18 Formal Party Themes For All Kinds Of Fancy Gatherings

Party planning is never easy but a formal party is especially challenging. From the food to the theme, it can be hard to bring a cohesive idea together. So why not let Peerspace give you a hand with 18 of our favorite formal party themes? From bridal showers to cocktail events, these formal party themes are flexible yet fun!

1. Celebrate national pride with a patriotic party

4th of July parties don’t have to be ultra-casual…Why not get dressy with a formal patriotic party? These are especially great for military family gatherings and military weddings where folks may show up wearing a uniform. Patriotic parties should start strong with decoration ideas like flags and Americana. As the evening progresses, some fireworks are also a great idea! 

2. Enjoy a secret garden party venue

Secret gardens are a theme that stretches back centuries. Who doesn’t want a quiet, hidden place to enjoy with your close friends and family? A secret garden party is a theme that can be celebrated as the focus of a baby shower, tea party, family reunion, or bachelorette event.

All you need is the garden itself, something Peerspace happens to have! For example, this secret garden hideaway in Brooklyn, NY, is a wonderful place for an intimate outdoor event without ever leaving the city!

3. Black-and-white party

Black-and-white parties are some of the most fun themes to decorate for! Venues with checkerboard floors, black-and-white party balloons, and of course, color-matched outfits, are all a delight. If you’ve never hosted a formal party using this theme before, check out a few of our chic black-and-white party ideas to get you started!

4. Dress mysteriously with a masquerade ball

Masquerade balls are inherently elegant and formal; from the lacey masks to the gowns and suits, you have a formal party theme that’s easy to pull off! Provide masquerade masks at the door or encourage guests to bring on in advance. Cocktails, finger foods, or even a full-on buffet spread can all work with a masquerade ball. The theme is also flexible enough to be part of other formal party themes like a New Year’s Eve bash!

Love this idea? Great! Check out these smashing masquerade party ideas for adults to pull it off brilliantly.

5. Host a winter wonderland party

It could be Christmas time or even the middle of summer…A winter wonderland party is never a bad idea! Dress in white or holiday-themed outfits, cozy up to the fireplace, and enjoy some mugs of cocoa while you listen to holiday tunes. A venue like a ski lodge is an ideal place for this formal party theme!

6. Plan a formal color party

One of the easiest ways to organize a party is to give it a color theme! For example, we have some wonderful ideas to share with you for a blue color party, complete with blue food ideas! Color parties are all the rage these days since everyone gets to participate through the outfits they decide on. You’ll also need decorations and a venue that matches the theme, something Peerspace happens to have. How about a luxury green room for a green party?

7. Dress in style for a casino night

Make gaming the theme of the evening with a casino party! This formal party theme should focus on finger foods like bacon-wrapped dates or hamburger sliders. That way there are as few distractions from the games as possible. You can easily make a casino party part of a fundraising gala, silent auction, or other event!

8. Get festive with a holiday party

Christmas, New Year’s, Thanksgiving, Easter…Each year gives us so many opportunities to bring people together for a festive party. Make it a formal affair by choosing an elegant space and establishing a dress code for the occasion! Not to mention serving appetizers, meals, and dishes that are as special as the company you’ll be keeping for the evening!

9. Host a formal tea party

Tea parties have an air of class that makes them a wonderful theme to explore! You can host a formal tea party indoors or outside in a garden venue, which is far more traditional. For an outdoor formal tea party, it’s hard to beat venues on Peerspace like a backyard with a pond in sunny Los Angeles, CA! 

10. Guess who did it with a murder mystery party

How about a formal party theme that is as much an event as the gathering itself? Murder mystery events are amazing because they can be woven into dinner parties, cocktail parties, and other events with a little planning. You can even hire a murder mystery party company, who will bring actors that mingle with the other party guests and keep the story moving and everyone guessing! 

11. Travel the world with an international party theme

Skip the plane tickets and bring the world indoors with an international-themed party! You can focus on a specific country, like China or France, and have guests dress the part. Serve Chinese dumplings, French croissants, or other food to match the occasion. Or make it a true international formal party where everyone chooses an outfit to represent their chosen country. The drinks and meals should be equally diverse as well.

12. Celebrate Sin City with a Vegas party

Flashing neon, rowdy parties, and outfits that range from formal to ultra-casual…Is there anything better than a Vegas-themed party? A big part of making this formal party theme possible is balancing the class with the excitement. Start things off right with flashing neon signs using the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” message and a few palm tree decorations! Be sure to draw inspiration from the casino party theme as well.

13. Be a celebrity at a Hollywood red carpet party

Celebrity fashion trends are always a safe bet when looking for outfits to impress other partygoers with. So why not go all-in with a Hollywood red carpet party? Guests that arrive in a limousine get bonus points for effort! But everyone attending will get to walk the red carpet as they enter the venue in front of all the attendees! A talented event photographer with a bright flash is also great to have for this formal party theme!

14. Cross genres with a disco cowgirl theme

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Is there anything more glamorous and glitzy than a disco cowgirl party? From the incredible outfits to the flashy decor, this formal party theme has endless potential! You can even blend it with the Vegas party theme for a really exciting time.

Check out these groovy disco party outfit ideas and our cowgirl party ideas to start planning this hybrid party with style!

15. Try a new vintage while wine-tasting

Skip the cocktails and focus on wine as a formal party theme. A wine-tasting party is great if you know everyone attending drinks and enjoys the finer points of wine. You can even hire a sommelier to teach guests who are new to wine tasting how to appreciate the flavor and aroma of a glass. As well as share insights on what makes a particular wine special to the other guests!

16. Enjoy culture with an art party

Did you know that many art galleries and museums offer space for formal parties and other special events? Why not make exploring culture part of the party theme by making it an art night? Guests will get to explore the latest trends in local and national art among statues, paintings, or photography while sipping cocktails and discussing what they most appreciate.

17. Surf the Pacific with a luau party

How about a formal party theme that evokes tropical beaches? Hawaiian luau parties have a lot of potential! You’ll want tropical-themed drinks like rum cocktails and luau food ideas with pineapples, coconuts, and pork!

18. Enjoy the show with a Moulin Rouge party

From ballroom dancing to haute couture fashion, a Moulin Rouge party is a formal affair that has plenty of pizzazz! You’ll need a spacious venue with mood lighting, a DJ, a specialty drink bar, and a few other touches. While difficult, we think expert party planners will have lots of fun with this formal party idea. 

Formal party themes: conclusion

Just because a party is formal doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with it! Formal party themes like these can be used for any special occasion, be it a birthday you want to get a little dressy with or a wedding reception where formality is expected. We hope Peerspace has been a resource for your party planning. Don’t forget to see if any of our party venues near you are also useful as the date closes in!

Find unique event spaces for your formal party on Peerspace