Category: Inspiration

Yeah baby. The concept of an Austin Powers-themed party may not be new, but this corporate event gave it a unique and imaginative perspective. The party’s innovative moments included an Austin Powers monument, King’s Guard photo ops, and groovy décor moments that transported guests back to the 60s. Not to mention, the clever menu names and serverware guests uncovered across the occasion.

Event inspiration — and lunch — is served. This deli-themed Bar Mitzvah put cozy cuisine at the forefront with delicatessen-inspired centerpieces, a take-out counter stocked with merch, and street view entrance-inspired stage. On the menu were classic deli dishes from pastrami sandwiches to New York famous black and white cookies, of course.

Meet us at this Midnight-themed Bat Mitzvah party. The Miami celebration took Taylor Swift’s second latest album and made it an entire event design. The album cover’s signature deep blue hues encapsulated every inch of the outdoor venue, from shades of blue sparkling off of mirrored furniture to neon ropes lighting up palm tree trunks. And we have to sing the praises of the midnight blue Shake Shack burger stand.

Bring the desert to you. This 60th birthday created a private “music festival” for friends and family thanks to an epic beach setup. The party décor was anything but dry, with luxe lounges built into the sand, an intricate laser cut DJ booth backdrop, a “main stage” inspired bar, and elaborate sea creature-inspired sand castles framing the scene.

Welcome to the future. It’s no secret AI has taken over. From professional to personal use cases, it seems everyone is getting on board with systems that will do the work for you. Rather than fight the change, this Bar Mitzvah celebrated it. The party infused artificial technology-inspired prints and details into its design. Then took it one step further by incorporating actual AI into the party space via large-scale screens and projections that ran throughout the night.

Welcome to 1942. Guests stepped out of Los Angeles and into Rick’s Café Américain at this Casablanca-themed birthday. The event design evoked nostalgic glamour and romance with velvet red draping, antique props, a 250 pound bronze orb, and tropical projection lighting that covered the venue from floor to ceiling, and  As for the guest of honor? Here’s looking at you, kid.

The Irish countryside never looked better (even from Orlando). This birthday party was all about celebrating the guest of honor’s Irish heritage — and we love this theme idea for absolutely any culture. A few of our favorite moments include the floral sheep (yes, really) that popped up across the venue, and micro oak kegs that served as the perfect guest place cards. Not to mention, the monogrammed “pub” that celebrated the birthday boy — and offered guests endless spirits out of Ireland all night long. Now we understand why they call it the luck of the Irish.

Paint the town — whatever color you want. A fun-loving expression turned into a food-focused party theme at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Paint chips and color swatches lined catering stations, while apps were passed atop splattered serveware and next to colored paint cans. Waiters and waitresses wore paint splashed aprons and berets as guests dressed to impress in outfits inspired by their favorite art pieces. The best part? Each menu item was a work of art in itself, from artful hors’devours to painted macarons.

This one’s for the millennials. Take guests back to your favorite decade like this 2000s-themed birthday party. Guests arrived in their best bedazzled jeans and butterfly clips to find retro lockers, electric purple fringe, and neon pink furniture. If we didn’t know any better, we’d think we walked into Lizzie McGuire’s closet.

Take your garden party to the next level with an in-season veggie or fruit theme. That’s right, this summer dinner party was inspired solely by the host’s love of tomatoes. From vines of grape tomatoes dressing the bar to bowls of roma and cherry tomatoes on tabletops, guests were treated to the freshest of dinner designs — and menus. Dishes were infused with juicy tomatoes, of course, while the menu itself was scribed in a sundrenched tomato hue. All to say, we’re planting the seed for more produce-themed dinner parties this year.

A good party is often defined by its entertainment — and there’s nothing quite as entertaining as a Cirque du Soleil performance. Turn that into a theme and you’ve got an equally unique and epic event. This Bat Mitzvah evoked all the senses with immersive designs, photo ops, performances, and more. In true Cirque style, guests stepped right up to an imaginative circus, far from the traditional carnivals of the past. We would buy an entry ticket now if we could.

XOXO. Any Gossip Girl fan remembers the iconic masquerade ball episode — and this 21st birthday party made an entire party theme out of it. Decadent draping, a wall of chic eye masks, dripping hydrangea arrangements, and plenty of flickering candles set the scene for a moody, Manhattan-inspired night. Trust us, a unique party theme like this will appease even the pickiest of Upper East Siders.

