Blog Post
5 Event Trends in 2017 You Need to Know About
Have you done a search on event trends in 2017?
If you have – like we’ve been doing for months now – you likely felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of articles, predictions, and information overload. We sure did.
If you haven’t…this is your lucky day.
Whether you’ll be planning a corporate event, wedding celebration, fundraiser, grand gala, product launch, or any number of other public or private events – we’ve summarized a few universal predictions for event trends in 2017 that you’ll want to make note of.
1. Make attendees’ phones an integral part of the event
With all the planning and careful preparation that goes into every event, it can be exasperating to see guests ignoring the festivities because they’re too busy staring at their phones. The solution? Incorporate their phones as an extension of the event experience.
According to PlanningPod’s 8 Biggest Event Trends for 2017, “Event pros may not be able to completely stop people using their smartphones, but in 2017 you will start to see lots more ‘heads up’ tech, like large-scale interactive games where smartphones are merely the controllers. Or broadcasting polls and crowd-streaming content (using content shared live via social media) on overhead screens (again, where smartphones only supply the content). Or simply more dynamic video, audio and audience interaction (like using an app like Crowd Mics to turn everyone’s cellphone into a microphone).”
This trend is one aspect of a bigger trend, which is…
2. Interactivity is the new event buzzword
Gone are the days when guests and attendees just sit and watch. In this interactive world, they want interactive events as well. In 2016 we saw events featuring holograms, virtual reality, gamification, and other immersive experiences. In 2017, we can expect to see it get bigger and more spectacular.
In eventopedia.com’s article, The Expected Event Trends for 2017, they predict, “Event attendees are looking for more than conference tables and light snacks. Events have so much potential to increase attendee engagement and interaction, and event planners are making strides in finding new ways to create an experience with purpose. Mobile apps, touchscreen technology, and photo ops with instant upload and social sharing are just some of the trends we’re sure will be taking the events world by storm this year.”
And interactivity isn’t just limited to technology.
In the article Event and Catering Trends for 2017, Vivian Perez writes, “Great-tasting food is no longer enough. Guests now want to play with their food and be surprised. Elements like: Shells that dissolve when a liquid is poured over it and revealing a main dish or a dessert; Chefs as performance artists that go beyond a chef demo and let guests get intimate with the process; Letting guests paint their plates with sauces as if it’s artwork.”
3. Embracing new frontiers in technology
We live in the heart of Silicon Valley and cutting edge technology, so it goes without saying that our events should reflect that. Event technology is wide-ranging and includes everything from overhead drone photos and live footage videos to LED dance floors to artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
According to Vivian Perez’s Event and Catering Trends for 2017, “The biggest technology that we will be seeing more at events will be Virtual Reality. The usage of this technology doesn’t have to be just for high-end events. It is actually a technology that can be pretty inexpensive to implement. Viewers like Google Cardboard make this technology very affordable and easy. Look out for venues using virtual reality tours of their spaces for planners that are not local and wedding photographers offering virtual reality filming to wedding clients.”
4. Being mindful about sustainability
For decades, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the leading trendsetters in sustainable living. In 2017, we’ll be taking our sustainability mindset to new levels in our events. And we’re not just talking about repurposing, recycling and using environmentally-friendly materials.
In 5 Future Event Planning Industry Trends You Need to Know About, Sheryl Connelly writes, “Other trends in this space include offering sustainable, fair-trade food options and donating anything leftover or unused (ranging from food to flower arrangements to bottled water) to community organizations like homeless shelters or senior living facilities.”
5. Using unexpected venues
Event organizers and planners are always looking for experiences and products that new and different. In 2017, they’ll look for non-traditional spaces that will surprise their guests (in a good way).
In Eventopedia.com’s The Expected Event Trends for 2017, they explain, “Gone are the days of the conference center and expo hall. Industry professionals are already seeing a rise in requests for a unique space outside of conventional venues. From wine distilleries to airplane hangars, the venues of 2017 are anything but ordinary.”
And in Endless Entertainment’s 2017 Event Trends That Will Grant Your Events An Edge Next Year, they discuss the “pop up” event venue trend. “Aside from using new venues, organizers are also getting into the ‘pop-up’ event bandwagon. This is the use of an unlikely place that has been remodeled to fit the brand or event’s message. These events are usually announced shortly before they begin, tapping into the surprise factor. The old, familiar, unsuspecting place is then found to have been transformed into an experiential location, to the delight of the audience.”
These are just five of the many predicted even trends in 2017 for the event and party rental industry. Are you ready to start incorporating them into your upcoming events? Do you want to push some boundaries? Stuart Event Rentals is ready and able to take on whatever you have to throw at us. Bring it on.
