Fireworks for Your Event or Wedding

We offer newly married couples a variety of fireworks and special effects options to help celebrate their very special day.

Choose from a full range of indoor pyrotechnic effects for the couple walk-in, cake cutting ceremony and photo taking. Sparkler fountains upon entry, fountains on the cake table and on the dance floor are also available.

We also have dry ice fog machines, confetti and streamer machines. We also have rose petal and glitter balloon machines!

Some couples prefer an outdoor show. This may simply involve some fountains for the driveway or a signage for the couple made out of fireworks.

Imagine transferring the power of an outdoor fireworks production indoors. These devices are non-­toxic,
and are nearly odourless and omit very little smoke.

For outdoor weddings, opt for a rainbow of fireworks or kickstart the party with an explosion of colours.
These displays include a variety of shells and high-­intensity multi-­shot devices that are guaranteed to leave your guests in awe.

byBest Events

in Event Decor, Event Entertainment, Wedding Decor

8:01 PM

Fireworks for Your Event or Wedding

We offer newly married couples a variety of fireworks and special effects options to help celebrate their very special day. Choose from a...

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Summer Wedding Ideas-All Year Round!

No need to tart up fruit; berries and currants are already irresistible when displayed, farm stand-style. Attach escort cards like these and stand them in the baskets. The finished product does double duty as an amuse-bouche that leads guests to tables.



Outdoor weddings are especially beautiful, but they can also be uncomfortably steamy. To keep your guests from overheating, pass out handmade fans -- trust us, they'll be grateful. Feature here is a floral motif on one side and a quote from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" on the other: "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep." Printing can be done at your local printers too.



Brightly-colored roses create the perfect tropical bouquet.



Yellow is a cheerful choice for summer. Let your ‘maids each choose their own dress in this happy color.

Photo Credit: Daniel Kim Photography



Ceremony Décor

Dress up your ceremony arch with kites and windmills.

Photo Credit: Ashley Rose Photography



Cotton candy will have your guests feeling nostalgic for summer carnivals.

Photo Credit: Heather Fitch Photography



Keep your guests hydrated in style with fruit-infused water.

Photo Credit: David Schwartz Photography



A clear tent gives you the best of both worlds — you’re protected from the elements while still dining and dancing under the stars.

Photo Credit: Annie X Photographie



The black and white dance floor transforms a backyard into an elegant, glamorous location for a wedding reception.

Photo Credit: Abby Jiu Photography



Make a plain tent more interesting with colorful side panels.

Photo Credit: Gertrude & Mabel Photography



String chandeliers and twinkle lights above the dance floor.

Photo Credit: Picotte Photography


Paper parasols in a warm, sunny palette were set out for guests to shield themselves from the hot sun.



Labeled glass bottles mark reception tables and help keep guests hydrated.



Nights can have quite a chill, so set out a basket of pashmina shawls to guard the female guests' shoulders at this reception.



Large pitchers of pink lemonade match the palette and quench everyone's thirst in the hot weather.

byBest Events

in Wedding Decor, Wedding Favors, Weddings

7:27 PM

Summer Wedding Ideas-All Year Round!

No need to tart up fruit; berries and currants are already irresistible when displayed, farm stand-style. Attach escort cards like these ...

Read More

Fashion Show Runways

Fortrex constructed the runway over the Raleigh's pool.
BizBash
FROM
Diesel University: Let's Rush! July 21, 2008



Set designer Shona Heath helped create the look of the show, which included a 50-foot runway covered in a hand-painted canvas inspired by the Cotillion Room's wall paneling. To recreate an authentic Parisian haute couture experience, the producers also hung 20 chandeliers at varying heights from the ceiling.
Photo: Joe Schildhorn/BFA
FROM
Lanvin Stages Couture-Style Runway Show to Debut H&M Collection November 23, 2010


Climbers from Boston Rock Gym walked straight down the building's 24-story facade. Models also came from Maggie Inc.
Photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters
FROM
Revere Hotel Boston Common Opens With Vertical Fashion Show Down Building's Facade April 23, 2012



At the Pratt Institute Fashion Show and Cocktail Benefit on April 25, models walked a ribbon-shaped runway. Held at Center548 in New York, the show displayed edgy looks from 17 student designers, and Blumlein Associates Inc. designed a runway that let the collection be viewed from any angle in the room.