Salvador Dali’s imaginative and bizarre artwork came to life at this 60th birthday dinner. A theme so funky, fresh, and clever we can’t believe we didn’t think of it ourselves. The dreamscape setting came to life with floral-bound frames quite literally framing tables, making the dinner itself a work of art. Funky furniture, place settings, and neon backdrops completed the eccentric celebration.

Who doesn’t love snack time? When this Bar Mitzvah planner asked the guest of honor what he likes as they brainstormed a party theme, he replied snacks — and the rest was history. The bodega-inspired celebration featured shelves of pantry items, a snack bar (of course), and passed apps including Ramen noodle cups and bags of french fries. Custom monogrammed boxes of cereal, cookies, crackers, and more propped photo ops and backed bars. Was this the best Bar Mitzvah menu ever? We imagine young guests thought so.

Are you ready for it? For Abby and Phil’s wedding welcome party, they greeted guests to their very own “eras tour” — symbolizing notable milestones and stages from their own love story. The experiential party theme took guests through time with cocktails and beverages, including a “freshman year” corner with red solo cup cocktails. To take the theme a step further, guests found themselves with backstage passes and personalized tour merchandise. We imagine this party theme will be remembered All Too Well.

From Dior to diapers, this expecting mom did not hold back when it came to an all-encompassing baby shower theme. The designer theme design was all in the details, from a “Parfumerie” to a “Fleurs” bar, and a pink-draped tent that set the scene. Not to mention, every element was covered in the party’s signature blush pattern — lamp shades, menus, charger plates — you name it, this team thought of it. Our favorite part might have to be the passed pink mocktails, or maybe the designer pink chocolate covered strawberries.

“The team. The team. The team.” That may be Michigan football’s motto, but it’s also the secret to the perfect themed party. Having an incredible vendor team behind you is the difference between a memorable party and an underwhelming event. This Michigan football-themed Bar Mitzvah was perfectly executed, from mini helmet and foam finger-lined tablescapes to catering moments decked out in the school’s symbolic Maize and Blue hues. When it comes to a creative party theme, leveraging your favorite team is always a win.

Palm Beach inspiration was all the rage last year thanks to Kristin Wig’s iconic performance in Palm Royale. And with season 2 already in the making it’s no surprise that the glamorous town is still a hot topic — and party theme. This milestone birthday party not only took inspiration from the hit series, but also The Colony Palm Beach, a boutique hotel known for coating every inch of its spaces and rooms in the destination’s iconic pink and green palette. The theme pairs retro moments inspired by the show with glamorous hotel details, including a room key wall in place of a classic seating chart.

Is pickleball becoming America’s pastime? The the paddle sport has skyrocketed in popularity — and will certainly be an epic party theme in 2025. This networking event gets major points for making a country club green spritz wall, pickleball paddle wall photo op, and a paddle backdrop behind the bar. Throw in an actual pickleball court for guests to play and you’ve served up the perfect experiential party theme.

The first Monday in May is iconic for a reason. The annual MET Gala is host to some of the best red carpet fashion moments of the entire year —which made it the perfect inspiration for this Vogue-worthy wedding. Red hot mannequins were sprawled around the reception space along with fashion-forward floral moments and A-list worthy designs. Lucky invitees were certainly in for an experiential treat. Who doesn’t love a themed wedding?

Our kind of vacation. A sweet tooth-inspired hotel was the concept of this milestone birthday party — and the proof is in the pudding (and the rows of cakes, and the shelves of ice cream, and the tiers of macarons). The innovative celebration shows you can make a unique party theme out of anything — including your love of a decadent dessert. From a sprinkle donut bathroom mirror to a cotton candy photo booth, our mouths are watering at every sugar-inspired corner.

“Just fold it in!” Schitt’s Creek may be over, but the love for its 80 episodes will never fade. This wedding after party took inspiration from the couple’s favorite series — and of course, their favorite character Moira Rose. “Moira’s Wig Bar” was the perfect way to make a unique party theme moment an experience for guests — even if they don’t appreciate the brilliantly selfish character that is Moira, they can still enjoy her need to have a wig for every occasion.

A sweet bridal shower deserves an adorable theme, and this “She’s off the market” celebration was as clever as it is cute. As a prequel to the bride’s upcoming Lake Como wedding, the shower brought inspiration from Italian markets to the table. Fresh flowers emerged from ceramic colanders, while fresh focaccia filled plates. Caterpillar tablescapes, striped signage, and citrus details were just the cherry on top.

