Choosing Your Insta Worthy Event Space

The 3 go’s & 3 no go’s to choosing your insta-worthy event space

Looking for a venue to host your next influencer event? We spoke with talent and content agency Liquorice to understand what works and doesn’t work for getting social coverage and leaving a lasting impression on your influencer guestlist. A lot of hard work and planning goes into nailing social-worthy events, and the influencer landscape is competitive, so event schedules book up fast.  More than ever before, it’s key to set your event apart from all the rest and make sure it’s one to impress.

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What to look for?

1. 1. The potential to make the space your own

You want a unique location that stands out from the crowd, but you don’t want people to remember the venue more than what you did with it. Whether you go for a show-stopping space that wows as it is or a true blank canvas you can do what you like with, you want your brand launch or party to be a night to remember for the right reasons. Your styling is key here – if you can’t go full gusto and paint the walls in your brand colours, think about how many ways you can include your branding in the styling. Consider branded entranceways, photo walls, mirror decals and table-scapes with product placement – having a unique location will not only impress your guests, but it will make it a more memorable event that results in better brand recall for attendees – and those who watched from the story-lines. 

Studio 230 – Ponsonby

"Spaces like Studio 230 are the perfect blank canvas to create an atmospheric event – the only limit is your imagination!

2. Photo Moments

The guys and gals attending your event create content for a living and if influencers are known for one thing, it’s their dedication to aesthetic. When you’re picking your venue, don’t skip out on the small stuff. A trendy bathroom mirror, fabulous feature wall, and impeccable lighting go a long way in the world of social media – and having dedicated photo areas set up will give you big pay off in social share. From selfie stations to beautiful entranceways, choose a venue that makes snapping pictures and videos as easy as possible, and find subtle ways to sneak your branding into frame.

Naumi Hotel Wellington

"Naumi Wellington is flooded with stunning natural light, glamorous interiors, and funky features that are guaranteed to make a lasting impression on event guests"

3. Capacity

Whether serving up canapes or a sit-down meal, playing light background music, or headlining with celeb entertainment, it’s no secret that what you need is space, space, space! Especially in a post-pandemic world, nobody wants to be crammed in like a tin of sardines. Once you’ve worked out your event numbers, find out if your chosen space can actually accommodate that number – your guests should be able to freely move around, socialise with other attendees, enjoy the delicious spread of food and beverage you’ve kindly put on, and get down and dirty on the dancefloor busting out the latest trending TikTok dance.

Kamana Lake House Queenstown Event Space

"This picturesque space not only provides a million-dollar view of The Remarkables mountain range, but it has a variety of function spaces that can fit anywhere between 20 seated for dinner, to 150 people for a cocktail style function"

What to avoid?

1. Environmental restrictions

Rain, hail, or shine, the show must go on. When you’re choosing your space, put yourself in the shoes of your guests. If it starts raining on the day, is there somewhere for them to be under a shelter? If the wind picks up outside, will their freshly styled blow wave be ruined? If the sun is shining and the temperature is rising, will there be somewhere for them to cool off? We can’t control the weather, but how you execute your plan B, C, or even D, is what will make a positive impression on your guests. The same goes for an entirely indoor venue. Fresh air is greatly appreciated when things can get a little overwhelming inside, and when hosting an event in the sweltering summer heat, it’s important to consider people needing to simply ‘take a breather’. When deciding on your space, find somewhere with an indoor/outdoor flow, giving guests the option to enjoy both.

Non Solo

"When it comes to indoor outdoor flow, Non Solo has it down pat. With a covered courtyard that flows from a spacious restaurant, your guests will be mixing and mingling whatever the weather"

2. Bad lighting

Very few guests will be using anything more than a smartphone camera to capture their content at your event, and unless they’re a photography genius on the side, they’ll find it hard to capture the ambiance when the lighting is dim. We’ve already covered the importance of aesthetics for influencers, so lighting should play a huge part in your decision process when selecting your event space. While natural light is the best, sometimes the sun RSVPs no and you have to make do. Look for great ambient lighting, bright bathrooms (never underestimate the bathroom selfie), and, if all else fails, spaces to plug in your own lighting.

Botanical Gardens – Christchurch

Soaked in sun during the day and hard to miss at night, the architectural Ilex Café in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens offers many different lighting perspectives. 

3. Venue Exclusivity 

If you’re looking at a public space such as a restaurant for your next event, it’s important to make sure you’ve got full exclusivity of your space. Whether you’re enquiring about a popular restaurant or a trendy rooftop bar, be sure to confirm a private room or the venue entirely. If you’re giving a product demonstration to your guests, the last thing you want is your voice competing against the noise of 100 strangers enjoying their meals – and you definitely don’t want strangers poking around your goodie bags or snaffling the drinks you’ve paid for. 

The Libraries at The Hotel Britomart

"Home to a selection of private spaces for events all sizes, The Hotel Britomart provides all the hustle and bustle of the city, just without interference from the outside"

Liquorice is an influencer, talent and content creation agency for all sorts. Find out more about what they offer here.