NOMINEES
Catering
Best Off-Premise Catered Event
WINNER: August Al Fresco // Breanne Burich, D'Amico Catering
S & R celebrated their love riverside on what was surely a night to be remembered by the 250 guests who gathered for this bright, beautiful and breezy wedding ceremony followed by a reception with dessert under the stars. Their love of the great outdoors and “lake life” was woven into the tapestry of their event, creating a magical fête that reflected the Bride & Groom as a couple.
Post Pandemic Wedding Celebration // Green Mangos Catering
The bride and groom initially had plans to have a wedding ceremony followed by a fabulous reception. Unfortunately, COVID-19 hit and the couple had to make hard decisions. They decided to go forward with their nuptials on a small scale but hold off on a larger celebration until a later date. The bride and groom’s beautiful Fall reception was finally celebrated with friends, family, and baby-to-be! Covid-19 will NOT stop this couple from sharing their happiest day with loved ones!
Event Design & Decor
Best Event Design & Decor Budget under $25,000
WINNER: Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson 40th Anniversary Celebration // Michaella Holden, Lucent Blue Events
To celebrate Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson’s 40 years in business, we designed a party that would commemorate the law firm’s achievements over the past decades and highlight in particular their unwavering commitment to Minneapolis and St. Paul. The team worked hard to translate legalese and details from the law firm’s court cases into dynamic visuals that would serve as a well-branded and impressive backdrop for the celebration.
Best Event Design & Decor Budget over $25,000
WINNER: Curtain Call Ball // Ryan Hanson, CSEP of Be Events, Dale Moore of Andon Balloons, Summer Harsh of Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry, Matthew Trettel of Haven & Gather, Katie Nelsen of Children’s Theatre Company
Glow-A-Go-Go was our theme for a gala event to welcome guests back to a children’s theater. We focused on the things we all need after COVID – sunny optimism, outrageous fun, and a celebration of our patrons. Bright colors, craft cotton candy, polka-dots, 10,000 balloons, 20,000 pieces of confetti and even some silly flying fish reminded everyone how important celebration is. And in the process, we generated over a million dollars for our client’s organization.
Going Grateful // Jen Hansen, Event Lab
A “Going Grateful” event is exactly the type of celebration that our healthcare community needed after now years of instability and heartache caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This jewel toned oasis was produced for a local medical organization to provide community members, donors, and staff, an opportunity to forget about the pandemic and take time to embrace gratefulness through mingling, dancing, lounging, and indulging in delicious bites and refreshing sips.
NXNB Food Market // Pete Nelson, Event Lab
The mantra for “North By Bold North” (NXBN) held by Hormel Foods was “Be Bold…Think Differently”, so that’s exactly what we did when it came to planning a unique night of off-site fun for the hundreds of participants that came from around the globe to partake in this multi-day experience including speakers, brand immersion, connectivity and breakout sessions. The idea for the one night where all the top brass would get together and celebrate was to create their very own food market.
Best Use of Specialty Decor
WINNER: 2021 Commencement Mural // Ryan Hanson of Be Events, Sarah Cash-Darvell of Augsburg University, Jane Klein of BIG INK
It’s spring 2021, and COVID-19 is continuing to crush the dreams of collegiate grads for any sort of recognizable commencement ceremony. Our university client reached out with hopes of engaging their grads with something more than just a video stream. We accepted the challenge of generating a custom mural which celebrated the diversity of 855 graduates originating from 54 sovereign nations while recognizing the anonymity of this moment in history when we all couldn’t just be together.
Best Event Photography
ADAPTing to the Road Ahead // Joe Szurszewski, Joe Szurszewski Photography LLC
ADAPT was a first-of-its-kind technology summit in Nashville that brought automotive aftermarket business owners and managers together with automakers like Ford, Nissan, and Audi to discuss technology trends in the automotive industry. On the strength of previous work for this client, I travelled to Nashville to document this event and create dynamic photos that are currently being used to market and build enthusiasm for future versions of this event.
