An exciting theme is one of the first things that will draw an audience to your event. In this guide, you’ll discover tips on how to choose the perfect event concept and how to execute it — as well as plenty of inspiration for themes of all kinds, from masquerade balls to virtual reality adventures.
Key takeaways
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Your target audience’s interests and tastes should be the North Star for your event theme
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Your theme should reflect and amplify the goals of your event
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When executing your theme, pay close attention to small, thoughtful details to delight your guests
How to choose the perfect event concept
The key to making your event a memorable one? The perfect event concept. Whether you’re hosting a glitzy Hollywood-inspired ball or a nostalgic pop culture disco, a creative event theme is the perfect way to connect with — and delight — your audience. When planning your theme, there are several key factors to consider:
Your target audience
What theme would your audience love most? Your audience’s preferences should be your North Star when it comes to deciding your event theme. Many event organizers report measuring their event success based on attendee engagement and satisfaction — so it’s crucial your theme appeals to your audience.
This is where having a clear target demographic is crucial: it can help you shape every component of your event. Your audience’s interests, tastes, and preferences should guide you when gathering your inspiration.
As part of your planning, you may want to engage with your audience on social media — or more formally on pre-event surveys — to ask them what themes would most resonate with them. This is a great way to boost your social engagement and brand presence via interactive polls while also gathering plenty of inspiration for future event themes.
Inspiration: Is your target audience Millennials looking for a nostalgic music night? Try curating a 90s-themed all-night disco on a Friday night. If you’re looking to appeal to environmental activists in their 30s and 40s looking for kid-friendly activities at the weekend, try a family festival with a fun eco theme.
Your event goals
What theme best facilitates the goals of your event? Taking your event goals and objectives into consideration is another key factor in selecting your theme. Ideally, your event concept should fit the style and tone of your event — and actively help you to reach your objectives, whether that’s offering guests an experience or a new skill. Put simply, your theme should reflect and power the goals of your event.
Inspiration: If the goal of your Valentine’s Day event is to create a mysterious and romantic atmosphere for couples, a masquerade ball is the perfect choice. Equally, if the goal of your corporate networking event is to get professionals mixing in a fun way, choose a theme (such as fictional characters in that industry with name tags offered at the door) to break the ice and encourage conversation.
Your past data
What did your attendees love about your previous events? According to Markletic, 90% of event planners use surveys to measure the satisfaction of participants — and now is the perfect time to look back at your previous event surveys with an analytical eye to discover what worked well in the past.
You might choose to replicate these themes again — or build on them to create something new and equally appealing. If you’re running an event for the first time, take a look at similar events run by your competitors to gather inspiration.
Inspiration: If your last event’s theme garnered positive feedback, it’s worth looking at the reasons behind your guests’ opinions.
If they liked a murder mystery party, what specifically did they enjoy — dressing up, the game aspect, or the chance to interact with other guests? You can then use this to identify similar themes to delight that same audience: perhaps another costume theme, a gamified concept, or a theme that encourages guest interaction.
Your event brand
What theme would match your event brand? Keeping your brand front and center of your planning process is crucial in creating brand consistency and building your audience’s trust. Your concept should align well with your brand’s style, tone of voice, values, and aesthetic — as well as the experience you offer to your guests.
Inspiration: If your brand is synonymous with fun, lighthearted events, make sure to choose a theme that reflects this — for instance, a disco of cheesy pop hits or a Valentine’s costume party of celebrity couples.
Equally, if your brand is known for its place in DIY culture, make sure to select a theme that reflects these values, such as a DIY-themed craft fair with independent artists, or a festival that gives a platform to grassroots organizations.
Your budget
What theme fits with your event budget? Whether you’re looking to add themed food and drink or venue decorations, considering these costs will likely be an important deciding factor — so make sure your theme aligns with the projected budget for your event.
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Did you know that 73% of event marketers increased their budgets in 2023? Increasing your budget — where possible — to better facilitate an immersive event theme can be a great way to deliver a positive and rewarding experience for your attendees.
Inspiration: If you’re working with a set budget, you can get creative with your event expenditure to bring your theme to life. For example, if you’re hosting a Hollywood-themed cocktail party, consider swapping a costly ballroom venue hire for cost-effective decorations in a venue at a lower price point: the right decor can easily transform a space and save valuable resources.
Your date
What theme will best fit with your event date? Whether you’re hosting an event in the spring or the fall, taking inspiration from the season can be a great way to add a fun spin to your event and get guests feeling the seasonal spirit.
