21 Corporate Dinner Themes to Make Your Employees Excited for the Next One

Introduction

Ensure your company has a stellar night out with these ten wonderfully entertaining themes.

There’s a lot to be said about an entertaining gala. It brightens employee’s perspective of their work life. Themes can be anything on the spectrum from ostentatious, classy, fun or even all-out ludicrous. In some cases, we invite you to quite literally have a ball! So without further ado here is a list of annual dinner themes ideas that will ensure that a memorable experience is had by all.

1) James Bond

There is something very luxurious about the 007 experience. Opt either for a string quartet or playlist of Bond’s smoothest hits in order to get the right ambience. A red carpet as well as cardboard figurines of all the Bond actors are essential so fun selfies can be taken.

A James Bond quiz round might be a step too far and end up being dull. Steer closer to the more inventive activities, even laser shooting is a great option to create a fun, high energy party.  Casino games will add a sense of class to the occasion. The guests have a lot to contribute to this evening as most of the glamour is created through the smart suits and ball gowns, so a black tie request is a must!

2) Arabian Nights

Rich, ruby reds and silky Moroccan music is the basis for this evening. Low hanging lights and even lower seats around a candle lite feast of spices, tagines, flatbreads, and hummus.

This authentic Moroccan experience can be made more magical by a suspended flying carpet and a magic lamp. Belly dancers and snake charmers can be surprisingly easy to find and hire online. For even more fun have belly dancing or hand drumming classes.

3) The White House

Given the current residents of Kuala Lumpur’s most famed building this is a fun night out. From the famous Lincoln to Trump and all those in between there is sure to be a very diverse range of costumes. Plaster Malaysian flags and set up a presidential office entrance. Hire a politic impersonator to greet guests throughout the dinner. For even more entertainment have a vote on who within the company would make the best candidate for next in office! There is a lot of room for creativity in this theme as it’s fresh and current.

4) Jungle

Take your guests deep into the Amazon rainforest to an exciting, hair-raising evening. Hiring an obstacle course with a vine-like rope to swing from upon completion can often elicit Tarzan-like roars from workers. Although not the most common there is always positive feedback for this jungle experience. Given the obstacle course, dress is more often casual which can fit well with a modern company ethos. Drape vine leaves along the walls and combine with green, low lighting to make the venue feel like a canopy. Tribal percussion music creates an exotic tone for the night.

5) Happily Ever After

This one is very successful if done right. This means to stay away from cliches and fairytale stereotypes. So here’s a refreshing grown-up take on the children’s classics. A royal invitation will really set the tone off for this extravaganza. It’s then a matter of coaxing workers to change out of their office attire and instead opt for more creative outfits. Jesters, kings, princesses: a lot of fun can be had with this theme.

As for the decor, a castle backdrop with a lot of trailing gauze along the walls and banquet style dining set up is desirable. Getting a bard to recite a few poems or a harp player would make the evening truly enchanting. To make it even more charming hire fairies to flit about and deliver gifts to people who win prizes.

6) Finding Nemo

If there’s one thing you can’t leave out at this particular party it’s an adult sand pit. The relaxing soundtrack of the movie written by John Newman will create a lovely atmosphere. Adding a projector emitting the rolling waves collapsing along a white beach leaves a lasting impression on guests.

Tie blue sashes to the chairs and fill fish bowls with sand and shells as centrepieces. Place funny quotes from the movie in the napkins. Blue balloons and surfboards will make people feel as though they are down under! Limbo dancing and hula hooping are great games to set up around the venue. The relaxed vibe of this evening may be exactly what the company needs to unwind and destress.

7) The Gatsby

This is all about British high brow culture. A ballroom is the ideal setting for this gathering and it really does revolve around the dancing. A string quartet serenading guests as they float between nibbling, talking and dancing the night away. It’s not often people get this kind of experience. Avoid balloons and disco balls to keep this from turning into a tacky teenage disco. Instead opt for flowers, candles and draping chiffon along the walls.

