2024 WINNERS & NOMINEES


Catering

Best Catered Event under $30,000

WINNER: Circus Juventas | Julie Teran, CRAVE Catering

Enchanting Unity: A Global Nonprofit Celebration Honoring Inspiration and Impact | Alana Koderick, Mintahoe Catering & Events

Masquerade Ball Holiday Party | Alana Koderick, Mintahoe Catering & Events

Best Catered Event over $30,000

WINNER: C-Suite Glamping Retreat | Rachel Bruzek, D’Amico Catering

Kraken-Good: An Ocean-Inspired Company Party | Lindsay Erstad, Chowgirls Catering

A Grand Broadway Affair: New York-Themed Black-Tie Wedding | Alana Koderick, Mintahoe Catering & Events

Best Menu or Beverage Innovation

WINNER: C-Suite Glamping Retreat | Rachel Bruzek, D’Amico Catering

Best Dessert Moment

WINNER: Wedding of Jordan + Brody | Leah Backstrom, Ink Sweets


Event Design & Decor

Best Design & Decor Budget under $30,000

WINNER: BRADYADE - A Sports Themed Bar Mitzvah | Michaella Holden, Lucent Blue Events + Design

Cool, Calm & Cultural | Reena Maheshwari, Kahani Events

Carlson Holiday Party | Lauren Laughlin, Event Lab

Best Design & Decor Budget over $30,000

WINNER: Children’s Theatre Company - Curtain Call Ball | Ryan Hanson, BeEvents

Retro Infused Summertime Wedding | Krista Hess Crawford, de Vasco’s Daughters Weddings & Event Design Company

Minnesota Zoo’s 35th Annual Beastly Bash | Emily Lewis, Festivities Event Design & Rental and Hannah Hegman, Do Good Events


Creative Services

Best Graphic Design Collateral

WINNER: B&M’s Wedding | Jill Elaine, Jill Elaine Designs

Célébrez en Rosé Wine and Music Festival 2023 | Mori Karasov, Mori & Co.

BRADYADE- A Sports Themed Bar Mitzvah |Michaella Holden, Lucent Blue Events + Design

Best Event Photography - Non-Wedding

WINNER: Fancy a Ship Down the Rub? (Care for a Pint at the Pub?) The Pinnacle Council Conquers London | Joe Szurszewski, Joe Szurszewski Photography

The Beastly Bash Gala: A Donor Do at the Zoo | Joe Szurszewski, Joe Szurszewski Photography

In the Zone with Great Clips | Joe Szurszewski, Joe Szurszewski Photography

Best Event Photography - Wedding

WINNER: Winter Wonderland 3.5 years In The Making | Andrew Vick, Vick Photography

Wedding In A Hurricane | Kelly Morin, Kelly Morin Photography


Support Services

Best Logistics

WINNER: Tree Top Trail Opening Weekend | Hannah Hegman, Do Good Events and Maddy Mowery, Minnesota Zoo Foundation

Twin Cities Walk to End Alzheimer’s | Paloma Rodrigues, Festivities Event Design & Rental

Be The Match Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Celebration | Ryan Hanson, BeEvents

Best Use of Audio Visual

WINNER: Children’s Cancer Research Fund’s DREAM Gala 2023 | McKenna LaFave and Kitty Hart, Heroic Productions

Best Entertainment Production

WINNER: 24K Gold New Year’s Extravaganza | Justen Pohl, Enticing Entertainment

NFBPA Forum 2023 | Omaur Bliss, RhodeyStark Events


Event Planning

Best Corporate

WINNER: C-Suite Glamping Retreat | Rachel Bruzek, D’Amico Catering and Todd Pinzuti, Bungalow Six

Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Annual Event 2023 | Lucie Ashe,Do Good Events

One Children’s Minnesota Summer Social | Ryan Hanson, BeEvents

Best Non-Profit

WINNER: WineFest No.26 - A Toast to Children’s Health|Kalsey Beach, Do Good Events

Great Returns Campaign Celebration | Ariel Gutierrez, Augsburg University

mpls 67th annual meeting | Meghan Gustafson, Minneapolis Downtown Council

Best Public

WINNER: Party Like It’s 1999 Opening Reception | Erica Bergum, CMP, Meet Minneapolis; Nick Peter, CSEP, Orchestra Hall; Samantha Groves, Event Lab; Patrick Fitzgerald, D’Amico Catering; and Lucie Ashe, Do Good Events

Best Social — Non-Wedding

WINNER: The Under the Sea Ball | Ariel Gutierrez, Augsburg University and Jose Luis Calles, Gay 90’s 

Belle and Harry’s 53rd Anniversary Bash | Dawn Dacut, Flutterby Celebrations

Best Wedding

WINNER: Grace & GT’s Wedding | Jenna Culley, Jenna Culley Events & Linen Effects

Parisian Inspired Garden Wedding | Brittany Morris, Bella Mystique

The Logistics Litmus Test | Mary Carlson, Pure Event Planning & Design


General

Best Sustainability Effort

WINNER: Save the Boundary Waters Annual Gala | Michaella Holden, Lucent Blue Events + Design

Sustainability 101 Training | Heidi Andermack, Chowgirls Catering

Best ILEA Team Effort

WINNER: Party Like It’s 1999 Opening Reception|Erica Bergum, CMP, Meet Minneapolis; Nick Peter, CSEP, Orchestra Hall; Samantha Groves, Event Lab; D’Amico Catering; and Lucie Ashe, Do Good Events

2024 Volunteer of the Year

Jenna Anderson

2024 Partner of the Year

Mark Fierst Photography

2024 ILEA Minneapolis-St. Paul Legacy Award (Inaugural Award)

Jodi Collen, CSEP