Photo: Claudia Castro
FROM
31 Best Ideas From Spring Benefits: a Ribbon-Shaped Runway, 'Jungle Book' Decor, 50,000 Daffodils June 4, 2013



The angular white stage with neon touches spoke to the South Beach location while screens behind the stage referenced landmarks from across the country.
Photo: Photo Impact Inc.
FROM
How a Runway Show Reached Nearly Half a Million People March 20, 2013



A curved screen served as the backdrop for the three-dimensional fashion show. The production team created tiered seating sections for the 200 Valencia chairs, positioning the first half at ground level and the second lot elevated at levels 7, 14, and 21 inches high.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
FROM
Speedo Debuts Swimsuits With 3-D Mapping, Michael Phelps December 6, 2011



Mirrored walls ensured audience members could see the gowns in their entirety.
Photo: Krista MacKinnon Photography
FROM
Suzanne Rogers Partners With Marchesa at Fashion Show Gala April 21, 2011



Models wearing items from Chanel's cruise collection walked a runway surrounded by a pool of water.
Photo: George Pimentel
FROM
Chanel Replicates Miami Fashion Show With Lifeguard Towers, Runway Surrounded by Water December 2, 2008



A U-shaped runway enclosed an additional seating area for guests.
Photo: Courtesy of George Pimentel
FROM
Lingerie Française Stages Fashion Show to Promote French Designers June 23, 2008



Video screens surrounded by black decorative frames flanked the runway.
Photo: Donato Sardella/WireImage.com
FROM
Chagoury Couture Debuts With All-White Looks on Design Center Runway May 5, 2010



The Marc Jacobs show, delayed by four days due to sample delivery issues, came with a strict mandate this season: no flash photography allowed until the finale. Guests arriving at the 69th Regiment Armory were greeted by a massive indoor "sun" installed in the circular runway space, designed with Stefan Beckman and a reference to artist Ólafur Elíasson's weather project (a 2003 installation at the Tate Modern in London), that cast a monochromatic sepia light throughout the venue. As the models emerged for their second walk leading up to the finale, the light turned white, showcasing the collection's true colors and attention to detail.
Photo: Catherine Iftode
FROM
Fashion Week: 10 Inventive Set Designs From Marc Jacobs, Lacoste, Thom Browne, and More February 18, 2013



Syzygy Events International took inspiration from Jason Wu's black and white spring 2013 show and the checkered pattern of Louis Vuitton when it came to designing this year's stage and runway. Three rows of Edison lights flanked the checkered wall in an homage to the glitz of the Grammys stage. The team created a circular runway with models stopping at every quarter mark as they made their way around to pose for photographers and supporters at the dinner tables.
Photo: Travis Vaughn Photography
FROM
Jason Wu, Louis Vuitton Inspire Decor at Fashion for Paws April 16, 2013

byBest Events

in Event Decor, Events

5:44 PM

Fashion Show Runways

Fortrex constructed the runway over the Raleigh's pool. BizBash FROM Diesel University: Let's Rush! July 21, 2008 Set desi...

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How to Choose the Right Type of Facebook Contest

Are you thinking of launching a Facebook contest or giveaway?

Is your goal focused on recruiting new fans? Collecting qualified emails? Engaging your existing fan base?

How can you be sure the type of contest you choose fits your Page and your goals?

Choosing the right type of contest to run on Facebook can be a challenge.

To help you decide what will work best for your goals, here are six types of contests you can run on Facebook.

#1: Sweepstakes Campaigns
A sweepstakes is a great vehicle for collecting email addresses from existing or new fans.

Participants enter and a winner is chosen by a random draw on a specified date.

A sweepstakes campaign shows your participating friends and provides various sharing features.
Sweepstakes are the contest of choice if you want to maximize the number of participants without spending a lot of time on the effort. But it has its drawbacks. Here’s what you need to know:

The pros: Sweepstakes are easy for the Page admin to set up and easy for participants to use. An excellent choice to engage your existing fan base and recruit new fans. The entry process is generally fast, which helps you to convert a higher percentage of participants and get more fans through the process quickly.

The cons: The user experience is a non-event. And they aren’t always as fun as some other promotion formats, so your participants’ experiences may not make an impression for your brand. A sweepstakes contest is not good for leveraging viral reach through share, invite buttons and any other of Facebook’s automatic sharing options.

If you want your participants to remember you next year, this is not the contest for you!

#2: Instant-Win Contests
Instant-win contests are an excellent choice for recruiting new fans and they engage your existing fan base.

Instant-win contests are almost as simple as a sweepstakes, except the contest works like a slot machine. So users know immediately whether they’ve won or lost, and are encouraged to return for another chance.

An instant-win contest where you can see the latest winners.
Due to the fast-paced user experience, you’ll convert new fans more quickly. This promotion format is a little more fun than the sweepstakes, so it’s slightly more memorable and may leave a lasting impression for your brand.

The pros: Instant-win contests are easy for the Page admin to set up and easy for participants to use. This format is a good choice for maximizing the number of participants without your team spending a lot of time and effort on management. The user experience will likely be more memorable than the sweepstakes, as participants will not have to wait to know if they have the winning ticket!

The cons: The instant-win contest still doesn’t cut it as the ultimate brand awareness tool. Given the nature of the contest, you’ll probably not experience high virality through share, invite buttons and other Facebook automatic sharing options.

Choose one of the more “fun” contest options below if you want a contest to help you create brand awareness.

