Part of the iconic Adelphi Hotel, Om Nom is nestled neatly downstairs on Flinders Lane and is sure to impress you in more ways than one.

With an already unbelievable food menu (serving  breakfast, grazing menu, desserts and high tea) that tantalises your taste buds and imagination, it’s easy to say that their new cocktail list is JUST as good (truly) and perhaps even MORE impressive.

PORTHOLE INFUSION – House made savoury bloody Mary mix, olives, thyme, rosemary, lemon, peppercorn, balsamic, served in a smoking porthole (SERVES 2 – $35) | Photo by Megan Luscombe |

With a focus on creativity, indulgence and outside the box thinking, this cocktail list will impress even the most avid cocktail connoisseur. It’s theatre meets cocktails in the most perfect way and every last detail has been executed in style.

SECRET GARDEN INFUSER – Cucumber gin, crisp cucumber, mint, elderflower, fresh pressed apple, served on a bed of edible soil with chocolate absinthe jelly worms and rose scent ($22) | Photo by Megan Luscombe |

We were fortunate to sample the following drinks and recommend you try them too:

Smoking Marshmallow Colada, Salted Caramel Cracking Espresso, Secret Garden Infuser (pictured above), Campari Rose Bloom Martini, F.I.G.J.A.M. and the Porthole Infusion (pictured above)

Open from Monday – Sunday from 7am to late, Om Nom is a MUST visit!

Follow Om Nom Kitchen Dessert Bar on Instagram at @omnom_dessertbar
Follow The Adelphi Hotel on Instagram at @adelphi_hotel 

Depending on the type of event you’re hosting, your planner can coordinate quite a number of things such as a simple meeting or workshop to large conferences. They do product launches, gala dinners, charity events, private events such as weddings and birthdays, even marriage proposals.

By working with a planner, you ensure tasks such as venue sourcing, catering, managing RSVPs, set up of audio/visual elements, transport, etc takes place seamlessly. Event planners can coordinate just a few tasks like helping you find the right venue all the way to managing the entire process from beginning to end.

So if you’re putting together any event, consider the following:

Engaging an event planner will:

1. Save you time – Once you meet with your event planner and brief them on what your event will require, they do all the heavy lifting for you. They will know your requirements and can do all the shopping, make the phone calls, visit the venues, get the quotes and meet with all the people you simply won’t have time for. The best bit? They then compile a shortlist with the best of the best, letting you make the final decision. Event planners can save you hours and even days of your time.
2. Save you money –  While hiring a planner might appear to be an extra expense, they typically pay for themselves. Once your planner knows your budget, they can help you save money in all kinds of ways. In short, planners do nothing but plan events, so they have the ability to essentially buy in larger quantity. While you might plan one or two major events a year, professional planners do them all the time. They have more negotiating power and existing relationships with venues and suppliers and know which ones are within your budget and which are willing to go the extra mile and provide great service. google earth . And because your planner is more likely to return to that supplier for future events, it’s easier for them to ask for things that can help make your event run smoother.
3. Give you their knowledge – Planners have a history of knowing who to call and who will provide great service. They don’t just know one caterer who can give you a quote, they have a network they can call on, allowing you to compare quotes. As they have worked on several events, they know the pros and cons of working with different suppliers and venues and can help you make the best choice for your budget and event overall.

Planners are trained to think of all the finer details you might overlook such as a contingency plan for bad weather, load in and out times, managing the set-up of the room on the day, managing supplier arrivals, what should be included in your contracts, and they’ll know exactly what to do to prevent hiccups on the day.

4. Allow you to relax – This is the most crucial. How many times have you heard someone say that they were so busy hosting an event (particularly at weddings) that they didn’t even get to enjoy the food or the experience? From the set-up until the last supplier truck pulls away from the venue, event days are long, tiring and often you’ll be too busy or stressed to relax, much less get a meal.

As soon as you hire an event planner, you can breathe. You can step back and focus on the big picture and let someone else handle the details. The last thing a bride wants on her wedding day is to be taking phone calls from the florist, caterer and furniture hire company to give them directions to the venue.

Having a professional event planner takes care of all the headaches that can come with organising an event (we do it every day) and leaves you to enjoy it. At the end of your event, when all is said and done, you’ll thank yourself for it.

You’re going to propose. You’re about to ask the person you love to marry you.