Inspiration: If you’re hosting your event in the fall or winter, you might look to give it a seasonal spin with a Halloween, harvest, or festive winter theme. Hosting in the warmer weather? Try concepts perfect for outdoor events, such as summer beach parties and spring Easter themes.
Tips for executing the perfect event theme
Once you have decided on a theme that will delight your audience — and boost your event goals — it’s time to execute it. Here’s how to create a flawless themed event.
Get creative
Creativity is the key to themed event success. According to SEMrush, 78% of people rave about their favorite recent experiences to people they know at least once per week — so you can boost brand exposure by making your event as memorable as possible. Make sure to think outside the box when executing your concept by introducing unique elements to make your event stand out.
Before the event itself, spark intrigue and generate buzz with creative event invitations. Enticing invitations often tell a story, so make sure to create a narrative that aligns with your theme. This might involve setting the scene with the compelling spooky backstory of the venue for a Halloween party — or sparking intrigue with the setup for a murder mystery.
For the event itself, get inventive with your theme and delight guests with the unexpected. This might include booking exciting live performances, hiring themed photo booths, or organizing interactive theatre elements with professional actors.
Set the scene
The key to any Instagram-worthy party: striking decor. Did you know that 90% of event marketers credit social media with improved business exposure? Creating a themed event attendees will love to share on their social platforms is an excellent way to increase your exposure — and sell more tickets to future events.
First impressions count, so begin with eye-catching decorations. Go for classic decorations — such as balloons, bunting, foil curtains, wall decor, posters, and table confetti — in keeping with your theme’s color scheme and style. To create an ambient mood, set up lighting that aligns with your theme, such as glittering fairy lights, warm candles, or lamps. For a bigger event, you may want to consider larger-scale decor such as a balloon arch, video projection, a flower wall or socials corner.
Next, think about sound and scent to set the scene. Whether you’re encouraging guests to hit the dancefloor or you’re creating a mysterious atmosphere, creating an on-theme playlist is sure to delight your attendees. Lighting scented candles or incense before the event can also work to create an immersive experience.
Create bespoke food and drink
What better way to delight your guests than with bespoke themed refreshments? Food and drink are effective ways to bring your theme to life and immerse guests in the world you’ve created.
Consider hiring bar staff to create custom-themed cocktails — whether that’s bespoke apéritifs named after silver screen stars for a Hollywood party, or spooky blood-red mixes for a Halloween event.
You can also get creative with themed snacks for your event: spiced ginger cookies are perfect for a winter wonderland event, while tropical fruit platters and sorbets make for ideal beach-themed summer soirées.
Book a unique venue
A unique venue plays a big part in setting the scene for your event and is a key component of its storytelling — so make sure you select a venue that adds flair to your theme. Align your venue and your concept by considering both your budget and the space’s suitability.
Will the venue’s aesthetic match your theme? Does the venue have a unique story or history that will add character or prestige to your event? Is the venue a space you can transform accordingly?
If you’re hosting a black tie ball, opulence is the name of the game, so opting for a decadent venue — such as a Victorian hall or a grand hotel ballroom — would work well. Alternatively, if your event is more niche (such as a night dedicated to one pop artist, for example), you may want to select a cleaner space to decorate with on-theme posters and bunting.
Theme inspiration: classic and timeless event themes
Looking for event theme inspiration? From black tie galas to Hollywood glamour, discover our selection of classic and timeless themes to delight your guests.
1. Black tie affair
An evening of sophistication and luxury is promised with a black tie event theme. A great option for a New Year’s Eve event, you can encourage guests to dress up — think sharp tuxedos and floor-sweeping gowns — and set the scene with black and gold décor.
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Serve formal food as well as premium wines, champagne, and signature cocktails. To add a fun twist, consider The Great Gatsby or Roaring 20s themes and get ready for a night of elegance.
2. Masquerade ball
Transform your party into a masquerade ball to add an air of mystery and enchantment. Perfect for romantic events, this theme encourages creativity and sparks intrigue. You might choose to invite guests to bring their own beautiful masks, or hand masks out at the door. To decorate, look to balloons, garlands, and streamers in keeping with art deco styles.
3. Vintage Hollywood
Relive the classic movie era with a vintage Hollywood-themed event. All aspects of this idea reflect golden age glamour: from red carpets to stylish decorations, your guests will be transported in time. Enhance your guests’ experience with a photo booth complete with old-school props and backdrops — to make everyone feel like they’re at their own star-studded premiere.
