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Experiential Events of Calgary, Alberta, is honored in 2010 for its eye-catching invitation for the opening of a new science center, referencing iPods, URLs and the notion of an "action trigger."
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Jobe & Associates of Dublin, Ohio, brings home the Gala trophy at The Special Event 2010 for this invitation to a business meeting in Costa Rica. The invitation uses banana paper, kiri wood and jute, and is packaged in custom boxes.
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ASE Group of Overland Park, Kan., brings home the Gala trophy at The Special Event 2009 for this bar mitzvah invitation keying on "connectivity." The invitation mimics the look of an iPod; the honoree's voice invites guests via an embedded sound chip.
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Boston's
BK Design gives a taste of what a 60th birthday party will bring with an invitation including a mini logo'd martini shaker, a cocktail coaster and a list of the honoree's "tipsy tips."
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Hannah Handmade salutes a 66th birthday party with an invitation including a model of a 1966 Corvette and a Blood, Sweat & Tears CD. The invitation lays the groundwork for the party, which is decked out in a Route 66 theme.
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Jobe & Associates is honored for this invitation to a sales conference in the Colorado Rockies. The invitation, which keys on a snow globe hinting at the historic hotel site, includes a booklet with conference activities.
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Jobe & Associates is a double nominee at The Special Event 2008 for this invitation to a corporate retreat at a relaxing spa. The invitation includes a custom silk robe in a branded box, along with a booklet of activities.
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From Van Nuys, Calif.-based
Waltona Manion and Associates and Bonnie Schwartz Design Group of San Diego, the invitation for the grand opening of the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon, Calif., reflects the rich traditions of the Morongo Nation. Nestled inside each custom-made box--designed to look like textured parchment paper--is an embossed cardstock invitation with event details engraved using letterpress printing. Underneath the invitation, an inset channel lined with silver foil holds gifts of freshly bundled white sage hand-tied with string and a vellum sheet describing the significance of sage to the Morongo tribe.
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In just 10 days, Arlene Segal Designs creates an invitation for the grand opening of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., that reflects both the Seminole Native American tribe and Hard Rock's corporate image. A sleeve of black velvet and leopard-print faux fur features a silver-hued brushed-metal band engraved with the hotel/casino's logo. Inside, a brushed-metal invitation is engraved with leopard-print detailing and event information.
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For the surprise 40th birthday party of best-selling author Dan "Da Vinci Code" Brown, BK Design creates a Gala-winning invitation that reflects the 1940s-inspired event theme. The file-box invitation--filled with file cards containing clues about the essential who, what, when and where of the event, written in the style of mystery novels from the era--is sent in a box filled with authentic 1940s newspaper and includes a lipstick-stained handkerchief that serves as the official entry pass to the party.
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For the Comedy Central roast of edgy comedian Denis Leary, BK Design creates invitations that capture the essence of the guest of honor. Signature Leary trademarks such as sunglasses, cigarettes and matches are incorporated into the design. The accordion-style invitation also features pictures of Leary ranging from childhood to the present alternating with some of his more memorable quotes, setting the tone for the irreverent event.
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To get invitees in the mood for a celestial-theme b'nai mitzvah for two cousins, Arlene Segal Designs creates a three-dimensional hexagonal paper kaleidoscope that incorporates images of the event's two guests of honor. Using clear vellum to print the boys' photo, the design firm ensures that enough light would show through the back of the kaleidoscope so that guests can see the image clearly. The invitation wins the Gala Award at The Special Event 2003.
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Century Guild Press of Monrovia, Calif., wins a Gala trophy at The Special Event 2002 for its invitation for a wedding at La Quinta Resort near Palm Springs, Calif., which took into consideration the couple's love of travel and the wedding's location. A dark brown leather-bound travel journal opens to reveal sand-colored pages of entries for the South of France, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles--places where the bride and groom had many friends and family members. The entries form a background for the wedding information, and are complemented by drawings, pressed flowers and other accents.
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A Connecticut couple wanted to throw a pre-construction painting party before they began to gut and redo their home's interior. The invitation, Your Palette for a Colorful Evening, is created by BK Design and New York-based
David Tutera in the format of a paint swatch booklet. The various paint swatches are labeled with names that reveal the details of the party.
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Redwood City, Calif.-based
Rick Herns Productions wins a Gala Award at The Special Event 2001 for this invitation. A safari guide and her gorilla hand-deliver a mysterious wooden crate to the door of each guest of a biannual private party. The invitee finds a paper banana inside the straw-filled crate. After peeling the banana, the guest discovers a zebra-striped scroll that serves as the invitation to the safari-themed party.
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Arlene Segal Design Group was asked to create an invitation for an event aimed at the high-roller clients of a New Orleans casino. Costumed clowns hand-deliver the boxed invitations, which include a video about New Orleans and the casino's new facilities. The cover of the invitation is adorned with a colorful mask, feathers, sequins and the casino's logo.
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Southfork Ranch Event & Conference Center in Dallas scares up a creative invitation for a Halloween costume ball. Arriving in orange and black sheer organza pouches embellished with skull beads, the accordion-folded invitations are accompanied by die-cut ghosts and spiders.
