March 2009
 
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If time flies when you’re having fun, then it explains why the days are whizzing by at Aleit Event Projects. The past summer season has been packed with planning, tweaking and perfecting some fabulous events, and we’ve had so much fun in the process.

Someone once said that "the great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do," and today that adage seems to make a lot of sense. With so much attention being paid to the struggling world economy, there are suddenly lots of people who are quick to doubt what is possible. We’re quick to prove them wrong, because with each new era comes interesting new opportunities. Using our energy, enthusiasm and signature creativity, we continue to create the events that our clients dream of and deserve.

In this newsletter we’ll show you what we’ve been up to - there are some gorgeous photos from the Spier Harvest Festival – and bring you some indispensable event planning tips. And because we’re incurable optimists, there’s plenty of news to make you smile.

Here’s be a world of opportunities,

Hans and Aleit
 
 
 

We’re thrilled to have been part of the Spier Harvest festival, a major winelands event that celebrated and blessed the estate’s bountiful grape harvest. Crowds came from across the peninsula to take part in the festival, which included coordinating three unique events, each with its own mood and style.

The festival kicked off with the Harvest Fair, a host of day activities planned for families and friends to share. Kids enjoyed tractor rides and storytelling, while festival revellers savoured fine foods and wine (some even tried out grape stomping!).

In the early evening a select number of guests feasted at the Spier Harvest table, a memorable foodie event celebrated at a long table in the shade of surrounding oaks. Diners relaxed, chatted and enjoyed generous portions of home-style organic dishes, paired with Spier’s irresistible wines.

 
 

The day ended on an unforgettable note with the Spier Harvest Legends Concert, a dazzling line up of some of South Africa’s greatest performers at the estate’s amphitheatre. Judith Sephuma, Koos Kombuis, Melanie Scholtz, Zanne Stapelberg and Nomfusi Gotyana created a spectacular entertainment experience, coupled with the talent of the accompanying Harvest Festival Symphony Orchestra.
 
 
“So very proud to have been part of this inspiring and moving project” - Aleit
 
 
 
As part of its involvement in Cape Town’s annual Mining Indaba, Absa Capital hosted an early evening cocktail function at the Round House in Camps Bay. A select group of clients and investors attended the function, where they enjoyed creative canapés, cool cocktails and one of the most beautiful views in Cape Town. Our verdict? An understated occasion that captured the new style of corporate events – intimate, Intelligent and stripped of unnecessary frills and trimmings.
 


 
 
 
We’re proud to announce that the Aleit Academy is in full swing, with classes well underway at the ICA’s winelands campus. The intensive curriculum is certainly keeping students busy as they learn about the many aspects of events planning. It’s been very exciting turning this unique qualification into a reality and we’re already enrolling students for 2010.
 

 

 

   

On an unexpected Saturday afternoon, I had my first uninterrupted encounter with Aleit’s distinct talent for coordinating weddings. My curious eye got the best of me as peeked through those great white doors and my eyes were opened into an amazing world of class, intimacy, style and captured memories. I guess it was just my luck when I saw that an Aleit Academy was “coming soon” on their website. I immediately inquired and ecstatically climbed on board, without even knowing what was in store for me. Well, what I can say is that the last three months have been a whirlwind of thrill and exhilaration, from assisting with a Pasella shoot to pitching a corporate marketing strategy, all while meeting the best possible people that I have the pleasure of working worth. This course has truly opened my eyes to what opportunities await me in the future, as my creativity is challenged each day.

Lana Fredericks – Cape Town
 
   

I joined the ICA in 2008, with the intention of getting a background in cheffing for further studies in events. But in one night my objectives changed when I worked at the launch of the Aleit Academy. After learning that the course included both cheffing and event management, I had made my decision to change to this amazing opportunity and I’ve never looked back. I have already had exceptional experience working alongside the Aleit co-ordinators at weddings and corporate events, including my favourite, a destination wedding in Mossel Bay.

Johan Taute – Free State
 
   

Creativity, passion, ideas, innovation, inventing, excitement, fun, sacrifice, experiential training, study, friendship, events, weddings, good times and three years can be summarised in three words: "The Aleit Academy." It offers you an exceptional learning curve to find your place in the events industry. It’s where you can learn from the best to be the best. You are faced with a series of great opportunities disguised as seemingly impossible situations!

Jóanie Schoeman – Garden Route
 
 
 

Well known photographers Joe and Jan Hendrik are joining forces to form the ultimate photography and design studio, Nakedbulb.

It’s a super slick concept that offers cutting edge design, web development and photography to the commercial sector. Although they are only launching officially in a few months time, Nakedbulb is currently off to France to work on accounts such as the Moulin Rouge in Paris and French Champagne PIAFF in Epernay. Watch this space!
 
 
 
 

Nowadays you can hardly read the news without seeing words like recession, slump and downturn, and it’s so easy to fall prey to the media’s onslaught of doom and gloom. But at Aleit Event Projects we like to look on the bright side – it’s much more inspiring and reminds us of what a fantastic place we live in. There are plenty of reasons to get a spring in your step – interest rates are down, the Business Confidence Index (BCI) rose by 2.1 index points in February and Johannesburg is in for a R1 billion telecommunications infrastructure plan.

We’ve also got one less reason to complain about crime. The French government recently committed R16 million to our country’s anti-crime initiatives, a much needed boost for our overworked (and underappreciated) police service.

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za

 
 
 
 

You might be putting the Lamborghini on hold and reconsidering the beach house in Bali, but one thing that’s easy to achieve is a show stopping event. With some practical thinking and a little imagination, you can still have a first class function that’ll get people talking.
The first thing to consider is your guest list. Make each invitation count and try to get all the right people there. Guests who are natural networkers and trendsetters will give your event extra mileage and raise other people’s interest in your brand.

Another smart idea: expensive isn’t always better. You don’t need to source pricey foreign fare to pull off an occasion with style. Often some of the best things are right under our noses, and South African produce is no exception. Why go for salmon when we’ve got snoek, or French champagne if you can savour the Cape’s finest sparkling wines? From ostrich Carpaccio to Rooibos espresso, you can easily jazz up your menu with impressive but cost effective local cuisine.

If you’d like to end the occasion on a special note by treating your guests to small gifts, don’t feel pressured to blow your budget. We love the idea of handcrafted thank you notes. They’re so much more personal and let your guests know that their presence was appreciated.
 

Photography by: Joe Dreyer, Jan Hendrik Group

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