Contact us today.
Related Posts
The fall and winter holidays are a time of gathering, gratitude, and celebration. They...
Expanding its team of event professionals to address an ever-growing client base, Stuart Event...
Stuart Event Rental’s offices and warehouse will be CLOSED on Monday, May 29, 2017,...
Milpitas, Calif. — Stuart Event Rentals (Stuart), a leading provider of tent and party...
The fall and winter holidays are a time of gathering, gratitude, and celebration. They...
It’s that time of year again…the fall and winter holidays are upon us. To allow...
The Stuart Event Rental offices and warehouse will be CLOSED on Monday, September 4, 2017...
At Stuart Event Rentals, we know that time equals money… and we want to...
The Stuart Event Rental offices and warehouse will be CLOSED on Monday, July 4, 2016...
Ask any successful business owner what the most important asset their company has, and...
Forget what Mark Twain said about summer in San Francisco. With the Bay Area...
Thinking about an outdoor party this summer? Graduates are lining up to receive their diplomas...
Enter our Holiday Photo Contest to win an iPad Mini from your friends, the Stuarts....
Have you noticed the change in the air? There’s a refreshing crispness in the...
Planning an event often involves time sensitive, detailed work which requires dedication on the...
This weekend is the time to honor the father in your life! This celebration...
When you’re located in California there is no end to the beautiful outdoor weddings...
Baby showers are a fun event and an occasion that you want to celebrate...
Spring is upon us and this tea party setting is the perfect theme for...
Bachelorette parties are a fun way to celebrate a new beginning in your girlfriend’s...
Tent rentals can be a wonderful option to create a custom environment for your...
Some might think garden parties are a thing of the past. On the contrary,...
The Bohemian trend is quickly catching the eye of this year’s brides. With the...
This past year has been full of exciting events and wonderful clients that we...
With the start of the New Year, many people forget about the one special...
One Vintage Cocktail is catching our eye and making a comeback this year. We...
Thanksgiving may have passed, but it’s full steam ahead for Christmas party planning! There...
Holiday greetings from the Stuart Rental offices! Take a virtual tour through our seasonally...
With November well on its way, are minds are turning towards Thanksgiving and fall-themed...
Our Thanksgiving preparations are in full swing. We’ve been having fun using fall themed...
Halloween kicks off a seasons full of holidays, traditions, and fun-filled events. It’s one...
There are so many great resources we use to get inspired for holiday decorating...
This past weekend we had the pleasure of setting up a beautiful, romantic wedding...
New seasons mean new styles. We are starting to fold away our tropical colored...
Whether you are planning a wedding, corporate event, gala, or general celebration, a tent...
If you’ve ever planned a corporate event, you know there’s more to it than...
One of the summer’s tried and trusted color palettes has us planning in bright...
If you’ve attended an event or two recently, you may have noticed that bars are...
The transition time between the wedding ceremony and reception is the perfect time for...
We recently had the pleasure of providing the rentals for an event that a...
Who doesn’t love a good 4th of July party? Have you ever hosted one?...
There are so many reasons to have an outdoor wedding during spring or summer...
We’ve gathered together some of our favorite looks from this spring so that we...
Whether you’re celebrating the success of a middle school, high school, or college graduate,...
What comes to your mind when you think of celebrating Easter? The great thing...
If you frequently host events, especially dinner parties, it’s advantageous to have a few...
The lighting used to furnish an event is an important albeit often overlooked component...
The Stuart Rental team is both excited and honored to share our new partnership...
The official beginning of spring is upon us, although the sunshine could have had...
The next big holiday is right around the corner- Valentine’s Day. For many folks,...
We love getting to know the person behind the gorgeous designs in our showroom,...
Corporate event planning requires a slightly modified and more structured approach than the typical...
As we usher in the year of 2014, the trends of a new wedding...
Whether you’re planning a wedding, birthday party, or corporate event, chances are at some...
Have you ever struggled with deciding whether to provide table service or a buffet for...
We recently had the pleasure of having Amy Frugoli visit our Milpitas showroom, where...
You’ve probably just wrapped up your Thanksgiving festivities, but with the blink of an...
When most people envision a holiday party, they see reds paired with greens, snowmen...
With the wonderful season of Christmas upon us, we would like to give you...
Scenario: You’ve established the date and time of your Thanksgiving celebration, put together the...
Stuart Rental recently had the pleasure of coming together with the Palo Alto Medical...
Have you noticed the change in the air? There’s a refreshing crispness in the...
It’s that time of year again! With Halloween right around the corner, you may...
Decorating for Halloween is arguably one of the most enjoyable parts of the holiday,...
Rustic, elegant, and versatile, the harvest table is making an appearance in all party-planning...