Where has the time gone? It feels like just yesterday Lily Collins as Emily was starting her journey to Paris on the Netflix show Emily in Paris, and now the series is renewed for a 5th season. Bat Mitzvah guest of honor Emelie used the series’ lasting success to her advantage by making it an entire party theme — and casting herself as the main character, of course. Street performers, French cafes, macaron carts, and a floral Eiffel Tower were just a few of the elements that transported guests from New York to the capital of France.

Where there’s a classic saying, there’s a party theme. The theme of this baby shower? ”On Cloud 9.” The party’s inspiration is clear as day thanks to ethereal white drapery decorated by overhead clouds, sky blue velvet chairs, and white floral tablescapes. Meanwhile, plush white lounges with comfortable cushioned couches left guests feeling like they were floating on clouds. The dessert bar was another slice of heaven, with sky-inspired confections from delicate cookies to exquisite cake pops. When it comes to unique party themes, the sky is truly the limit.

Los Angeles, CA

This Princess and the Frog-inspired Quinceañera went all-in on sage with luxurious draping, custom furniture, and lots of greenery. The visionary team at Revelry Event Designers conjured an elegant Southern tableau.

Strathmere, NJ

This vibrant vintage-style wedding featured an open-air tent which made the most of its water views. Winding tables with wishbone chairs from were decked out with a variety of sage linen from BBJ La Tavola for a playful aesthetic.

San Juan Capistrano, CA

This Palm Springs-inspired wedding evoked a lush desert landscape with florals and brush flanking the winding wood plank aisle. Natural elements like woven bamboo furthered the elegant earthy vibe.

Los Angeles, CA

This event evoked the moodiness of New Orleans with fern and moss “growing” upwards and cascading down over sage drapery. The lush greenery enveloped guests in a sense of place — far from the towering palm trees of its locale.

New York, NY

This indoor forest wedding from Colin Cowie Lifestyle proves that you don’t need fresh air for a fresh affair. The urban setting is an unexpected locale for such a lush vision, which the team brought to every tabletop with unique woodsy greenery.

Indio, CA

This Broadway-loving couple was surprised by a medley that included songs from Hamilton, Wicked, Kinky Boots and more — all with custom lyrics to honor their love. The dinner performances, including creative drag queen interpretations of their favorite shows, delighted guests at the four-day affair.

Aspen, CO

This Alice in Wonderland-themed wedding featured memorable entertainment moments, including the roaming, stilted Queen of Hearts who towered over guests during dinner. The top planners at Bliss Productions ensured that every whimsical detail evoked the joy and wonder of the day.

Tabernacle, NJ

This wedding’s combination of stark black seating and white florals flanking its runway aisle is style personified. The ceremony’s elegance carried over to the richly appointed reception.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

This luxurious all-white ceremony’s runway aisle is a standout feature with its mirrored floor reflecting and enhancing the grandeur of the surroundings. The aisle is both functional and a statement centerpiece of this memorable multi-day wedding.

Los Angeles, CA

This first anniversary party brought iridescent glamour to every element, from the towering welcome arch to the lighting, menus, and even dance floor. John & Joseph Photography captured every shiny moment, including the cake which recreated the iridescent vibe in frosting form.

Strathmere, NJ

The iridescent chargers at this vibrant wedding brought playfulness to this elegant tablescape, and mimicked the water views with their undulations.

Santa Susana, CA

Images By Lighting created a unique vision by leveraging projection mapping to display a pattern onto this towering tent. The team took a blank white surface and transformed it with light against mountains and the night sky.

Punta Mita, Mexico

This oceanfront wedding was the epitome of elegance, with cream and sand tones mixed with rich greenery. However, the pleated draping on the ceiling of the waterside tent is a wow factor unlike any we’ve seen.

Miami Beach, FL

Every element on the table of this bright wedding created a cheerful aesthetic. From the bright red tassels and striped ribbon to the stacked chargers and plates that offer rounded shapes to offset the sharp stripes on the tabletop.

Richmond, VA

Something Vintage Rentals ensured that every table at this midsummer party had its own unique vibe. Each setting is a study in maximalism beauty with opposing patterns and vintage accoutrement that work together for unique and varied aesthetics. 

