Long gone are the days when simple decorations and menus would suffice for a party — whether it’s an intimate soiree or a big, fat Pakistani wedding, themed parties are the rage. With an astounding variety of menus, state-of-the art decorations, and plenty of party planners to make anything on your wish list come true, who wouldn’t be tempted?

According to industry insiders, social media and publicity is what pushed the trend into overdrive. Taha Memon, the CEO at the event planning company, Dawat, who has been in the business for the past 10-15 years, points out that “five or six years ago, when local magazines began featuring different themes, the elite were motivated into having their parties based on themes as well. A theme makes a party stand out from the rest.”

Mushfiq-uz-Zaman, general manager at Nizam, another catering and event planning company, agrees and emphasises that the exposure and good PR that the party generates is the reason for the trend. “Themed parties were always a part of elitist activities,” he says. “As social media became more prominent; more people were exposed to having a concept for their event.”

####Why are themed parties so popular and what’s trending this year?

Currently, there are many event-management companies that are pandering to people’s whims and fancies for their parties. But while each event planner offers plenty of choices, themed parties can put a dent in one’s wallet.

According to Zaman, the costs are divided into three things: decorations, lights and food, and depending on how lavishly the host wants to spend on each, the price can go up or down. “For a party with a guest list of 500 people, catering itself can cost up to Rs1,100 per head. The average amount spent can go up to Rs1million for an event. For more customised events, it can go up to Rs1.8m to Rs2m.”

Memon maintains, “For premium packages, food can cost up to Rs600-2,000 per head. Generally, people spend at least Rs 400,000-500,000 on themed parties. But when people want to spend, no amount seems impossible and some clients can go up to Rs20-30m. It all depends on what they want.”

Zaman says most themes are grouped together into different categories, ranging from contemporary to traditional and ethnic ones. “The ‘Zenn look’, one of the more popular themes at Nizam, fits into the contemporary category,” he says. “Sometimes we have a fusion of different themes, for instance, we’ve had a Las Vegas and truck art mixture once.”

Memon further outlines the themes offered at Dawat. “We have an umbrella theme, a pop art theme, rangoli, ribbon, a night in Vegas … the list goes on,” he says. “I feel the Moroccan theme will be the most popular in 2016. Pop art was the rage in 2015.”

Tahir Malik, a partner at EventO, elaborates on the themes used in birthday parties from those based on a TV series to the classic go-tos such as “Game of Thrones, car themes, and Vampire Diaries. Children usually want cartoon-themed events.”

However, some clients can take it too far. And the incidents Zaman recounts certainly bring the point home: “Sometimes, people try too hard to make their parties stand out. I’ve had a groom arrive in a BMW, then perch himself on a throne, which was placed atop a vegetable cart. He entered the reception to Singh is King music playing in the background. Another groom entered on a motorbike, and slipped on the carpet.”

From baby showers to mehndis to corporate events, all parties these days follow a certain theme, and this year, the following are the most popular ones:

The Moroccan theme: From arabesque, Moorish-inspired decorations to Moroccan-style food and music, this is the theme for those looking for a Middle Eastern aesthetic. An exotic-meets-luxury look with brass lamps, deep purple and blue hues and intricately carved tables, this theme is sure to rule the roost at the 2016 wedding season.

Modern theme: Want to run away from the run-of-the-mill traditional? If so, this is the theme for you. The modern twist on décor is all about taking the abstract and playing around with the concept. Vibrant colours, an element of surprise and a creative spin on everyday objects is the key to making this theme work: experts point to such sub-themes as pop art, umbrella, ribbon and the tree as being very popular in 2016.

Truck art theme: Truck art has made a comeback of sorts in the past few years, finding its way into mainstream fashion from tunics, purses and khussas to mugs and portraits. It’s one of Pakistan’s biggest design exports and it’s no wonder that it has made its way into the wedding arena. With vibrant colours, playful messages, and a contemporary take on traditional motifs and patterns, this one is sure to be a big hit this year.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 3rd, 2016