How Triangle companies are ditching the typical happy hour for an event people actually want to attend
by WALTER staff

The office party has a reputation, and it’s not exactly a glowing one. Passed apps, an open bar, small talk with someone you barely know from another department — for a long time, that was just the deal. Companies threw a party because it was expected, employees showed up because they had to, and often folks were counting down the minutes until they could head home.

That’s starting to change, and in a pretty interesting way. We spoke to Kaila Cunningham, venue manager and corporate event planner at The Merrimon-Wynne House, a downtown Raleigh venue that’s been hosting and planning events for more than 12 years. 

“We’re seeing a real shift in how Triangle companies approach corporate events,” says Cunningham, venue coordinator at The Merrimon-Wynne House, noting that they accommodate a wide variety of corporate and non-wedding events, including corporate holiday parties, company retreats, team-building events, client appreciation events, product launches, nonprofit galas and fundraisers, networking events, retirement parties, and other business gatherings. “More clients are coming to us with a specific goal — client retention, a brand introduction, employee appreciation — and they’re planning more interactive experiences to make that happen.”

Part of what’s driving this, especially for internal events, is something most Triangle professionals know well: the dispersed team. As remote and hybrid work have become the norm, they’re losing the organic connections that used to happen in hallways and break rooms. The “water cooler talk” that built the culture is largely gone. So companies are using events to create, intentionally, the kind of shared experiences that used to happen naturally. 

“CEOs and HR directors are realizing that the loyalty your company is built on comes from a sense of community,” Cunningham says. “If your employees don’t feel connected to each other, that affects everything.”

What does a more experiential corporate event look like? A few Cunningham has arranged at Merrimon-Wynne include an evening with a sketch artist drawing quick portraits of guests for them to take home, and a performer wearing a skirt made of champagne glasses. They’ve featured The Poetry Fox, a poet who writes poems on demand, or a sommelier to lead an interactive wine tasting, even casino games and Dueling Pianos! Each of these things give guests something to talk about, both at the party and back at work. 

“They want people to get out of the cubicle, to let their personality out,” Cunningham says. “So when they’re back at the office, there’s a greater appreciation for the people around them.”

Theme-based events have been particularly effective for exactly this reason. Bluegrass and BBQ nights, adult “field days” with pickleball tournaments and relay races — the more a guest feels like they’re at an experience rather than an obligation, the more they engage. “People are most interactive at themed events,” Cunningham notes. “And when there is a tangible takeaway — a watercolor portrait, a poem written just for you — those memories stick.” 

For client-facing events, and for companies making their debut in the Raleigh market, there’s a growing understanding that an event can be a form of marketing in itself. Think about what a local skincare brand accomplishes by renting a venue for an evening, setting up a treatment station, serving a custom beverage tied to their product, and sending guests home with products to try. Every person leaves with a sample and memory of the brand. 

Co-branded events are on the rise as well. A fitness studio and a supplement brand co-hosting a workout class followed by a recovery social puts both audiences in the same room and grows both brands in a single evening. Companies new to Raleigh have even used events to introduce themselves to the market before they even officially open.

One other big shift Cunningham is seeing is that companies are moving their events to earlier in the week. Employees guard their weekends: Friday is date night, or there’s a soccer game on Saturday morning. Even Thursday can be too close to the weekend to feel optional. “Many employees view their weekends as sacred, dedicated to spending time with family and friends,” says Cunningham. A Tuesday or Wednesday cocktail hour after work, by contrast, feels like a perk.

One more thing worth knowing: none of this has to land on whoever happens to have a free afternoon. For years, corporate event planning defaulted to whoever was available — often a receptionist or HR coordinator who doesn’t have vendor relationships and is already juggling a full workload. But Merrimon-Wynne’s full-service planning team handles the entire process — catering, bar service, rentals, entertainment sourcing, day-of execution — from start to finish. “They tell us what they want, and we make it happen,” Cunningham says. 

Unlike a traditional hotel ballroom or conference room, Merrimon-Wynne House offers a distinctive setting that combines the charm of a historic estate with the convenience of a full-service event venue. Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, the property features elegant indoor and outdoor spaces filled with natural light and character, creating a welcoming environment for meetings, retreats, client events, company celebrations and holiday parties.

With personalized planning support, exceptional cuisine, an in-house bar program, complimentary parking, and flexible event spaces, Merrimon-Wynne House offers the ease of a traditional meeting venue paired with a memorable setting your guests will genuinely enjoy. At a moment when the company event has the potential to actually move the needle in terms of employee and client engagement, it’s worth enlisting an expert.

If you’re interested in transforming your standard company gathering into a celebration your team won’t forget, email the Merrimon-Wynne team at events@merrimonwynne.com. Tell them Walter sent you to receive a complimentary cocktail upgrade for your team!

This post was originally published July 2026.
This post was sponsored by The Merrimon-Wynne House.