8) Frozen

This is the winter wonderland treat that employees deserve! From artificial icicles, frosted glass and even a snow machine there is no limit to the extent you can go with this theme. Winter charades can be a fun game or Name that Christmas Song. A little soft jazz wouldn’t go wrong in creating a cozy atmosphere either. Maybe go easy on the “Let it Go” theme tune or you might have guests leaving a little early!

9) Ancient Rome

This is one that pulls out all the stops. There is something incredibly impressive about a group of people dressed as golden gladiators or gods and goddesses in their togas and sandals. The ancient Romans were renowned for their love of partying and socializing so it makes for an ideal theme. Backdrops of the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa help create the Italian experience and be sure to place large pillars with platters of grapes for guests. It’s the finishing touches here that will really tie everything together.

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10) A Night in Japan

This theme is used to embrace all aspects of Japanese culture. Hire a sushi chef to show off his ridiculous knife skills. Invite guests to dress in oriental attire such as kimonos. Give diners the option to use chopsticks. Teach guests to learn the ceremonial art of tea drinking. For the more adventurous invite people to learn a bit of judo with a judo master in a “dojo” set up within the venue. Not only is this party fun and entertaining but it also teaches people of different cultural traditions.

Looking for event management in Malaysia? we are experienced in handling live events and activation campaigns, talk to us to find out how we can help to alleviate your event experience!

11) Crazy Rich Asians

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love opulence and luxury? Crazy Rich Asians is a popular show precisely for this reason: it shows the lives of the rich and famous and puts it in a light that makes them feel a little closer to the common folk.

Regardless of what kind of party or event you might be planning, a theme centered on Crazy Rich Asians is a pretty unique way to bring a touch of that VIP vibe into your big day. Aside from elegant decor and dress codes, you might also want to consider incorporating high-end, luxurious Asian decorations as well.

12) Masquerade

Mystery, history, refinement, and elegance – they are, without a doubt, associated with the classic Italian masquerade. People love costume parties, and the best part about a modern masquerade is that they don’t have to wear an actual costume – they can just wear elegant clothes (either black tie or white tie, depending on how you set the dress code) and an intricate face mask.

As for the event decor, we suggest you focus on velvet, red, gold, and creamy white. Feathers and candles will also help you create that Masquerade vibe filled with enigma and charm. Keep it on the over-the-top edge without combining too many colors or textures – remember, this needs to evoke a Rennaisance-like feeling!

13) That 70s Time

It doesn’t matter if your guests actually lived through the 70s or not – everyone loves a good retro theme, and the 70s will always be an inexhaustible source of inspiration and fun ideas of all kinds.

Geometric patterns, bold colors, neon lights and disco balls – they will help you bring the decade of Abba and BeeGees back and they will help you create an unforgettable, unique atmosphere at your party.

For an even more unique look, how about you evoke the Asian 70s? We are more than certain that some of your guests will feel a touch of nostalgia floating in the air, but done right, this theme can send a powerful message and it can definitely create a very special atmosphere – just take a look at the photo below to see what we mean!

As for the event decor, we suggest you focus on velvet, red, gold, and creamy white. Feathers and candles will also help you create that Masquerade vibe filled with enigma and charm. Keep it on the over-the-top edge without combining too many colors or textures – remember, this needs to evoke a Rennaisance-like feeling!

14) Shanghai Nights

Forget about the Arabian Nights, Shanghai Nights is the kind of event theme bound to conquer the hearts of your guests regardless of where they come from or what their culture may be.

A pop of color dominated by red and traditional motifs, red lanterns, flowers, candles – bring them all together in a tasteful way and allow your guests to be immersed in the Shangai culture for an evening of celebration and networking. There’s just no way they won’t love it!

Remember, you can always add a more modern twist to your Shanghai theme, like in the picture below, for example – perhaps a more minimalist view of the traditional Shanghai motifs, but definitely a great option for a corporate party where you really want to impress your guests with something special.

15) The Future’s Bright, the Future’s Neon

Looking for a futuristic theme that will impress guests and go very well with a tech event? A neon-based theme can be easily pulled off in a tasteful way as long as you focus on two or three colors.

Remember, this kind of event might not be that suitable for a very somber corporate party, but it could work very well for the after-party or for a party you organize for your employees. They will have tons of fun!