To spend the rest of their lives with YOU.
Forever and ever and ever.
Till death to us part.

HOW EXCITED ARE YOU?

We’re excited for you. Planning a proposal is something that involves loads of fun (if you don’t let yourself get stressed out).

Here are some quick and easy things to take into consideration when planning your proposal!

1. Decide if you want to do a grand gesture or something more intimate and reflective of you both as a couple

This might sound trivial, but it’s important.

Some people want the whole shebang which includes flash mob, YouTube recording that goes viral and doves that fly out of  a magicians hat. If you want that, it really is best you get an Event Planner (cough cough, call us!) because planning something like that takes time, loads of prep work and even more when it comes to execution.

If you’re wanting something more intimate & low-key, like a dinner for two or maybe a hot air balloon ride then that’s certainly something you can pull of yourself. So get planning!

2. Give yourself a budget

Yep, a budget. Take everything into consideration, such as what you have planned for the actual proposal plus the ring cost. STICK TO THE BUDGET.

3. Don’t be swayed by what everyone else has done previously or the videos you’ve seen all over the internet regarding proposals

Whatever you want to do for your proposal is perfect! Don’t buy into someone else’s idea of the perfect proposal because what’s good for one couple isn’t necessarily good for the other. Remember that the proposal has to reflect you BOTH! Have fun with your own quirks as a couple and let the rest take care of itself

4. Set a date, time & location 

Then STICK TO THEM!

______________________________

Want some more tips or would rather prefer someone else organise the whole thing for you?

We’ve planned many a proposal (intimate and lavish) and would absolutely LOVE to help you out.

Until next time, congratulations again and happy proposal planning!

But having media attention on your event can help not just in getting tickets sold or drawing the crowds but in growing your event for years to come. Additionally, getting media attention also adds credibility to your organisation or brand. Getting the right type of coverage essentials lets people know that your event is a big deal and worth their time. When your event is newsworthy, it also becomes important to those who may not have heard about your event otherwise.

Media attention also raises awareness and attention, promoting you event’s attendance and can help in attracting sponsors. So while everyone knows that media attention is wonderful and worthwhile, how exactly do you go about getting it?

Most media organisations are swarmed daily with requests to publicise an event or organisation so it’s important to make sure your story stands out of the crowd. Working with a public relations company can make this process easier as they already have many of the contacts, tools and relationships with media to get your event noticed.

If you do decide to have a go of it solo, here are a few tips:

1. Create a targeted media list

Don’t waste your time and energy contacting every media outlet possible. Sit down and come up with a targeted list of newspapers, magazines, radio stations, websites, blogs, etc who might be interested in your event. Do your research, you may find there are also Facebook groups or community forums where your event might be relevant.

Only target the media that you feel will actually be interested. Often this media source will have a similar target market to your own agenda or cause.

2. Contact your list

After you have created your targeted media list, contact them. If possible do a personalised email or phone call, especially if this is the first time you’re contacting them. Find out what their policy is on accepting press releases and when their deadlines are. No use sending information which won’t make their deadline in time for print. Think about the most interesting parts of your event, what makes it newsworthy or special, does it benefit a charity, will it have celebrity involvement, is there a human interest angle?

3. Create your press release.

Write up a press release for your event and send it to each of the contacts on your list. Make sure it includes all the relevant information about your event as well as any social media links, contact details for more information, useful quotes from relevant spokespeople, etc.

If you don’t have a public relations agency and don’t feel comfortable writing your own press release, some companies (like ours) can write it for you and leave it up to you to distribute it to your own list of contacts.

4. Get a charity or celebrity on board.

Everybody loves feeling good about doing something for charity and everyone loves a celebrity appearance. So if you can, link your event up with one or the other (or both for the win!) It’s a sure-fire way to get the media’s attention. Not sure where to start, or how to get a celebrity to come out to your event? Start with celebrities that have connections to your location, brand or who believes in your cause. For maximum press coverage try to actually have the celebrity make a live appearance. However, if an appearance isn’t possible try to get them to still be involved providing an endorsement for your event on social media.

Aligning your event to a charity or current social cause gives the media more ways to engage with your event. Perhaps some of your proceeds could benefit a charity? Anything tying your event to a social cause that benefits and helps people will raise interest from the media.

