Reunion Tour '09: Renaissance Edition

When Jared and I decided on a Renaissance theme for this year's Reunion Tour, he realized right away that his part was pretty much done. Years of Shakespearean and Renaissance Festivals and my recent trip to Italy (which I didn't realize was an event research trip) had me brimming over with ideas. This was right up my alley.




Putting on 4 events back-to-back right before put me on an impossibly short timeline, but thankfully I had amazing partners that magically transformed a huge empty room into a medieval wonderland with decor, lighting, video, and design. I recruited my co-worker Julie as my partner in crime and the rest of the staff worked their hearts out to help make the event actually happen.
















To our normal run of a speaker and themed connecting experiences, etc. we added a visit from William Shakespeare. Surprisingly, it was Jared who wanted to add actors. I was worried it could either been really good or really cheesy--but Jared has a sense for this kind of thing and he was a huge hit. We also had a Renaissance Feast with Henry VIII (something I've wanted to do since high school), sword fighting and jousting, and karaoke with a live band (okay that is a thematic stretch--but they were dressed up in renaissance costumes and everyone loved it!)




Jeff always promises them that we will top the year before--which is something that rings through my mind all year. And although there were snags and things that weren't quite right, it was amazingly fun and turned out better then I dared to hope.




I also now know how to spell both renaissance and medieval--so it was all worth it right? I'm currently a happy and very relieved girl---and I made up for a sleepless month last week by spending many blissful hours unconscious in my bed!