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