I love nothing more than a good themed event. Summerween, Pickleball & Prosecco, or a movie screening with themed desserts? SIGN ME UP.
When you are planning an event that will impact guests while checking off your business goals, it’s vital to find balance between trends, nostalgia, and branding. Let me help you get off on the right foot…
The 30-40-30 Strategy
The goal is to cultivate an experience that feels nostalgic and modern while reinforcing your brand identity. Right? Right.
30% Nostalgia: This sets a foundation of familiarity, which primes your guests to have a heartfelt, anchoring experience, connecting them further to your brand.
40% Trendy: Your goal is to capture attention, drive engagement, and maintain a new and fresh feel to your dynamic event.
30% Branded: Your event should remain purposeful, with clear communication that continually brings guests back to who you are as a brand.
Nostalgic Elements: 30%
Nostalgia is the queen of creating emotional connections. It evokes feelings that make your event engaging and memorable. But too much nostalgia rapidly makes an event feel ancient and outdated.
Aesthetics: Use nostalgic pieces that bring back a certain era or feeling, like retro signage, a vintage photo booth, or a cultivated playlist.
Menu: A nostalgic menu doesn’t have to break the bank. Remember earlier in 2024 when y2k parties were the rage and everyone served (or recreated) the cosmic brownie? That’s exactly what we are talking about. Simple touches go a looong way.
Experiences: Share your business’s origin story in a creative way- like a series of activities or a short film.
Entertainment: Bring back the classics…from whichever theme you’re going for. Pick things that will be memorable and easily recognizable.
Trendy Elements: 40%
Current trends are not your enemy, nor are they your savior. Pull trendy elements throughout the event in various ways to keep guests on their toes. Guests want to experience something fresh, relevant, and appealing- something that is new and on the cutting edge. Trendy elements need to make up the biggest portion of the event to keep it modern and appealing.
Aesthetics: Color palettes, floral design, and minimalistic or biophilic design elements are consistent ways to pull in trends. Minimalism is also coming in hot for 2025, so be intentional with what you choose.
Menu: Focus on popular dietary options, without bringing the whole kitchen down in a flaming sea of chaos. Plant-based dishes with a few gluten- and dairy-free options go a long way, and if you’d like to bring in a trendier spin, do a kombucha bar or gastro dinner.
Experiences: Trend-driven spaces like influencer zones with aesthetically pleasing backdrops and curated experiences go a long way. Guests want an opportunity to show off where they are and what they’re doing.
Entertainment: When picking your entertainment, don’t just go for who’s popular (although that can be a fantastic driver depending on the style of the event). Go for the artists and speakers who have significant cultural influence and align with your company’s purpose.
Branded Elements: 30%
You hooked your guests with nostalgia and trends, but the foundation of your event should reflect your brand. To do this successfully, you should integrate your brand elements, not promote them.
Aesthetics: Subtle nods to your brand work wonders when it comes to installations, decor, and digital displays.
Goodies & Giveaways: No one wants value-less gifts. If your welcome and farewell gifts don’t have a reason, match with your theme, and hold value in the eyes of your guests…toss them in the trash before your guests do it for you.
Storytelling: Guests want to know why you brought them here. Tell them WHY, tell them why THEM, and tell them why they’re HERE. If there’s an accomplishment you’re celebrating, celebrate it with them! The second they feel left out is the second they decide to leave.
Event planning is a literal art and I will die on that hill. However, you can make it a bit easier with some simple strategies. This guide gives you tons of wiggle room to pull in these elements in different ways, so get planning and don’t forget to breathe.