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It’s that time of year again – The season for rushing around the mall for gifts, decorating sugar cookies, and donning your favorite tacky Christmas sweater.

It’s also time for the annual office holiday party, and while there may be many sitcom episodes that revel in holiday party debacles, these events can be a great tool for promoting workplace camaraderie.

Here are some tips to up your holiday game this year:

Theme the Party, Not the People

With everyone’s busy schedules, it can be difficult to find the time to run home and change before an office party. We suggest theming the party with a classic Christmas motif, and focusing on the food, beverages, and activities you’ve worked so hard to perfect.

 

Provide a Photo Booth

Photo booths have grown in population exponentially in the last year, and there are more inexpensive options now than ever before. A great option is to hang up wrapping paper with double-sided tape and provide a few props. A few bags of stuffing make a great alternative to snow for the floor. Make sure to include an event hashtag so you can see all the great photos posted on social media! #FestiveOfficeParty2016

 

Give the Gift of Tunes

Many offices struggle to decide whether or not to participate in a gift exchange. This year, instead of another long-suffering round of White Elephant, create an office-wide Spotify account and allow employees to create their own playlists to share. This allows everyone to give the gift of music to one another without spending money they could use buying gifts for their families.

Offer Some Festive Beverages

There are few things more wintery than hot chocolate. For your office party, consider making a hot chocolate bar that allows guests to customize their own drinks with marshmallows, sauces, and toppings. Alcoholic additions can also be made, if you’re looking for some Christmas spirits. Peppermint schnapps, Irish cream, and hazelnut liqueur are excellent options.

Most of all, remember to sit back and enjoy the festive season with your coworkers. Seasonal parties are meant to be a reward for a job well done, for the guests and the host – So kick back, relax, and stay festive!

With Warm Christmas Wishes,

The Downtown Bryan Events Team

 

 

Downtown Bryan Events is consistently buzzing with activity – There are always clients to meet, details to finalize, and events to coordinate. Each event is unique in its own way, and every day holds a new interesting challenge. Things really start to ramp up in the fall as we dive into a huge variety of events, from sorority date parties to conferences to non-profit fundraisers. But for one Sunday in September, we all stop and focus on love and happily-ever-afters at the Fall Bridal Show and Benefit.

Our booth focused on our newest venue: The Ice House on Main. Using dusky champagne linens and 104 year old bricks plucked right from the site, we endeavored to give each bride a taste of the elegant feel their wedding could have if held at our beautiful venue at the north end of Main Street.

At the end of the day, we had talked to a multitude of brides, grooms, mothers, and maids of honor. Each group had a different idea of their Big Day – ideas that are easily turned into reality at any of our four venues. It was fascinating to listen to each bride describe her wedding day, and gratifying to help them take the first step towards the most memorable day of their lives. For those of you who stopped by our booth – thank you for allowing us a glimpse into your fairy tale wedding. If you had to miss the show don’t worry – we always offer free consultations and tours!

 

Wishing You a Happily Ever After,

The Downtown Bryan Events Team

In April, we hosted the most precious baby shower in SEAD Gallery. The shower was styled with blue and green water colors and touches of gold by All Things Planned. Tables were decorated with adorable centerpieces of baby books and floral arrangements and there was even a mimosa bar!

We are so happy to have been a part of the mom-to-be’s special day celebrating her new baby boy!

We’re so excited to announce that we are now booking our newest venue for January 2017!
Ice House on Main is a historic building in the heart of Downtown Bryan currently being renovated into a premier banquet hall for weddings and other special events. The building boasts beautiful exposed brick, rich refinished hardwood floors, and romantic natural light – all perfect elements for those wedding day photos. Ice House on Main will have a private bridal dressing room, a full-sized catering kitchen, and a sound system. Although renovation is still underway, a look inside of Ice House on Main thus far is all you need to fall in love!

Prospective brides: Get in touch with us today for more information and a personal tour!

The remodel of Ice House on Main is progressing nicely and we seriously cannot wait to share it with you! Ice House on Main has expansive spaces rich with texture telling of this historic property’s storied past.

Just a few of the elements Ice House on Main will have to offer…
– Beautiful exposed brick and hardwood floors
– Natural light
– Bridal dressing room
– Full-sized catering kitchen
– Seating capacity for up to 500 guests.

