Being the total-package NYC event planner that you are, you are always brimming with ideas for making your next event even more memorable than the last. You also know that when it comes to creating a memorable and wildly immersive experience for your guests, a themed corporate event is an excellent way to go. Or, rather, a well-executed themed event is an excellent way to go. There are so many possibilities when it comes to ideas for corporate event themes. However, no matter what idea you’re thinking of – whether it’s an ever-popular Casino Night or a good ole decade like the Eighties, it is not the inspiration that matters. It is all in the execution.
To this end, planning and perfectly executing a customized menu that reflects your theme is the shortest path to creating a memorable experience for your guests. Food being food – generally enjoyable, necessary for life – guests generally look forward to the cuisine part of any event. And whether the cuisine is a high point or a low point, you can be sure the attendees will be talking about it, and the planner who planned it.
Here is a list that will help you knock out the details for creating a customized menu that perfectly reflects your theme.
1. Starting with the Obvious, Define Your Theme
Let’s not waste too much time on the obvious. Of course, you cannot plan a customized themed menu before you settle on a theme. The possibilities for event themes your clients will love are as endless as your creative spirit, and once you decide on one of them, it will naturally guide you through all of the other detailed decisions you must make about presentation, ingredients, dietary restrictions, cultural sensitivities, and a hundred other considerations.
2. Pin Down the Details of Event Design
The next step is to start crafting every aspect of the event design that will be influenced by the theme. This can involve so much more than you might think at first. The color palette and decoration, yes and yes. But it’s more than the décor. It’s the layout of the venue, the flow of activities, the lighting – you know, all those small but mighty important details that come with the territory.
But this time, you’ve taken the trouble to come up with a theme, so now you must view every detail of design through the lens of that theme. Careful attention to the design details will be key to executing your theme and creating a truly one-of-a-kind experience for your guests. (You’ll also burnish that sterling reputation while you’re at it.)
3. Know Your Audience
This may be a bit of a no-brainer. You always consider your guest’s dining preferences, and you’re not stopping now. As you curate your themed menu, there are questions you should ask yourself. Do you anticipate your event will draw a health-conscious crowd or more of a fried Oreo demographic? (Who belongs in a fried Oreo demographic? A question for another time.)
Also, as always, consider any allergies or dietary restrictions to consider when planning your customized menu. Staff serving food should be familiar with every ingredient on the menu and able to competently answer any questions your guests may ask.
4. Connect the Culinary Dots
Imagine the heady spices of a Moroccan Night theme. Beautiful trays of mint juleps for a Kentucky Derby theme. Delectable and mildly disturbing sugar skulls for Day of the Dead. You get the picture. In addition, inform your guests if there is anything on the menu that is steeped in the significance of your theme, perhaps with informational cards on the table, or an interactive experience, or the ability of the servers to talk about the cuisine.
5. Remember the Magic Words: Thematic Consistency
Imagine you’re at brunch with your event planner friends, and everyone is whispering about a recent Black Tie Gala. The guests, dressed in their finest, were not served sparkling champagne coupes or gold-dusted truffles, as one might expect. But there were lots of tacos. Guacamole. Tequila flights. For dessert, a tower of churros. Yet, it is not simply the food. Thematic consistency is about the entire experience. It’s about the presentation of the dishes, the knowledge of the staff, the mood that is evoked by your theme, and the sensory experience of your guests.
As you sift through a thousand ideas for your next themed event, don’t miss the opportunity to find even more inspiration from top caterers and vendors. The Event Planner Expo 2025 is taking shape, and go-getting NYC event planners are already snapping up tickets. So, what are you waiting for? Buy your tickets NOW to get your event planning to the next level.
