2023 Wrapped: DCi’s Top Event Highlights From This Year
Longer days, perfect temps, and clear blue skies are some of the glories of the warmer months — and why the season is one of the best times of year to plan an unforgettable event. What’s more, summer naturally lends itself to endless inspiration by way of menus, decorations, and party themes. Think: backyard barbeque dinners, deep-sea-inspired coastal bashes, colorful sunset cocktail hours, and retro poolside bashes.
As one of the premier event planners and destination management companies in the country, DCi has planned and organized numerous summertime events that made the most of the season’s abundant sunshine. Need a little inspiration for your next incentive trip, annual summit, or company block party? Here are six of our team’s favorite summer event themes — all of which tap into the essence of this fun-filled, easy-living time of year.
Aquatic Escape
With its awe-inspiring beauty, still-unexplored depths, and staggering biodiversity, the ocean is an endless source of fascination for many. That’s why, next to trains and maybe hot air balloons, submarines are perhaps the most fabled mode of transport in literature and movies — and the least accessible in real life. So why not spirit your guests away to an entrancing underwater kingdom for a few hours?
DCi’s creative event experts did just that not long ago, putting together a welcome reception for a California client that immersed guests in the fantasy of being 20,000 leagues under the sea. With cascading floral centerpieces that reflected images of purple corals, blue lagoon cocktails, and underwater bar graphics, the theme jived with the coastal location and took it up a notch. For another client, we created a series of rooms offering different sensory experiences, such as small bites, visuals, and music that conjured up an underwater journey.
Tropical Luxury
From clothing and furniture to skincare products and even coffee creamer, product collabs inspired by The White Lotus have shown up everywhere since Season 3 premiered early this year. Although no one wants their vacation to turn out the way that one did for most of the resort’s guests, you can capitalize on the series’ popularity by tapping into its luxurious tropical vibe and nature-centric landscapes for your summer event.
While umbrella cocktails are pretty much a must-have for any tropical event, there are lots of ways to shake things up if you want to go off script. We recently planned a multi-day conference in Miami that included a catamaran sail, kayak paddles through the mangroves, and a “Glamping in the Everglades” gala inspired by the beauty of the national park. You could also travel farther south and find inspiration in the Caribbean — for example, a sunset cocktail reception with palapas shading the tables, watermelon mojitos, and a calypso band.
Desert Destination
Hot fun in the summertime doesn’t have to center around water. DCi’s event planners leaned into the Arizona climate to create a four-day desert excursion for over 360 guests in the Scottsdale area. One ultra-cool touch our designers came up with: mirrored art installations that reflected the surrounding landscape and dramatically extended the majestic desert scenery.
Staying on top of the forecast is essential for this setting, however: You’ll want to ensure that guests aren’t uncomfortable in high temps and dry climes. Stock up on fans, create shady enclaves, and have water stations at the ready throughout the area.
Garden Party
Summer is the season of blossoming, so take advantage of its lush landscapes and fragrant flowers by inviting guests into the garden. You might serve an English tea, with scones, jam, and clotted cream, followed by yard games, or construct elegant seating arrangements for an evening gathering, with romantic lighting and mood music.
We recently took Italy as our muse and created an outdoor event themed around the concept of an elegant Venetian piazza, with sophisticated decor elements such as rustic furniture, cascading greenery and florals, and classic Italian design motifs, like pillars and statuary. To ensure the culinary experience at our events is as elevated as the atmosphere, we work with local chefs and partner with hotels to create menus that highlight seasonal ingredients and flavors.
Fairground Fun
When a client asked us to create an extra special thank-you gathering for a sales team of nearly 2,000 people, we pulled out all the stops and hosted a private beachside carnival, complete with rides, fortune-tellers, jugglers, and unicyclists. But you don’t have to raise the bar (or the tent?) that high for your carnival-style event.
Bring in food trucks, a shooting gallery, and a cotton candy machine, or focus on the small-town charm of a summer fair, with strolling performers and vintage visuals. You could even ride the tailcoats of a carnival that’s already scheduled — make time at the fair part of the event schedule, followed by cocktails and dinner that gently carry through the theme.
Sporty Soiree
Play ball! Any kind you like — beach volleyball, softball, or a soccer match — all of which lend themselves to complementary activities, decor, and cuisine. Custom jersey pop-ups booths, trick shot challenges, and meet-and-greets from a local pro-level team are all great ways to level up a sports theme. Here’s how we take a concept like this from vision to reality.
Finally, a few words of advice from our experts when it comes to outdoor events. First and foremost, be prepared for unpredictable weather. We always have a backup plan, such as tents or indoor alternatives, so the event can proceed smoothly regardless of weather conditions. You’ll also want to think ahead about accessibility, which can be trickier in outdoor spaces; our team carefully plans the layout and provides necessary accommodations to make the event inclusive.
Want a helping hand to make sure your summer event goes off without a hitch? Learn more about how we can help — so you don’t have to break a sweat.
