Eventy Styling

Set-up. Decor. Styling. Whatever you choose to call it, setting up your event in a way that visually represents the theme in question is crucial to the success of an event. As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve organised a few events of my own — nothing major, but the experiences have given me valuable insight into how to approach event styling.

Why Style?

Not adding any styling to your event can be compared to a band without a music video. Sure, the song on it’s own might be fantastic, but seeing how the artist in question chooses to visually represent said song adds a whole new layer of experience. Similarly, an event without styling might be great, unforgettable even — in some cases, minimalist approaches are even preferable. However, event styling generally adds an element of experience to the event that wouldn’t be achievable if the “canvas” were left blank.

It goes without saying that, depending on the type of event (and the budget present), the type and scale of styling will vary — drastically. There is an immeasurable difference between the style and theme of, say, Tomorrowland and your upstairs neighbour’s birthday party. Both are events by definition, but different approaches have been taken with regards to decor. A couple of “Happy Birthday” banners and some balloons will suffice for John upstairs, but an immaculate stage and fireworks display is the only thing that will cut it for Tomorrowland.

With this in mind, it’s worth pointing out that my event experience leans more towards that of the upstairs neighbour as opposed to Tomorrowland. Granted, I know how things at Tomorrowland work given my work experience at numerous festivals as well as my education, but putting this into practice is an entirely different beast.

What follows will therefore be a collection of tips and tricks I have amassed as a result of the event experience I have. The list below is arguably better suited to smaller scale events but can, with the right tweaks, be applied to larger events should need be. As usual, I’ve kept the list concise and succinct to avoid overuse of jargon and other superfluousness.

The List

• Be crystal clear about the theme. If your event has a theme (birthday party, baby shower, wedding) make sure that this is the core from which the styling is approached.
• Put together a budget. Event styling isn’t cheap (balloons are surprisingly expensive if you buy enough). If you’re event is slightly larger than a birthday party, make sure you have prepared the funds necessary. If you’re hiring someone to do your styling, factor this in as well.
• Don’t overdo it. Just like in music, half of the music is the silence in between the notes. Leave a little to the imagination.
• Use sustainable materials. This one isn’t a must, but it’s something I advocate nonetheless. Try to use sustainable materials instead of plastics.
• Colours. When picking colours, make sure they match and convey your event theme.
• Music. Pick appropriate music — this one goes without saying.
• Consider your audience. Different groups prefer different visuals. Don’t ignore this fact.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment. Experimentation can yield results.

Conclusion

The above is essentially a very concise overview of my event styling knowledge. As usual, not an exhaustive list — rather, it’s a list I hope someone struggling with creative input can put to good use. Enjoy!