Theme inspiration: unique and unconventional event themes
Planning a unique event? From steampunk occasions to murder mysteries, these unconventional event theme ideas will help you craft an extraordinary experience for your guests.
4. Steampunk extravaganza
Invite guests to a Victorian-meets-futuristic steampunk extravaganza, where they can dress in garments from the nineteenth century blended with modern technology and fantasy elements — whether that’s corsets, tiered skirts, or top hats. Steampunk is a perfect costume party theme for a bit of extravagance.
5. Post-apocalyptic party
Make your event an evening to remember with a post-apocalyptic theme. Get creative with dystopian decorations, exciting activities — such as zombie tag or an apocalypse scavenger hunt — and costumes. Create an eerie atmosphere with low-level lighting, smoke, and spooky music.
6. Murder mystery soiree
Take your guests on an exciting journey with a murder mystery event. Get creative with this event theme with a detailed storyline, character costumes, and props for a thrilling event. Amp up the mystery with secret clues and riddles throughout the night — and delicious themed cocktails.
Theme inspiration: seasonal and holiday event themes
Take your inspiration from the season and craft an exciting event theme, whether that’s a summer fiesta or a winter wonderland.
7. Winter wonderland
Create a magical winter wonderland at your next festive event. Transform your venue with snowflake decorations, twinkling lights, and candles — as well as a festive playlist — to create a warm, enchanting atmosphere. And don’t forget to serve festive refreshments: think gingerbread lattes and mulled wine.
8. Halloween spooktacular
Creating a fall event? Get spooky with a Halloween theme. Whether you’re decorating your space with haunted-house-inspired details or conducting a ghost tour, make sure to create a creepy atmosphere with candles, spooky playlists, and frightfully fun decorations. For added ambiance, serve Halloween-themed treats and cocktails.
9. Summer fiesta
Bring the spirit of summertime alive with a summer fiesta. Get creative with tropical decorations, beach-inspired cocktails, and fun entertainment to celebrate the summer. Get everyone on the dancefloor with a fun summer playlist of pop favorites — and serve delicious pool-party-themed snacks.
Theme inspiration: cultural and international event themes
Allow guests to experience the beautiful variety of cultures around the world with international event themes — from Bollywood nights to Mardi Gras revelry.
10. Bollywood nights
Enter an extravagant world of vibrant entertainment with a Bollywood-themed event. Create an exciting atmosphere with ornate decorations and traditional Indian cuisine, as well as energizing music and dance performances, from rap beats to Punjabi melodies.
11. Oktoberfest celebration
For an unforgettable event, transport your guests to Bavaria by creating a classic German beer festival theme. Design an authentic Oktoberfest atmosphere with tastings of local beers and traditional food, all accompanied by dynamic polka tunes to celebrate German culture.
12. Mardi Gras madness
To create a true Louisiana vibe at your event, design an authentic Mardi Gras theme. Make sure your event stands out with colorful beads and masks, as well as providing exciting entertainment — such as mask-making workshops — and delicious, rich cuisine.
Theme inspiration: trendy and modern event themes
From virtual reality escapades and pop culture events to eco-friendly galas, discover modern event themes to impress your guests.
13. Eco-friendly green gala
Go green with an eco-friendly theme. Pick out sustainable decorations, as well as organic and locally sourced refreshments — and work with green suppliers to support eco-friendly businesses. Your gala could also include activities and entertainment centered on environmental awareness, such as climate activist talks, film screenings, and workshops.
14. Virtual reality adventure
Bring your guests into a brand new experience with an exciting virtual reality adventure theme. Supply each guest with a VR headset and transport them to faraway places — or encourage attendees’ competitive streak with immersive games and contests.
15. Pop culture extravaganza
Gather attendees for an enjoyable and interactive pop culture extravaganza party. This theme centers on the latest movies, TV shows, and music trends for a night of fun pop entertainment. To add an interactive element, why not include game-show-style challenges and pop culture trivia games?
Selecting an event theme is an effective way to connect with your audience by tailoring your event aesthetic to their interests. By paying attention to small, thoughtful details — from lighting to visuals — an event theme also helps you to create a memorable event and positive experience for your attendees. Whether you’re hosting a black tie dinner or a Halloween party, make sure to choose an event theme that will delight your guests.
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