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And we’re back with 10 more event trends to share from the hundreds of projects we have taken on during our 20 years as a full-service event house.
10 More Top Picks from 20 Years of Events Trends
Get ready to reminisce with us, and if you haven’t read Part 1 of our event trends recap, be sure to take a look!
Disco
This trend it about taking it way back but elevating the funky 1970s with a dose of contemporary pizzazz. From holiday parties to fundraisers and even award shows, everyone has got disco fever.
Photo booths
Whether corporate or social, events are all about making memories. Most of our clients want to make sure memories get captured too. Over the years, we’ve come up with plenty of creative ways to incorporate fun photo ops into events from those managed by a professional photographer to DIY photo booths.
Instagrammable moments
Social media had been growing in popularity when Instagram burst on the scene in 2010 and made amateur photographers of all of us. This platform forever changed the way attendees interact with events too. “Instagrammable” moments became de rigueur, and we’ve had a ton of fun creating branded, themed and interactive vignettes to be posted and shared.
Games
Not only have psychologists recognized the importance of play for adult well-being, but they have also been shown to improve memory and aid in retention. With these scientific findings in mind, we’ve incorporated a variety of games into events like giant Jenga and Operation, virtual reality sports, and gamification to enhance message memory at conferences.
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COVID-Era virtual and drive-thru events
Not so much a trend as a necessity, we expanded our event formats during the pandemic by adding virtual and drive-through celebrations from corporate conferences to birthday parties and baby showers. Although we’re glad to be back together in person, we’ve been able to continue developing many of these skills to make the most of what we learned. Video production, hybrid events and simulcasting are all firmly within our wheelhouse now, giving our clients the flexibility to connect attendees near and far.
Specialty lighting
Lighting is probably the No. 1 décor feature for shifting mood, appearance and theme. It’s so impactful that we’ve used lighting to completely alter the look of a space with a flick of the switch (following lots of detailed installation, of course). The best part is that there are so many options when it comes to specialty lighting like gobos, uplighting, suspensions, tubes, mood lighting, candles – we could go on, but how about showing you?
Neon
One type of lighting we did not mention above also happens to be one of our obsessions – we’re talking about neon. Used to impart an 80s glow, a honky-tonk sensibility, an urban look and so much more, neon is also our go-to when we want to elevate signage or branding.
Jazz Age parties
When the fourth film adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” was released in 2013, it brought the Jazz Age into the spotlight once again. We’ve highlighted the music and style of that enticing era in multiple ways from a Harlem Renaissance holiday party to an Art Deco celebration and even a risqué burlesque birthday. The Jazz Age has also influenced the popularity of speakeasy settings, no Prohibition needed.
Market lights
This lighting and décor trend is a blend of two other popular elements – nature and specialty lighting. For outdoor events or to bring the outside in, market lights and globes of vines dotted with tiny lights have enjoyed favor for many years. We love how they bring a rustic, Old World feeling to any setting.
Farm to table + farm tables
Eating local, seasonal menus – known as farm to table – is better for the environment and more delicious for humans. Not only has this type of cuisine gained in popularity during the past two decades, although it got started in the 1970s, but the prevalence of the farm table has come along with it. Aspects of the “trend” toward more sustainable events, we expect both of these to take permanent root.
And that’s a wrap, a recap, a snap(shot) of some of the styles, technologies and movements we’ve noted and promoted during the two decades since WM Events was founded. We are excited to see what the next 20 years have in store! Come along for the ride!