Indio, CA

Black and white palettes are always in style and this striped tent embodies joyful elegance. The grooms’ classic tuxedos further the pairing, which was rounded out by rich greens and peach florals.

Los Angeles, CA

This delightful summer birthday party took its cue from Mother Nature, with lemon hues infusing every detail. The striped, billowing drapery complemented the striped linen, both of which created a playful vibe. Don’t miss the lively puppy petting zoo and roller rink.

Houston, TX

This milestone birthday featured a lush palette of rich red, deep cerise, and stark black. Striped cocktail and dinner menus brought vibrant color to the bar and tabletops at the elegant affair.

Nantucket, MA

Pops of periwinkle and lime green marry perfectly at this seaside wedding in Nantucket. In addition to a few nautical nods in the place cards and desserts, tiny birds flit among florals on the fanciful linen to complete the vintage preppy aesthetic.

Philadelphia, PA

This maximalist wedding mixed colorful florals and block print designs with abandon — to beautiful effect. We especially love the happy birds “perched” on the dinnerware and custom bar.

Los Angeles, CA

This garden wedding from Mindy Weiss Party Consultants brought nature into its glassed-in reception with garlands of greenery suspended over tables festooned with bright florals. The custom-made cocktail bar featured hand-painted flowers and ethereal hummingbirds perched or mid-flight. Don’t miss the Taylor Swift-themed afterparty.

Chester, PA

This fairytale wedding wowed with unique décor and creative cocktails. Guests were able to see their cocktails infused live, resulting in vibrant hot pink sips. Click to see the unique floral ceiling installations from Fresh Designs: Flora and Events that launched trends earlier in the year.

New York, NY

PartySlate hosted this corporate gathering, partnering with the renowned team at Abigail Kirsch Catering for wow-worthy fare — and they did not disappoint. Their food and drink stations included a citrus station called Zest + Zing with orange-infused espresso martinis created by a live pour-over, resulting in rich flavors and a beautiful display.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

This wedding gathering made guests feel at home with luxury design, custom furniture, décor, and draping — all of which worked together to create a welcome aesthetic. We love how the sectionals allow big groups to gather in a more casual way.

Cleveland, OH

“Guests gravitate toward spaces that invite relaxation and mingling, featuring stylish arrangements of plush sofas, accent chairs, layered rugs, and elegant side tables. These setups not only add warmth but also create designated areas for guests to connect, offering a unique balance of sophistication and comfort,” says Jessa Hochman of Event Source | Panache Events.

Tabernacle, NJ

We adore how personal and engaging this travel-themed place card wall is, not to mention its very on-trend shade sage green (see above). The installation is part art, part travelogue, and all chic.

Napa, CA

This gallery wall feels a bit like home. It’s as if you’re in a friend’s elegant living room viewing their favorite new art. This seating assignment display is elegant and minimal and perfectly complements the clean, modern design of this whole Napa event.

Indio, CA

This curated photo room is simple and elegant. The draping in back frames the subjects, while the draping in front makes it feel like you’re sneaking a peek in. We adore how the lighting is both decorative and functional.

Miami, FL

The Major Food Events Space provided the perfect glamorous, jewel-toned spaces for this corporate gathering held by PartySlate. Curate Entertainment played host to this photo room — a luxurious vision in red decked out with florals perfect for posing.

Houston, TX

For this birthday party, guests enjoyed bites from chic striped (again, trend alert) takeaway boxes personalized with “Danielle is 34.” They also dined from mini pizza boxes and ate treats from little bakery boxes.

Beverly Hills, CA

Friends and family at this sweet baby shower enjoyed all manner of beautiful bites — from stacks of little pancakes to miniature bowls of Caesar salad, each with its own tiny bottle of dressing. Containers sported the party’s pretty pink palette and the messaging: “Welcome to Karina’s Baby Shower.”

Los Angeles, CA

The bold black and white palette for this milestone birthday extended from the tabletops to the stage and onto the dance floor (and even the tiered cake). Stripes mixed with checks and there were swirls and clashes of patterns that added visual interest at every turn.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

This Alice in Wonderland-themed Bat Mitzvah celebration had creative details galore. From the oversized playing cards and giant mushroom art installations to the black-and-white checkered dance floor, which gave the illusion of a swirling hole to allude to the rabbit hole that main character Alice fell into.

