If you remember what it was like after a long school year, when it was time to go camping to see all of your friends, then the Wedding Venue Map camping-themed networking event created the same feeling. After a long time away from coworkers and friends, Shannon Tarrant from Wedding Venue Map.com wanted to host a party for wedding pros to get everyone back together and celebrate making it through a rough year. With everything from music and games to drinking and dancing, this adult camping-themed networking event was all about fun and reconnecting.
Wedding pros are a resilient bunch of business owners and staff members who are used to making it happen no matter the stress. This camping-themed networking event was perfect to get caught up and discuss what might happen in the near future in the wedding industry in Central Florida.
Claire and Rob from That First Moment captured so many of the moments at camp. With their fun and friendly style, it’s easy to see how they will entertain and engage anyone they work with so that they feel more comfortable. All of that to help capture those special moments more authentically.
Pictures and videos capture so much of an event. Love and Lustre Weddings contributed their filmmaking expertise to capture video for the Wedding Venue Map Camping Party. They’ve assembled some fun clips from the event so we can revisit the good times over and over. Check out the video recap of the night here!
In the safe and wide-open spaces of Bridlewood Ranch in Lake County, Florida, a great time was had by all as we came out of the COVID restricted year. This venue was the perfect location having both an air-conditioned indoor barn and multiple locations for Wedding Venue Map to design camping-themed activities. The food, drinks, and entertainment were in 6 different themed areas: the Great Hall, Kiddie Corral, Spirit Lodge, Whiskey Woods, Lakeside Landing, and Snack Shack.
Anna Christine Events was the creative force behind the theme of this event, tying it all together, naming the various spaces, and making sure that our ‘Campers’ knew that there were fun spots throughout this spacious location to have fun and interact in a safe way, all while reflecting the Wedding Venue Map brand.
Mission BBQ provided an amazing menu and no one left with an empty stomach! Catering manager Mike Bass shared, “We were able to provide our Black Tie Menu appetizers for all to try. We served items from our Premium Cheese and Fruit Display to our Pulled Pork Parfaits, from our Mac and Cheese Bar to Shrimp and Grits. We displayed several of our services including, stationary or passed appetizers to our turkey carving station”. Mission BBQ works with Bridlewood Ranch, but also throughout the Central Florida area.
Our signature drinks and wine were both sponsored by ABC Liquor for this event. Including the selection of Bourbons & Whiskeys for the “Grooms Cabin” location and the Rose & Bubbly for the “Brides Cabin”. The signature drinks were a hit! Check out these recipes. ABC Liquor told us “Everyone who helped sponsor this event did an amazing job!!! WVM definitely puts the fun in camping. Mike & Fionna from Mission BBQ—actually I didn’t take the names of all the staff members, I would like them to know at every touchpoint, they made the food, the memories & the experience 100% amazing!!!!! Our DJs always rock!!! Thanks to everyone!”
As guests first arrived, the saxophone sounds of RLE3 Music called them toward the lake. Reggie is classical trained and provides a versatile style that’s all about creating the kind of ambiance that suits the event and venue.
As the sunset, Aloha Erica created some of the beautiful sounds gently meandering through the pines. “Having played in many different arenas as a performing musician for over 15 years, playing for fantastic vendors in the Central Florida wedding industry was such a treat! There’s something remarkable about playing for people who are just as committed as I am to making a couples’ wedding day exceptionally personalized. And really the best day ever! As a wedding musician, especially enchanting guests with their favorite melodies and playing the guitar, I love putting together a setlist of songs unique to their love story. My most popular packages are for ceremonies, cocktail hour, dinner, or brunch hour, and I even do elopements and engagements as well!”
Inside we also enjoyed the sounds of the Paradigm Party Band, who kept the dance floor full. This highly energized, young, interactive and entertaining band has a star-studded line-up of experienced vocalists and musicians. Paradigm Party Band delivers time and time again covering Top 40, Variety, Classic Rock, 70’s 80’s 90’s, Pop, Latin crossover hits, and Cocktail Jazz making Paradigm one of the most diverse dance bands.
Much of the feeling for the event was created by the subtle signage and maps that Christine Kirby Studios designed. Christine Kirby Studios designed the logos for each of the stops on our camping trip, from The Great Hall all the way to the Snack Shack and all the signs throughout the property that were designed for each area and as a thank you to all our sponsoring vendors. Logos were then showcased throughout the evening and to really bring our camping theme to life, especially the camp welcome banner, printed by Minuteman Press of Winter Park.
No country experience would be complete without animals. The donkey, alpaca, and llama were shared by Farm to You Revue (Wedding Animals). Farm to You Revue said “Scott and I had a great time at the WVM Camping Event! It was so nice to meet and mingle with so many people within the industry. The event was so laid back and relaxing – a really unique experience that we would certainly attend again. Thanks again for inviting the Wedding Animals to participate!”
