Special Events released the names of this year's Gala Award nominees yesterday. The nominees were chosen by members of the magazine's Advisory Board from a pool of entries representing event experts based in Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Spain and the United States.
The Galas have been awarded since 1986 and represent the pinnacle in special events.
The winners will be named on Jan. 27 at The Special Event 2012 in Tampa, Fla.
This year's nominees are:
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
CSI-Capitol Services Inc., Falls Church, Va.
"It's Cool to be a Geek"
The Lundquist Co., Sacramento
"First 5 Sacramento Children's Celebration"
Signature Events, New Orleans
"Liuzza Palooza 2011"
BEST INVITATION
Emerald City Designs, Farmington Hills, Mich.
"Are You Curious Yet?"
Hannah Handmade, Evanston, Ill.
"National Stationery Show 2011/Paper Power"
POP Kollaborative Inc., Calgary, Alberta
"MindJam"
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
Carolyn Dempsey Design, Port Chester N.Y.
"Daffodil Surprise"
Designs by Sean, Dania Fla. , and Harith Productions, Willow Grove, Pa.
"President's Club 2010 Awards"
The Precious Moment Beijing Ltd., Beijing
"Cindy Chao Black Label Unveiling Exhibition"
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
JDK Group, Camp Hill Pa. , and TOLO Events, Renfew, Pa.
"Pennsylvania Governor's Inaugural Ball"
La Bonne Cuisine Catering, Oakland Calif.
"Super Bowl Party"
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana Calif.
"A Night in the Garden of Eden"
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
Biltmore Estate, Ashville, N.C.
"A Journey Back in Time to the Gilded Age"
Harith Productions, Willow Grove Pa. , and the Westin Dublin, Dublin
"Embrace the Emerald Isle"
The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago
"The Peninsula 10-Year Party"
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
Catalina Island Conservancy, Long Beach, Calif.
"Catalina's Gold"
Elizabeth Rose Consulting, New York
"A Celebration of Courage"
Signature Events, New Orleans
"Liuzza Palooza 2011"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Cava Rose, Montreal
"Create Your Night"
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta
"Operation Western Front"
Festivex Special Events, Gatineau, Quebec
"Tulip Ball 2011"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
Events of Distinction, San Francisco
"With This Wing … "
Frank
"Winter Wonderland Windy City Wedding"
KBY Designs, Rishon Lezion, Israel
"Wedding in a Field of Barley"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Jess Flood Event Design, Valley Ford, Calif.
"Shannon and Tim"
Newberry Brothers Inc., Denver, and Faye Gardenswartz, Denver
"A Storybook Wedding"
Rentals Unlimited, Stoughton, Mass.
"A Wedding Extraordinaire"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Mueller President's Club Incentive"
Harith Productions, Willow Grove, Pa. , and Ovation DMC, Dublin
"Embrace the Emerald Isle"
Sullivan Group, Houston
"Aggreko Excellence 2010"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM
Go West Creative Group, Westlake Village, Calif.
"Sonic National Convention"
Vok Dams Group, Wuppertal, Germany
"Skoda World Dealer Conference"
Welcome Event Marketing, Copenhagen
"Danisco Business Forum 2011"
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta
"One Power"
Jung von Matt/relations GmbH, Cologne, Germany
"The Cubanization of Germany"
Metzler: Vater GmbH, Munich
"BMW X3 Games"
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
A Legendary Event, Atlanta
"Love in the Big Easy"
Janet Flowers Wedding and Event Designs, Rockville, Md.
"Autumn Architecture"
Newberry Brothers Inc., Denver
"A Storybook Wedding"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION
EventQuip, Lansdale, Pa.
"Miracle on Fifth Street"
EventQuip, Lansdale, Pa.
"Retro Glow"
Proteus On-Demand Facilities, Austell, Ga.
"The Barclays VIP Hospitality"
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Brite Ideas, Foothill Ranch, Calif., and Megavision Arts, Santa Monica
"Los Angeles County Museum of Art Resnick Pavilion Gala Opening"
Russell Harris Event Group, North Hollywood, Calif. , and Images by Lighting, Los Angeles
"DMD International Upfronts"
Wizcraft International Entertainment, Mumbai
"Commonwealth Games 2010"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Aggreko, Houston
"World Equestrian Games"
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Solutions: Spirit of the Entrepreneur"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
Aggreko, Houston
"Lollapalooza"
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Produced by Conference 2011"
Vok Dams Group, Wuppertal, Germany
"Skoda World Dealer Conference"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
Kool Party Rentals, Phoenix
"Hello Las Vegas Cardinal Health Program"
Marquee Tents, Austin
"Austin City Limits Music Festival"
Town & Country Event Rentals, Van Nuys, Calif.
