5 Things Needed For a Great Event

Even though all of our events all take place within one venue, Orlando Science Center, each one is unique from the other. We’ve compiled a list to make your event as special as ours!

1. Event flow is crucial to making guests feel like there are experiencing new things without overwhelming them. With OSC in particular, we have as many as three different spaces on one level, so guests can enjoy cocktails in one, dinner in another, and dessert in the last. Guests will enjoy exploring different spaces, so with a solid flow and structure to the evening, guests can have a great time.
2. Great food and delicious drinks never fail. It’s the one thing that every guest can participate in and enjoy. It’s also something guests will remember whether it is good or bad, so make sure you give them a good reason to remember the food and drinks!
3. Atmosphere, whether this means a throwback playlist from your DJ for a night of dancing or a live band at a wedding, music sets the tone. DJs these days can accept nearly any request and cover bands can get crowds up on their feet.
4. A thoughtful guest-list. Know your guests well enough to give them comfort. If your guests will wear heels, make sure there is plenty of seating for the end of the evening. If your guests are older, perhaps make sure an outdoor event space will not be too cold that evening. Even something as simple as offering plus-ones for guests who are more introverted could make guests more comfortable, in turn they’ll have more fun.
5. Personal touches can be as simple as a personalized menu at an intimate dinner party, customized bookmarks for attendees that enjoy reading, or something humorous like a “hangover cure kit” given out at the end of a wedding. It’s the personal things that will be remembered by your guests.

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Until next time,
Danielle
Manager of Meetings and Events

Disney Details at OSC

Here at the Orlando Science Center we host on average 80 weddings a year! We encounter many  unique themes and wedding details that express what our couples love. Recently we have been noticing that some of our couples have been including many “Disney Details” into their wedding ceremonies and receptions. I work for “The Mouse” as well and these details do not go unnoticed by this Disney girl at heart! These Disney Details paired with the whimsy of our venue create a one of a kind wedding!

Elements from the movie UP! have been showcased in several of our weddings; some as subtle as the famous Grape Soda Button! One of our brides on April 27th placed hers in her bouquet as well as created one for each of her guests to take home as their favor.

The story of UP! portrays a love between a couple and the adventure that is out there for them to explore together. Our bride and groom chose the classic Disney script for their dino sign that was placed in our T-Rex’s mouth for guests to encounter immediately when they walked into the reception area in Dino Digs, a location that screams adventure!

The same couple created a card box resembling the mail box that Carl and Ellie make together in the movie. You can even see the Disney theme post cards that guests were able to write well wishes on and place in the mailbox.

Escort cards can even showcase Disney and these couples definitely got creative. At another one of our weddings on April 21st, guests found their very own FastPass that took them to their corresponding table that was titled based off of the couple’s favorite Disney attractions,while another couple used the famous Disney script to direct their guests to their seats.

Many of the elements we have seen showcase the couple’s favorite characters, such as this adorable cake topper with the groom wearing a storm trooper helmet and the bride sporting classic Mickey Ears. Groomsmen even donned their favorite Marvel characters to create a unique version of a boutonniere.

Hidden Mickey’s were added on this bride and grooms cake, giving it a little hint of the Mouse. While the UP! inspired cake displays an iconic scene from the Pixar Movie.

Many of our couples are Central Florida locals and have grown up around Walt Disney World or have even worked there. Others enjoy the stories and what they embody and compare their own love stories to the beloved characters. Whatever the connection is with the theme parks, characters, or movies we love to see the details portrayed throughout our couples special day!

Over and Out,
Megan
Event Coordinator

Big City Caters The NotWedding

After a weekend of proms and formals we are excited to announce our newest vendor for The NotWedding! Big City Catering! Big City Catering has been to the Orlando Science Center numerous times for events. One of our favorite events Big City Catering was a part of was Bob’s 50^th birthday. Here’s a video that showcases Big City Catering’s one of a kind work.

Big City Catering from Live Happy Studio on Vimeo.