Los Angeles, CA

At this beauty product launch for the LAWLESS brand, guests not only enjoyed a glam room and curated photo spots, but also engraved party favors. Partygoers were able to personalize their cosmetics with their name or other messaging.

Houston, TX

This birthday party for a little fashionista combined luxury and whimsy and allowed tiny guests to “shop” with “money” named after the birthday girl. Personalization options allowed for engraved passport books, gold embossed purses, and more.

Los Angeles, CA

This boho-chic pop-up centered around a sound bath for a calming good time. Guests sat on leather and knit Moroccan poufs under conical tents surrounded by lush California greenery before dining al fresco on fresh fare like nigiri and ripe fruit.

Washington, DC

This wedding featured spiritual elements at every table with pink crystals to infuse love into the affair, white for meditative calm, blue for truth, and so on. Guests also enjoyed an aura photo booth and an infinity dance floor.

Los Angeles, CA

This dreamy wedding was followed by an afterparty at “Rydell High” featuring a custom milkshake bar with a Taylor Swift tie-in, trophy displays, mirrored décor, lockers, monogrammed robes, and a disco DJ booth. The brides donned letterman jackets and danced all night.

Newburyport, MA

This Palm Beach-inspired 50th soirée featured pink pastel florals, linen, dinnerware, and more. Sporting elements were delicately and elegantly worked into the chic design — pink tennis balls, pastel ping pong tables, custom cookies in the shapes of tennis skirts and racquets, and more.

Los Angeles, CA

This garden wedding celebrated the happy couple — and Mother Nature. A mix of potted flowers and plants flanked the aisle, arch, and tabletops, and mixed beautifully with natural rattan elements.

Falmouth, MA

Winston Flowers perfectly executed the sophisticated boho aesthetic of this Berkshire wedding. Verdant potted greenery and soft blooms complemented the ocean blue linen and custom bar for a serene scene.

Rancho Valencia, Baja California, Mexico

This lush wedding immersed guests in bright pinks, sunny yellows, and vibrant purples. Cascading floral arrangements intermingled overhead with chandeliers and were grounded below by rich navy seating.

New York, NY

This colorful South Asian wedding managed to create such a captivating vision that it rivaled the rooftop views of Manhattan. The ceremonial arch was an explosion of vivid hues and the tabletops featured florals of varying shades and species that created a festive feel.

Richmond, VA,

This midsummer party not only featured playful place settings in our trend above, but also vintage glass- and serveware. In fact, PartySlate’s own in-house event planner has shared that silver trays are once again popular for serving cocktails and appetizers.

Houston, TX

“We are seeing a trend in glassware such as vintage speakeasy Nick and Nora glasses used for Martinis and specialty cocktails,” shares Cheryl Rebsch of Any Occasion Tents & Events. She notes that glam is overtaking rustic as a preferred style and that this glassware is part of that trend.

Chicago, IL

PartySlate’s own head of consumer marketing chose a love story menu for her elegant wedding. Hamburgers reflect the couple’s shared quest to find the best burgers in Chicago. Buns branded with the couple’s initials were served alongside crisp fries and icy cold glass bottles of soda.

Los Angeles, CA

The luxurious seaside vibe of rattan tied together every element of this garden oasis wedding. From the chic arches on the bar-fronts and backs to the lighting overhead, the pale, woven palm added to the charm of this verdant affair.

Santa Susana, CA

This garden wedding featured multiple scenery changes, from the airy nuptials to dinner in a draped white tent with on-trend sage design elements then to an emerald green-draped indoor dance party and again to a moody, club-style after-party. The light rattan chairs set a bright mood for the ceremony and dinner.

Strathmere, NJ

This seaside affair added a tropical preppy aesthetic with rattan design touches, like the chic supports for these wooden tables. The natural wood elements add warmth.

Richmond, VA

This luncheon encouraged guests to wear their wedding dresses again — and the décor fit the theme, with several lacy elements including a tiered cake with an intricate lace-like design.

Hedsor, England

This vintage-style garden reception featured a timeless aesthetic in cream and white. The lace-print linen added elegance and interest to every tabletop.

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

This glamorous multi-day wedding featured bespoke décor, like the undulating drapery suspended from the ceiling, giving the sprawling space a feeling of intimacy and elegance.

Chicago, IL

Draping panels of sheer fabric brings an ethereal vibe to this contemporary wedding, softening the space and defining the dance floor.