16) Hollywood

Depending on what exactly you are celebrating and who your target audience is, a Hollywood party might be a very welcomed idea. This goes well with business events as well, but you will have to be very careful not to fall into a kitschy area people have seen “played” at parties and events much too often.
Obviously, red and gold are the colors you should focus on. In addition to that, you might also want to center your event on Oscar and movie motifs. For example, in the picture below, you can see a candy bar that was tastefully incorporated into the theme with the help of just a couple of small touches.
Everyone dreams of being a VIP for a day at least – and this type of event is just the way to make your guests feel like stars on the red carpet!

17) The Golden Gala

Well, nothing screams elegance more than a gold-touched event, right? Some might think this can very easily become tacky, but the key lies in making sure that your gold touches are very well-chosen. 

Don’t cover your entire event in gold. Instead, find some colors to work with gold and use them as complements to tone down the shiny and over the top vibes of gold. For example, navy blue and white can be a very good option here, as you can see below. 

In addition to finding the right colors to tone down the gold in your event theme, you might also want to consider keeping it rather low-key in terms of surfaces that are covered in gold. For instance, if you will serve the dinner from golden plates, you might want just a couple of other golden touches on the table. If you want to use a golden table runner, you might also want to make sure that the vases and the larger plates and bowls are more neutral.

18) The Black Tie

You don’t see actually black tie events enough these days. Although the vast majority of events are elegant, they tend to lean towards the more casual approach (even when it comes to special life events such as weddings, for example).

If you yearn for a time of pure elegance and a dress code that allows your guests to truly pamper themselves with the best tuxedos and long dresses, pick a black tie theme and plan a party focused on black, white, and elegant minimalism. You cannot go wrong with this, really!

There are a thousand ways to plan for a “black tie” event, but focusing on black, as well as other neutral colors and a touch of something a bit more metallic (such as gold or silver) is one of the best ways to “attack” this kind of theme. Elegance at its finest, no doubt!

19) Alice in Wonderland

Over the top and crazy, colorful and yet ultra-elegant, unique and yet easy to recognize from a mile away, the Alice in Wonderland theme is an idea your guests have most likely never experienced before.

There’s something borderline psychedelic and mad about this theme, like an adventure in its own right. You can play around with Alice in Wonderland motifs: from the weird and kaleidoscope-like patterns to the clear symbols of the story: the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Red Queen of Cups, the White Queen, and even the fall of Alice through the tunnel that gets her into the magical world we’re all so familiar with.

Another way to incorporate the Alice in Wonderland theme into your party is by including tea party motifs in it: little cookies and tea sandwiches, as well as Alice-inspired cups and serving plates can make your dinner unforgettable!

This might seem like an idea for a children’s party, rather than an annual dinner, but when you do it right, you can create something really amazing! Here’s an example:

20) Superheroes

We all love them. Whether you’re a fan of the DC Comis superheroes or a fan of the Marvel ones, there’s a pretty good chance that you have seen at least one superhero movie or cartoon in your lifetime. And there’s an even greater chance that you liked it. You may even have a favorite hero.

A superhero-themed party is a fun way to play with color and with comic book-inspired motifs. From the classic “Boom” and “Pow” speech bubbles to the comic book aesthetic and color shades, there’s a world of marvelous magic awaiting for you when planning this kind of party. And if you want to really go all the way, you can even ask your guests to come dressed as their favorite superheroes! It might be more suitable for a more relaxed relationship with your guests, but it can sure win their appreciation!

And no, it doesn’t have to feel childish in any way – just take a look at these:

21) Back to School

Thought back to school is a theme only supermarkets and apparel stores can use when the summer’s over?

Think again. There’s something amazingly exciting about going back to school and evoking this at your annual dinner might actually be a great idea if you want your guests to have fun and feel just a little nostalgic over the school days.

You can incorporate blackboards, you can include typical school snacks, you can even ask guests to wear school uniforms (or at least their take on them). This can be a really fun event they will not forget easily! Here’s an idea of some of the ideas you could include:

Looking for event management in Malaysia? we are experienced in handling live events and activation campaigns, talk to us to find out how we can help to alleviate your event experience!

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