2024 Wrapped: Our Biggest Event Trends of the Year
Our expert team shares their hits and highlights
Photos by Garbo Kwan and Sophia Bonham-Carter.
2024 was one for the books! From weddings to lunch and learns, we had the pleasure of hosting 7,704 incredible events across Canada. As we reflect on the year gone by, eight trends caught our attention that took our events to the next level. We’re sharing all the details below in our 2024 recap!
Lunch & Learns Were Elevated
The first trend we saw this year was elevated lunch and learns! These weren’t just your typical boardroom sessions — we infused every event with creativity and fun. Dazzling decor, interesting panels, and delicious treats kept our guests engaged and eagerly posting about their experiences on the ’gram.
Sharing Was Caring
There was also a big focus on sharing memorable mementos! Whether it was thoughtful swag bags or charming take-home souvenirs, guests went home with something special to remember the day. Some of our favourites were personalized merch and a make-your-own friendship bracelet station!
Group Experiences Were Elevated
2024 was a year full of outside-the-box events! Activities like yoga flows, live meditation classes, and therapy dog breakout sessions were a huge hit. While eating and drinking is our specialty, we have partners who can pair incredible cuisine with unique wellness programming. One of our newest partners, Blissfull, does exactly that through multi-sensory immersive experiences. Get in touch with an Event Specialist to incorporate Blissfull’s transformative workshops into your big day in 2025!
Mocktails Made a Splash
Mocktails were also hotter than ever this year. Whether attendees were embracing Dry January or driving home after a daytime event, celebratory sips were always in order. A big fan favourite was Partake, our new non-alcoholic beer, which has quickly become a crowd-pleaser! Will mocktails continue to steal the show in 2025? We’ll be keeping an eye on this refreshing trend!
Entertainment Wow’d the Crowds
Live performances were another huge highlight of 2024. Who doesn’t love the energy of live music? Halfway through this corporate award show, which featured a delicious catered meal by our O&B team, attendees enjoyed a live performance complete with a spectacular light display. It was a memorable evening, to say the least!
Oysters Stole the Show
Oysters have always been a fan favourite, but this year they got some extra love! Raw bars were super popular at all kinds of events with guests enjoying the briny bites served fresh over ice. We even hosted events with their very own on-the-go shucker who walked around the party shucking oysters on demand!
Desserts Were Done Differently
2024 was also a year of rethinking traditional coursed meals. Rather than the typical app, main, and dessert sequence, many guests opted for a dessert bar and added in a second appetizer or pasta course. We even saw cannoli fillers who roamed the dance floor and provided guests with an evening sugar boost!
We Painted the Town Red
As 2024 came to a close, we couldn’t help but notice a beautiful theme that took centre stage: red! Alex and Whitney’s wedding at The Carlu took this gorgeous shade to the next level with cascading tablecloths, gorgeous drapery, and red roses at every turn. The incredible DUET Events team outdid themselves with this wedding — dare we say, they painted The Carlu red!
There you have it! The most memorable moments and notable trends from another amazing year of events. There is truly no better feeling than helping our guests make their dream wedding day, birthday party, or company gathering a reality. We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store!
To start planning your next event with O&B, get in touch with one of our Event Specialists today (events@oliverbonacini.com)!
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