Corporate dinner party ideas are trending — and with good reason. The best ideas don’t always happen in the office. Corporate dinner parties offer companies the chance to make meaningful connections (and brainstorm the next brilliant idea) around the comforts of the table.
We spoke with Ryan Hill, founder of Apotheosis Events, for his take on corporate dinners. His experience planning everything from large-scale galas to smaller corporate events makes him perfectly poised to offer insight about the changing nature of corporate gatherings.
“I think the landscape of the dinner party has evolved greatly since the power dinner era of the 80’s or 90’s,” says Hill. He notes, “Corporations are more focused on brand education via experiential learning than on dinner parties being settings for extravagance or negotiations.”
He goes on to say, “I find that my clients want to completely immerse their guests in their brand while making personal connections with them that may lead to deals down the road.”
So what does this mean for you? We’ve gone through hundreds of real events — curated by top corporate planners across the country — to find some of the best ideas for a more personable corporate event. These 8 corporate-dinner party ideas go beyond the convention center for a memorable experience that will elevate and promote your brand. Whether you are looking to connect business to business or business to consumer, check out these innovative ideas that prove work really can be fun.
1. Corporate Dinner Party Invitations
Make it Fun to Open
Los Angles, CA
Who doesn’t love opening a present? We adore how this invitation suite feels like a gift waiting to be unwrapped — while its design hints at the colorful and geometric décor later found throughout the celebration.
Make It Artistic
Chicago, IL
Your invitation offers guests a sneak peek of the party ahead. We love how this opalesque invitation makes a subtle nod to the ethereal décor — like pink-ribbon ceiling installations and plenty of crystal — gracing this elite planner’s event.
2. Corporate Dinner Party Venues
Elevate Your Celebration with a Glamorous Ballroom
Chicago, IL
Chicago wedding planners dined in style at this majestic hotel ballroom. We love how moody uplighting and towering candelabras go hand-in-hand with glittering crystal chandeliers and lofty ceilings.
Dine Al Fresco on a Hotel Terrace
Dallas, TX
Enjoy al fresco dining on a boutique hotel terrace for an elevated corporate luncheon or dinner. PartySlate celebrated their fall luncheon at Warwick Melrose, Dallas. Guests enjoyed a fall color palette, elevated cuisine (including homemade butternut ricotta ravioli), and fantastic networking opportunities.
Create Endless Photo Ops at a Picturesque Zoo
New York, NY
Guests at this Spring Awakening dinner party had plenty of reasons to “ooh” and “ahh.” A clear-tented space offered dazzling views of the zoo’s beautiful scenery and engaging exhibits.
Put on a Show at a Performing Arts Center
New York, NY
Take advantage of the stage at a performing arts center and have a little music (or a lot) with your dinner. We love how six-foot custom-made wheat fans captured the varying hues of uplighting perched above the stage — which was also echoed in the table décor.
Host a Hip Dinner Party at an Industrialized Warehouse Space
Boston, MA
Think of a renovated industrial warehouse as a blank canvas. Soaring ceilings and truss systems allow for suspended ceiling décor and statement-making lighting installations — so you can wine and dine against the backdrop of your choice.
Make Time for a Rooftop Cocktail Hour
Chicago, IL
Before heading outside for breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline, guests indulged at a Negroni fountain for ready-made cocktails. When it came time for dinner, guests headed downstairs to an elegant private event room.
Put a Twist on the Corporate Office Space
Chicago, IL
An intimate museum space feels intellectual, yet stylish. While this corporate dinner had only twelve seats at the table, guests dined in the presence of some of history’s greatest writers — along with a host of colorful blooms.
For Great Food, Think Restaurant
Chicago, IL
Private dining options often eliminate the need to bring in outside décor or rentals. The private dining room at Eden’s in Chicago wows with moody wall murals that evoke “the moment before a gentle rain washes away the hustle and bustle of the city.”
3. Corporate Dinner Party Décor
Point Guests in the Right Direction
Atlanta, GA
Cute signage pointed guests in the right direction at this vibrant employee event. With so many fun activities on hand (did someone say caricatures?), we wish we could step in all directions at once.
Create Room Dividers With Lush Foliage
Ranch Palos Verdes, CA
Guests enjoyed a sense of privacy with potted trees artfully positioned between each banquet table. In a world where “social distancing” is the new normal, we love this creative (and aesthetic) way to partition an event space.
Promote Your Brand (and Sense of Style)
New York, NY
Promoting your brand is as much art as it is science. We love how bareMinerals wowed guests through every course of the meal with a gorgeous branded backdrop.
