This Corporate Event Has All the '90s Decor Inspo You Need

Glow Events designed a '90s lover's dream of a corporate get-together for a tech company in San Francisco. See all the funky details.

Sarah Kloepple

September 14, 2023

On Aug. 24, Glow Events produced a '90s summer picnic for a tech company's corporate get-together. Party Popper Balloons provided these colorful balloons.Photo: Meg SextonSAN FRANCISCO—Slinkys, Nintendo 64, butterfly clips, inflatable furniture. All of this could be found at a certain tech company's '90s summer picnic for about 350 people held Aug. 24 at The Bridge Yard in the San Francisco Bay Area. Produced by Glow Events, the corporate get-together for employees was a master class in perfecting a theme and putting it all in the details.

The theme was one Glow had pitched to this client before, and it was finally the right time to execute. "They allowed us to really go for it," said Glow associate events director Cynthia West, who spearheaded the design with Glow associate event planner Megan Peterson. "It was a lot of fun to create all of this nostalgia throughout the space."

The expanse of the industrial-style venue presented a few challenges, but it also allowed the Glow team to divvy up the space with a handful of major touchpoints requested by the client, such as a fun bar moment and a live band and dance area. "Walking into the main space of The Bridge Yard, a huge part of the real estate was the windows, so that was one of the features that we wanted to anchor in the space and bring into the decor, which is where those colorful decals came in," West said.

From there, the team ideated decor moments that would make an impact, including more than 100 Slinkys in various sizes draped across the ceiling. (That's a new one for us!) Keep scrolling to see some truly standout details from inside this '90s corporate picnic, plus plenty of noteworthy insights from the Glow team...

With so many can't-miss details, West said a particular design element tied everything together. "We wanted to incorporate so many things, but what really grounded the entire design throughout the space was the bright, fun color palette," she said.

The Glow team tapped Illuminate Events for AV and lighting, and Blueprint Studios, Found Rentals, The Wild Ones, and Royal Restrooms for rentals.

Photo: Meg Sexton

The venue's windows became an important element of the event's look, so colorful decals were added to some of the glass panes. Event fabricator Modest Peach created this glam station with three mirrors that allowed guests to add some '90s flair (hello, butterfly clips) to their look.

Photo: Meg Sexton

The bar became a big focal moment for the event. "With such a vast blank space, you have to decide what those anchor moments will be," said Melanie Zelnick, owner and CEO of Glow Events. "Focus on the big pieces first, then bring in those little vignettes and details that make the event feel special."

Photo: Meg Sexton

Some of those special details? Certainly these Lisa Frank-inspired binders displaying the beverage menu.

Photo: Meg Sexton

Another anchor to the space was this interactive area, meant to evoke a '90s-era bedroom, where guests could try their hand at Mario Kart via a Nintendo 64 console. Inflatable furniture and posters of iconic '90s pop culture rounded out the space.

Photo: Meg Sexton

Glow Events also activated the venue's outdoor space with eye-catching photo ops and plush lounge seating. Modest Peach created this eight-foot-tall CD wall adorned with 600 handplaced CDs.

Photo: Meg Sexton

Modest Peach also fabricated this 3D photo moment with multiple layers for guests to sit on and interact with. The piece spanned 20 feet in length and had a functioning staircase for layering larger groups.

Photo: Meg Sexton

Foxtail Catering pulled out all the stops for a nostalgia-filled menu. Out: tray-passed service. In: mancala board service.

Photo: Meg Sexton

Funky boombox straws added a festive touch to the beverages.

Photo: Meg Sexton

Capri Sun pouches were another way to evoke nostalgia.

Photo: Meg Sexton

"They really brought their A-game," West said of Foxtail Catering. "We showed them our mood board and design direction, and they really took that and ran with it, as far as the food station elements go." Zelnick added that being incredibly collaborative with partners like Foxtail can contribute to an event's success. "There is just so much more creativity that can happen when you can lean on your creative partners and work together on one big vision versus micromanaging and telling them exactly what they need to do," she said.

Photo: Meg Sexton

Figuring out how to hang these Slinkys across the ceiling proved to be a big challenge, but one that paid off in the end. "Beautiful things do happen when you're allowed to take risks and your clients really trust you," West said. "I always say think bigger, because amazing things can happen when you push the limits."

Photo: Meg Sexton

VHS tapes were incorporated into some of the floral arrangements, provided by Duet Botanical.

Photo: Meg Sexton

The Freshmakers kept attendees on their feet.

Photo: Meg Sexton

On Aug. 24, Glow Events produced a '90s summer picnic for a tech company's corporate get-together. Party Popper Balloons provided these colorful balloons.

Photo: Meg Sexton