Influences from other cultures are a great way to make your event special or set it apart from others. There are many ways to make a Corporate or Social event take on the “flavors” of different parts of the world without having to “theme” your entire evening around it. Or worse, feel like you have to have the hokey, tired props to force the theme down your guests' throats. This idea is it follows the eclectic feeling that creates a fun evening…little touches here and there that take events to the next level. Here are some fantastic ideas that you can steal for your next soirée!

Food: Creating an entire menu to reflect a culture is great, but sometimes fun little sweets can end the night just right. Do you have a Cuban themed night coming up? Well, try the International Bakery Cuban Dulceria in Dallas to create a fun little dessert station with authentic Cuban pastelitos, capuchinos, mini tres leches cakes and of course, Cuban coffee! Check them out on Facebook or take a look at this video and get ready to drool.

Entertainment: We all look for that great live band, but how about some interactive music that let’s you feel the rhythm of Africa down to your core. You must check out Drum Cafe (www.drumcafewest.com), they are a tapestry of talented people from diverse backgrounds that have come together to create a show-stopping, heart pounding experience that will leave your guests wanting more. Just imagine the beat of the African drums timed to a light show mixed with the rhythmic dancers—they are a must! Take a look at the website and videos here. 

Decor: There are many ways to infuse international flavors into your decor scheme without having to go all out or have the huge bulky props, especially if your space or budget won’t allow it. The huge Bollywood trend and India touches are easy pull off. You can bring this feeling to your event without having an entire Bollywood dance troupe perform at your event (though that would be awesome!). Linens are a great way to bring across the bold colors and different textures that make us LOVE this culture. Take BBJ Linens, they have this great sheer overlay called, Azra Sheer and place it over a fuchsia or bright orange colored underlay and BAM…your space will feel like the market streets of India. Or you can use an Indian Sari for a table runner or hand them out to guests to wear and add to the overall decor and vibe of the room.

These are just a few suggestions to give your next event a little international flavor. The ideas are endless! Our advice is to research the culture you are interested in and take a fun aspect that you like then infuse into your event. It will defiantly give your guests something to talk about.

Happy Planning,

Tacy