Get Blown Away With a Gorgeous Balloon Installation
Los Angeles, CA
A ceiling installation of lustrous balloons draws all eyes to the event area of your choice. We love how clusters of metallic-gold balloons paid homage to the Golden Globes at this viewing party.
Dim the Lights
Los Angeles, CA
With the right lighting, this 9000-square-foot raw warehouse event space becomes the perfect venue for an intimate dinner party. We love how the surrounding darkness creates a dramatic dining experience.
Create a Sense of Intimacy With Elevated Foliage
Los Angeles, CA
Elevated foliage added a sense of intimacy to this stylish dinner party. We love how the bright-blue pillars add a pop of color to the scene.
Set Up a Projection Screen
Beverly Hills, CA
Hollywood influencers enjoyed on-theme visuals at this intimate launch party. We also love the unique ikebana-inspired centerpieces gracing the banquet table.
Create a Cozy Ambiance With Drapery
Hilton Head Island, SC
A large ballroom can still feel intimate with the right design. Soaring ceilings allowed for heightened drapery at this luxurious dinner for event industry professionals — creating a private space for thoughtful conversations.
Enjoy the Outdoors (Without the Risk of Bad Weather)
Washington, D.C.
This Enlightened Creative launch party brought garden vibes to this contemporary event space with elevated greenery, Moroccan-inspired lighting, and playful pops of color.
4. Corporate Dinner Party Themes
Trick or Treat
Miami, FL
Spider-like black candelabras, victorian-style seating, and skull-crowned dinner plates made this exclusive dinner for Miami event planners as spooky as it was chic. We also love how colorful cocktails matched the vibrant tablescapes.
Art Deco Delight
Chicago, IL
Dramatic floral arrangements and black accents made this dinner party both stylish and unique. We especially love the art-deco style lounge area for mingling and cocktails.
Bali Bash
Look: We love how coconuts served as vases at this Bali-inspired event. A colorful boxwood backdrop gave guests the perfect photo op, while artisans from Bali were on hand to show how jewelry is handmade.
Modern & Monochromatic
Chicago, IL
From seating to tablescapes, every décor element was a mix of black and white at this ultra-chic dinner party. We especially love how a funky lucite chandelier added an extra contemporary touch to this glamorous affair.
Fit for Royalty
New York, NY
Deep purples and golds made this dinner party a regal affair. We adore the gold-plated menus and luxe purple linen that transformed this farm table into a banquet table fit for royalty.
5. Corporate Dinner Party Table Décor
Impress With Instagrammable Place Settings
San Francisco, CA
Every element of this dinner party for women in tech, hosted by Instagram, is picture perfect. We can’t stop thinking about the gorgeous tablescapes and colorful ceiling installations.
Let the Linen Steal the Spotlight
Dallas, TX
Guests found their seats at a gorgeous place-card wall — composed of luxe swatches — before heading to a delicious dinner (served on more stylish linen, of course).
Get Creative With Unique Centerpieces
Miami, FL
A winding metal sculpture crowned with yellow roses (and suspended yellow calla lilies) was just one of several innovative centerpieces found at this glamorous dinner party.
Go for Contrast Colors
New York, NY
Silvery tablescapes glow with ethereal beauty against a backdrop of ocean-blue uplighting. We also adore how seashell plating furthers the deep-sea vibe.
Tie Your Color Palette to Architectural Details
New York, NY
Colorful centerpieces and gold votives mimic the gorgeous colors seen in the stained glass windows of this unique event space. Other gold details include vibrant uplighting and petal-shaped dinnerware.
Let Each Table Boasts Its Own Style
West Hollywood, CA
This elegant dinner party featured three distinct table designs. Although each table boasted a unique aesthetic, they created a harmonious composition when viewed all together.
Make It Monochromatic
Chic yellow linen and bright-yellow blooms were just the beginning of this yellow-forward celebration. Several varieties of yellow cocktails also added to the monochromatic setting.
Bring in the Blooms
New York, NY
Ombre-style floral centerpieces wowed against an ivy-covered backdrop at this stylish event space. We especially adore how evening brought on a romantic (and mysterious) atmosphere — along with plenty of candlelight.
Get Dramatic With Glassware
Boston, MA
Dark wine glasses add a touch of intrigue to this cheerful tablescape of silvery linen, pale-yellow seating, and bright florals. Best of all, mirrored-gold plating reflects the goblets and creates a glamorous shimmer across the banquet table.
Focus on the Details
Kapalua, HI
A beautiful tablescape is all in the details. At this oceanside corporate dinner party, custom-painted charges paired perfectly with lacy linen, dreamy drapery, and lush pink florals.
6. Corporate Dinner Party Catering
Let Each Bite Stand on Its Own
Chicago, IL
We love how each individual bite boasted a glass-bell dome of its own. Other delicious treats from this dinner party included appetizer spoons and savory ice cream cones.
