ON TREND
Amping up with tech
Technology largely contributes to entertainment in the modern event world. Whether a centerpiece of the soiree, like fireworks and drone shows, or a small feature threaded throughout the affair, tech is everywhere, bulking up event entertainment and pulling attendees into engaging moments. “Technology is at the forefront, offering cutting-edge entertainment like virtual reality, augmented reality (AR), and interactive tech installations that engage guests in unique ways,” says JC York (Classic Entertainment / Wise Guys InterACTive). One form of installation is social media ops. According to Centner, “Events now feature entertainment designed to be shared—photo booths with unique backdrops, TikTok-friendly performance moments, and digital art installations.” Peterman agrees. “Photo booths with modern features like GIF creation or augmented reality offer creative take-homes for guests, while live streaming ensures loved ones who can’t attend feel included.” Take, for example, the interactive photo booth at “The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience,” an immersive popup themed after the hit Netflix show Bridgerton . Instead of using a simple photo booth, attendees posed for a photo which was edited by fast-acting tech to transform the picture with oil painting effects, directly tying into the event’s theme and elevating the photo booth experience. Indeed, AR, VR, and AI add flair to events. “Projection mapping transforms spaces instantly, AI- generated music adapts to the mood of an event ... Augmented
(Top and above) Foraging is a popular immersive form of entertainment that connects attendees to their food. Shown here: First Nature Tours brings attendees out on a forage and then makes a meal of the gathered ingredients. Photo courtesy First Nature Tours
them. “I had a couple who were passionate about mushrooms and foraging, and their salad course was designed to represent a nest of mushrooms with a tiny quail egg,” says Chan. “Thoughtful and interactive dining experiences like this make the meal a memorable part of the event.” Eating and imbibing should provide active entertainment that threads through the whole of the event, making dining a chance to reinforce the larger event themes.
Caterource + The Special Event featured some unique food and beverage stations this year, with Flavour Blaster bubble cocktails, Chinese takeout, deconstructed lobster BLTs—even a glow-in-the- dark popcorn station! Attendees loved the unique, photo-worthy F&B stations because they were micro- experiences within the larger events themselves. Foraging is becoming popular, too, and even if the menu doesn’t use foraged elements, it can allude to
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SPECIAL EVENTS SPRING 2025
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