Special Event Ideas

Are you an event planner responsible for the special event ideas for a company, business, or office event? Or maybe it’s a casino or semi-private affair. Is that correct? Listen, of course we have a lot of creative event ideas listed for you below, but whether it’s a product launch, team building event, or a holiday party, drive this important point home. The more you can get your attendees and invited guests involved, engaged and talking about your event, the better! The objective is to put on an event that gives everyone unforgettable experiences while achieving the most important goals of the event itself. All the event decisions need to be aligned to support the achievement of that objective. After you get your ideas listed, begin thinking about how to cohesively blend those ideas into your event.

Creative Special Event Ideas

When it comes to creative special event ideas, there is one problem you are likely to face. The feeling of “been there, done that” alive and well in the minds of your guests the moment they are invited to the event. The truth is, they are likely right. But you can change that perception by doing something different and innovative from very the start. You can make them feel good when they think about the upcoming event. You can make them feel excited and eager to attend. You can make them feel important! And the sooner, the better!

So how do you accomplish that? You do something that no one else is doing. You do it with the most overlooked, untapped and underutilized opportunity available to you. The invitations! It’s true; the way you invite your guests and VIPs can make all the difference. So, be different!

Sending Gigeo® personalized video invitations is the easiest way to engage your guests and VIPs while creating a buzz long before your event begins.

Special Event Ideas for Planners

Listed below you will see a variety of inspiring, innovative, creative, and out of the ordinary event ideas to get your event planning headed in the right direction.

Confetti Cannons
Finish with a bang and have confetti cannons fire over the audience as a finale. You could also use handheld cannons for guests to let off throughout the night.

Personalized Gifting
It is important to get gifts that attendees will cherish, especially at special events or commemorative events. The perfect way to do this is through personalization. This may be engraving the employee’s name or nickname or something that suits their personality and represents them.

Countdown Clocks
Whether it’s Christmas, a new contract, or the end of some people’s tax year, you can add a countdown clock to create suspense! For large events, you can have a countdown digital wall projection for everyone to see.

Invite Past and Present
Long-term employees should be invited to celebrate milestones as part of the company’s history to realize that they have not been forgotten. For company events, retired employees who have served in the company for more than 10 years should be invited to celebrate their contributions. This is also an excellent network practice for employees of all ages.

Gourmet Chef
For smaller company events, have a gourmet chef to serve the group. They can make menus according to your company and the preferences of your guests. Everyone wants their favorite food, so why not make it gourmet!

bReminiscent of a high school prom, a balloon drop is still a great idea for company events! Add brand color balloons consistent with the theme and provide opportunities for sponsors to brand some balloons too.

VIP Chauffeur Service
Treat important corporate guests as VIP’s by offering a chauffeur service to and from your event. It provides them with greater drinking flexibility and avoids the issue of parking. Being driven home is a feeling of luxury and avoids a lot of hassle. You can provide chauffeur service as part of the VIP package.

Company Achievement Awards
Reward your employees by providing annual prizes! These could include travel experiences or exclusive privileges just at the office (like dibs on the best parking space!) Rewarding your employees can make them work hard throughout the year and motivate them.

Murals
Commission artwork or make murals to commemorate your event. It may contain your brand, the factors that make your business stand out and highlight your unique selling points. This would be a great idea to celebrate a milestone at your company, such as an anniversary.

Signage Table Confetti
Invest in small details by decorating your event tables with customized confetti. It can be your brand’s name or your company motto. Everyone will be taking photos and sharing them on social media!

Videography
Use video to add entertainment and sentimental value to your event. It can showcase a moment in company history or be interviews of attendees before the event. Edit the video and project it onto digital screens, which can be played throughout the night.

Iconic Guests
Have you always wanted celebrities, influencers, or industry-specific speakers to attend your events? Now it’s time to splash out on them; this is a special event, and you want to commemorate this event!

Open Bar
Everyone drinks for free! An open bar can prevent participants from worrying about money on drinks and focus on the event itself. If you don’t have a budget, you can put a fixed amount at the back of the bar or give away a customized cocktail for free.

Look to the Future
Usually, special events will focus on the past and see how things developed. While this is important, take this opportunity to show your potential. Set goals and announce milestones or new projects to inspire your guests.

Create an Event Time Capsule
Give yourself something to look forward to at your next milestone and create time capsules. Participants are invited to bring personal belongings to put in it and souvenirs from the night. But remember, if personal information is used in the capsule, permission must be obtained.

Temporary Rebranding
To commemorate the event, change your brand color or create an anniversary logo. This can highlight progress and spark customers and employees’ interest.

Custom Seating
Seating can be used to make attendees more comfortable and give them a unique experience. This could be a playful swing, a seat with a charging port, or a relaxing massage chair, anything that shows you care!

