Corporate events play a pivotal role in engaging employees and fostering a sense of belonging within the organization. These events go beyond the routine work environment and provide an opportunity for employees to connect, collaborate, and recharge. 

While planning a corporate event can be quite a challenging task, it’s also one that’s extremely rewarding and fun to plan. Choosing a fun event theme, one where employees can let loose and bond is just the right start. The theme should fit your company’s culture, be inclusive of all, and be open to all ages. In addition, remember to stay within the allocated budget, it’s easy to lose track. 

If that sounds like an impossible task, just get in touch with EventStan to get what you want and stay within your budget at the same time. From great team building and activation ideas to great venues, they’ve got options for all. Ready to throw the biggest corporate party of the year? Keep reading for exciting themes and inspiration to fuel your event-planning genius.

Back To The 90s 

Take a step back to the 90s with hairstyles, shoulder pads, oversized clothing, and OTT eyeliner for a party that simply rocks. Go old school with the décor by using walkmans, giant band posters, and polka dots. Maybe even add a hint of blue light to your party to make it even more retro. You can then offer guests glow, bracelets and necklaces to slay the complete look. Add a photo booth with branded Polaroid frames that employees can take home as memories. 

For entertainment, consider adding more life to the evening with a live band or singer who is well-versed in the 90s and is guaranteed to pack the dance floor with tunes that are going to make your crowd dance. Or you could also host a 90s TV Trivia Challenge, you know that ought to get the crowd roaring. To add a personalized touch to the event, create a 90s playlist for your guests. 

The Aww-ards Night

Laughing together always creates a stronger bond, don’t you agree? Host an aww-wards event for an evening filled with friendship, gratitude, and full of laughter. Create a list of entirely sarcastic and quirky awards to then award the employees. Add your company’s touch by narrating a funny story as to why they are awarded a particular title. If you want to make the awards more engaging, allow teammates to vote for one another with a note reasoning their vote. Your employees are guaranteed to have a night filled with loads of awws and memories to take back. 

Make it a formal black-tie awards night if you want to give your employees a chance to dress and look their best. Think of dramatic drapes, white linen tablecloths and serve champagne, cocktails, or wine as part of the catering for a posh gala dinner. Or keep it simple and hire a casual venue where they are at ease and can let their hair loose. Add an improv twist to it and make employees speak about one another; do a stand-up comedy piece or simply speak about their time with the company or simply get the team to roast an employee. 

Hollywood Theme

Who doesn’t love movies, right? Plan a Hollywood theme, keep the theme glamorous, and let people come dressed up as their favorite stars. Hire a movie theatre or glitzy hall, rent a limo or fancy ride from a common pick-up spot, and let employees ride in style. Roll out the red carpet and hire a group of rent-a-crowd paparazzi to welcome guests to the party. 

Give them the true feel of being a star and the grand welcome that they truly deserve.  

Start your event with a fashion show put on by everyone attending the event. This is a great way to make sure the shy ones are also included. Add glam to your décor with some disco balls and a shimmery backdrop for attendees to pose and show off their outfits. Make sure to include the main Hollywood sign and a popcorn station to transport your guests back to LA. 

Carnival Theme

How does one ever forget the heaty summer carnival nights filled with sparkling colors, candy rush, and only fun? Go big or go home and plan a  yearly corporate carnival event, inviting team members and their families across all departments to enjoy an evening like no other. 

Rent a big space and set it up with a huge big-top tent with red and orange, giving your venue the perfect carnival vibe it needs. You can also use bright color patterns or blocky prints for the tent cover and add some fairy lights, strings, and different shapes of light bulbs. Stay true to the theme and add some old-fashioned game stations such as ring toss, ball in the hoop, pick your duck or any such games usually enjoyed at carnivals.

Definitely, set up a photo with plenty of fun props to pick and pose from. Hiring a balloon artist and magician for the event is also a good idea to stay inline with the theme and attend to all ages. You can also look at going the extra mile and hiring a contortionist or fire dancer to perform at your event for the extra touch. Classic fair food is a perfect fit with the carnival theme and no party is complete with the food. Serve your guests funnel cakes, palmiers, hot dogs, chips, and fries along with cider, soft drinks or light beer.

Back To School Theme 

Turn the clock back, and let’s forget being a grown-up for an evening. The back-to-school theme is bound to give the guests a perfect chance to embrace their carefree childhood days. School hairstyles and uniforms are easy to replicate; tell guests to dress up exactly like an old picture of theirs from school, and then ask them to get that picture along to the party. You can host a game or special prize for the best-dressed attendee and the one that has managed to replicate their childhood look to the point. 

Organize food in a buffet style,  just like how it used to be in the school cafeteria back in the day. Don’t just stick with dry sandwiches and tired lunch meat as the adults still got to eat. You can personalize your entire menu to a delicious spread that perfectly fits your budget and includes different cuisines and flavors. 

What’s better than dressing up like a child and also truly behaving like one? Set up a karaoke system and divide the team with exciting kiddish names. Let them then compete against each other by singing their lungs out. What’s more nostalgic than that? 

Conclusion

A successful corporate party involves much more than just having a good venue, food or a good time. A well-organized event can improve interpersonal ties and strengthen relationships along the team. It also helps the team understand each other better and work collaboratively. Whatever theme you pick, organizing the event well is key to a successful fun-filled evening. If you are looking for something different for your event this year, simply download or visit EventStan for trending ideas and activities. So, what are you waiting for? Let the planning begin!