Creative Themes for Your Upcoming Gathering
With better weather soon approaching, you may find yourself inspired to emerge out of the winter sluggishness and come up with an excuse to throw a delightful gathering! Whether you have a special occasion on the horizon or simply want to explore the art of being a host, with just a few key ingredients you can easily organize a successful and memorable dinner party. At The Plant Venue, we make event planning approachable and effortless, offering a variety of spaces, essential amenities, and access to furniture to help you put together a great party in an inviting and contemporary style.
The first step in successfully throwing any get-together is deciding on a central theme that sets the tone for the entire event. Once you land on a specific and well-defined theme, you will find that other elements naturally start to emerge if you consistently stick to the original intent throughout the rest of your decision-making process! From your chosen theme, you can then narrow down your color palette, thoughtfully plan seating arrangements, select food offerings, and choose an entertainment style that all relate back to your overall design concept, creating a cohesive atmosphere for your guests to enjoy.
If you have a special occasion that you would like to relate your event to, such as recently getting engaged or having an upcoming wedding celebration, you’re likely in the process of organizing a delightful engagement party, bridal shower, or some other wedding-related dinner gathering. If you find yourself in the midst of your wedding planning era, here are a few dinner party concepts that can inspire your overall event design and help you create a memorable experience for all your guests…
Fresh Off The Market Bridal Shower
For the Fresh Off The Market bridal shower theme, the first visuals that come to mind are an array of vibrant fruits and colorful veggies as integral components of the decor, an assorted flower bar for creating charming DIY bouquets, a delightful variety of artisanal cheeses paired with flaky croissant sandwiches infused with fresh herbs, and all things inspired by the essence of a lively farmers market!
If you’re interested in hosting a Fresh Off The Market bridal shower at The Plant, I highly recommend working closely with The Willow Blu to create key floral designs for both the bar and the tablescape. These designs can incorporate fresh fruits and vibrant veggies, along with beautiful spring foliage, all of which will perfectly capture and enhance that delightful market vibe!
That’s Amore Engagement Party
Pizza pie anyone? The "That’s Amore” engagement party is a no-brainer, crowd pleaser, and guaranteed good time for all! This theme invites a homage to Italian cuisine and why not go all out with a pizza bar, gelato cart, and homemade tomato sauce for everyone to take home? This is your friendly reminder that food can easily become decor! Breadsticks, tomatoes, herbs, and peppers make great additions to centerpieces featuring head busts and vintage soup cans. For atmosphere, you can either go classic with oldies like Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller or opt for an 80s feel with familiar favorites like The Psychedelic Furs and Tears for Fears.
We can’t mention a pizza party without recommending our favorite wood fired pizza joint in Jackson — Poppy Pies Pizza! This charming establishment consistently serves up delicious pizzas that are perfect for any gathering or celebration. If you want to go all out with a full coursed Italian dinner menu, we highly recommend hiring the talented Chef Chaz Lindsay of Pulito Osteria to deliver a robust spread of expertly prepared housemade pastas, artisanal pizzas, and thoughtfully selected wine pairings for the ultimate evening meal experience.
Whether you decide to keep it casual and relaxed with a pizza bar and an assortment of gelato or choose to go big with a multi-coursed Italian dinner, you simply can’t go wrong with a That’s Amore themed engagement celebration! The charm and warmth of this theme will create an unforgettable and delicious experience for you and your guests.
For the folks who are planning a dinner party simply for the joy of gathering, don’t worry, we’ve got some great tips on how to choose a theme that will elevate your event! An easy and effective go-to brainstorming method is to base your event concept off of the current season or a notable holiday. Here are some of my favorite concepts that draw inspiration from the qualities of the seasons!
The Summer Solstice Party
The summer solstice typically falls in late June each year, and what better time could there be to throw a fun and vibrant gathering that celebrates the longest day of the year? When I dream of The Summer Solstice Party, there are lots of enchanting themes similar to a standard garden party but with much more bright, punchy colors that truly pop. In this theme, I envision imaginative folk art features that evoke almost medieval imagery, alongside an abundance of blossoms everywhere you look (in refreshing drinks, on delightful cupcakes, and even woven into your hair), all creating a truly festive atmosphere. Additionally, there should be a spirited, spunky dress code that calls for ruffles, eye-catching patterns, and an array of colors that invites everyone to express their individuality and joy.
For entertainment, a talented singer/songwriter with an eclectic vibe would be the perfect fit for this lively, spunky, and off-the-wall gathering. If you’re ready to begin planning your own Summer Solstice Party at The Plant, we encourage you to start by reaching out to our friends at Bellini Blooms. They can help you set up a delightful Build Your Own Bouquet or a Custom Bouquet station at the event, allowing guests to create personalized floral arrangements that will enhance the festive atmosphere!
The Autumnal Feast
Who doesn’t love a beautifully curated autumn-inspired palette at a dinner party? Here’s to making Friendsgiving a cherished tradition that we can celebrate at any time throughout the year. Key elements include a feast-like spread arranged across a welcoming communal tablescape, candlelit (of course) with an assorted collection of charming candlesticks and candleabras, and lush, leafy arrangements that create a cozy atmosphere, making it feel like fall even in the heart of summertime.
This dinner concept presents yet another opportunity to incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables as decorations. Items such as pears, pumpkins, squash, and other food groups that epitomize the essence of fall can be featured along the tablescape. Additionally, a unique and interactive decor idea involves covering the entire table with white or brown parchment paper and providing a selection of crayons, allowing guests the freedom to expressively draw on the table's surface. While it may initially seem a bit childlike for an adult dinner party, you would be pleasantly surprised by the special and memorable final result that emerges when everyone contributes their own unique drawings throughout the evening!
Another great brainstorm is to try and base your upcoming event theme off of a single striking color or a carefully curated color palette that harmonizes together! If that concept sounds too basic or overly straightforward, take a moment to look at some of these avant-garde event designs that have been created and crafted revolving around specific color choices that make a bold statement!
Cherry Red is one of the most trending colors of the year, and while we typically lean towards more natural-toned palettes for our decor, cherry has officially stolen our hearts. At The Plant Venue, we have an abundance of modern, minimalist backdrops that provide a stunning canvas for bold statements, such as vibrant pops of color that truly stand out against the picturesque white walls. Whether for intimate dinner events or holiday gatherings, this striking hue brings a couture element to any occasion.
The Sunset Palette Another gorgeous color palette is essentially a breathtaking sunset brought to life in every detail! Hues of vibrant orange, bright yellow, and a hint of deep, dark pink come together to create a bold yet dreamy atmosphere that’s easily adaptable for either a lively daytime gathering or an intimate evening celebration. These stunning colors make decor selection effortless, as you can add a refreshing twist to tables with actual fresh oranges and lemons along with other sunset-colored fruits, delightful treats, and enchanting florals that mimic the stunning shades of twilight!
Are your creative wheels turning yet? We hope this handful of concepts provides a spark of inspiration for you to take and make completely your own. One of the joys of bringing an event to life is that no event is ever exactly the same because a part of the host is transcribed in every detail. Even if you decide to work collaboratively with event professionals to help bring your vision to life (which we highly recommend), evidence of your unique creativity will undoubtedly shine throughout your guests’ overall experience, creating lasting memories. If you’re ready to start planning your unforgettable party at The Plant, reach out today to discuss ideas and make your dream a reality with us!