5. Photos sell your event.

People are visual creatures and photographs of your event are an absolute must. It’s worth the money to invest in getting a professional photographer to ensure your photos are decent enough quality to be used in both print and online publications. If your event has never been held before, having some images of the presenters, entertainers, anything that conveys the message of your event is better than nothing.

It’s also important to clarify with your photographer what their requirements are for copyright and crediting images when they are shared. It’s important to credit your photographer in the photo information when you send images to the media.

Need some help getting the media to notice your brand or your event? Contact us today!

Till next time, wishing you inspiration for amazing ideas!

– Gwen x

WRONG!

Most corporate functions, celebrations, parties and all the good time events are planned (on most occasions) up to 12 months in advance. This means that popular venues are getting snatched up quicker than you can say ‘jalapeno’ (which are delicious btw).

Don’t get me wrong, there are times when leaving planning a Christmas party to the last minute works out. Sometimes you can grab last minute deals on spaces that haven’t sold (which is a huge win) however those spaces are usually not booked out early for a reason. So, if you’re planning a party for over 30 I’d recommend you start looking and booking right about NOW.

TIPS FOR SOURCING A VENUE:

1. Make sure you source a venue that is easy to get too from your office location. Nobody likes having to travel far and wide for their work Christmas party, in fact it puts people off attending all together.
2. Make sure the venue is easy to get too by public transport/cab. domain name search generator . Christmas party = boozey celebrations and people aren’t going to want to drive. Enough said.
3. Make sure the venue can cater for your numbers. You don’t want to be squashed in but you also don’t want the venue to look empty due to too much space. Get a venue that fits your numbers comfortably.
4. Make sure your venue caters for EVERYONES dietary requirements. That means ensuring you’ve asked Edna, Bob and Terry about their food intolerances. Gluten free? No dairy? Vegetarian? You get the drill.
5. If you’re using a hotel ballroom or function space, make sure they give you a deal on accommodation rooms for people who may want to stay on afterwards. buy ie domains Let’s face it, there’s always that person at the Christmas party who gets a little too happy on the alcohol and needs to be sent home. This way you’re able to send them to their accommodation room instead.
6. Get a venue that has an all inclusive package (per person) or a minimum spend. This means F&B are taken into consideration TOGETHER, not separately (which can prove costly).
7. Don’t be tight on the budget. People remember Christmas parties, FOREVER. If it’s not good you will be hearing about it till the cows come home for all the wrong reasons and if it’s great… well you’ve just secured your job and staff member satisfaction for the next 12 months! Bravo!
8. If you can get a venue that already has a theme, do it. It’ll save you having to make the space ‘look’ good. However, if your venue is a blank canvas be sure to book a themeing supplier to come in and make it look shmick. Blank spaces NEED help for celebrations and how the space looks can really change the whole feel of the party.

MORE TIPS YOU SAY?

Hey now, hey now… don’t dream it’s over (but it is)!

If you’re the type of person who’d rather get someone else to do all of this for you or just give you a helping hand, CALL US.

We’re all about the parties and celebrations and would love to help you out (or just randomly attend as a guest, joking… but seriously, we’re keen if you are).

Till next time, wishing you inspiration for amazing ideas!

We’ve had an incredible year with some AMAZING events for our clients, but guess what?

We’re going to have to start planning something of OUR OWN because as of the 28th of November this year, we’re ENGAGED!

You read that right and yes, we are SO excited. A huge thank you to those who have gotten in touch with their well wishes, they mean the world to us and whilst we don’t have a date set for the wedding yet – when we know about it, you will too.

In the meantime, check out our engagement mugs (and rings!) below (LTR: Megan, Gwen):

Loads of love & amazing ideas from us to you,

Megan & Gwen 

It’s because of these amazing components of The Ideas Library’s service offering that we get to travel the world searching for venues with a difference and one of a kind experiences that leave our clients amazed!

During our recent trip we were lucky enough to visit:

-San Fran
-New York
-Miami
-The Bahamas
-Disney
-Seattle
-Alaska

In each of the locations we enjoyed one of a kind experiences that we can’t WAIT to share with our clients, such as:

Star Wars weekend in Disney, where you can host corporate functions, private groups and also weddings. For those who are fans of the movie franchise, these weekends are not be missed. We’ve already got a client booked in for a wedding in 2015 and it’s going to be incredible (hopefully we get to dress up as Storm Troopers)!

