Raye-Dawn Acheson, CSEP, VIP Events, who serves as ILEA committee chair, takes the stage.

Lori Hart of Silhouette Group (at lectern) accepts the award for Best Event Solution for "La Dolce Vita Wedding" as colleague Brielle Loewinsohn looks on.

Robert Rogers, CSEP, of Events Man celebrates after winning for Best Event with a Legacy for "FABBAS 2015" as Mad Hatter JC York of Wise Guys looks on (right).

Brian Shaughnessy of Atomic thanks the judges for the Best Industry Innovation award for "Fastwall."

Austin Oddities and Entertainment wins for Best Entertainment Production Budget Under $25,000 for "The Dark Procession," presented by Terry Singleton, CSEP, CMP, of CCP Events (left) and Peter Sternberg of CCR Solutions (right).

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Jocelyn Flanagan, CSEP (center left), and Keri Miller, CSEP (center right), of E=MC2 Events celebrate after winning Best Entertainment Production Budget $25,000 to $75,000 for "2015 Teddy Bear Affair."

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

The teams from Bravo Entertainment and Hello! Destination Management join as one after winning Best Entertainment Production Budget Over $75,000 for "Celebration of the Americas."

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Breakwall Media accepts the trophy for Best Filmmaking for "Rossi and Jacobs Wedding."

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Dustin Westling of OneWest accepts the trophy for Best Photography on behalf of Stephanie LeBlond for "Swing from the Candelier."

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Aaron Kaufman, CSEP, of Fifth Element Group accepts the trophy for Best Print Marketing/Design Collateral for "PC Pop Up" from Kelly Treadway of EventCurious (left) and Lisa Hurley of Special Events.

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Kevin Molesworth, CSEP, of Brass Tacks Events (center) accepts the trophy for Best Social Event Budget $25,000 to $75,000 for "Law & Order: Special Events Victim Unit" from Chris Meyer of the Slow Motion Photo Booth and Claudette Pate of Goldner Associates.

For Best Social Event Budget Under $25,000, the winner is "Le Meridien New Orleans Grand Opening" by Hosts New Orleans.

Josie Littlepage, CSEP, of Cosmopolitan Events celebrates after winning Best Social Event Budget Over $75,000 for "Lemon, Lime Party Time."

The award for Best Catered Event goes to PDW for "TED 2015 Welcome Reception."

Thomas Caterers of Distinction wins Best Culinary Innovation for "Bruschetta Tomato Tuile."

Singer Jenn Beaupre takes the stage.

Terry Mulryan Toomey (left) and Rocky Toomey of Future Affairs Productions accept the trophy for Best Event Design/Decor Budget $25,000 to $75,000 for "Journey to the Serengeti."

The Destination Manager wins for Best Event Design/Decor Budget Under $25,000 for "Vintage Circus."

The team from OneWest Events (center right and left) accepts the trophy for Best Event Design/Decor Budget Over $75,000 for "Shaw Celebrate" from Ken Kristoffersen, CSEP (left) of POP Kollaborative and David Twigger of Vermilion Events.

Michael Brock-Alexander of CORT accepts the trophy for Best Event for a Nonprofit Budget Under $75,000 on behalf of GFS Events for "Taste of the Valley 2015."

Jon Adcock of PTE Productions accepts the trophy for Best Event for a Nonprofit Budget $75,000 to $150,000 on behalf of Encore Creations for "La Vie En Couleur."

David Granger, CSEP, of Bravo Entertainment (left) and Kyle Hayden, CSEP, of Strong Events congratulate Sara Hunt, CSEP, of Giants Enterprises on winning Best Event for a Nonprofit Budget Over $150,000 for "MPI World Education Congress Opening Night Celebration."

Ryan Hanson, CSEP, of BeEvents (center) accepts the trophy of behalf of his partner company Jigsaw Unlimited for Best Event Logistics and Support Services from Debbie Meyers-Shock, CSEP, of Bravo Entertainment and Derek Argo of CORT Event Furnishings for "Alerus All-Employee Celebration."

