Special Events today announced the nominees for the 2012 Gala Awards, the oldest and most prestigious award in the event industry.
The nominees were chosen by current and former members of the magazine's Advisory Board from a pool of entries representing event experts based in Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The Galas have been awarded since 1986.
The winners will be named on Jan. 18 at The Special Event 2013 in Chicago.
This year's nominees are:
BEST FAIR/FESTIVAL
Huka Entertainment, New Orleans
"The Hangout Beach, Music and Arts Festival"
Seafair, Seattle
"Seafair"
Utopia Entertainment, Studio City, Calif.
"Great Park's Growing the Park Anniversary"
BEST INVITATION
Dragonfly Custom Design, Orlando, Fla.
"A Great Event is 'In the Bag'"
Hannah Handmade, Evanston, Ill.
"Driehaus 'As Time Goes By' Summer Party"
Jobe and Associates, Dublin, Ohio
"Welcome to Puerto Rico"
BEST DINING TABLE DESIGN
Decor and More, Oakville, Ontario, and Yves Chenier Design, Saint-Roche-de-L'Achigars, Quebec
"The Daffodil Ball"
Emerald City Designs, Farmington Hills, Mich.
"A Vision of Vintage Eclectic"
Something New Events, Canfield, Ohio
"Turn of the Century Romance"
BEST OFF-PREMISE CATERED EVENT
Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec
"The Daffodil Ball"
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"Different as Night and Day"
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"Eat, Drink and Be Married"
BEST CATERED EVENT PRODUCED BY A HOTEL BANQUET DEPARTMENT
Fairmont the Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, Quebec
"The Daffodil Ball"
Savor, Chicago
"NATO"
Venetian/Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, and TKO Art, Irvine, Calif.
"Year of the Water Dragon"
BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT
Catalina Island Conservancy, Long Beach, Calif.
"History in the Making"
Someone's in the Kitchen, Tarzana, Calif.
"Rock for Teens"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"10th Anniversary of the Jewish Museum in Berlin"
BEST EVENT PRODUCED FOR A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"The Daffodil Ball"
Melissa Krauser Events, Houston
"Grand Opening of Asia Society Texas Center"
Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
"Children's Hospital Grand Opening Weekend"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
Christina Currie Events, Barrington, Ill.
"Dreams Do Come True"
Events of Distinction, San Francisco
"Fashionably Ever After"
Newberry Brothers, Denver, and Faye Gardenswarz, Denver
"Roses and Romance"
BEST WEDDING: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Frank Event Design, Chicago
"New Year's Wedding Spectacular"
Lavish Wedding Planning and Design, Calgary, Alberta
"Trish and Steve's Glamorous Western Wedding"
Something New Events, Canfield, Ohio
"Turn of the Century Romance"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY INCENTIVE EVENT
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Presidents Club"
Fourth Wall Events, New York
"Best of 2012 Incentive"
Jobe and Associates, Dublin, Ohio
"Puerto Rico Posh"
BEST MULTIPLE-DAY EVENT PROGRAM
Pure Perfection Events and Incentives, Wiesbaden, Germany, and Audi AG, Ingolstadt, Germany
"Audi Trans China Tour 2011"
Showtime Events Ltd., New Delhi
"BMW Xperience"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Nespresso Pixie Launch: More Than You See"
BEST EVENT STAGED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
Jung von Matt Relations, Cologne, Germany
"Brainwaves"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Consumer Promotion 2.0: Der Dosionair"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Nespresso Pixie Launch: More Than You See"
BEST FLORAL DESIGN
Emerald City Designs, Farmington Hills, Mich.
"A Floral Sanctuary Romance"
The Meetinghouse Companies, Elmhurst, Ill.
"Fawcett Fairy Tale Wedding"
NLC Productions, Santa Barbara, Calif.
"Bohemian Garden Entertainment"
BEST TENT INSTALLATION
ABC Special Event Rentals, Mukilteo, Wash.
"HuskyFest 2012"
A1 Party Rental, Covina, Calif.
"Hugh Hefner's A Midsummer Night's Dream Party"
Blueprint Studios, San Francisco
"French Laundry"
BEST USE OF LIGHTING
Brite Ideas, Foothill Ranch, Calif., and Megavision Arts, Santa Monica, Calif.
"Pacific Standard Time Project"
Russell Harris Event Group, North Hollywood, Calif., and Images by Lighting, Los Angeles
"Disney Media Distribution International Upfront"
Warner Bros Studios Special Events, Burbank, Calif., and Bart Kresa Design, Los Angeles
"International Television Gala"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL SUPPORT
EventWorks, Los Angeles, and Tandem Digital, Calabasas, Calif.
"Mohawk: Spirit in Action"
POP Kollaborative, Calgary, Alberta, and Mediaco, Calgary, Alberta
"Shell 100: It's Time"
Welcome Event Marketing, Copenhagen, and Nordic Rentals, Copenhagen
"Big Bang Circulator Event"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN LOGISTICS
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Go Daddy Holiday Party”
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Nespresso Pixie Launch: More Than You See"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany, and Mindact Gesellschaft fur Kommunikation, Wuppertal, Germany
"Porsche Boxter Dealer Launch Event: Breaking Free"
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN EVENT RENTAL SUPPORT
CHIC Event Furniture Rental, Orlando, Fla.