#3: Photo Contest
You’ve got a hot product, and your fans can’t wait to share what they’re doing with it! If you’re looking to engage and reward your existing fan base while driving up interactions on your Page, look no further: Facebook loves photo contests!

Facebook frictionless sharing will share each participant’s vote on their timeline and on their friends’ ticker and newsfeed. Make sure your contest has frictionless sharing built in.
As votes play a role in the selection of the winners, some people will try to game the system. Be sure to choose an app that has built-in fraud protection and moderation.

The pros: Photo contests are relatively easy for Page admins to set up. An excellent choice to engage your existing fans who must take an active role in the game by submitting their entry and/or voting for others. Fans will remember their experience more than with a contest that does not make them part of the process. Every vote a photo receives will contribute to your Page’s viral reach as the vote is shared on the voter’s timeline, ticker and newsfeed.

The cons: While fans love photo contests, the necessary effort required to enter may inhibit participation of existing and new fans. Poor fan recruitment also means poor email collection. If your goal is to collect a lot of qualified emails, stay away from the photo contest.

Managing a photo contest will require more time and attention than other promotion formats. You’ll have to monitor the game closely, which means you’ll have to spend much more time on the contest than on a simple sweepstakes or instant-win campaign.

#4: Let Your Fans Vote
Fan vote is the win-win contest for engaging your fan base. You’ll get helpful insights from your customers on your newest product or idea, and your fans get to participate in creating their next purchase.

Simply provide some examples of your next product model, color or menu item, and let your fans choose which one they like best!

While not as time-consuming as photo contests, fan vote contests come with the same great viral reach opportunity. Every vote will generate a story on Facebook.

The pros: Fan vote contests are easy for Page admins to set up and manage. This type of promotion is easy for fans to participate in, requiring just one vote to participate. An excellent choice to engage your existing fan base. Fans who participate are generally interested in the outcome and will remember their experience. Every vote will contribute to your Open Graph viral reach.

The cons: Fan votes offer poor fan recruitment as there is usually nothing to win, but this can be improved by integrating a sweepstakes among your voters.

#5: Quiz Your Audience
So far we’ve drawn a line between engaging your fans and recruiting new ones. A quiz does both.

Though quizzes generally don’t have the same draw as a photo or fan vote contest, they can offer a fun experience to the fans you already have. To drive up participation, you may need to offer a mixture of prizes to random participants and your highest scorers.

The pros: Quizzes are excellent for recruiting new fans (for popular organizations or themes) and engaging your existing fan base. The format offers a positive and memorable user experience and promotes viral reach through Facebook sharing options as participants share their score and challenge their friends.

The cons: Quizzes are time-consuming for the Page admin, as they have to write the copy for questions and answers as well as find one visual per question. Quizzes also require more work for setup. Because participants are asked to invest a few minutes of their time to answer questions, participation may suffer.

#6: Take a Personality Test
Personality tests are another popular contest for fan engagement.

Brands can create personality profiles that reflect facets of their products and services and fans who take the quiz are given a brand-related personality profile based on their answers.

Participants and their friends love to discover and share each other’s profiles, so you can rack one up for viral reach.

The pros: Personality tests work well for recruiting new fans and engaging your existing fan base. The format gives each user a positive and memorable user experience. Viral reach is extended through Facebook sharing options as participants share their personality and invite their friends to participate. With a little creativity, this type of contest can be a really fun experience for your fans.

The cons: As with a quiz, a personality test will be more time-consuming for an admin as they will have to write the copy for the questions, answers and profiles, as well as find one visual per question. This format also asks participants to invest a few minutes of their time to answer questions so participation may suffer; presenting a creative and/or fun test will be key to getting a good conversion rate.

Don’t approach this type of contest unless you have time to draft creative profiles and questions to associate with them.

Use the Contest That Best Suits Your Needs
Facebook contests are a great way to engage your existing fan base and recruit new fans. The contest you choose should depend on the experience you want to give and the goal you’re trying to achieve.

People who don’t know you well will be more likely to respond to something quick and easy. So when it comes to recruiting new fans, the simpler the contest process the better. The less effort required for people to enter, the bigger the number of participants you’ll have. Aim for a sweepstakes or an instant win.

Think about the experience your contest participants will have and what they will respond best to. When it comes to offering a “fun” experience, contests such as a quiz or personality test are much better options than a sweepstakes or instant win that offer hardly any experience at all.

What do you think? What is your experience with Facebook contests? What contest type do you love or dislike? Let us know in the comments section below!

By Emeric Ernoult
Published July 1, 2013
Emeric is the founder of AgoraPulse, a Facebook marketing platform designed for agencies and businesses. He has launched the Facebook Page Barometer, a free tool to measure Facebook Page performance.

byBest Events

in Ask Best Events

4:33 PM

How to Choose the Right Type of Facebook Contest

Are you thinking of launching a Facebook contest or giveaway? Is your goal focused on recruiting new fans? Collecting qualified emails? ...

Read More