Las Vegas Wedding Awards Official Contest Rules

Nomination and Selection Process for the Vegas Wedding Chamber Awards:

Eligibility for Nomination:

To be eligible for nomination, a candidate or entity must be a member in good standing with the Vegas Wedding Chamber at the time of nomination and must have been in operation for a min of one year prior to the nomination deadline. Nominees for the Voted-On Awards must have a proven track record of excellence as evidenced by client testimonials, reviews, or other measurable criteria relevant to their award category.  For the Special Recognition Awards, nominees must have made noteworthy contributions to the industry or community that align with the specific award's criteria, which may include but are not limited to innovations, support and impact, community service, or lifetime achievements in the wedding industry. Nominations will open on a specific date voted on by the Board of the Vegas Wedding Chamber, and a cutoff date will be set to expire at 11:59PM on that date.

Submitting of  Candidates:

Nominations can be submitted by a Member in good standing with The Vegas Wedding Chamber. Each Member may nominate up to three Members in each category. Members may not nominate themselves. Nominations will be open from 12:01am November 28th and remain open until 11:59 PM December 22nd, 2023.  The submission form must be the Wedding Chamber Submission Form located on the Vegas Wedding Chamber MMS System. Each Member in Good Standing is Sent a Ballot with all Members listed in the Categories they were listed when they signed up for Membership.  This includes Certified Chamber Members, Certified Chamber Plus Members, and Charter Members in the Wedding Industry.  Associate members and Employee Members are not eligible to win a Las Vegas Wedding Award, but they are eligible to put forth a fellow Member for Nomination. These Ballots will be sent out via The Chamber Constant Contact Email Marketing System on November 27th, December 14th, December 18th, December 20th and December 22nd, 2023. (Five Times)  Anyone who has chosen to unsubscribe from The Wedding Chamber's Constant Contact List will not be sent a Ballot.

Once Voting Closes, all submitted Ballots will be examined, and all Members who have been selected by fellow Members (remember, Members may not nominate themselves) will be contacted by email to let them know they have been put forth for nomination.  Included in this email will be instructions on how to confirm their interest in being considered to be a Finial Nominee and possibly the Winner of the Award.  These instructions include a link to the Acceptance Form on The Wedding Chamber's MMS System.  Candidates will also be given an opportunity to request to be on the Voting Committee to determine the Final Nominees and the Winner of the Award. This will begin on December 27th and acknowledgement forms will close at 11:59 PM on January 6th, 2024.

Award-Voting Committee Composition:

The Final Nominees and Winners of the Voted-On Awards will be determined by a specially appointed "Voting Committee". This Voting Committee” will consist of four Board Members of the Vegas Wedding Chamber and five to six Members in good standing, all of whom requested to be included and are chosen by the Board of Directors. The Board Members selected to serve on the committee will typically include the Chamber President or a designated appointee, 1 additional Executive Board Member (Vice Presidents, Secretary, or Treasurer), and 2 Committee Directors. The five additional members will be chosen from the Chamber Membership based on the following criteria:

1)    they must have been active members for at least two years prior to the opening date of nominations,

2)    must not have any outstanding balances, disputes, or grievances with the Chamber or its members

3)    must have attended at least 2 Wedding Chamber Events in the Calendar Year

The 5 Members in Good Standing  will be selected, 1 from each of the 5 Wedding Disciplines:

1 - Catering and Food Services.  Chosen from qualified Members in the following categories:

• Caterers (for the main meal)
• Cake Designers and Bakers
• Specialty Food Providers (e.g., food trucks, dessert bars)
• Beverage and Bar Services (including bartenders)
• Dietary Specific Caterers (e.g., vegan, gluten-free)

1 - Venue and Accommodation Member.  Chosen from qualified Members in the following categories:

• Wedding Venues (hotels, resorts, unique locations)
• Reception Halls
• Outdoor Venue Providers (gardens, beaches)
• Accommodation Services (hotels, guest houses for guests)
• Event Rental Services (furniture, tents)

1 - Décor and Design.  Chosen from qualified Members in the following categories:

• Bridal Wear and Groom's Attire
• Wedding Planners
• Florists
• Lighting and Sound Specialists
• Rental Companies (linens, tableware)
• Event Designers (overall theme and design)
• Stationery Providers (invitations, menus)

1 - Officiants, Photography, and Entertainment.  Chosen from qualified Members in the following categories:

• Wedding Photographers
• Videographers
• Bands and DJs
• Performers and Entertainers (dancers, magicians)
• Photo Booth Rentals

1 - Specialty Wedding Provider.  Chosen from qualified Members in the following categories:

• Reception Specialty Providers (Painters, Psychics, etc.)
• Bachelor / Bachelorette Party Providers
• Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists
• Wedding Jewelry
• Shows / Attractions

Each of these categories plays a crucial role in weddings, and representatives from each would provide a comprehensive view of the industry for the awards.  If no one that is in the above Categories that qualifies to be a Voting Board Member is interested, then the Board of Directors may consider another Member and waive the time requirement.  Also, if there are no Members available or interested in the above categories, the Board may choose a different member to serve in thei place, provided they meet the same criteria to participate in the Committee.

Decision-Making Process:

Winners of the Voted-On Awards will be determined by a majority vote of the Awards Voting Committee, conducted via a live voting process. The committee will meet within the first 10 days of January at a time convenient to all.  The Committee will review all nominations against the award criteria through a rigorous and confidential process. This process may include the evaluation of supporting documentation, testimonials, and any other relevant evidence of the nominees' qualifications.   If more than 5 Members are nominated for an award, the Committee will cut the list down to a consensus of 3-5 nominees that meet the criteria for that award. These will become the Official Award Final Nominees.

From the Final Nominee list, the committee is tasked with voting on a Final Winner from the Final List of Nominees.  A Simple Majority of votes is needed to be declared the Winner. This will be done by secret ballot that will counted after all awards have been voted on. 2 Members of the Executive Board will count the votes in private to document the outcome and ensure the Winner is kept secret until The Awards Show. In the event of a tie during this vote, the Senior Executive Board Member on the Committee will cast the tie-breaking vote.

Members of the Decision-Making Committee are expected to serve with impartiality and confidentiality, and they must recuse themselves (leave the room) from discussion or deliberations involving any award they are nominated for themselves, and must abstain from discussion or voting for any nominee to whom they have a personal or financial connection. The integrity of the awards process relies on the fair and unbiased judgment of the committee members, who are entrusted with this prestigious duty by the Chamber Board and its membership.  Decisions of the committee are final and are not subject to appeal.

There will be 6 Additional Awards to the Voted Awards. These 6 Additional "Special Awards" shall be voted on by the Wedding Chamber Board at their Annual Retreat the third Monday in January.

Award Presentation:

Final Nominees will be Notified following the Meeting of the Voting Board the first 10 days of January, 2024..  Winners will be announced and presented with their awards at the annual Vegas Wedding Chamber Awards Dinner, held at The Composer's Room on the evening of January 31st, 2024. Recipients must be present or have a designated representative attend the Gala to accept the award, or have a Medical Excuse to miss the Awards Show. Failure to attend without prior notice and approval may result in forfeiture of the award. 

All nominees are expected to uphold the standards and integrity of the Vegas Wedding Chamber and to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the honor of the nomination. The Chamber reserves the right to withdraw an award at any point should information come to light that would have made the nominee ineligible or would have otherwise affected the decision of the Committee or the voting membership.

Any issues, questions, or further explanation requests may be submitted HERE