Daunting challenges, amazing results: This describes the work of the Gala Award nominees listed below. Members of the Special Events Magazine Advisory Board spent hours poring over hundreds of entries before selecting these companies. Watch for our January issue, which will include profiles of all our nominees; the Gala Award winners will be named Jan. 18 at The Special Event 2008 in Atlanta. See you there! — The Editors
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
Marketing and More, Munich, Germany, and Mini of BMW Group, Munich, Germany, "Mini United 2007"
The Lundquist Co., Sacramento, Calif., "First 5 Sacramento Children's Celebration"
The Special Event Co., Durham, N.C., "Kitts Creek Festival"
BEST INVITATION
BBDO Detroit, Troy, Mich., and Chrysler, Auburn Hills, Mich., "Camp Jeep"
Jobe & Associates, Dublin, Ohio, "NFS Conference"
Jobe & Associates, Dublin, Ohio, "NFN Leaders Conference"
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
Bold American Catering, Atlanta, "Golden 75th Birthday Celebration"
Hello Florida, Orlando, Fla., "Taking Dining to New Heights"
Something New Events, Canfield, Ohio, "It's My Turn"
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
Center of Attention, Burbank, Calif., and An Catering, Los Angeles, "Wedding Catered with Flights of Hors D'Oeuvre"
Five Star Kosher Cuisine/Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif., "Kosher Wedding"
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif., "Wine Dinner"
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
Bellagio Resorts, Las Vegas, and MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas, "Las Vegas Grand Prix"
Harith Productions, Willow Grove, Pa., and Westin Los Cabos, San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, "Aztec and Maya"
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton, Wis., "A Lion King Extravaganza"
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta, "Fundraising Event for Brett Wilson"
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas, "Keep Memory Alive The Power of Love"
The Maverick Group, Atlanta, "TechBridge Digital Ball 2007"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION OR ASSOCIATION
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta, "Event for Brett Wilson"
Lundy's Special Events, Lexington, Ky., "Lexington Arts Ball"
The Webster Group, Washington, "Air Force Memorial Dedication"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
Experiential Events, Calgary, Alberta, "Baker-Elliott Wedding"
The Wedding Belle, Edmond, Okla., "Fischer-Speakes Wedding"
VP Events, Westlake Village, Calif., "A Garden Paradise Wedding"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team, Miami, "Midsummer's Night Dream Wedding"
Events of Distinction, San Francisco, "A Celebration of Citrus Sensations"
Fiori Fresco Special Events, La Habra Heights, Calif., and Barbara Wallace Weddings, Corona del Mar, Calif., "Davidoff Wedding"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif., "Presidents Club"
Fourth Wall Events, New York, "IBM 2007 GGC"
Jobe & Associates, Dublin, Ohio, "NFS Conference"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION
Barkley Kalpak Associates, New York, "MasterCard Global Sales Meeting"
Circ Corporate Experience, Wiesbaden, Germany, and Wizcraft International, Mumbai, India, "VW Mumbai Cross Culture Experience"
Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill., and International Truck and Engine Corp., Warrenville, Ill., "Band Together"
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
AEG, Los Angeles, "2007 Amgen Tour of California Hospitality"
Carter McRae Events, Calgary, Alberta, "Yes, It's Calgary!"
