
Summer galas in the northern part of the country can actually try and see the Northern Lights, but most black-tie events are held in the spring. Decorate in purple, lavender, periwinkle and sapphire blue with tables named after galaxies, stars or planets.

For cities without a planetarium, you can recreate a star light or Northern Lights theme.

Star Light Gala - If possible, hold your gala at a planetarium, and invite guests to mingle and dance under the stars.Serve your meal buffet style with a variety of signature black and white desserts such as domino brownies, chocolate dipped strawberries (tuxedo style) and cheesecakes. Casino Royale - Hold a casino night with a variety of card games, cocktail dress, specialty mixed drinks and live entertainment.Use brightly colored flowers and potentially red or black table cloths instead of white to make the flowers pop. Have the largest display be your photo backdrop and have others throughout the venue. Paint the Town - For this year’s gala, make the décor the talk of the town with custom paint buckets dumping out ribbons of “paint” or colored material.Offer a cheery craft cocktail to match the theme or Shirley Temples if younger guests will be attending. Have brightly colored floral displays everywhere, colorful Chinese lanterns and colored cloths hanging from the ceiling in red, coral, yellow and magenta. Color Me Happy - This type of event works well for an art museum, children’s museum or hospital gala.Compete the look with lots of candles on glass candlesticks and placed throughout the venue in hurricanes. Decorate with cacti and roses in desert-colored hues of coral, red and magenta. After guests dine under a tent, they can dance under the stars. Serve a custom prickly pear cocktail, carne asada tacos with green chile sauce as well as peanut butter, honey and banana crepes. Desert Rose - Host a desert-themed event poolside at a large hotel or other venue.Try these 30 fundraising gala theme ideas that can be tweaked to fit any budget. Determining your event’s theme will depend on the nature and mission of your organization - some organizations are more formal while others are more casual. Annual fundraising galas are a popular way for nonprofits to raise money and let donors socialize with each other and the charity’s leaders.