The Toomey team of Future Affairs Productions is back onstage for winning Best Technical Production for "Phish New Years Eve."

Scott Blalock of J.W. Marriott Austin (left) and Joycelyn Flanagan, CSEP, of E=MC2 Events congratulate Lenny Talarico, CSEP of MGM Resorts Events Productions on winning Best Corporate Event Budget $75,000 to $150,000 for "Smithsonian Presidential Dinner Party."

The Destination Manager wins Best Corporate Event Budget Under $75,000 for "Tomorrowland."

Talarico (second from left) brings Nick Robinson (center) and Joshua Aldama (with trophy) of the MGM team onstage to accept the award for Best Corporate Event Budget Over $150,000 for "Wonderland."

Ingrid Nagy, CSEP, Catering by Design (left), and Kate Patay, Creative Coverings (right), present the trophy for Best Wedding Budget Under $75,000 to the team from Viva Bella Events for "Intimate California Mountain Wedding."

Michael Radolinski of Michael Henry Events gives his acceptance speech for winning Best Wedding Budget $75,000 to $150,000 for "The Shipwrecked Yacht."

Radolinski was just named to the 2016 Special Events "25 Young Event Pros to Watch."

Nicole Zenner, CSEP, of LK Events accepts the trophy for Best Wedding Budget Over $150,000 for "Megan and Darrin's Wedding."

Neil Brownlee of Visit Scotland Business Events and Sara Hunt, CSEP, of Giants Enterprises (right) present the Esprit trophy to Laurie Stroll of Newport Hospitality a DMC Network Co. for Best Meeting/Conference Program Budget Under $250,000 for "Volvo Ocean Race--Newport Corporate Hospitality."

The team behind the "Inaugural Antonian Awards"--including the McNay Art Museum--accept the trophy for Best Industry Contribution.

Neil Brownlee of Visit Scotland presents a silver cup commemorating the 2016 Global Summit to ILEA immediate past president Jodi Collen, CSEP, of Augsburg College.

Read more about the Global Event Summit here; see the resulting "purple paper" here.

The team behind the "25th Anniversary Chapter Celebration"--AFR Event Furnishings, Hello Florida, and PTE Productions--accept the award for Best ILEA Event Volunteer Contribution.

ILEA president Judy Brillhart, CSEP, of the Sheraton Commander Hotel and David Buckley, CSEP, AFR Event Furnishings, share a laugh.

Kevin Molesworth, CSEP, of Brass Tacks Events congratulates the team for winning Best ILEA Team Effort Budget Under $75,000 for "Law and Order: Special Event Victims Unit." The team includes the Cupcake Bar, ILIOS Lighting Design, Marquee Event Group, Giant Events and SUM Booth.

But Molesworth has a surprise up his sleeve .. 

Molesworth invites the team from fellow nominee event "Love Wins in NC!" onstage and hands his trophy to Chad Biggs (at lectern) of Chad Biggs Event Design.

Biggs goes on to share details of the event, which included SPIN, American Party Rentals and Expressions of Love Florist.

The team behind "The Wedding of Bitan and Naveen"--which includes LaCentre, Electric Karma International, Party Decor and Making the Moment Photography--smiles after winning the award Best ILEA Team Effort Budget $75,000 to $200,000.

"Volvo Ocean Race Newport: Corporate Hospitality Team" wins again, this time for Best ILEA Team Effort Budget Over $200,000.

The team:
Newport Hospitality
FUN Enterprises
Newport Tent Co.
Waterman Grille
Blackstone Caterers
Rentals Unlimited
JDI Productions
All Occasion Transportation
McGrath Clambakes
Russell Morin Catering and Events

MC Steve Kemble is just horsing around, inviting guests to the after-party.

Guests hit the dance floor--in true "Alice" style, it's a chessboard.

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography

Alice herself DJs on the touchscreen console.

Photo by Lisa Hause Photography