What do the likes of A listers, Chrissy Tegan, Kate Moss, Zac Efron and Tom Hardy all have in common? They’re all teetotal!
Every year the numbers of people taking part in Dry January gets bigger. There’s also an increasing number of people going tee-total all year round. Whether that’s for health or religious reasons or simply personal choice, the latest figures suggest that as many as one in four young adults are opting not to drink. There’s much less of a stigma not to giving up alcohol as well as some brilliant sin-free substitutes for the hard stuff. For all these reasons and more, if you’re hosting an event in January, it could be a great time to make it a ‘dry’ one.
If like the growing number of celebs, members of your team are taking part in Dry January or have given up the alcohol for good, we’ve got some brilliant ideas that will take the spirit out of the glass, not out of the party. Here, award-winning event planner Liz Taylor talks ‘dry’ events and shares her tips to create a corporate party without alcohol.
When it comes to parties, people sometimes feel they must rely on the alcohol flowing to really enjoy themselves. ‘Not so’, says Liz Taylor, who has been at the helm of luxury event planning agency TLC for over thirty years, and has thrown her fair share of alcohol-free parties.
“Let me be clear,” Liz begins. “There is nothing to mock about a mocktail. And in my experience, an alcohol-free party is certainly not sub-par. Some of my most lively and enjoyable events have been of the ‘dry’ variety. Our reliance on alcohol as a society is old-school” she continues, “there are plenty of other ways to get the party started without an abundance of alcoholic drinks.”
Liz believes that for corporate events, going dry could be more beneficial, she continues:
“Corporate events especially could benefit from a no alcohol approach. How many times have you seen team members cringing after a Christmas do? Or lost entire workdays to hungover staff?
“There’s usually an educational element to most corporate get togethers too, or at the very least, a business message to communicate. Clear heads retain information much better.”
But without alcohol taking centre stage, what advice does Liz have on creating a corporate party without alcohol?
DESIGN THE EVENT TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS
So often corporate events can be dull and predictable. Following the same format. Hosted at the same venue. A speech. A buffet. Networking. Drinks. It doesn’t have to be this way. Thinking about more unusual ways to theme an event can really shake things up. Get people mixing and relaxing without even thinking about it. A good example of this, is challenging the layout of the room. Often, a corporate event has theatre style seating, or is set in an auditorium. What about a change of layout? Seat people in groups on big comfortable beanbags or deck chairs. Go the whole hog and have a beach party? Take it to an outdoors venue and throw in live entertainment and street food? Host a screening of a film at an outdoor cinema. Where do you think guests will be most relaxed and more able to mingle?
Opting to choose a non-conventional timetable for your event also opens-up a host of options. How about an afternoon tea event? Miniature cakes, delicate sandwiches and exquisitely made patisserie served on quaint vintage crockery are a hugely fashionable way to cater for guests. Allow guests to sample an array of teas to accompany their meal – all of which can be expertly matched to foods in a similar way to wine. For an elegant non-alcoholic cocktail – try serving drinks in gorgeous glasses displayed on vintage bird cages. A little dry ice adds drama. Consider a brunch conference. At its centre, a ‘champagne bar’ which blends sparkling elderflower and freshly squeezed juices; all served in beautiful contemporary glasses. The choices are endless!
LET FOOD DO THE TALKING
I have been quoted in the past as saying, “nobody is going to remember a piece of chicken”. That still stands, but the pandemic has been invertedly driving a foodie renaissance. Bonus points come for this option; because really good food will not only make a night memorable, but it also limits people mixing and is therefore more covid-safe. When the focus is on the food, especially if it’s an experiential menu, what you drink takes a backseat.
Sometimes it’s not what you feed guests, but how you serve the food that makes it memorable. Fish and chips in vintage newspaper or company branded cones, individual bags of popcorn, waiting staff on roller skates delivering miniature burgers to hungry guests. Canapes served on coloured light boxes instead of trays and food incorporated into theatrical party props. Or canape trays resting on the hips of gorgeous people. Presentation is king.
CHALLENGE THEM
Try shifting the focus to education. Learning a new skill or taking part in a sport or challenge. Rally driving. White water rafting. A cookery class. Or something creative like pottery. This is a terrific way of breaking down barriers without alcohol. You can hire out themed venues like The Crystal Maze, I’m a Celebrity and It’s a Knockout exclusively. Or send your team off on a large-scale organised scavenger hunt across the city – ‘Challenge Anneka’ eat your heart out! Team building and a relaxed atmosphere from the get-go.
HAVE A MOCKTAIL MASTERCLASS
“So often soft drinks are an afterthought at a corporate event, with all the focus being on the alcoholic selection. You can do better than orange juice!”
Upgrade your soft drink menu to include beautifully crafted mocktails. Even better, get staff involved in helping to create them with a mocktail making session. Hire in a mixologist and have them create a signature drink that mirrors your brand. Go wild with garnishes – dry ice, edible flowers, popping candy.
A cocktail station manned with professional bar tenders can add a glamorous edge to any party. Guests will revel in the theatre of watching their cocktails being expertly mixed and presented with a little ‘flair’. Mojito. Bellini. Cosmopolitan. They can all be made minus the spirits. And there are so many combinations of fruits, delicate flavours, botanicals, and spices to experiment with that guests won’t miss the alcohol. Get people involved in the blending of drinks. You are creating an experience here – not just a cocktail. A little theatre from the bar tender – and you have the start of an entertaining night. Afterall, you are only taking the spirit out of the glass, and not the party!
GO WILD WITH THE ENTERTAINMENT
Dare to dream with your entertainment. This is an area where you can really WOW your guests so in my opinion the bigger and more flamboyant the better. A high-end circus theme is still very on trend thanks to Hugh Jackman and The Greatest Showman – think stilt walkers, jugglers, tumbling acrobats, trapeze artists and fire eaters – anything is possible.
But entertainment doesn’t have to be loud and outspoken to be memorable. Experiential entertainment is also very on trend, with many companies finding low-key and unexpected ways to entertain their guests. A retro arcade, tarot card readers in the toilets, character waiters or cloakroom staff and sleight of hand magicians are all surprising ways to delight and astound your guests in an understated way.
Or invest here with a continental party band. A four-hour non-stop party with uniquely talented entertainers that bring the room to life. Who wouldn’t enjoy that?
Liz Taylor is the founder and CEO of the Taylor Lynn Corporation, a prestigious event management company with numerous blue-chip giants, SMES, entrepreneurs, and celebrities within its enviable client base. Amongst others, Liz was responsible for organising the weddings of Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford and Howard Donald. She has overseen two Coronation Street anniversary parties, The Champions League winners party for Manchester United and planned the Winter Whites Ball with HRH Duke of Cambridge. Taylor Swift and Jon Bon at Kensington Palace.
www.tlc-ltd.co.uk or www.liz-taylor-consulting.co.uk
