29
Dec

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!

With all the eating and drinking happening this time of year it can be a challenge to keep parties fresh and interests high. Serving the old eggnog and fruit cake isn’t going to cut it after December 25th so here are some new twists on old favorites as you entertain your family and friends in the New Year!

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Vegetable Martini

Be done with the old serving tray and offer guests individual veggie portions with dressing in martini glasses-classy!

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Tomato Soup Shooter

 

Tomato soup and grilled cheese are winter favorites! Spice this classic dish up with bite size pieces on top a tomato soup shooter!

 
 
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Shrimp Cocktail anyone?

 
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Add a side of fries to your cheeseburger sliders!

 
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This fun take on cookies and milk is perfect for all ages-yum!

Try any of these fresh takes on classic recipes and make your  party  the talk of 2012!

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Posted in Just For Fun

28
Dec

Top Ten Wedding Trends

We are getting ready to ring in the New Year… 2012!  As we all know some wedding trends come and go …but here are a few of our Favorites that we think have some Staying Power for 2012!

TOP TEN WEDDING TRENDS!

1. Vintage Weddings 
Couples are choosing a more elegant and sophisticated look. Wedding décor represents vintage patterns, invitations scripted calligraphy and customs monograms. Vintage cars to the old Hollywood style look gowns.  Vintage florals, table decor and linens!  We love it All!

2. Metallic Grey is the New Black
Move over black – grey is the new “it” color. Grey pairs well with any color. From stylish suits for the groom and his boys to lovely grey bridesmaid dresses. We started to see grey become more of a popular choice for stationery, linens and decor just to name a few. Combine it with a soft pink or yellow for a classic look or keep it modern and match it to black, navy or purple for a stylish fresh take.

 3. Embracing your Ethnic Backgrounds 
Guests love when the wedding couple embrace their heritage and showcasing more ethnic style in their wedding.  We find this in the form of religious and cultural practices and traditions being observed, cultural attire by all attendees, ethnic foods were being served and wedding décor features bold cultural prints.

4. Charitable Favors
We know this has staing power - donating money to a charity in lieu of  wedding favors.  Our brides and grooms choose charities that they were either involved in or that were near and dear to their hearts. Giving back never goes out of style!

5. Artful – Photography
Gone are the days of the styled and posed photo shoot! Couples are looking for more non-traditional location shoots, old school glamour shots and of course more visually interesting candid photography.

6.  Candy Stations: You always remember your favorite candy as a kid…now it’s time to incorporate it into your big day! Candy bars, candy buffets & candy stations are the sweetest thing to happen to a bride since the cupcake. Brides are requesting candy stations at their engagement parties, showers & wedding receptions because they are budget friendly, a popular treat, can blend with any decorator’s color scheme and are available in wide variety of flavor options. …really who doesn’t love candy!

 7. “Green” Invitations
Couples are certainly more eco-conscious and we help them find ways to reduce their carbon footprint.  From 100% recycled paper to even paperless wedding invitations, couples go green! Couples also rely on websites like weddingwire.com or theknot.com to manage their guest lists, seating charts, registry’s and more!

8.  Island Wedding Gowns & Bridesmaid styles!
Here in Key West we get to keep it strappless – flowing and beachy all year round!  We do think that open back dresses are the trend for this year … bring your ‘sexy back!’   For our Bridesmaids – we love to see the Bride choose her color and let the girls choose the style that suites them individually!  …and don’t forget the Brides Shoes … WILD ..FUN ..Bright …you name it – go for it!

9. Food Trucks
Food trucks! Who would have thought a food truck would be popular at a wedding. But, these are not your local hot dog stands. Food trucks have become a popular trend for events period!  Elaborate, five star meals are being prepared from these gourmet kitchens on wheels!  This is especially popular with outdoor weddings. Guest can interact with different food stations, from appetizers, to entrees to dessert. This is a real crowd pleaser!

10. Outdoor Weddings
What can we say … Key West is the Place for Outdoor  Weddings!!  Couples are looking for non-traditional locations that showcase their personal style, or have sentimental value to them. More couples were looking for extravagant backdrops to their weddings ceremonies, and uniqe spaces for their receptions like rooftop restaurants, lavish gardens and of course the tropical beaches.

 

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Posted in Key West Weddings, Wedding Advice

22
Nov

We’ve Got the Keys Takes Flight with Key West Biplanes!