"Kohl's: The 50th Anniversary Celebration"
Karl's Event Services, Oak Creek, Wis.
"Frieze Art Fair"
Panache A Classic Party Rentals Co., Pompano Beach, Fla.
"SOBE Wine and Food Festival"
BEST NEW, INNOVATIVE EVENT PRODUCT/TECHNOLOGY
Mix on Wheels, Orlando, Fla.
"Mini Cooper Xtreme Clubman"
VDA Productions, Somerville, Mass.
"Charging Valet"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Consumer Promotion 2.0: Der Dosionair"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal, Quebec
"The Daffodil Ball"
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Comics, Cupcakes and Cocktails"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"VW Beijing AutoChina 2012: Booth Communication"
BEST EVENT ENTERTAINMENT: BUDGET ABOVE $100,000
BC Event Management, North Vancouver, British Columbia
"IBEW Gala Reception"
Luminous Experiential Marketing Communications, Hong Kong
"Sands Cotai Central Opening Ceremony"
Warner Bros Studios Special Events, Burbank, Calif.
"International Television Gala"
MOST OUTSTANDING SPECTACLE
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Go Daddy Holiday Party"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Consumer Promotion 2.0: Der Dosionair"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Volkswagen at the Frankfurt International Motor Show"
BEST EVENT FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET UNDER $1,000 PER GUEST
KBY Designs, Rishon/Lezion, Israel
"Live in Color"
Walton Event Design, Charlotte, N.C.
"Fun and Games in the Garden"
Willkinson Rhodes, San Antonio
"Sue's 24 Hour Bash"
BEST EVENT FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL: BUDGET $1,000 AND ABOVE PER GUEST
Cosmopolitan Events, Costa Mesa, Calif.
"Let Him Eat Cake"
KBY Designs, Rishon/Lezion, Israel
"Private Island"
Showtime Events Ltd., New Delhi
"Celebrating a Personal Milestone"
BEST EVENT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
"Hanwha Solar Promotional Day"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Consumer Promotion 2.0: Der Dosionair"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"Volkswagen at the Frankfurt International Motor Show"
BEST THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION
Jung von Matt Relations, Cologne, Germany
"Wedding Rewinded"
Mark Joseph Creative, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
"Project 50,000: A New Beginning"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"VW Beijing AutoChina 2012: Booth Communication"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET UNDER $50,000
The Art of Tension Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y.
"The Machine Breathes"
5th Element Events, Markham, Ontario
"Industrial Chic"
Occasions by Shangri-la, Orlando, Fla.
"Married Inside a Lotus Blossom"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET $50,000 TO $99,999
Decor and More, Oakville, Ontario, and Alison Silcoff Events, Montreal
"Daffodil Ball"
POP Kollaborative, Calgary, Alberta, and Decor and More, Oakville, Ontario
"Shell 100: It's Time"
Russell Harris Event Group, North Hollywood, Calif.
"The Simpsons' 500th Episode Premiere Party"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET $100,000 TO $250,000
E=MC2 Events, Calgary, Alberta, and Decor and More, Oakville, Ontario
"Art Fusion Holiday"
Fourth Wall Events, New York
"South Beach Sizzles Finale"
L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles, Lake Charles, La.
"Comics, Cupcakes and Cocktails"
BEST DECOR: BUDGET ABOVE $250,000
MGM Resorts Events, Las Vegas
"An Anniversary Celebration"
Something New Events, Canfield, Ohio
"Sports Mania 2011"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany
"10th Anniversary of the Jewish Museum in Berlin"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET UNDER $100,000
Jiggee, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
"ING Overseas Awards Presentation Gala Dinner"
Joke Eventag, Bremen, Germany
"World Prematurity Day"
Lori Parks Corporate Events, Simsonville, S.C.
"Dallas Chili Challenge"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $100,000 TO $249,999
Podegiki, Moscow
"Efes Full Pipe"
Podegiki, Moscow
"Volkswagen Tarantass"
The Wakeman Agency, White Plains, N.Y.
"M5 Battle of the Bands"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET $250,000 TO $500,000
EventWorks, Los Angeles
"Pow Wow"
Forbes Media, New York
"Forbes 400 Summit on Philanthropy"
Russell Harris Event Group, North Hollywood, Calif.
"Disney Media Distribution International Upfront"
BEST EVENT FOR A CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION: BUDGET ABOVE $500,000
MGM Resorts Events, Las Vegas
"Rosso"
NU SKIN Enterprises, Provo, Utah
"2012 Greater China Regional Convention: Nu Generation Design Your Destiny"
Vok Dams Agency, Wuppertal, Germany, and Mindact Gesellschaft fur Kommunikation, Wuppertal, Germany
"Porsche Boxter Dealer Launch Event: Breaking Free"
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