The Flower Studio provided all the fresh flowers for the event. They shared all the special touches provided, “In the Main room – indoors – different sizes of wooden boxes with colorful parallel design with roses, plus single roses all over the garlands, provided by The Magnolia Company. On the playground – decorations on a swing set, with greens, ribbon, and accents of flowers and fillers. At the picnic tables by the lake – six tables, with red rustic pitchers full of wildflowers, plus wooden lanterns and moss runners for some of the tables, and checkered red and white runners for others. For the long farm tables by the cocktail/lounge area – mason jars, amber and clear, with sunflowers! It was my favorite part of the décor. The yellow just popped against the wooden tables and green garlands, again, all provided by The Magnolia Company.”
No camping event would be complete without a campfire and smores. At the Wedding Venue Map camping-themed event, even with the heat, a creative solution to share the ageless s’mores was provided by The Ginger Officiant! They told us how they “provided the “Get Toasted With The Ginger Officiant” s’mores kits, along with s’mores Oreos and s’mores Chips Ahoy! cookies. I found the coolest and most delicious marshmallows that already have the chocolate on the inside! They were so convenient and tasty. It was too hot outside to start a fire, so we did not get to enjoy delicious s’mores during the party, but I left the basket out front so everyone could grab a s’mores kit on their way out.”
At the water’s edge, the Kombi Keg Orlando had a crowd around the bus. They mentioned “Kombi Keg Orlando had a blast at the WVM Campground Party! We provided the Vintage VW Bus that was serving up cold beer down by the picturesque lakefront area. It’s our pleasure to provide the novelty of the ‘self-serve’ beer pour, so everyone got to be their own bartender down by the lake! We also got to utilize our HDTV that pops out of the roof to showcase the amazing sponsors for this incredible event! Cheers!”
When we needed to decide what to pour from the Kombi Keg VW, Pat’s Liquor stepped up and was the hidden provider for all of kegs of cold and tasty brew that we were pulling from the Kombi Keg Orlando.
No party is complete without dancing. This time it was in the beautiful barn where Our DJ Rocks set up.
Our DJ Rocks told us “We had a BLAST at the party! It was so great seeing all of the industry come together as a community for a good cause. We ROCKED the dance floor with DJ services.”
Sugar Pop Productions was thrilled to provide “our Roamer Selfie Experience for the Camp Party! We loved being able to capture guests at the moment throughout the event so they could make memories without missing a beat or stepping off the dance floor. At a unique venue like Bridlewood Ranch, this allowed us to capture Instagrammable images anywhere on the go, and interact with guests in a fun, natural way, which made for some super-shareable selfies with mules and llamas!
A fun craft center was provided by Tootles Event Sitters. This team of fully screened, background checked, CPR & First Aid certified, and highly experienced wedding & event babysitters gave our campers a sample of the crafting fun they guarantee any little guest at your next event. Tootles Event Sitters shared, “From age-appropriate toys to kid-approved snacks & crafts, the littlest guests will be begging to come back before the night is over! While the kids are busy being kids, you and your guests can enjoy the adults-only event you’ve dreamed of & a much-needed night off for fun.”
Paradise Treats showed us all what an Authentic Hawaiian Shave Ice tasted like. From humble beginnings, and after trying a myriad of products, recipes, and ingredients, they have come up with Paradise Treats; offering products that are unique to the mainland, superb in taste, and once people started trying them, they absolutely loved them and kept going back for a taste of a different flavor.
Summer wouldn’t be complete without unless Sweet Miss V’s shared their tasty apple pie bites, with a beautiful Americana display.
“The last thing you want to be a hassle is where your guests will be able to go to the bathroom. Luxe Flush makes it an easy decision.” Thank you to Luxe Flush who provided the comfort stations for our campers.
People love to see themselves “turned into a cartoon”! And that is exactly what the Artistic Talent Group Caricature Artists have done for 25 years and counting! Their coaster caricatures were a great form of entertainment for all ages. All of our campers had the opportunity to get this fun piece of themselves drawn.
Cake Designers added a sweet topping to the night with the appropriately themed camping desserts.
Fun Planners provided all of our camp events. From ring throws, archery, and putt-putt golf.
iRent Everything transformed Bridlewood Ranch with whiskey barrels, and hedge walls, along with providing hand sanitizing stations to keep everyone safe.
Axecelsior provided this fun and worry-free event. “Camaraderie, laughs, and making great memories are what we’re all about.” They certainly delivered!
Giving back to the community is important and for this event Wedding Venue Map partnered with the Collaborative Corner. While this summer camp-themed networking event was great for everyone to get together, it was also a great opportunity to host a fundraiser and send a number of children to real summer camp. As usual, our wedding community showed up and gave graciously.
Thanks to all who gave so kindly of their time, their skills and their products. See you soon!
Cake Designers
Minuteman Press
RLE3 Music
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