3 Dramatic New Themes for Year End Parties

Looking for a new twist for an end-of-the-year corporate gathering? Here are three new concepts to inspire you...

Theme One: Noel Noir

By Andrew Stevens and Kim Swift, We Came in Peace

“The concept is a dark twist on the classic holiday fête, using elements of mystery, drama, and Old Hollywood glamour. A speakeasy meets an underground masquerade in a cinematic pleasure palace, and the mood is set with a minimal palette of black and white. Finding a perfect venue is key; architectural details and grand spaces with an oversize fireplace are ideal. Then pools of smoky light are interspersed with gobos casting slatted-blind texture on the walls and floors. A lush tableau of exotic hors d’oeuvres spans the space, illuminated by tiers of candelabras. Reinterpretations of classic seasonal themes are woven into the space, such as a forest of suspended Christmas tree chandeliers, composed of blackened branches and adorned with ornaments. Entertainment is a smorgasbord of vices, including gambling, hand-rolled cigars, on-site tattooing, and private shows by shadow dancers. The soundtrack for the evening is provided by a live jazz band that performs holiday classics.”

Rendering: Courtesy of We Came in Peace

Cafe Cafe offers continental European charm and a top class French/Italian menu in a dim, candle-lit nook of Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur. This place offers quality French dishes without unnecessary fanfare.

Nothing sets the mood better than an authentic live orchestra and crooning front singer.

Theme Two: The Snowball Lounge

By Jaime Geffen & Brian Worley, Your Bash!

“The concept starts with a customized invite to the lounge. Upon entry, snow machines will have people making snowmen as an interactive activity. Inside, white fur-lined linens and fur-capped Chiavari chairs are set against antler candlesticks, votive holders, and fireplaces. Oversize silver frames with wood paneling, alternating with white sheer drapes and a variety of contemporary furniture, provide the groundwork for winter-inspired accessories like large lacquer deer and fur-and-antler-inspired pillows. The menu is cozy and festive, with items such as mixed berry and gingerbread trifles, roasted chestnut truffles, and specialty cocktails.”

Theme Three: The Holiday Aquatic

By Britt Whitfield, Revel Global Events

“This distinctly visceral experience for holiday revelers challenges their ideas of a classic holiday party. The theme is nautical and fantastical and elegant without losing the warmth and nostalgia of the season. It surprises the guest’s palate and eye—traditional elements are alluded to, but made both contemporary and graceful. Suspended from the ceiling, an oversize octopus mobile with gold sequins will wrap her tentacles around the room to serve as a visual anchor for the space. Subtle hints of red and green are woven throughout this whimsical underwater world to retain the whisper of the season. People leave our aquatic Eden swimming with ideas about how they can update their own holiday traditions.”

Rendering: Courtesy of the Revel Group

 
Bubbles further intensify the underwater fantasy world.

Party Theme of the Month: Casino Party

We get a thrill when handling money (even if it isn't real) and we usually hand out fake money during our Murder Mystery parties for guests to blackmail and bribe. For a Casino themed party, why not include poker chips or fake paper money with your invitation card for guests to have a taste of the party?

Or you could even create a giant cardboard cube to look like dice with the party details printed on it.

Decorations

Event: Cash Money Grammy Party

Photo: Jerod Harris/WireImage.com

Entertainment

Besides the card games that can be carried out at the foyer before guests enter the dining area, you can have a Wheel of Fortune for guests to win prizes, a walkabout magician, impersonators eg Elvis Presley, lounge singers and as stage entertainmet - cabaret dancers.

Party Favors

Why, Chocolate money, of course!

Theme Party of the Month: Fast and Furious Party

Start your engines for a Race Car party!
Race Car Invitations
To make your own invitations, use a photo of a race car from the internet and add wording like this:
Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!
Race on over for Kyle’s 6th Birthday Party
Location: [your last name] Speedway at [address]
Join the Race Team by Calling: [your phone or email]

Here’s a list of decorating ideas. Choose the ones that will work for your family:
0 Attach two checkered racing flags to your mailbox or criss-crossed on your front door.
0 Set out all of your child’s Hot Wheels toys for the guests to play with as they arrived.
0 Make a large sign out of white paper saying "Welcome Race Fans" to hang on your door.
0 Use Hot Wheels cars and a toy racetrack as a table centerpiece.
0 Use chalk to draw a "Track" on the driveway and/or sidewalk leading up to your door.
0 Hang lots of checkered racing flags or a racing pennant streamer.
0 Hang posters of famous race car drivers.
0 Place bunches of balloons around the party area. For each group of 5-7 balloons, use one mylar car balloon with the cheaper latex black and white checkered flag balloons.
0 Hang a car pinata as a decoration, and it becomes an activity later during the party.
0 Make driver’s licenses for each child before the party on your computer. Buy lanyards at an office supply store so the children can wear them around their necks during the party. Hand them out as the children arrive, or set up a check-in station to kick-off the party activities.
0 Orange cones, if you can borrow some.
0 Background music like CARS-the movie soundtrack, or make your own with songs like On the Road Again, Little GTO, Born to Be Wild, etc.

