Holiday Wedding

A parking garage might be the last place you would imagine a lifelong memory like a wedding reception taking place – but with some imaginative creativity, the VIBE Agency transformed the 7^th floor of the 1111 Parking Garage into an unforgettable venue for our newlyweds.

 

Guests arriving by elevator to the seventh floor of the parking structure were welcomed to the reception by hostesses with tray-passed champagne and cocktails.

The stunning transformation was created with a modern, chic yet industrial feel. The décor design was simplistic and elegant with all white – modern, long white couches accentuated with mirror box coffee tables throughout the main area where guests could find a place to sit and interact.

The food was delectable, tingling every taste bud from start to finish.   Food was served via eight beautifully adorned stations including: a truffle station, a sushi station, a Mediterranean station, a roasted pig carving station, a ceviche station and the Prince William Dessert station.  Guests could sit anywhere and savored their meals from long white royal baroque styled tables with clear barstools.

Guests also enjoyed two Ice Luge Shot stations, a molecular dessert station with the latest in delicious dessert offerings and a beautiful three-tier wedding cake!

The bride and groom arrived in style to their reception driving up to the seventh floor of the garage on a white classic Vespa.  Arriving to the center of the dance floor they stepped out off the scooter and danced their first dance as husband and wife to The Smiths, “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.” All eyes were on the couple as they shared the precious moment, swaying back and forth on the shining white dance floor before welcoming all the guests onto the dance floor.  A DJ spun the latest hits as guests danced the night away with glow sticks, masks, hats and boas.

As the hour grew later, guests could go to a changing station and check their shoes in for a comfy pair of personalized flip-flops (for tired feet) and collect a lovely pashmina to ward off the cool Miami breezes.  A fun and fancy photo booth provided entertainment where guests could put on silly accessories and take a picture.  If you weren’t in the mood to take pictures, you could track down the magician who was entertaining guest with his amazing magic tricks all night long.

At midnight, a snack service was provided to keep guests satiated and having fun.  The wedding celebration was distinctive and exactly how the bride and groom envisioned spending the first night of the rest of their lives.  All wedding photos by Chris Joriann.

We’d love to help you make your wedding dreams alive.  Please contact us for further information about creating your perfect wedding at Valerie@thevibeagency.com.

COOLHAUS: Mobile Food Craze Hits Miami!

At the VIBE Agency, we always love finding new and cool products and COOLHAUS has definitely cornered the market on cool, not only in concept, deliciousness and designer food – but for your next event as well!

 If you don’t know COOLHAUS, let us tell you a little about them.

Let’s start with three intriguing words that when stuck together create something that might raise your eyebrow – artisanal ice cream.  Yep, you read that right!

 It’s no secret that food trucks have taken Los Angeles by storm and are popping up in cities nationwide.  In act, I’d say there’s a cult following that is ready to take the whole country by storm.    If you’re not hip to the secret…you can now get cuisines from all over the world served up from trucks that we used to call the Roach Coaches.  Mixing a great idea with a foodie’s dream, mobile dining is reaching new heights on the “coolest thing ever” billboard.

These designer spin-offs are nothing like their predecessors and offer up delicious gastronomy in a variety of styles while inspiring flash mob style gatherings wherever they show up. COOLHAUS has taken the concept of mobile dining to another level with their take on savory and sweet ice cream sandwiches and architecture…and…they are RIGHT HERE IN MIAMI!

COOLHAUS, an architecture- inspired ice cream truck owned by partners Natasha Case and Freya Estreller, can usually be found parked at farmers markets, crafts fairs and the like. Their only product is an American favorite, an ice cream sandwich – AKA a generous scoop of gourmet ice cream wedged between a pair of chewy cookies, and served in edible rice paper.

Flavors are named after well-known architects.  Try out delicacies like Brown Butter and Candied Bacon ice cream on Chocolate Chip cookies. Or maybe our seasonal Olive Oil Rosemary ice cream on Brioche cookies will do the trick. Going classic never hurt either – Mies Vanilla Rohe (Vanilla ice cream + Chocolate Chip cookie) or Frank Berry (Strawberry ice cream + Snicker doodle cookie) are both very respectable choices.  Designer and ice cream lovers should seek out the pink-topped, converted postal truck to indulge in a unique take on everyone’s favorite snack!

On top of just being plain cool, COOLHAUS is SUSTAINABLE!

But first and foremost is our dedication to quality and sustainability. Every COOLHAUS Ice Cream Sandwich is all-natural, handmade and organic whenever possible. Our dairy is sustainably produced and artificial growth hormone free. We use local and seasonal farmer’s market fresh ingredients. Plus, every ice cream sandwich is wrapped in a customizable edible wrapper that is all-natural and calorie-free. Talk about being Green! Instead of throwing away your wrapper, you get to eat it! Not to mention, the wrapper can be printed on with edible ink, which means it can sport your company logo, birthday mug-shot, or a message to friends.  Now if that deal wasn’t sweet enough on its own, we can book them for your next private event.  With packages to rival any sweet tooth or tickle the fancy of a the most distinguished palate here is a new take on food for your event that will have your guests going wild. We agree that it’s the perfect marriage of creativity and sustainability.