 

We know you’re busy and we love to help plan events! If you’re pondering whether a wedding coordinator is right for you, take a look at this list of five reasons you SHOULD hire a day-of wedding coordinator!

1) Someone to help coordinate arrivals, set up times and clean up with vendors 

It is stressful to worry about coordinating with vendors on when to arrive, where to set up, points of importance during the wedding for the caterer, and when to return for break down. A coordinator serves as the point of contact for vendors to ensure they are where they need to be and ready to go for the wedding. Having a coordinator to handle these logistics gives you more time to enjoy the celebration.

2) Someone to help coordinate your wedding ceremony and reception

Seriously, there is SO much to keep up with on your big day, the last thing you want is to have to worry about is if everything is running smoothly outside of your dressing room. A coordinator will make sure the wedding party is lined up in order for the ceremony, the DJ has the cues for when to announce key parts of the reception, and everything in between!

3) Someone is there to handle any issue or crisis that may arise 

From vendor issues to late arrivals to adjusting the timeline if things get slightly behind schedule, a wedding coordinator will ensure issues are sorted out in a timely manner and take the stress off of you so you can enjoy your special day.

4) Someone to handle and coordinate all set up and cleanup 

A coordinator will oversee the setup, placement, and breakdown of all tables and chairs according to a planned floor plan, including your guest book table, gift table and other specialty tables. They will also be there to help round up all reception decor and make sure it gets to the right person to take home. Your family and friends will love you for not putting them to work and allowing them to enjoy celebrating the day with you.

5) Someone to help make vendor suggestions or provide feedback when it comes to your overall ceremony or reception

Coordinators know who’s who in the industry and can provide suggestions for excellent vendors they have worked with previously and can make suggestions based upon your budget. They can also help answer any questions you may have when it comes to logistical questions, based on their experience with past weddings in the venue.

There you have it! If any of these reasons interest you, think about hiring a wedding coordinator! A coordinator is a valuable resource for your wedding day and will leave you feeling stress-free on one of the greatest days of your life.

(Via Megan Brooke Handmade) 

Do you ever feel trapped inside of the office and like you want to get out for a little bit? Many people feel more productive when they’re not stuck working at cubicles all of the time! Here are some other great reasons to host your corporate meetings and work events at someplace that’s NOT your headquarters!

1) Food
Need we say more? When you host your event outside of the office, you have the option to cater food for people! Nothing gets your employees fired up and ready to work like free food.

2) Change of scenery
Science shows that stretching your legs and changing up the scenery allows for more productivity. When you host an event outside of the office, it gives your employees a break from the same setting and gets the creative juices flowing

3) Team Building
Having all of your employees gather together at a place outside of the office fosters friendships and teamwork, which is invaluable to a company!

4) Better presentation
When you host your meeting offsite, you have more room to freely move around and set up your presentations. When people feel comfortable and not cooped up in a small space, they are more likely to he happy to contribute to discussions and more productive.

5) Less formality
When you host your corporate event offsite, it turns it into a more fun event rather than another day at work!
Thinking about hosting your next meeting offsite? Downtown Bryan events has the perfect package for you whether you’re interested in SEAD Gallery, The Grand Stafford Theater, or the Urban Garden!

Happy graduation, Aggies!

Last Friday, we hosted a graduation party in SEAD Gallery. The celebration was held for a couple that graduated on the same day, so there was definitely lots to celebrate!

Global Event Group brought in some delicious barbecue, and the graduates shared a giant cake in honor of their success.

Family and friends from both sides joined in the celebration, sharing fun memories from throughout their careers as college students. Maroon and white decor completed the atmosphere! With country music playing all afternoon long, Cathy and John’s graduation party was a great way to celebrate their time in college and look forward to their next adventure!

Our graduation party packages include the rental of your choice of our four venues, set up which includes tables, chairs, and linens, menu options from local caterers, and Aggie-themed party decor! Also available are options such as bar services and photo documentation!

 

 

Downtown Bryan Events recently hosted artist Theo Jansen and friends at Grand Stafford Theater.
Guests socialized over cocktails and delicious food catered by Ronin Cooking, including chicken fried steak and braised short ribs. It was a pleasure to host Theo here in Historic Downtown Bryan!