Swimming with the dolphins in Nassau. This can be done in groups but also as a private experience if you’re wanting something more intimate with a friend or partner. An incredible way to get up close and also get a cheeky kiss (and even a cuddle!) from one of the worlds most majestic mammals.

A broadway show in NYC. You can’t visit the ‘Big Apple’ and not do a show, it’s a quintessential experience. Here you can have a cocktail celebration prior to your show in a private (exclusive) area and perhaps enjoy a private dinner afterwards? The city is really your oyster!

Is your curiosity running wild? We hope so because we have SO much more to say. Why not get in touch with The Ideas Library today and let us help you plan out your special event in ‘one of a kind’ style!

Contact us via email at info@theideaslibrary.com.au or call us on (03) 9995 2804

1. Hire an event/wedding manager -  There are so many different aspects of a wedding to take care of and manage that having the assistance of an event/wedding manager can really alleviate unnecessary stress. By placing the responsibility onto a professional organiser it ensures that during the lead up and on the event day, you have nothing but confidence that your wedding will be perfect.This is especially crucial for those who get overwhelmed easily and really don’t want to deal with daily phone calls from suppliers (also those who don’t like to negotiate)

2. Do a site inspection and have your wedding manager attend with you before booking - Here you want to discuss the property layout, things such as ceremony, reception, where guests can park, what facilities are available, how many toilets are on site (will you need to hire more?), catering and beverage set up, electrical access points, noise restrictions (if any), available lighting, etc

3. Make sure you have a weather contingency plan - If any aspect of your wedding is outdoors, hire a marquee. This way you can take certain aspects outside and still be confident that regardless if it rains (it’s good luck, remember?) you’re still covered 

4. Over cater, over cater, over cater - What’s the first thing you remember about a wedding? The food! This is one of the most crucial components and shouldn’t be skimped on. Make sure you order substantial food that packs a punch, especially if guests will be consuming large quantities of alcohol (it’s a party after all). Remember to take into consideration dietary requirements but not to make them the basis of your menu selections. web services The food should be reflective of your taste and overall theme. Don’t serve up something you wouldn’t eat yourself and don’t feel you need to play it safe (weddings don’t mean main dishes of chicken and/or beef only!) Venues will often allow an external caterer or be willing to have you speak specifically to their chef to create a custom menu at no extra charge!

5. Get creative and theme it like you mean it – Nobody wants to walk into a room that hasn’t been dressed. Here it is imperative that you theme your wedding whilst not overdoing it (less IS more). We suggest creating a concept with your wedding planner and having it themed by a professional to ensure your vision really comes to life.

6. Choose a DJ or live music -  It’s important to go with music that will achieve the type of ‘party’ you want. Not into dancing? Why not have some background music such as an acoustic guitarist with vocals, a piano player or even a violinist? Want a huge dance party vibe? Invest in a DJ that will keep your party going well into the night with your favorite tracks (you can even ask guests to write down their favorite songs on their RSVP’s!)

7. Set a finish time and stick to it - People will party as long as you allow them, and as much as you want to stick around it’s important to be aware that some venues have a cut off time (especially private venues). We recommend that your wedding manager takes care of this aspect for you, ensuring guests are winding down at least 45minutes-1hour prior to pack down.

8. Enjoy yourself and take the time to be in the moment  - Wedding days/nights are over in the blink of an eye. In fact, one of the most common things we hear from couples is how quick the day went! We suggest you take the time to sit with your partner and take a look at what is around you, the people who are there to celebrate your love and to show you their support. It’s important that you enjoy yourselves and don’t feel rushed in anyway, it’s your day/night after all (one more thing, don’t forget to eat!)

Tying the knot and need some assistance? Get in touch with us on info@theideaslibrary.com.au or (03) 9995 2804 and let us help make your day unforgettable!

With only an hour’s drive from Melbourne, there are some great places that you need to add onto your weekend getaway lists, or even potentially have them considered for up coming weddings, birthdays or even corporate retreats.

You want tranquility? We’ve got you covered
You want to feel like you’re a world away from home? We know just where to send you
Feel like an evening meal of great local produce followed by cheese and wine? Let us get you there!

Get in touch with us at info@theideaslibrary.com.au or (03) 9995 2804 to learn more