Paper Invites
It may seem like a small detail, but in the digital age, everyone receives electronic invitations. Fancy paper invitations with wax paper and calligraphy on thick paper will make your company stand out!

Reward Loyalty
Provide custom rewards for loyal guests, whether this is a personalized gift for long-term employees or discounts for guests who regularly attend annual events. This shows your appreciation and, therefore, will make them remain loyal – it’s a win-win!

Grand Venues
Pick a venue that showcases your occasion’s importance to leave a lasting impression on your guests. One idea is to visit a well-known racetrack and overlook the cars while having dinner. Alternatively, splash out on a private tour around a museum.

The goals and objectives of most corporate events can be very different from one event to the other. This makes the planning, production and execution of your event different from another event. Because of this, it can be quite challenging to stay focused on the corporate objectives and goals for the event you are planning. On top of that, there is always a demand to come up with new creative and innovative event ideas and guest experiences. And it really makes no difference whether the event is for live, in-person attendees or a virtual event.

TYPES OF CORPORATE EVENT OBJECTIVES
+ Stimulate Social Media Coverage
+ Motivate Sales Personnel
+ Entertain Executives And Managers
+ Create Press Coverage
+ Support Above The Line Marketing Activities
+ Making The Boss Happy
+ Changing Customers’ Perceptions
+ Making A Team Bond

CORPORATE EVENT PLANNERS RESPONSIBILITIES
+ Employee Training
+ Board Retreats
+ Product Launches
+ Focus Groups
+ Meetings
+ Team Building
+ Client Entertaining
+ Sales Meetings
+ Trade Shows
+ Corporate Hospitality
+ Conferences
+ Awards Ceremonies
+ Dinners
+ Seminars
+ Leadership Retreats
+ User Events

CORPORATE EVENT VENUE MAIN FACTORS
+ Staff
+ Timing
+ Tech Facilities
+ Infrastructure
+ Sustainability
+ Services
+ Climate
+ Catering
+ Accessibility
+ Location
+ Capacity

CORPORATE EVENT TYPES
+ Sales Meetings
+ Milestones
+ Celebrations
+ Focus Groups
+ Client Entertaining
+ Board Retreats
+ Corporate Hospitality
+ Corporate Parties
+ Product Launches
+ Employee Training
+ Leadership Retreats
+ Dinners
+ Conferences
+ Holiday
+ Business Anniversary
+ Seminars
+ Awards Ceremonies
+ Meetings
+ Team Building
+ User Events
+ Trade Shows

CHECKLIST FOR CORPORATE EVENTS
+ Contracting
+ Production
+ Registrations
+ Meeting Design
+ Event Design
+ Venue Catering
+ Audio Visual (AV)
+ Exhibitors
+ Registration
+ Event Technology
+ Offsite Venue
+ Final Preparation
+ Social Media
+ Branding
+ Speakers
+ Website
+ Research
+ Budgeting
+ Catering Arrangements
+ Project Management
+ Staffing
+ Meeting Engagement
+ Program
+ Performers
+ Event Decor
+ Health and Safety
+ Room Setup
+ Vendors/Suppliers
+ Communications
+ Event Marketing

INTERNAL EVENT CHECKLIST
+ Private Dinners
+ Parties
+ Meetings
+ Product Reveals
+ Training
+ Conferences
+ Award Ceremonies
+ Team Building
+ Board Retreats
+ Leadership Retreats
+ Sales Meetings

EVENT PLANNING CHECKLIST FOR PUBLIC EVENTS
+ Focus Groups
+ Seminar
+ User Events
+ Product Launches
+ User Conferences
+ Trade Shows Space
+ Client Entertaining
+ Event Exhibitors
+ Trade Show Booth Exhibits
+ Corporate Hospitality
+ Running A Public Exhibition

CORPORATE EVENT EXPERIENCES IDEAS
+ Matching Step and Repeat
+ Indoor Fields
+ Digital Walls
+ Climbing Wall
+ Photo Booth
+ Casino Tables
+ Performance Companies
+ Digital Forest
+ 360-degree Photo Booth
+ Bowling
+ VIP Shuttle
+ Selfie Props
+ Inflatable Games
+ Neon Light-Up Furniture
+ VR Game Experiences
+ Wine Blending
+ Hover Ball Archery

CORPORATE EVENT NETWORKING GAMES IDEAS
+ Segmented Escape Rooms
+ Peekaboo Step & Repeat
+ Networking Lounge
+ Inflatable Obstacle Courses
+ Ice Breakers
+ Giant Chess
+ Escape Rooms
+ Change Teams Each Time
+ Casino Tables
+ Big Scalextric
+ Ball Pit