The NotWedding is approaching fast – we are one month out! For those who don’t know what The NotWedding is, it’s a big fake wedding. The wedding guest are all brides to be! The event will start off with an emotional ceremony of a couple renewing their vows. Then the guests will go into a reception where they will get to enjoy a tasty dinner provided by Big City Catering. Following dinner they will get to dance the night away! A true experience of vendors in action. Mark your calendars now for May 14, 2014. Save this date not only to see Big City Catering in action, but taste their unforgettable food. Who knows maybe they will be your caterer for your big day! If you would like to attend this event, you can find out more information and tickets at TheNotWedding.com Peace, love, and dinos,
Kayla
Event Coordinator

The NotWedding

Our staff is gearing up for an exciting event this year, the NotWedding! This annual event, taking place on May 14^th at Orlando Science Center is an interesting alternative to the usual bridal show. The entire event is designed to mimic the feel of an actual wedding. This fake, elaborate wedding allows “wedding guests”, the brides-to-be, a chance to see some of our local Orlando vendors in action complete with a mock ceremony, reception, and dance party.

The NotWedding has handpicked some of the best vendors in the Central Florida area for this over the top event. This long list of vendors also includes two of our preferred vendors here at the Orlando Science Center!

Orlando Wedding & Party Rentals is a great option for all of your rentals needs including Chiavari chair rentals, an assortment of table rentals, linen rentals, classy tent rentals, LED up-lighting rentals, photo booth rentals, and much more. In addition to their wide variety of rentals, they have an incredible staff that we always enjoy working with.

When it comes to DJ and specialty lighting services, Junction 88 is the one to call! DJ and owner, MJ Farb, and his staff are always full of energy and eager to make your event all the more special. Not to mention, they have the most amazing lighting that will transform any space beyond your imagination!

If you would like to attend this event, you can find out more information and tickets at TheNotWedding.com

If you were wondering how our staff transforms the Orlando Science Center into the wedding of your dreams, here are some of my favorite photos!

Allyson
Event Assistant

Orlando Business Journal Article

The Orlando Science Center was featured on Orlando Business Journal’s front cover in their most recent print edition! Our Director of Meetings and Events, Helen, was interviewed about our space and the different events that we host here at the Orlando Science Center.

Here is a snippet of the article online as well as a photo of our Dino Digs in the slide show. In order to read the full article you must be a subscriber to the Orlando Business Journal. The link is http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/print-edition/2014/02/21/check-out-some-of-orlandos-unique.html

Helen was asked a few questions about our facility and they are included here below!

What are some of the most memorable themes, meetings or conventions that have been held at this venue?

Several years ago, we were chosen to be the venue for the annual Orlando Business Journal Business Growth Expo. Hosting this event was a wonderful experience and helped expose Orlando Science Center to a unique audience. OBJ brought in local businesses to showcase their products throughout all of our exhibit halls and classrooms. At the end of the tradeshow, guests enjoyed a celebration in DinoDigs paired with excellent food and beverages from a local caterer. The event took place on a Wednesday while we were closed to the general public and it had a great turn out.

Our Crosby Observatory is home to Florida’s largest refractor telescope and also serves as a great VIP reception space to reward guests for being “out of this world.” Located in the dome, on the top level of Orlando Science Center, guests can enjoy dazzling views of downtown and the night sky coupled with an intimate dinner. As an added treat, we’ve had clients purchase stars through our adopt-a-star program to recognize their attendees. Each star that’s purchased comes with a personalized certificate, viewing gadgets and a story behind each star.

Are there any new technologies that you use today, that were not available when the science center first opened? Be as specific as possible.

Throughout the past few years, social media has played a major role in marketing our events. Being a nonprofit, we have a limited marketing budget, but through sites like Facebook, Pinterest and Flickr we are able to share our event spaces via photos of past events and reviews from loyal clients. These social platforms are widely used, available, user-friendly and really helps to market our spaces.

The style of our events range from casual to black tie, so why not dress our dinosaurs to code? One of our recent celebrations wanted one of our featured dinosaurs dressed to the nines and provided us with a pink and green polka-dotted, dino-sized bow-tie to be placed around the neck of a T-rex.

 

How does the science center manage to remain so successful as a meeting/convention venue?

In addition to having wonderful, conveniently located event space, Orlando Science Center has a team of dedicated and passionate event professionals. We treat each event as if it is the only one on our calendar, guaranteeing an outstanding experience from the initial site visit through the final event evaluation. We repeatedly hear from our clients that it is the meetings and events team that truly made their event that much better.

Being a new intern, I was surprised to see the different types of events that the Science Center hosts. The staff goes above and beyond to accommodate all types of events and they assist in adding a special twist. The Orlando Science Center is a unique and sophisticated event venue located in the heart of Orlando. The staff here goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest is satisfied, whether the guest is hosting an event or just visiting for the day. The Science Center is full of life and beauty and is perfect for anyone looking to have an event that dazzles.

Stay tuned,
Stephanie
Event Assistant