Start With Sight

Sensory experiences are only as vivid as the memories they leave behind. Photo booths offer guests visual mementos of their fun, and we often recommend syncing your photo booth with social media websites so that guests can instantly upload their photos and videos to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For a new twist on the photo booth, slow-motion video is a visual treat. Guests can star in their own short films, with their antics heightened by suspenseful slow motion, capturing their reaction as a handful of colorful confetti rains down on them.

To document an event, start-to-finish time-lapse photography will allow your guests to relive the memories even after the party has passed. Originally used to capture natural events such as cloudscapes and sunsets, time-lapse photography packs an emotionally powerful punch. Give your guests fresh insight into the efforts that created their experience with a time-lapse video that begins with the transformational setup process and ends with the last person leaving the venue.

Give Me Taste…Something I Can Sink My Teeth Into

Most event planners are familiar with craft beers, which have taken the nation by storm, but craft cocktails are also gaining in popularity, especially among those who prefer to sip something lighter than the latest Double IPA. Talented mixologists can design custom cocktails just for your event, or one-of-a-kind beverages based on each guest’s individual tastes.

Additionally, while the use of natural and organic ingredients is a trend that’s here to stay, sugary indulgences are always appreciated. Across the country, local candy boutiques have impressed us with sweet, custom-flavored candies, cupcakes and other treats that attendees can’t help but sample, like Vanilla-rum Twinkies or dark-chocolate-dipped sea salt potato chips.

And, more than ever, guests want to experience tastes of the destination. Incorporate local ingredients into the menu, invite local breweries or wineries to do a pairing or tasting, or feature a guest chef who can share their innovative dishes derived from locally sourced ingredients.

What’s That…Smell?

The aroma of local, farm-fresh cuisine is a crowd pleaser at almost all events. At a recent event, the rich smell of a design-your-own-gourmet-grilled-cheese station had guests clamoring for a taste. Alternatively, scratch ’n’ sniff stickers are making a comeback…in a unique way. The new version of this nostalgic technology offers interactive scratch ’n’ sniff wallpaper, which can be customized to showcase the scents of your choosing. At an event in San Diego, Access Destination Services featured the local fragrances of fresh green grass, salty ocean waves and smoky beach bonfires in scratch ’n’ sniff wallpaper, which was a huge hit.

Now, I Want to Hear It

Because of the deep connections between sound and emotion, a live performance can set the tone of your event. As technology expands the virtual reach of musicians and entertainers, a new respect has emerged for live performances. From the comedy acts of Chicago to the glee clubs of Las Vegas, live performances are integral to keeping your guests engaged and entertained, and local talent is especially well-received. To modernize the live performance, incorporate mobile apps into your events so that guests can send real-time song requests to the live band on stage.

To take it to the next level, consider holographic performances versus live performances or incorporate a flash mob to kick off the event.

Literally, I’m Touched

Engage your guests by incorporating a pampering touch and give them a reason to relax. A VIP Green Room, where guests are treated to makeup artists, manicurists, shoe shiners, hair stylists and old-time barbers offering straight razor shaves is a personal touch that will enhance their moods and provide an opportunity to unwind.

In finding creative ways to activate the five senses, you’ll see that the key to producing a truly great event is engagement. Whether you are planning a small VIP reception, a corporate social responsibility program or a large-scale gala, it’s designing a number of different elements, that when all brought together successfully, become something much bigger and will truly engage attendees in what’s going on around them. C&IT