Building a Better Conference // Joe Szurszewski, Joe Szurszewski Photography LLC
The 2021 NAHB Association Management Conference took place in Minneapolis and was a professional development conference for the CEOs, executive officers, and staff of Home Builders' Associations from around the country. The photography of this event captured the energy and enthusiasm of attendees who had sorely missed attending last year's AMC, and the dynamic photos will allow NAHB to market future events from an educational and relationship-building perspective.
WINNER: T & K T the K (Tom & Ken Tie the Knot) // Joe Szurszewski, Joe Szurszewski Photography LLC
Tom & Ken (T & K) were scheduled to get married in September of 2020, but like so many other couples, their plans for a dream wedding were disrupted by the pandemic. So they postponed the full celebration of their love a year and got married in an enthusiastic, colorful, and heartfelt ceremony and reception in front of all their friends and family. The photojournalistic photography showed all of this and captured their newlywed love to a T (and K).
Best Event Videography
WINNER: Midnight Masquerade// Enticing Entertainment & Steven Lewer of Lewer Unlimited
“Midnight Masquerade” was an evening of visually captivating & thematic entertainment that created a mysterious, & sleek guest experience. Every element of this showcase was artistically planned to inspire our past & potential clients to think outside of the box with us! This epic video captures this event environment filled with stunning installations, entrancing performances, and interactive surprises around every corner while also showcasing our beautiful, partnering venue.
Support Services
Best Logistics, Outdoor & Tent Event
WINNER: Game Fair // Colin Ericson, Ultimate Events
The Game Fair Event spans over 2 weekends and boasts over 200 tents for vendors featuring specialty tents for entertainment, games, food and more.
Best Entertainment Production
WINNER: Midnight Masquerade VIP Experience // Enticing Entertainment
“Midnight Masquerade” was an evening of visually captivating & thematic entertainment that created a mysterious, alluring & sleek guest experience. Every element of this showcase was artistically planned to inspire our past & potential clients to think outside of the box with us when planning their events! Guests were immersed in an environment filled with stunning installations, entrancing performances, and interactive surprises around every corner.
Event Planning
Best Corporate
WINNER: Morrie’s Luxury Land Rover Launch // Hana April Chughtai, Hana April Inc.
Morrie's Luxury requested to celebrate the launch of the 2022 Land Rover to the Minneapolis market with a industrious and invigorating unveiling that prioritized luxury and sophistication. The client envisioned a lavish event with live music and personal experiences with the new model. The event showcased delightful canape and libations, in which included an irresistible signature cocktail appropriately named 'The New New'.
Best Non-Profit
Catholic Charities Warming House // Hannah Hegman & Bridget Berg, Do Good Events
In the middle of a blizzard, the sights & sounds of holiday cheer rose from inside a festive fortress of trees in a Mall of America parking lot. Catholic Charities Warming House brought the Twin Cities community together for a festive holiday experience. By curating family activities like sleigh rides and cookie decorating and ambiance through reindeer and a life size snow globe - the team tirelessly worked through 16 inches of snow to ensure a magical experience for all!
Curtain Call Ball // Ryan Hanson, CSEP of BeEvents & Katie Nelsen of Children’s Theatre Company
Glow-A-Go-Go was our theme for a gala event to welcome guests back to a children’s theater. We focused on the things we all need after COVID – sunny optimism, outrageous fun, and a celebration of our patrons. Bright colors, craft cotton candy, polka-dots, 10,000 balloons, 20,000 pieces of confetti and even some silly flying fish reminded everyone how important celebration is. And in the process, we generated over a million dollars for our client’s organization.