Race Car Party Food
0 Make a sign that says “Pit Stop” for the food table.
0 Serve food like hot dogs, chips, and baked beans in new, clean oil pans, drip pans, large funnels. 0 Small chocolate donuts can be called tires.
0 Serve cupcakes with little checkered flags on them.
0 Make quick and easy "wheels" from any round cookie, by adding an M&M or junior mint in the center as the hubcap.
0 Good choices include a new Hot Wheels car, racing stickers, little race flags, and candy, of course!

Contact us to find out more about our Fast and Furious party packages.

Animal Baby Shower

When parents-to-be don't know or don't want to know the baby's gender, it's adviseable to go with a baby shower theme that is neutral. We recently threw a Baby Safari Animal Baby Shower. Games can be centred around the theme along with the type of food served.

March Party Theme: Alice in Wonderland

As mad as the March Hare! Summer is upon you, lush greens and vibrant colours are all around from different shrubbery and plants.

Guests make their way through a grand stone trellis entrance. This leads them to the Wonderland party theme. You are in the queens well groomed garden so watch what you say and do, else you may lose your head! You are surrounded by potted trees with twinkle lights and statues beautifully lit from below.

The queens white picket fence which keeps intruders out stands proud cordoning off access to her prize green grass.

Things suddenly seem a lot bigger and you appear to have shrunk as a giant Jenga, and connect 4 are sitting waiting to be played. A ‘wonderland’ style game of croquet is also available to amuse passers by and a giant piece of cake lies waiting to be eaten.

Intelligent lighting with heart gobos sweep around the room wowing guests as they sit down to eat dinner.

This really is a curious place!

Winter Wonderland & Monopoly Themed Parties

Winter Wonderland


Make your way under the frosty pillar entrance tunnel and if you peer underneath the icicles hanging down over the exit to this tunnel you will catch a glimpse of a snowy forest ahead of you.
Duck under the icicles and out into the forest ahead. A small path is visible through the trees, so follow this through, following the small pools of light shining from traditional street lamps, which lead the way through to the venue of the evening’s party.

The effect is completed with intelligent lighting flashing around the room.



Monopoly Party

This is a great theme for Monopoly lovers and those who just enjoy collecting money and buying property. We have a junior version which is ideal for those aged 5 to 10 and a senior version for 18 year old and above. We cater to both private and corporate functions.

Guests will have to earn their money through various activities and take part in property auctions.

Monopoly tokens will be placed around the room adding to the atmosphere.

Hollywood & Pirate Party Themes

Best Events specialises in making your party extraordinary. We can completely transform a room using theme props, lighting and state of the art technology. Using a specialised crew we can create a party theme to suit any idea, whether it be a Monopoly party theme, 1920's party theme or a Pirate themed event to name a few. You may of course have your own ideas and opt for something completely new.

At Best Events we like to make everything as easy and convenient as possible for you, so we can supply the complete party theme package. Alongside your theming, we can include a sound system that plays music relevant to the themed event, live acts, intelligent lighting, meet and greet staff in costume and everything you need to compliment the theme and of course photography and videography to capture special moments.

Party Themes Tailored For You

Whatever your budget, we can tailor a party theme to suit and always aim to be one better than the competition.

Our magazine will start featuring some of the party themes available to give you a headstart in choosing the right theme for your event be it for a corporate or private affair, or wedding.

This month we will write about the popular Hollywood theme & adventurous Pirate theme.

HOLLYWOOD THEME

The minute your guests arrive at the glitzy Hollywood party they will feel like they have become stars for the night!

They will enter the party over a plush red carpet with chrome posts and red silk rails.

The entrance to the function suite will be adorned with authentic looking props relating to the early film industry including directors chairs, 3D MGM camera on a stand, 2D vintage cars and Hollywood star cut-outs. Topiary trees with twinkling lights will add to the feel of a night amongst the stars!

As soon as guests have entered the function suite, they will be inspired by the opulent ambience. Intelligent lighting will be programmed by computer to sweep Hollywood gobos around the room creating a spectacular effect.

Tables will be dressed with black table slips, elegant floral arrangement and candles. The black and white dance floor with stone effect pillars and overhead trellis will transform the dancing area into what feels like a set from a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers classic film.

PIRATE PARTY

Celebrate Ye Ol' Talk Like a Scurvy Pirate Day!

Guests step over the bamboo walkthrough party theme entrance observed by Blackbeards crew onto a moonlit beach. You can hear the sea lapping away in the background together with sword fighting.

All around are articles from Blackbeards ship carried ashore to aid in the celebrations which will go on into the early hours.

The sea view is spectacular. palm trees surrounded by fireflies enclose the area, and a treasure chest displaying Blackbeards wealth is on show, celebrating the latest success in capturing unsuspecting cargo ships.