CORPORATE EVENT DIGITAL IDEAS
+ iPad Food Ordering
+ Photo Booth GIF Maker
+ 360-degree Photography
+ Headshot Lounge
+ Wearable Feedback Technology
+ Virtual Reality Headsets
+ Circular LED Screen
+ Gesture Control Presentations
+ 360-degree Video
+ Digital Graffiti Wall

CORPORATE TRADE SHOW IDEAS
+ Smart Badges
+ Corporate Stands
+ Beacons
+ Cut Out Backdrops
+ VR Demos
+ Demo Stations
+ Slide Decks

CORPORATE EVENT BRANDING IDEAS
+ Branded Segways
+ Roaming Competitions
+ Branded Swag
+ Limited Pop-Ups
+ Unique Staff Uniforms
+ Activation Pillars
+ Tethered Hot Air Balloons
+ External Stair Wraps
+ Branded Furniture
+ Branded Balloons
+ Dessert Signage
+ Charging Stations

CORPORATE EVENT DECOR IDEAS
+ Sustainability Concepts
+ Balloon Ceiling
+ Indoor Tailgate
+ Aerial Hoops
+ Branded Balloons
+ Focal Pieces
+ Props
+ Fabric Tunnels
+ Unusual Venues
+ Picture Profile Runway
+ Standing Desks
+ Cut Out Backdrops
+ Project Mapping
+ Unique Dance Floors

CORPORATE EVENT TABLE SETTINGS IDEAS
+ Table Gems
+ Crystal Centerpieces
+ Martini Glass Centerpieces
+ Seahorse Centerpieces
+ Table Charging
+ Wax Seal Name Cards
+ Light Up Centerpieces

CORPORATE EVENT LIGHTING IDEAS
+ Light Rigging
+ Mini Chandeliers
+ Light Canopy
+ Twinkle Background
+ LED Furniture
+ Lighting Ceiling Installation
+ String Lights
+ Simple GOBO’s

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS
+ Synchronized Swimmers
+ Talking Robots
+ Video Mapping
+ Sand Artists
+ LED Shows
+ Corporate Percussion Groups
+ Dance Groups
+ Walking Robots
+ Roaming Entertainment
+ Laser Shows
+ Ipad Magicians

CORPORATE GIFTS IDEAS
+ Overnight Stay
+ Professional Coaching Day
+ Gourmet Hampers
+ Gigeo Video Invitations
+ Community Focus
+ Corporate Subscriptions
+ Accommodation Paid

CORPORATE EVENT CATERING IDEAS
+ Vintage Drink Bus
+ Sponsored Cocktails
+ Smoothie Jars
+ Servers
+ Private Chef
+ Niche Snacks
+ Mixologists
+ Interactive Gourmet
+ Ice Luge
+ Food Infusion
+ Drink Stations
+ Donut Wall
+ Dinner Boxes
+ Canape Spoons
+ Canape Junk Food
+ Bespoke Mini Boards

CORPORATE FOOD and BEVERAGE IDEAS
+ Stir-fried Ice Cream Parlor
+ Personal Pineapple
+ Portable Shrimp and Grits
+ Charcoal Lemonade
+ Donut Wall
+ Sushi Rainbow
+ Willy Wonka-sized Chocolate Fountain
+ Tacos and Mini Margaritas
+ Shaved Ice
+ Strawberry Roses
+ Share Boards
+ Rainbow Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
+ Booze-Free Cocktail Bar
+ Creme Brulee Shooters
+ Trash Can Nachos
+ Caramel Garnish
+ Fruit and Veggie Animals
+ Mini Pails of Food
+ Champagne Jelly Cubes
+ Bacon Bar
+ Savory Lollipops
+ Floral Ice Bucket
+ Pretzel Station
+ Cactus Macaroons

VIRTUAL EVENT IDEAS
+ Virtual Yoga Classes
+ Virtual Wine Tasting Kits
+ Virtual Trivia Nights
+ Virtual Trade Show
+ Virtual Scavenger Hunt
+ Virtual Product Launch
+ Virtual Poker Tournament
+ Virtual Open Day
+ Virtual Onboarding Fair
+ Virtual Murder Mystery Dinner
+ Virtual Murder Mystery
+ Virtual Job Fair
+ Virtual Jam Sessions
+ Virtual In-It To Win-It
+ Virtual Improv
+ Virtual Guess Who
+ Virtual Fitness Session
+ Virtual Exhibition Fair
+ Virtual Escape Room
+ Virtual Education Fair
+ Virtual Dinner Party
+ Virtual Crime Scene Investigation
+ Virtual Cooking Class
+ Virtual Conference
+ Virtual Concerts
+ Virtual Coffee Breaks
+ Virtual Charades
+ Virtual Casino Night
+ Virtual Career Fair
+ Virtual Bingo
+ Virtual Benefits Fair

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_entertainment