WINNER: Recovery Gala // Sarah Cash-Darvell, Augsburg University
March 11, 2020: the world stopped. The COVID-19 pandemic created an abrupt halt to the way we lived which was especially hard on those in recovery. “Now more than ever” young adults needed a support system and each other. The specialty recovery program did just that–brought people together in an environment of wellness, mutual support, and accountability. The funds raised at the Recovery Gala are why the program continues to impact and save lives through the pandemic. #recoveryrocks
Best Social (non-wedding)
Fall Festival // Ariel Gutierrez & Lucie Mulligan, Augsburg University
On a warm autumn Saturday, over 350 people gathered outside to celebrate the kick off of a new school year. Nestled within a large and vibrant city, the college’s annual Fall Festival and rivalry football game kicked off. Members of the surrounding neighborhoods were invited to enjoy a variety of foods, prepared and served by student groups prior to the schools big football game. Carnival treats as well as cultural foods from around the world including Mexico, China, and Somalia were enjoyed.
WINNER: Midnight Masquerade, VIP Experience // Enticing Entertainment
“Masquerade” was an evening of visually captivating & thematic entertainment that created a mysterious, alluring & sleek guest experience. Every element of this showcase was artistically planned to inspire our past & potential clients to think outside of the box with us when planning their own events! Guests were immersed in an environment filled with stunning installations, entrancing performances, and interactive surprises around every corner.
Best Wedding
WINNER: Savannah & RJ's Wedding // Pink Peony Weddings & Events
A showstopping late-summer wedding designed and executed entirely outdoors at a private property. Every detail was carefully curated and personalized to enhance and play off of the beautiful riverfront location, and to honor how important the outdoor setting was to the couple while ensuring maximum comfort and enjoyment for all in attendance.
Best Virtual or Hybrid
Surescripts Gala 2021 // Hana April Chughtai, Hana April Inc.
Our team fashioned a dynamic marketing campaign which included a detailed timeline guiding attendees to an escalating energy for the signature 2021 event. The event included an interactive landing page showcasing the virtual event, sneak peek releases of the agenda at the event, pre-event giveaways, incentives with registration, a custom platform, and surprise raffles + name drawing. Additionally a live dj broadcast, self guided breakouts, an all campus event along with experience kits.
WINNER: The ONE Forum // Jodi Collen, CSEP of Be The Match, Ryan Hanson, CSEP of BeEvents, Kitty Hart of Heroic Productions, Brave New Outpost & Walk the Moon Media
COVID restrictions persisted in 2021. We planned a fully virtual, dynamic annual conference with a goal to deliver an engaging event that challenged what virtual events could be. The results were an online conference with inspirational keynote speakers, educational moments and interactive engagements focused on efforts to democratize cellular therapy. Take it from our attendees, “I love this format - great to hear from so many people. We wouldn’t have been able to do that in a live environment.
Best Industry Innovation
ANAVO Events // PHOS Events
ANAVO Events was created from two desires. The desire to provide the talented professionals in the event industry a whole new platform to show off their talents in more ways than weddings and corporate events, and the desire to provide people with the opportunity to experience the jaw-dropping environments industry professionals create through unique, one-of-a-kind pop-up dinner experiences.
WINNER: There's No Place Like Home // Christie Altendorf, D’Amico Catering
A great meal is one of the few forms of universal language, no matter if the gathering is large or small. When the pandemic took hold, a local caterer was forced to be one of the first to close their doors, resulting in an instant change in how connection could be made through the simplicity of a meal. Through creativity, determination and innovation, a new way to dine was born designed to warmly embrace the timeless yet timely notion that there is no place like home.
ILEA Team Effort
WINNER: The ONE Forum // Jodi Collen, CSEP of Be The Match, Ryan Hanson, CSEP of BeEvents & Kitty Hart of Heroic Productions
COVID restrictions persisted in 2021. Our team planned a fully virtual, dynamic annual conference which delivered an engaging experience that challenged the belief that virtual events are boring. We built a two-day conference of inspirational keynote speakers, educational moments and interactive engagements focused efforts to democratize cellular therapy. Take it from our attendees, “I love this format! We wouldn’t have been able to do that in a live environment"