Entertain Guests With Onsite Mixologists
New York, NY
You can expect an artistic celebration when Broadway stars and collaborators get together for dinner. In addition to the gorgeous ikebana-inspired décor, a drip-brew cocktail station made this event a haven for artistic temperaments.
Keep the Catering On-Theme
King George, VA
This gorgeous “Field to Vase” dinner party boasted one photo op after another. From lavish tulip chandeliers to garden-like savory ice-cream cones, every aspect of this celebration was picture-perfect and on-theme.
Wow Guests With Avant Garde Presentations
Paradise Valley, AZ
This avant garde-themed dinner party boasted imaginative face masks, colorful tablescapes, and creative cuisine. We especially adore how bowls doubled as spoons and shaved broccoli bites evoked a fairytale forest.
Remember, Presentation Is Everything
New York, NY
This candlelit corporate dinner party kept the catering front and center with artful presentations, fresh ingredients, and delectable spreads.
Allow for Mingling With Passed Bites
Miami, FL
Make sure guests have the opportunity to network before a seated dinner with delectable passed bites like at this outdoor corporate dinner party.
Think Outside the Dinner Plate
Clifton, NJ
Nothing gets guests talking like creative catering. This product launch brought food to the forefront of the conversation with edible serving dishes that ranged from woven wafers to scooped melons.
Make It Immersive
New York, NY
This influencer VIP dinner delivered a farm-to-table experience that went beyond mere menus. Lush centerpieces doubled as educational signage. Make sure to see the perfectly branded photo op that kept this dinner’s theme front and center.
7. Corporate Dinner Party Entertainment Ideas
Keep the Vibe Going With the Right Music
New York, NY
Crocheted doilies brought the boho-vibe of this exclusive dinner party to the DJ booth. We also adore how printed Mandalas made for a gorgeous backdrop (and unique seating chart).
Bring Your Brand to the DJ Booth
Lanai City, HI
This Gala dinner, hosted by Hennessy, featured far more than just spectacular food. We love how this company beautifully promoted their brand with themed greeters, a mirrored logo on the dance floor, and an on-theme DJ-booth backdrop.
Hedge Your Bets
San Francisco, CA
This chic corporate dinner kept guests engaged with casino games, plus other on-theme elements like poker-chip cocktail garnishes.
8. Corporate Dinner Party Favors
Personalize the Party Favors
Los Angeles, CA
From now on, cutlery etiquette may have to include personalized candles. We love how each guest received a beautiful, personalized party favor — in addition to a sumptuous sit-down dinner in this chic tented space.
Make It Memorable With Branding
New York, NY
Every element of this dinner party has us swooning — including the wall of branded keychains. We also love how guests entered the dining space on a uniquely branded staircase.
Take-Home Gifts for Lasting Memories
Inverness, IL
Guests made their own coasters — and life long memories — with a chic array of stamps. Other fabulous corporate dinner party ideas from this Valentine’s Day event included a live-cooking demo and on-theme décor.
People Also Ask…
Where can I find a corporate event planner?
Planning a corporate event doesn’t have to be stressful. Use PartySlate to connect with talented corporate planners to execute your vision. Your planner will take the stress out of the planning process, be the main touch point for your vendor team — allowing you to sit back and focus on your business.
Where can I find a venue for my corporate dinner party?
Head to PartySlate’s curated venue directory to find the perfect event space for a seated dinner. Use the filters to narrow your search by location, guest count, amenities, and more.
You can also use PartySlate to find a stunning private dining space, with recommendations from some of the top event planners in the country.
Why should I host a corporate dinner party?
Hill of Apotheosis Events shares why companies are switching from office meetings to dinner, saying, “The ROI is no less important, but the strategy has changed completely. Corporations want people to understand their brand, and for that to happen quickly.
“For example, at a dinner we produced for John Hardy, we had a laser focus on how to bring the brand to life using sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. The focus was on the story, the sensory experience and deepening relationships — and fun, it always has to be fun.”
Partyslate is your go-to resource for event planning and inspiration. Click on the following to stay on top of the latest corporate trends as well as explore evergreen ideas for a timeless celebration:
- 21 Corporate Event Trends Companies Should Know for 2023
- 26 Creative Corporate Event Ideas to Level Up Your Guest Engagement
- Corporate Party Ideas to Cultivate Connections
featured planner
TYGER Productions
We love how this Boston and New York-based event company pairs seamless planning services with innovative and experiential design. Serving private, non-profit, and corporate clients, TYGER | Event Design + Production uses a turnkey approach to facilitate everything from planning and design to florals and in-house décor. photo courtesy of: TYGER Productions