What Do You Choose First? The Venue Or Your Corporate Theme?

What happens first? Do you choose the right venue for your themed event - or choose the right theme for your venue space? You might be surprised to discover your venue decision depends heavily on the theme you wish to have.

While your stylist can transform a "blank space" function room into any theme, you will make your life MUCH easier and create an instant atmospheric impact if you choose a venue that reflects your theme.

For example, booking a surf club for an Alice in Wonderland tea party theme makes little sense and would require a lot of decorating to create the fantasy garden impression you're after.

Rustic theme event
A rustic event is clearly the polar opposite of a glamorous event and should never be held in a city hotel venue or function centre.

Why? You will never get the effect you want without having to add a lot more rustic props.

Rustic theme decor include natural materials, natural colours and greenery rather than floristry. Pallet furniture, wood slice cake stands, festoon lighting, wine barrels, hessian linen, antler chandeliers and antler placecard holders are popular decor choices.

Clever venue choices to complement a rustic event include an historic industrial-use building such as a wharf, warehouse, barn, shearing shed, farm, vineyard, or orchard. 

Destination theme event
A destination theme is perfect if you have an exotically themed product to promote, or if you want to tie it in with an annual event, such as Bastille Day, Day of the Dead, Independence Day, or St Patricks Day for example.

You'll want to include destination theme invitations, fun city-themed destination sweets for your dessert table and signage to show guests how to get to your venue.

Why not consider destination theme venue ideas like a Chinese restaurant, a Spanish tapas bar, a Bavarian beer hall, a Greek community centre, or a rooftop city bar which evokes a Manhattan New York feel.

Garden theme event
A garden theme event is the clear choice for a springtime party, and for companies who want to associate their products with nature, greenery and flowers. 

A garden party can range from classically elegant in restrained white, green and silver (think about the style of formal French parterre gardens) to super-colourful and vibrant such as for a tropical garden.

A city park, a pretty garden, botanic garden, a tree-lined estate or a conservatory are wonderful venue choices for a garden theme event.

Garden events are typically smaller and more intimate and usually take place during the day which make them excellent choices for a warm winter’s day as well. 

Vintage theme event
The vintage theme has surprising range. One popular type of vintage themeis Grandma's 1940s parlour with lace doilies, pretty tea cup sets, velvet upholstered loveseats and props like bakelite telephones and old-fashioned leather suitcases.

There is also the glamorous spin on vintage where you decorate with silver mercury glass centrepiece bowls, tea light candle holders and candlesticks with lots of flowers and candles.

Ideal vintage event venues include tea rooms, a library, rowing shed, convent, private estate, historical hotel or a National Trust property.

Beach theme event
If your immediate thought is sandy feet and hairdo-destroying breezes, think again.

There are at least four types of beach theme decorlooks including nautical marina, Hawaiian boho, rustic driftwood and underwater mermaid fantasy.

You can decorate with pineapples, fishing nets, iridescent baubles (to mimic bubbles), fish motifs, shells, clam shells, flamingoes, surfboard table numbers and/or blue colour wash lighting to get the beach look you want.

Booking beach theme venues such as a boat, a restaurant space next to water, in an aquarium, next to a beach or river, a surf life saving, sailing or yacht club all work beautifully for beach theme decor.

Understanding the venue's logistics, restrictions, and flexibility
Before you fall in love with a particular venue, you should know that the restrictions which apply to certain venues don't apply to others.

For example, a city park garden party is easy for guests to get to with public transport and great for kids to run around but it probably has strict closing times. On the other hand, an event in a vineyard may require overnight accommodation but you can stay up all night having fun without worrying about bothering neighbours.

Choosing the perfect venue is just one part of the process. Celebrations on a beach or public city garden have certain permits you need to obtain.

Consider some of these questions for your themed venue checklist:

•   Does the venue have sufficient parking spaces?

•   What type of permit should I secure?

•   Is it easy to locate?

•   Does it offer a sound system for the event?

•   Are loose confetti, bubble-makers, or other items allowed in the venue?

•   Is the venue close to locations where concerts or sports event happen which may make it hard to park or get to?

•   Is the location child-friendly?

Enjoyed this? Discover how these 9 Melbourne destination-themed venues could be perfect for a foreign brand product launch.