So, where can you find these outrageously delicious ice cream “sammies”?  Check out their website at www.eatcoolhaus.com or follow them on Twitter @COOLHAUSMIA to find out when they will be near you, or you can reach us at valerie@thevibeagency.com to get information and a sweet deal for your next event.

*This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. We write for our own purposes. However, we may be influenced by our background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience.

**The owner of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.  

New Year, New Networking:

How To Find Opportunity and Grow it Into New Business

 

It’s the New Year and with that roll over on the calendar, it’s almost habit for us to start out the year with tons of resolutions that inevitably end up in the round file, defeated and forgotten.

This year, instead of resolving to do something that is overwhelming and unattainable, why net set one goal that will help you move your business forward and then go achieve it.  Let’s talk about networking.  It a long-discussed topic, but with all the social media out there now, its more important than ever to brush up on our relationship skills and keep that human touch alive.

 So where do we find opportunities to start growing into relationships and business opportunity?  Uh, oh.  Here comes that dreaded word.  Networking.    Yes, we said it and we’ll say it again.  Net working.

 Now that you’re shivering and in a cold sweat, let’s get down to business.  Locating and converting acquaintances for your business can be a daunting task, but with the right approach it can be an effective tool to attract quality clients/ customers to your doorstep.

 Take a look at these tips to help you network and relationship build effectively.

• Find a group that interests you outside of talking about YOUR business.  It’s always easier to start with a common interest and then evolve the conversation to business.  It also kicks off a genuine conversation.
•  Be friendly and approachable.   Ask people open-ended questions.  Get them talking about themselves.  It’s so much more fun than the blunt question of, “so what do you do…”   Networking is a two-way conversation.  If you’re not listening as much as you’re talking you’re traveling down a one-way expressway and most likely won’t end up with a lead let alone business opportunity.  Networking well is a subtle art.  Also, when you’re paying attention, you become a bridge builder for other people that you can connect.  Everyone loves a team player that is a great resource.  It keeps YOU in their mind.  It will eventually pay off in benefit to you.
•  Relationships are about quality, not quantity. They take time.  We’ve all been to or been victims of speed networking.  You know, you spend two minutes talking about yourself, exchange business cards, go home load the cards in the data base and start receiving emails that don’t interest and usually end up annoying the H-E double hockey sticks out of you.    Consider a quality introduction a good start.  Don’t try to hit a home run the first time you meet someone…you’ll just come off as desperate and insincere.  Not a good combination for anything let alone relationship building.
•  Focus on value – for them, not yourself.  It will come back to you.  The more you can help others, the more they will help you.  Get in the habit of introducing people.  There’s that building bridges thing again.

 Just a couple more things and you’ll be on your way to New Year networking.

•  Before you start networking you need to understand how other people can help you and be able to communicate it verbally.  You also need to be able to concisely explain how you can help others you meet.  One of the easiest mistakes networkers make is to communicate concisely. A little preparation goes a long way.  Focus on the demographic of your clientele, what you offer your clients; how you are different from your competitors…you get the picture, right?

• When you’re referred to someone – make sure you follow up with them right away.  People won’t refer you if they hear that you didn’t follow up or follow through on a referral.

Taking action is often times the hardest.  You don’t have to be a master networker to get started.  You just have to start reaching out.  Be considerate, be genuine and helpful and you will soon be on your way to building new relationships that can create opportunity for years to come.

Good luck, let us know how it goes and send us tips that you think will help others out on the networking trail.

SPOTLIGHT on MIAMI: Dream Big!

Now you can make your next stay in Miami South Beach, even better than you’ve ever imagined!  At the VIBE Agency, it is our passion to help you create programs that will help your meetings and conferences fly at a higher altitude than ever before.  We know it’s easy for anyone to make that claim and that’s why we are always on the prowl for the latest and greatest most exciting and unusual places to stay, eat and play when you’re in our city.  Ladies and gentlemen, meet South Beach’s newest star – Dream Hotel South Beach

For your next visit to the States, perhaps you’d like to consider this latest addition located in the heart of Miami, South Beach at 11^th Street and Collins Avenue (right by Casa Casuarina – the Villa Barton G).

The 108-room boutique hotel offers a late Seventies art deco design with touches of modern whimsy, a restaurant by celebrated chef Geoffrey Zakarian, an intimate destination rooftop pool lounge with views of the Atlantic Ocean, an Ayurvedic spa and the latest technology at your fingertips all with the pristine, white sand beaches fifty yards away.

With Lincoln Road, Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue calling out for attention, your evening events and activities will come alive at the hottest clubs and restaurants that South Beach has to offer.

 Event spaces  at DREAM South Beach are inspiring and hold a capacity of 275 people.  Three additional private duplex rooftop suites are also available for events.

 While we can’t imagine that you would need another incentive to check out Dream Hotel South Beach, we should let you know that the hotel is only 10 minutes from Miami International Airport and offers a value for dollar that will put your financial team in a VERY good mood.

For more information, please give us a call; we’d love to help you make your next trip to Miami an experience one that dreams are made of.   You can reach us at Valerie@thevibeagency.com

*This blog does not accept any form of advertising, sponsorship, or paid insertions. We write for our own purposes. However, we may be influenced by our background, occupation, religion, political affiliation or experience.

**The owner(s) of this blog is not compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. If we claim or appear to be experts on a certain topic or product or service area, we will only endorse products or services that we believe, based on our expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider.