The NACE Annual Awards 2022! It Snowed!
I’ve written in praise of NACE Houston before, and The NACE Awards Gala 2022 was, as anyone in attendance could attest, an absolute triumph of an evening! Monthly, many of Houston’s very best wedding and events vendors meet at NACE events for networking and educational programs, and the Awards are the celebratory culmination of a year of hard work by its members. This year’s Nutcracker theme (with dancers!) was a magical and fantastical way to end 2022.
Cocktail Hour
During a bustling cocktail hour in a beautifully decorated private section of the Omni Houston Hotel lobby, NACE members and their guests milled about, chatting and catching up with friends and colleagues.
My assistant Tori and I were fortunate enough to document the event and we’d seen the fully-dressed main hall ahead of other guests, and it was hard to keep what I’d seen to myself. ‘It looks AMAZING in there’ is all I could tell people, and I knew that the snow-machine entrance was going to inspire some great reaction shots!
The Awards!
After cocktail hour was over, guests entered through a beautiful floral arch into the main hall, and were greeted by snow (!), and the sight of rows of beautifully set tables and a Nutcracker themed stage, envisioned by the wonderful Committee Lead Ashley Anderson CPCE of EB Inc Events.
Awards were earned by members for their achievements in the events and wedding industry in Houston throughout the year and it was heartwarming to see so much well-deserved recognition of the talent and efforts of NACE members.
And speaking of awards… the Daniel Meadows Wedding Photography team came home with two of them! The first was for capturing the beautiful Cervantes-Hess Wedding at The Clubs at Houston Oaks, planned by Sarah and Mallery of Belle Events, along with fellow NACE members 360 AV Design, Bergner & Johnson and Aztec Events and Tents, for which we were handed the teamwork-focused Synergy Award.
And secondly, as a surprise to me entirely, I was personally awarded the NACE Houston Chapter’s ‘Rookie Of The Year Award’! Having just joined NACE a little earlier this year it was an absolute honour to have been recognised as such a welcome addition to the NACE family, and I look forward to working with more NACE Houston members in future and capturing (and attending!) many more of their wonderful meetings and events.
The After Party
The event ended on a high with an excellent after party and drinks at the Omni Houston Hotel bar, another memorable celebration for many of Houston’s very best weddings & events professionals. NACE members danced until the end and made use of a fantastic photo booth set-up and six-feet tall Rat King for photo ops in the DJ area! Drinks and a wonderful hot chocolate bar were provided throughout.
A huge congratulations to the planning committee on an amazing event, I’m looking forward to seeing you all again in January!
Cheers to you all, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & a Prosperous New Year!
Vendors who dedicated their time and services to make the NACE Awards Gala 2022 a huge success!
Venue, Food and Beverage: Omni Hotel Houston
Cocktail Hour Vendors
Marquee Letters/Neon/Draping: LG Event Entertainment and Production
Cocktail Hour Music: Scott Graham
Lounge Furniture: Peerless Events and Tents
Photography: Sonia Alexandria
Draping: Premiere Events
Main Dinner Vendors
Floral and Decor: College Park Flowers
Linens: House of Hough AV + Lighting: 360 AV Design
Photography: Daniel Meadows Photography
Decor Elements: Peerless Events and Tents
Decor Elements: EB Inc Events
Production Elements: Bright Star Productions
Production Elements: GTX Productions
Dancers: Rowland Ballard- Danceworks
After Party Vendors
Holiday Installation: Revelry Goods
DJ and Uplighting: Elevated Productions
Photography: Kyle Buthold
Late Night Bites: Backyard Catering
Hot Chocolate Bar: Citizens Coffee, Sponsored by Imagen Venues
Decor Elements: LG Event Entertainment and Production