"Produced by Conference 2011"
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
DaVinci Fusion, San Francisco, and In Good Company, San Ramon, Calif.
"15 Minutes of Fame"
PTE Productions, Orlando, Fla.
"RGB-1 Wireless LED"
Two Left Feet, Orlando, Fla.
"A Muted Global Groove: The Silent Party is Born"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET UNDER $25,000
Creative Juice, Conshohocken, Pa. , and Pendulum Aerial Arts, Portland, Ore.
"VIVID: Art After Dark"
Designs by Sean, Dania, Fla., and The Special Event Company, Durham, N.C.
"Mint Museum Opening"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET $25,000 TO $100,000
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"
BRAVO Entertainment, Dallas, and New Century Dance Co., Miami
"Art Prize 2011"
The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago
"The Peninsula 10-Year Party"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
Insgluck Event Marketing, Berlin
"Gala Event at Conference Investment"
Insgluck Event Marketing, Berlin
"International Opening Ceremony Hannover Fair 2011"
Metzler: Vater GmbH, Munich
"Pavilion 21 Mini Opera Space"
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
Wizcraft International Entertainment, Mumbai
"Commonwealth Games 2010"
Wizcraft International Entertainment, Mumbai
"ICC World Cup Dhaka 2011"
Vok Dams Group, Wuppertal, Germany
"Skoda World Dealer Conference"
BEST EVENT FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
All Occasions Event Productions, Lexington, Ky.
"Home of the Authenic MJ's Dance Hall"
KBY Designs, Rishon Lezion, Israel
"Desert Dream"
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"Big 'B' Retirement Party"
BEST EVENT FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Coast Concierge Services, Costa Mesa, Calif.
"Sally's 50th Birthday"
KBY Designs, Rishon Lezion, Israel
"All the World's a Stage"
Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Reno
"50 Golden Years Celebration"
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Exhilarate, Orlando, Fla.
"Change is in the Air: Launch of Mauiva AirCruise"
Global Events Group, Madrid
"Malaga, Capital of Cinema"
Insgluck Event Marketing, Berlin
"Linde Material Handlings at CeMAT 2011"
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Corporate Magic, Dallas
"Gaylord Opryland Grand Reopening"
Luminous EMC Ltd., Hong Kong
"ArtScience Museum Opening"
T. Skorman Productions, Orlando, Fla., and Ray Ramsay and Associates, Orlando, Fla.
"INNSpire!"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET UNDER $20,000
AOO Events, Los Angeles
"Founders Circle Dinner"
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Legends Gala"
Wilkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Caroline's Masquerade Ball"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET $20,000 TO $49,999
AOO Events, Los Angeles
"Night of 10,000 Dreams"
EventWorks, Los Angeles, and Kuoni, Scottsdale, Ariz.
"Alice in Wonderland"
MGM Resorts Events, Las Vegas
"VIP Birthday"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET $50,000 TO $150,000
Blueprint Studios, San Francisco
"San Francisco Symphony Centennial Anniversary"
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Food and Wine Experience"
Hello Florida! Inc., Orlando, Fla.
"Brown and Brown Private Party"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET ABOVE $150,000
MGM Resorts Events, Las Vegas
"New Year's Eve"
MGM Resorts Events, Las Vegas
"PCMA Mixer"
Syzygy Event Productions, Gaithersburg, Md.
"National Geographic Evening of Exploration"
BEST EVENT FOR CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Euro Events Ltd., Dublin
"BMW VED Car Press Launch"
Euro Events Ltd., Dublin
"Mini Countryman Launch"
POP Kollaborative Inc., Calgary, Alberta, and Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Calgary, Alberta
"iF Series Gala"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"BMW Plant Opening in Spartanburg, S.C."
MDN Productions, Denver
"Fairy Tale After Dark"
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"AMPAS Foreign Film Awards"
BEST EVENT FOR CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
E=MC2 Event Management, Calgary, Alberta
"The Block Party"
On Stage Production and Consultant Ltd., Hong Kong
"Ageas Rebranding Celebration"
POP Kollaborative Inc., Calgary, Alberta
"MindJam"
BEST EVENT FOR CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"Frostbite"
BBDO Live, Bonn
"125 Years of Bosch"
The Peninsula Chicago, Chicago
"The Peninsula 10-Year Party"