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…..We’ve Got the Keys?! Yes if you were out and about town on Monday morning  it is a good chance you saw Fred Cabanas and his 1942 UPF-7 Waco Biplane flying yours truly around!

Yes, you will look this silly too!

 

I have seen Fred and his fleet of planes cruise the sky on a daily basis, I have worked with countless programs that offered rides to their guests, I am even a sucker for adventure BUT until Monday I had never experienced a Biplane ride-and what an experience it was! At a cool 500 feet we cruised the Key West beaches, flew over the surrounding islands, we spotted shipwrecks, sharks, and a stingray all in 10 minutes!

 

Aerial View of a shipwreck off Wisteria Island

 

The ride had a perfect balance of excitement and safety. Fred has over 24,000 hours of flight time and is a veteran air show participant so even though you are flying in an open air cockpit with just a seat belt, you know you are in good hands!

Sightseeing Biplane Rides to mild for you?, Well Key West Biplanes also offers Aerobatic Flights where you will reach speeds of up to 215mph and endure hammerhead turns, rolls, and stalls ! This ride will knock the socks off any thrill seeker, even Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel had to experience it for herself while visiting Key West! Click on the photo below  and get ready for the show!

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Posted in Corporate Events in Key West, Key West Travel Guide

07
Nov

Reception Essentials: Setting “The Scene”

You have been dreaming about the song for your first dance ever since he has proposed. But you have not given much thought to chair ties and centerpieces- until now. When it comes to setting the “scene” for your wedding thier are tons of decisions to make-like selecting the music and choosing flowers. To help you develop a more clear point of view of the style of wedding or event you want to host think back to your favorite gatherings and memories…. What stands out as the ’idea’ that transformed that particular party from ‘good’ to ‘GREAT!’     Making an event unique to your personality and expereinces – will make your event more memerable for your guests and you!

Some creative ideas to make it your own:

Instead of wedding cake- stack up some of your favorite Krispy Kreme Donuts

Place cards- choose simple cards and find a family friend that does calligraphy

Table Names- name them after places you both have traveled, favorite movies, or special dates….example…May 4, 2011- First Date

Favors- place a handwritten note on each napkin naming a charity in which you have donated.

Cuisine – include items on the menu that are uniqe to your culture – or simply your family favorites.   We had a groom who lived for ‘corn dogs!’ …so we  inclued ‘mini corn dogs’ to serve at cocktail hour!    … or have the caterer make ‘Grandma’s seceret recepie Pie for dessert!

 

However you decide to make it your own just remember when the music is over and the getaway car arrives, you’ll be off to Happily Ever After with your husband at last!

 

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Posted in Key West Weddings, Wedding Pages

26
Oct

What is a Destination Management Company – DMC?!

We’ve Got the Keys – was founded in January of 2004 – and my friends and family would ask me what do you do exactly?? I would say “I’m a DMC” …. I was sure that visions of famous rappers came to mind …

According to the Association of Destination Management Executives (ADME) we are :
A professional services company possessing extensive local knowledge, expertise and resources, specializing in the design and implementation of events, activities, tours, transportation and program logistics.

Yes – thats more like it! We are the smiling faces – ready to Welcome you to Key West, and ensure you and your guests have the most fantastic expereince while you are here visiting our Island Paradise!

The majority of all DMC’s are local, privately owned, single location businesses! Providing a la Carte services for conventions, corporations – incentive travel programs and meetings. We work with meeting planners from around the US and the world for that matter – as their Local Expert in Key West! Once the Travel and Hotel accomodations are established – we get to work coordination, managaging and detailing all the services that need to come together to make the meeting or incentive program come to life!

There is no limit to what we can do – Creativity is the name of the game for us! We produce one of a kind expereinces that our clients could not have found on thier own – that will help attendees connect with one another, refresh, regroup, brainstorm, network …teambuild …just plan feel appreciated and invigorated!!

Now that We’ve Got the Keys – has been around for a while – my friends consider me more like “Mary Poppins”

My Team an I have always got a magic bag of Tricks to handle any situation that comes our way …and a ‘spoon full of sugar’ to sweeten every ‘hosptality challenge’ we may be presented with! Not to mention all the FUN we have entertaining our clients …we are thrilled to be the Perfect Hosts for every Key West Group!

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Posted in Corporate Events in Key West, Key West Travel Guide

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