For those living in the beautiful Bay Area, there’s no reason to strictly reserve...
On a beautifully sunny Friday afternoon in August, The Stuart Rental Company had the...
Not too long ago the Stuart Rental team transformed a pool into a stunning...
On a beautifully bright and clear Summer’s day played the setting for The Stuart...
Tiki-themed parties let you bring the ambiance and fun of a tiki bar into...
Weddings are always a special time to gather family and friends to celebrate the...
A 16th birthday is an occasion to throw your daughter a party she will...
Hosting cocktail parties can be simple with just a few cocktail tables set up,...
Adding details to your already beautiful tables can take your design to the next...
Spring brings colorful, soft, and vibrant colors such as greens, blues, purples, pinks, and...
One of the most important aspects of a wedding is choosing the perfect color....
Themed parties are always a blast and if you are looking for a theme...
Valentine’s Day is a time to show your friends, family, & significant other how much you love...
The Super Bowl brings sports fans and non sports fans together to enjoy a...
Christmas is not only the perfect time, but the best time to get your...
Tables are an essential part of a dinner party, family gathering, or anything in...
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it is a time where we...
Hosting a Thanksgiving party for your family is simple once you have everything planned...
It’s everyone’s favorite time of year. Christmas is just around the corner! Christmas is...
Chairs are an important part of the table design. What kind of chair will...
Our previous blog had an array of sashes incorporated into the chairs. This is...
It’s that time of season where everyone gets to dress up as their favorite...
We have created several table designs that will attract all the ghouls, goblins, witches,...
After you set up your table with china, silverware, flatware, glassware, napkins, linen, etc.,...
When hosting an event, china, flatware and glassware rentals are necessary not only for...
DIY a.k.a Do-It-Yourself projects are always fun to do and will save you a...
Menus, table numbers, name cards, etc. are a great way to enhance your table...
Football season is a great way to get your loved ones together and throw...
Sometimes it is tough to head to the beach on a beautiful day: the...
Summer is a great time where people love to bring out bold colors, especially...
In Part 1 and 2 of this series on popular wedding colors, we have...
This past weekend, June 2-3, 2012, Sunset Magazine celebrated their annual Celebration Weekend festival...
Ivory is a calming color that has the same pureness and softness as the...
Summer is a great time for family gatherings, fun filled parties, and eventful times...
4thof July is a great way to get your loved ones together to celebrate...
Graduation is near and everyone wants to plan an event that your friends and...
Planning a wedding can be really stressful. There are many things to worry about...
Wedding colors are one of the first steps to determining the look and feel...
This past weekend, Stuart Rentals participated in an amazing bridal fair, at an amazing...
Rustic Chic weddings and events are all the rage now. Natural textures, vintage feel,...
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and one of the things I like about...
As the holidays draw near and we scramble to finish up our Christmas shopping,...
The beautiful Thomas Estates served as a great backdrop to this beautiful wedding. The...
As you gather your friends and family together to celebrate Easter, try this new...
It’s that time of year to celebrate your loved ones. Every year, we like...
Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to...
Looking for a beautiful, outdoor, and secluded venue surrounded by mountains and trees for...
Congratulations to Anjelica and Alberto. Another Stuart Rental family member was just married recently...
Just imagine walking a few feet out your front door, and instead of hopping...
We hope you enjoyed our previous blog on Enhancing Your Table Settings with Runners...
When it comes to party rentals, it’s all about the tables, chairs, linens, table...
Themed parties are always a lot of fun, especially if the theme is a...
I had so much fun watching Brandy, from Butterfly Brides, put together these 2...
It’s the start of a new year and many people are getting ready for...
Congratulations to Events by Wallace for winning 1st place in the Tri-Valley Destination Showcase...
Getting ready for a wonderful Valentine’s Day? Whether you are spending it with your...
Being able to produce and be a part of beautiful and exciting events is...
Being in the event industry is so much fun. It’s especially wonderful to be...
Silverware and Flatware are probably the most overlooked party rental item on a table setting....
Being in the event industry is so great because I get to see a...
Stained-glass windows, hanging chandeliers, fresco paintings on the walls… Park Hill Chapel in San...
Thinking of some fun themes for your next event? How about a carnival theme? The...
1. Create Space A tent is a great way to designate space and create perimeters...
Summer is just around the corner. I love this time of year when the...
Throwing a summer party? Why not make it a Hawaiian Luau Party! In our...
I know I’ve said this before, but I have to say it again… I...
Being in the event industry is always so fun and interesting. You get to...
If you’ve read our last blog, then you would know that I had issued...
I’m excited that The Stuart Rental Company blog is finally here. I have been...