Have you ever been to an event that promoted a theme you were so excited about, but when you got there the it seemed that there was no rhyme or reason to it? Planning a cohesive event takes a lot of planning. It’s not just a matter of including every item that even remotely ties into the theme.
Let’s take a beach theme for instance. You could include tropical flowers, tiki torches, tropical drinks and leis. A perfect luau! Instead of all that, you could use beach balls, kites, waves and surfboards and have a completely different, and amazing, theme. Obviously, both are beach themes, but two completely different directions. So, before you start buying decorations and ordering invitations, decide exactly how you want the event to look and feel.
Once you have decided on a theme, then begin adding the elements that bring the event together – invitations, décor, menu, entertainment and music. Make sure your invitation tells the guests not only the pertinent details but gets them excited about the theme. It should also indicate whether the event is fun and festive, casual or formal. The more informed your guests are, the more successful you event will be.
From the entrance to the centerpieces, and everything in between, make sure that the décor stays true to the theme and the style of the event. If the event is formal, opt for larger centerpieces, if the event is more casual, smaller and simpler works well.
Just as the décor is important for the visual senses, the menu is equally important for the culinary senses. If you’re planning a luau, don’t serve chicken stripes, if you’re planning a 50’s Soc Hop, don’t serve steak and lobster. Guests will expect something appropriate to the theme and be disappointed if it doesn’t match.
Finally, chose your music and entertainment to pull all of the above items together. If you’ve planned a luau, have a steel drum musician playing in the background. If you’ve planned a seaside boardwalk theme, hire a caricature artist.
Planning a cohesive function takes a lot of work, but it’s all worth it when your event is a huge success.
