Even if you don’t plan weddings, you won’t want to miss the Wedding Gallery at the Bellagio Monday afternoon. The Wedding Industry Professionals Association (WIPA) and ISES Las Vegas are teaming up to present some of the best eye candy around for any kind of event planner.

For only $50, you can browse the gallery of wedding settings created by some of most innovative professionals in the industry. Ceremony and reception concepts will be center-stage and larger than life. Even though the wedding luncheon is sold out, you can still experience some of the brilliant designs that will inspire you to greater heights in your own events.

This year, the Idea Factory is bringing you the all-new AFR Design Challenge on the tradeshow floor, and it promises to be a high-octane affair as design divas Sasha Souza and Cheryl Fish face off to create inspiring designs in just one hour.

Sasha Souza is a nationally recognized wedding designer, innovator, trendsetter and author of the highly successful Signature Sasha: Magnificent Weddings by Design. She’s well-known to the Event Solutions crowd, having won numerous awards and making celebrity appearances at recent Idea Factories.

Cheryl Fish, another well-known industry leader, is vice president at SITK Design Services. Her passion for artful and luxury lifestyle entertaining has won her many industry awards. “I imagine the Design Diva Design Challenge will be the hottest game in town,” she says.

The Challenge will take place on Tuesday, February 28 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Each diva will begin with pieces from AFR Event Furnishings along with some other surprise elements, and they will have 45 minutes to create a lounge and tabletop setting.

You’ll be able to cast your vote for your favorite, and the winner will be announced at David Tutera’s Closing Session.

You won’t want to miss the high-flying fun when these two get going. Mark it on your schedule today!

Let the champagne flow at the SEARCH Foundation event on Sunday night in Las Vegas following the Welcome Reception! One lucky person will win a raffle for a one-carat diamond solitaire that evening. You earn a raffle ticket each time you buy a glass of champagne, so come prepared to enjoy some bubbly for a good cause.

The SEARCH Foundation benefits special events professionals who are experiencing tough times, and it has helped many planners and suppliers get back on their feet after an economic or medical crises.

The event is free, and you don’t even need to navigate your way to it—it takes place in the Garden of the Gods, immediately following the reception.

Wedding themes are certainly not going out of style, according to the 2012 trend reports we’re seeing lately. In fact, they’re back and are hotter—and more creative—than ever.

According to wedding consultant Candice Benson of The Finishing Touch, some of the more popular themes in 2012 will be old Hollywood glitz and glamour, and vintage big top circus. She advises that the themes will be carried out thoughout the invitations, décor, florals and stationery. She also says that brides and grooms will be adding entertainment to go along with the theme, from acrobats to singers and dancers.

Sharyn Sheldon of Just Weddings predicts that themes will continue to express the personality of the couple. She is seeing country western, music, vintage and even golf themes trending in 2012.

Other clever themes we’ve spotted are wine tastings for wine lovers, beach and destination themes (even if the wedding is at the ballroom down the street) and Victorian or Renaissance-styled affairs where guests are encouraged to come in costume. Now, that’s engaging your audience!

When one of Kinsley’s top clients asked the meeting company to come up with an event that would provide their customers and executives with a memorable experience that would allow them to network in a relaxed environment, they turned to the kitchen.

Since the meeting would take place at the Ballentyne Resort in Charlotte, North Carolina, a region famed for its barbeque, Kinsley decided to create a barbeque sauce teambuilding event. To foster friendly competition and add excitement, the participants were encouraged to bring their own secret ingredient to use in their sauce.

Kinsley brought in Top Chef All Stars Fan Favorite Carla Hall to facilitate the event. Hall, co-host of the TV series The Chew, is known for her southern-style cooking as well as her fun and quirky personality. Participants received an apron signed by Hall and the How to Cook Like a Top Chef cookbook.

Participants were divided into 12 groups of seven, each with its own apron color. Teams gathered around one of 12 work stations equipped with propane burners, paring knives and cutting boards. The ingredient table was located in the center of the work stations, and included more than 40 ingredients and seasonings.

Participants had 45 minutes to create their masterpieces. Half the team worked on the sauce and the other half worked on the branding and logo for the sauce. When all was ready, Hall and three other judges smelled and tasted each sauce. Secret ingredients were revealed, and included tequila and dark chocolate. Awards went to Best Overall Flavor, Most Creative Use of Ingredients and Best Product Name and Branding.

Following the awards, it was off to dinner with the 12 sauces for tasting during dinner. Truly a memorable teambuilding event!