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta, "Multiple Locations for Shell"
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla., "In the Garden of Love"
Kehoe Designs, Chicago, "Night of Crystal"
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas, "A Birthday Celebration"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION: TENT BUDGET UNDER $75,000
Chicago Party Rental, McCook, Ill., "Stingray Bay Exhibit"
Harlequin Marquees and Event Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, "Ramadan Majlis"
Marquee Event Group, Austin, Texas, "65th Dow Employees"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION: TENT BUDGET $75,000 AND ABOVE
Chicago Party Rental, McCook, Ill., "Lexus Dealer Gala"
Eventstar, Miami, "Kansas City Wedding"
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Brite Ideas, Foothill Ranch, Calif., "Segerstrom Concert Hall Grand Opening"
Fennelli Design Group, Hamilton, N.J., "Kean University Annual Gala"
Global Events, Madrid, Spain, "Madrid Arena Celebration"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Aggreko, Houston, "Cricket World Cup"
Global Events, Madrid, Spain,"Infoforum @ 2010"
Global Events, Madrid, Spain, "Everis Presentation"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
AEG, Los Angeles, "2007 Amgen Tour of California Hospitality"
Charlotte City Partners, Charlotte, N.C., "Culinary Arts Experience"
Hala Events & Communications, Toronto, "Teddy Bear Affair"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
Ducky-Bob's Event Specialists, Carrolton, Texas, "Fabulous Fall Wedding "
Ducky-Bob's Event Specialists, Carrolton, Texas, "Four Seasons Resort Wedding Reception"
Marquee Rents, Austin, Texas, "The Lion King Gala "
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
Get Flipped, Orange, Calif., "Friedlander Bat Mitzvah"
Pink Inc., New York, "8th Annual MOMA Family Festival"
Regal Tent Productions, Stoney Creek, Ontario, "3D Autocad Animation"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET UNDER $25,000
Carter McRae Events, Calgary, Alberta, "National Philanthropy Day Luncheon"
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif., "Presidents Council"
Method 42 Productions, San Jose, Calif., "Superheroes and Villains"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET $25,000 TO $100,000
Bashara Concepts, Dallas, and Bravo Entertainment, Dallas, "Art in Motion"
Event Show Productions, Tampa, Fla., and Fulford-Brown Inc., Toronto, "Spectacular Spectacular"
Hello Florida, Orlando, Fla., and Metropolis Productions, Orlando, Fla., "Hard Rock 'n Harley"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT CONCEPT AND EXECUTION: ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
Barkley Kalpak Associates, New York, "Studio 67 Gala Event"
Circ Corporate Experience, Wiesbaden, Germany, and Atelier Seitz, Niederneuching, Germany, "Caterpillar Bauma 2007"
Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill., and International Truck and Engine Corp., Warrenville, Ill., "Bring Down the House"
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
Autostadt, Wolfsburg, Germany, and Circ Corporate Experience, Wiesbaden, Germany, "Magic Waters"
Global Events, Madrid, Spain, "Renault World Series"
JHE Production Group, Harrisburg, N.C., "NASCAR Nextel Pit Crew Challenge"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team, Miami, "Weiss Bar Mitzvah--MaxStock"
Method 42 Productions, San Jose, Calif., "The Vampire's Ball"
Something New Events, Canfield, Ohio, "It's My Turn "
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta, "Operation Disco"
Events of Distinction, San Francisco, "A Surprising Epicurean Cruise"
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas, "A Birthday Celebration"
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Circ Corporate Experience, Wiesbaden, Germany, "Caterpillar Bauma 2007"
The Lundquist Co., Sacramento, Calif., "Rededication of Matthew Kilgore Cemetery"
VOX Entertainment, El Segundo, Calif., "Baskin-Robbins Surf's Up Mobile Tour
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Barkley Kalpak Associates, New York, "Guys and Dolls"
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta, and AIDS Calgary Awareness Association, Calgary, Alberta, "AIDS Calgary Awareness Association"
Entertainment Plus Productions, Los Angeles, and Go West Events and Multimedia, Westlake Village, Calif., "The Gala Awards 2007"
BEST THEME DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET UNDER $20,000
A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team, Miami, "Barbie Bridal Shower"
Grand Events, Chatsworth, Calif., "Sarah's Tent"
The Special Event Co., London, "Park Street Property Launch"
BEST THEME DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET $20,000 TO $50,000
An Original Occasion, Los Angeles, "Lava Lounge"
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla., and Harith Productions, Willow Grove, Pa., "Myths and Legends of the Aztec and Maya"
Hello Florida, Orlando, Fla., "Games People Play"
BEST THEME DECOR: TOTAL DECOR BUDGET ABOVE $50,000
An Original Occasion, Los Angeles. and Pulse 220, Southfield, Mich., "Dreams"
An Original Occasion, Los Angeles, "Club Glen"
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas, "A Birthday Extravganza "
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION: OVERALL BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Harith Productions, Willow Grove, Pa., and Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla., "Myths and Legends of Aztec and Maya"
Jenne Hohn Events, Napa, Calif., "From the Earth to the Bottle"
The Lundquist Co., Sacramento, Calif., "Rededication of Matthew Kilgore Cemetery"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION: OVERALL BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla., "Easy Breezy Beauty and the Beach"
Global Events, Madrid, Spain, "Mission Possible"
Total Event Resources, Schaumburg, Ill., and International Truck and Engine Corp., Warrenville, Ill., "The Great Strip Search"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION: OVERALL BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
An Original Occasion, Los Angeles, "Wrap Party for 'Meet the Robinsons'"
Global Events, Madrid, Spain, "Winning the Right Way"
The Event Co./The Companies, Munich, Germany, "Faces of a New Company"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A CORPORATION: OVERALL BUDGET $500,000 AND ABOVE
Branduin Creative, San Francisco, "Cisco Live: Rock Your Senses"
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta, "Shell Event"
MGM Mirage Events, Las Vegas, "Nirvana"
