom.

I have the deputy in my sights and I start waving him down....but he drives right past...shouting something about an alarm or a break in and that he'd send someone else.....NOOOOOOO! How could an alarm be more important than our dying FLOWERS!?! (938am). I still have to go to the bathroom.

Up ahead I spot another vehicle resembling that of police car! Officer Mason Faye steps out. Immediately I see him size up Nicholas and his hanger, then I see it.... "Man vs. Truck." (958am game time is in two minutes and I still have go to the bathroom.)

So Sheriff, at this point I'm wondering will Deputy Faye be able to retrieve our wilting flowers and our crisp linens? Suddenly, I hear the sounds or Aerial "ahhhhhh....ahhhhh....ahhhhh." The door is open! (1018am). We hop in the truck and head to the tables, drop the linens, pull of the wilted petals and voila! We're back in business!

Thank you, Sheriff for realizing that event emergencies are indeed emergencies.

Sincerely,

Monark Events

P.S. Names have been changed to protect those who didn't give us permission to use their name on our blog.

P.P.S. We did go back and pay for our coffee. Sorry Sarah!

P.P.P.S. I still have to go to the bathroom.

Dear Mother Nature

2009-03-26T09:59:00.008-05:00

Why do you feel the need to water your land whenever Monark Events has outdoor charity events? It seems as though, this may be something we seriously need to talk about. You see, we live in sunny Florida where people love to be outside, frolicking and playing under the warmth of your sun and even better, under a clear starry night! Our dear friends at the American Cancer Society were no exception when they decided to host their Cattle Barons' Ball at the Destin Commons. Outdoors. In the middle of Main Street.

We had months and months of meetings, mapping out every detail from where the gaming tables were going to go to the silent auction, from the stage to the Jail & Bail, from the bars to the 28 Table Sponsor and Barons' tables, from the Lasso the Vino to the 8 ft. bull. You see Mother Nature, it was all such a good plan, a perfect layout, precise and symmetrical. And then...you sent your glorious rains. 100% chance of glorious rains.

So, Mother Nature, what is any savvy event planner supposed to do in this scenario? Have a back-up plan of course. A 6th-level-rooftop-parking garage-back-up-PLAN! Ok, so maybe we are crazy, savvy but crazy. No need to go into all of the details for you Mother Nature, but let us tell you: (1) 100 x 40 ft. tent, (1) 40 x 20 ft. tent, (12) 10 x 10 ft. tents, (2) Generators, (1) Elevator, (100) Strands of Lights, (150) Bails of Hay, (22) Tables, (220) Chairs, (75) Volunteers, (15) Destin Commons Crew Members, (75) Silent Auction Items, (2) VERY TIRED EVENT PLANNERS, and ($99,000) Raised for Cancer Research later, we had one-heck of a hoedown!

So, I guess Mother Nature, it worked out for all of us this time...but maybe next time you could have a little mercy on us and save your showers for the day after an event!!! :)

No bulls were harmed in the production of this event.

Dear First Class Friend...

2009-02-03T13:00:00.009-06:00

"Dear First Class Friend,

How is it in the good seats?

We are trying to stay strong but our stomachs are growling and we are parched. Do you have a sweet morsel or a drop of champagne to spare?

Also, how is the leg-room up there? Recliner McClinerson is right in front of us, can you believe it? Seems as though he has brought his whole family!

What movie are you watching up there? It looks like everyone is really enjoying themselves. We are happy for you!

Don't worry too much about us, we will be fine. We are sharing one Baked Lay....our bellies are full. If it wasn't for the broken arm rest flying back in our faces, we could probably take a nice little nap!

Does it seem like we are flying very low to you and going slower than normal? Not us, we are having a great time.

See you at the end of our 4 1/2 hour trip!

Love,

The Event Planners in row 30

It is no joke, that our new "First Class Friend" (found by Gate D26 after boarding one plane, de-boarding and waiting to re-board another) received this lovely note written on a napkin and hand-delivered by our friendly stewardess. Although we may have had a somewhat rocky start to our travels to San Diego's "The Special Event," we did not let it stop us from an AMAZING trip. Accompanied by our fantastic wedding planning pal, Jennifer Warwick-Lewis of It's A Shore Thing, we set out for a week of learning, brainstorming and networking. From classes on trends for 2009, business marketing, PR initiatives to design theories from the experts, vendor displays & over-the-top showcase events, we were soaking up every minute of it, along with the sun! It was truly inspiring to be with thousands of event planners who are passionate about our industry and eager to help each other grow. A special thanks to Tami Ferrero of Forte Events for taking us under her wing and making us laugh. Here's to a an eventful 2009!