5 Steps to Themed Corporate Events Every Organiser Should Consider

Long gone are the days when themed corporate events consisted of naff fancy dress and a sad bowl of M&Ms in company colours. And now, corporate event organisers are exploring five sense event design that’s eliciting Cheshire cat grins from the entire team.

Why Cheshire cats and not enchanted apes?

Because 4th July is officially Alice in Wonderland Day. And the Lewis Carroll classic is a brilliant example of how you can delve deeper into immersive conference ideas and multisensory meetings.   

It’s the perfect excuse to swap mundane event spaces for flamingo croquet fabulous.

Why Go Full Throttle for Themed Corporate Events?

Amanda Nicklaus explained in her recent Once Upon a Theme article for Special Events Magazine:  “Themes provide a thread to tie every element of the event together, creating strong visuals and a unified experience for attendees - and for marketing content, which will help you as a business”.

Interesting. But it might leave you wondering about the business benefits to be gained by throwing Bridgerton, Game of Thrones or Alice in Wonderland events?

Well, the impact of themed corporate events is clear:

·        Engagement rocket fuel - Your people are unlikely to rave about PowerPoint screenshots. But they won’t shy away from sharing Instagram stories.

·        Brand storytelling - Turn mission statements into memories.

·        Justifiable ROI - Happier staff = improved buy-in and productivity.

Here’s how you can create amazing themed corporate events to leave an indelible mark on your stakeholders, (using Alice in Wonderland as the case in point).

Design a Wonderland for All Five Senses

1. Sight - We’ll move onto the food shortly. But first impressions start with a feast for the eyes. Picture this:

·        Entrance scattered with giant chess pieces. leading to a black and white dancefloor and creating an instant visual vibe.

·        Cresent moon-shaped lighting installation, morphing into a neon Cheshire grin as the event progresses.

·        Overhead foliage chandeliers dripping with pocket watches and playing cards. After all, ceiling space is event décor prime real estate that’s often overlooked. But it makes a breathtaking difference.

2. Sound - Silence might be golden. But carefully planned noise turns heads. So, open your ears to:

·        Mesmeric tick-tock auditory environment on entry, layered with the clink of teaspoons in teacups to set a “late for a very important date” tone

·        Live swing trio greeting arrivals

·        Clever segueway into a DJ set once the cocktails kick in

3. Touch - Let them literally feel the fantasy, with:

·        A grass effect carpet with a tree stump and velvet mushroom seating area in the bar

·        Textured linen napkins embroidered with flamingos, and ruffled chair backs like the Mad Hatter’s coat

·        Tables decorated with hanging amaranthus flower, eucalyptus, and pine cones, porcelain teacups, feather-topped place cards, and brass keys

4. Smell - Your nose is a time machine. Why not make memories they’ll treasure forever, with:

·        Rose-scented paper scrolls handed out as menus with a welcome note, subtly perfumed to echo the Red Queen’s garden

·        Lavender-spritzed Dormouse cocktails wafting aromatic notes

·        Overflowing wildflower centrepieces and fresh mint fragrance puffs between courses

5. Taste - Nothing says themed corporate events like edible storytelling. Serve up:

·        Lobster quadrille and oyster stations, with theatrical shelling and shucking

·        Mushroom risotto bowls served on moss-lined trays

·        Dessert finale of ‘Eat Me’ cupcakes, upside-down pudding, and fluffy marshmallow skewers

Make the Magic Happen Without Losing Your Head

Stop chasing your tail like the White Rabbit. And contact us, at the Venue Hunters, for:

·        Free venue sourcing across the UK, Ireland, Europe, and whichever rabbit hole you fancy

·        Expert matchmaking, because we know which venues allow indoor trees and which panic at confetti canons

·        Better value propositions, cheeky upgrades, and the occasional extra canapé platter

Drop us an email or give us a shout about themed corporate events, from Glastonbury to Great Gatsby. We’ll handle the logistics and legwork. And you can sit back, sip your ‘Drink Me’ cocktail and take all the credit.