One of the corporate events that’s mostly organised is the gala dinner. However, it’s more than just a dinner, it is also a time to celebrate new beginners and the achievements of the company. Usually, it’s when the awarding of the best teams, individuals, and ideals is held.

If you’re planning to organise a gala this year, you may find it hard to look for the best theme. Fortunately, many companies have been organising galas yearly, so you can use their ideas to create your own. Meanwhile, hiring corporate event planners is recommended to achieve the best version of your chosen theme.

In this article, we’ll list the most common gala dinner themes most companies use to help you get started.

1. Old Hollywood Glamour

Travel back in time, and experience the old Hollywood glamour. Usually, this gala theme is filled with sparkles, chandeliers, and champagne. You can also feature films and artists to create the event mood.

The 2021 Met Gala theme was “old Hollywood glamour” where various artists wore clothes reflecting the fashion of the 40s to 60s. Some icons featured in the look for the artists include Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Josephine Baker.

So, if you want to experience going back to old Hollywood, you should consider using it as your theme for this year’s gala dinner.

2. Masquerade Ball

Masquerade parties have been on the event scene for a long time, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use it as your event’s theme. Besides, it can be enchanting that all the guests come wearing masks. Usually, the guests pair their masks with their outfits, but you can also assist them in looking for the masks. If you work with corporate event planners, you can ask for vendors or stores offering various mask designs.

As for the event decorations, you can set up gold, black, and velvet to match the mystery of the theme. Additionally, you can also add a twist to the programme, such as having a time when all masks should be removed to see everyone’s face.

3. Enchanted Garden

Transform the indoor venue into a magical garden, or rent a garden venue that can fit all your guests. If you opt for an indoor venue, you can include as many outdoor pieces that will fit the venue. On the other hand, if you choose an outdoor venue, you can incorporate fairy lights, lanterns, and a fog machine to create an enchanted mood.

4. Black Tie Affair

For the classic theme, the black-tie affair is the go-to of most gala dinners. The guests wear formal attire, such as suits and long gowns. You can include the requested colours for the formal attire, but you can also let the guests choose the colours they prefer. If you’re going to set the colour scheme, you can never go wrong with black and white. It’s minimalist, but the whole idea of the theme is still there.

Usually, the black tie affair theme is about elegance and luxury, which is why the decorations and table settings all look expensive.

5. The Great Gatsby

Another go-to theme for gala dinners is The Great Gatsby. It’s more about jazz, feathers, champagne, and extravagance. Whether you read the novel or watch the movie (starring Leonardo DiCaprio), you can easily have an idea of the decorations and the whole vibe of the theme.

So, if you think your guests will enjoy going back to 1920s New York, this is the best theme for your gala. Don’t forget to include disco lights and a ballroom, so that everyone can enjoy dancing all night.

6. Casino Royale

Are you looking for a theme that features cocktails and hors d’oeuvres? Consider Casino Royale. It’s perfect to end a team-building event or can be a great theme that enables more time to socialise.

For the decorations, you can recreate Las Vegas or focus on the main elements of casinos and use them as the main displays, like cards, dice, and poker chips.

Additionally, a casino night is also a perfect opportunity to host an auction and other fundraising activities. For instance, the money raised by the house can be donated to your partner charity institution.

7. Arabian Nights

If you can’t go to the Middle East, you can bring the Middle East to your red carpet event with the theme Arabian Nights. If you’re not familiar with the theme, think of the outfits in the Disney film “Aladdin”. Although instead of the flying carpet, you have red. Kidding aside, although this theme may not be as common as the others, your guests will still enjoy it, especially since it can be more complicated than simple themes.

Final Thoughts

Elevating the red carpet experience of your guests can be overwhelming, so the first thing you need to do is find the perfect theme for your gala dinner. Whether you’re leaning towards the Old Hollywood Glamour or the Arabian Nights, these ideas will help you find the best one.