PLAN A THEMED EVENT IN 3 EASY STEPS
When you hear the words “event theme”, what comes to mind? Does the image of a bouncy castle and the sound of a thousand screaming children flood your senses? Are you reminded of an incredibly boring office Christmas party, where half of the office wore ugly sweaters even though nobody ever claimed that to be the theme?
Forget your previous experiences, because themes are not just for children’s birthday parties and office holiday celebrations. At Wizard Studios, we believe that almost any event can pull off a theme that is both appropriate and impressive. With the right strategy, your event will challenge the notion that themes are childish or lame. Keep reading to learn how to choose the perfect theme and implement it in a way that impresses your guests. After we share our tips, we hope to inspire you with an example of a thoughtful and innovative theme!
Step 1: Brainstorm
Begin by considering the values of your brand. What buzzword do you hope your audience will associate with your brand? Does your brand emphasize growth? Collaboration? Creativity? Innovation? Philanthropy? Fun? We could go on. Whichever value you choose should be the North Star that guides all decisions you make in regards to your event. For example, if your brand values creativity, your event theme could be Cirque du Soleil. If you are a philanthropic organization raising money for a cause, you could make the theme a single color -- including dress code -- that aligns with your cause. If your brand values cutting-edge innovation, a planetarium or space museum could be an appropriate choice. Definitively identifying your central value will offer clarity in all other aspects to help you build the perfect theme.
Step 2: Align
Once you have chosen your theme, you can begin to plan the other components of your event. Do not select a venue, caterer, florist, or any other partnerships for your event before you have adequately brainstormed with the help of an event planner. For a theme to be truly remarkable, it must be all-encompassing. It is crucial that your theme is appropriately aligned with four pillars: setting, decor, food, and beverages.
Step 3: Interact
Bring your audience into the event, not just as observers, but as active participants. For an event theme centered around creativity, we’ve seen blank canvases for guests to paint, draw, and write messages. Depending on your theme, you can surprise your guests with an impressive light show. Giving your guests an outlet to contribute to the theme will leave a more lasting and positive impression of your brand.
These three steps are crucial for planning a themed event. Although they seem quite simple, it is never as easy as 1-2-3. That’s why we are providing an example below to help you feel inspired and to better understand the brainstorming process.
Example:
Say you are hosting an event to launch a new luxury travel product. Maybe that’s an app, a line of luggage, a brand of charter jets, a chain of hotels, or a travel agency. You want your event to attract investors and encourage potential clients to choose your company for their luxury travel plans. You decide that the best way to stand out is with a theme party.
Step 1: Brainstorm
Begin by asking yourself, “What are the values of this brand?”
For this brand, your biggest selling points are luxury and travel. What’s a luxurious travel destination? Paris is a destination that is iconic for its extravagance. Your theme could be Bon Voyage, a journey to Paris.
Step 2: Align
You’ve selected your theme, and now it is time to brainstorm the all-encompassing aspects that will contribute the WOW factor to your event.
Theme: Bon Voyage, a journey to Paris.
Setting: Airport hangar, art museum, mansion, luxury hotel, grand library, or even a house of fashion.
Decor: Custom fabrication that mimics the architecture of Paris’s streets, complete with an Eiffel Tower and Arc De Triomphe. Your floral centerpieces can include fleur de lise, and guests can enjoy their cocktails by the light of candelabras and chandeliers. Rather than hiring a DJ or band, an orchestra can set the mood with harmonious strings.
Food: An authentic street cart serving up crepes to order, hors d'oeuvres including escargot, wheels of brie and raclette scraped over plates of roast potatoes, salad nicoise, capped off with dessert souffle and creme brulée.
Beverages: France is known for its boissons, so you should invest in the best champagne, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Bordeaux.
Step 3: Interact
Give your guests an active role in the theme!
If the values of your brand evoke an over-the-top level of service, don’t be afraid to have as many interactive activities as your event budget can afford! For this particular event, you might consider a real carousel like the iconic one across from the Eiffel Tower, a photo booth that prints “passport” pages, or a light show that evokes the Paris skyline.
There you have it -- an event theme that is appropriate, sophisticated, well-executed, and memorable. When you plan your themed event, use the example above as a template, and customize it based on the values of your brand. As with any special event, it makes all the difference to enlist the help of an event professional. Contact Wizard Studios to get started on your spectacular themed event!