Happy New Year! We may already be halfway through the first official week of 2026, but we are so excited for all the events yet to come this year. From milestone birthday parties to charity fundraisers to wedding receptions, we can’t wait to host each and every one of your celebrations.
As always with the start of a New Year comes fresh energy and a new year of special occasions! So, if you’ve been put in charge of your mum’s 60th birthday party or perhaps you’re planning your very own event in 2026, keep reading! We promise this blog post will be a fantastic guide to help you organise a standout celebration.
Standout events start with intention, not decorations
The first stage of planning your event is to be clear on what the purpose is. This is easy if it’s a private event such as a birthday party or wedding reception as the purpose is simply to celebrate and have a good time, however if you are planning a corporate event, the purpose may need a little more thought. Is your event about growing your client base or building relationships within your community? Is it to raise money for charity or are you hosting an awards evening to recognise your staff? Once you have set the intention of the event, the rest of the planning process will flow a lot easier as the decision-making process will be quicker.
Choose your theme
When we say theme, we don’t necessarily mean “Great Gatsby” or “90’s”… Either theme is great for a party if you like either of those two things, however we’re thinking bigger. We’re thinking an overall theme that unifies the décor, the food and the whole vibe of the event. If your new year event is all about community building in an authentic, fresh way, then perhaps your theme could be “New Beginnings”. Building new relationships are best done informally with people getting to know each other with little pressure, so ensure your event reflects this. Don’t insist on a dress code, ensure the food you choose is suitable for networking and make sure the bar is well-stocked and well-manned to avoid queues causing breaks in conversations. The best events have creative themes that feel consistent and considered throughout.
For private events, themes may be easier to determine. To ensure your event is memorable for all the right reasons, make sure the chosen theme is thoughtfully woven throughout the different aspects of your event. This could be through the décor and colour scheme, through the food and drink (perhaps these can be themed too?) and also by choosing appropriate entertainment.
Design an experience, not just an event
The key to planning a standout event is to plan a standout experience. Whether you’re organising a private celebration or a corporate event, guests are most likely to remember how they felt and what they experienced rather than the event itself.
Let’s start with first impressions. When your guests arrive, are they going to be greeted? Are you going to offer a welcome drink? Will there be canapes or any live music playing? This first impression is going to set the tone for the rest of the event.
Next, you’ll need to think about the interactive elements of your event. These are the aspects that your guests are going to remember the most, so it’s important for a standout event for these to be carefully considered. Examples include: games, live music, magicians, roaming drinks / entertainers, Q&A’s etc. Remember, whatever you choose needs to be consistent with your chosen theme.
Elevate the little details
Following a recent wedding industry report, the wedding industry has seen a growth in hyper-personalisation and from experience we can also say the same for other private events. Personalisation is a fantastic way of enhancing your guest experience as it really draws them into your event and makes them feel part of it. Creating bespoke cocktails, personalising table favours and table stationery are all unique ways of adding personalisation to your event. For corporate parties, this could be using your logo and branding in your décor choices.
Don’t forget to consider shareable moments too. Ideas could include photo opportunities, creative visuals and incredible interactive moments.
Make this the year your event(s) stand out
Standout celebrations are all about intention with every detail considered, rather than being over the top and extravagant. Guests will admire a well-thought out event over one where they had sensory overload! Don’t forget now is one of the best times to book your venue too – find out why from our latest LinkedIn post here.
Let us help you plan your new year standout celebration! Email us at info@thejazzcafe.co.uk or call 01189 681 442.
