Wedding Industry Awards 2024 / 2025 FAQs
OUR STORY ::
Wedding Industry Awards {NZ} is the brainchild of principal Directors, Peter & Valeta Duncan, of The Love Company Ltd (formerly known as The Wedding Guy Company Ltd). While not a new concept overseas by any means, New Zealand up to 2014 had no event which formally recognised, or celebrated wedding industry professionals with a physical award at a formal presentation ceremony.
Recognising this niche opportunity in the market, Peter & Valeta set out to create a forum through which those in the wedding industry who are absolute “stand outs” in their chosen vocation could be recognised in a meaningful way.
Prior to the introduction of NZ Wedding Industry Awards, there was no offering in New Zealand affording wedding superstars a prestigious gala event held in their honour and providing them a tangible award they could proudly display for all their clients to see.
It’s with pleasure we invite you, and your business, to consider entering Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) 2024.
For those businesses fortunate enough to make it as finalists, an awards ceremony will be hosted in Wellington (NZ), Saturday, June 7th 2025.
It’ll be a mix of glitz, glam, and good times – topped off with loads of networking opportunities, and of course – AWARD WINNERS!
How can I get nominated for a Wedding Industry Award?
You can nominate your own business, be nominated by one of your past or present clients to your business, or possibly even by your industry peers.To ENTER A NOMINATION, simply email peter@wianz.nz OR valeta@wianz.nz
Often-times, the reason a business like yours is nominated is because of comments received like, “…went above and beyond”, “…’wowed’ our wedding guests”, or “…exceeded our expectations”.
How will I know that I have been nominated for a Wedding Industry Award?
Once we receive your nomination, we will send you notification via email so you can then decide if you wish to take the next step and formally enter the awards. Nominee businesses will be advised via email or Phone. Given the sheer volume of nominations we traditionally receive in any given year,
we’ll begin the rollout of advising nominated businesses from MONDAY, January 6th 2025.
We are hoping to complete our process of advising all NOMINATED businesses by MONDAY, January 13th 2025
Can I withdraw my nomination?
Yes, absolutely you can! Although we’d strongly recommend you don’t. Receiving a nomination could prove to be a valuable opportunity for you to get some really great exposure for your business – especially if you WIN!
However, if you do choose to withdraw your nomination, simply email peter@weddingindustryawards.nz and advise you wish to have your name, or business name withdrawn. Your business name will be removed from our wedding industry awards website within 48 hrs of receipt of your email (if not sooner).
How can I find out more about the Wedding Industry Awards?
For more information about the awards, simply go through the various pages of this website and be sure to check out and LIKE US at www.facebook.com/weddingindustryawards for the latest updates regarding the awards.
What do I do now that I have been nominated for an award?
You will need to decide if you wish to accept the nomination by ENTERING THE AWARDS. If you decide to enter the 2024 Wedding Industry Awards (NZ), you’ll need to complete an official entry form which will be released on our website following the official closing date for nominations.
Nominations open :: NOMINATIONS ARE STILL OPEN NOW!* (*we’re going into EXTRA TIME following our 05.10.2024 ANNOUNCEMENT via our ‘official’ WIANZ facebook page)
Nominations close :: Monday, January 6th 2025 09:00pm (NZ TIME)
Nominees advised :: Monday, January 6th 2025 (*with ALL nominated businesses advised via email by MONDAY, January 13th 2025)
ENTERING THE AWARDS
Entries open :: YOU CAN STILL ENTER NOW! (*we’re going into EXTRA TIME following our 05.10.2024 ANNOUNCEMENT via our ‘official’ WIANZ facebook page)
Entries close :: Monday, February 3rd 2025 9:00pm (NZ TIME)
**The official entry form will be available on this website NOW till closing date!
Is there a fee to enter the Wedding Industry Awards?
Yes, there is a minimum $55.00NZD fee to enter to cover administration costs. This fee is payable on entry.
If your business has received nomination(s) in multiple categories (i.e., OUTSTANDING CEREMONY VENUE, OUTSTANDING RECEPTION VENUE, UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, etc), you will need to pay $55NZD per category entry (to a maximum of 3 categories).
IMPORTANT: You can only enter a *MAXIMUM of 3 categories (*Please note: The People’s Choice category will be introduced in the New Year. We will advise all businesses who enter the 2024 awards when the ‘People’s Choice’ category goes “live”).
If you have received multiple nominations yet only wish to enter a single category, you are not required to have to enter more than one. However, you may wish to certainly consider entering more than one (to a maximum of 3) as the more categories entered, the increased chance to progressing further through the awards process.
Just imagine – making it through to finals in more than one category?
If a business chooses to only enter the “People’s Choice” category, and no other category, then the $55.00NZD entry fee will still apply.
PLEASE NOTE: If an entry is received without the applicable entry fee(s), the entry will be considered null and void and will not proceed any further in the awards process.
Bank Account Details for entry fee(s) are as follows:
Bank/Branch: ANZ, AlbanyAccount name: The Love Company Ltd.
Account number: 01-0277-0177116-00
IMPORTANT: Include your Business Name in the REFERENCE when lodging your fee(s). Thank you.
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Category Finalists announced :: MONDAY, MARCH 3rd 2025
ALL FINALISTS will be contacted from Monday, March 3rd 2025 until last finalist is advised. After FINALISTS have been contacted (via email), an official “official” release of the list of 2024 / 2025 Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) FINALISTS will be dispatched via the Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) website (www.wianz.nz), and its official facebook page HERE.
JUDGING
A judging panel will be appointed to judge all entries. The judge(s) appointed to a category may be in touch with you should there be a need to discuss or clarify your entry further.
Judging Begins MONDAY, March 31st 2025
Judging Ends MONDAY, April 28th 2025
How will I know if I have won an award?
An announcement of each of the winners in each of the categories will be made at the Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) gala event. Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) 2024 / 2025 awards gala will be hosted in Wellington (NZ), Saturday, June 7th 2025. Our host venue of choice is Harbourside Function Centre, 4 Taranaki Street, Wellington Central, Wellington (NZ).
Do I have to attend the awards evening to receive the award?
Yes, ALL FINALISTS MUST be present at the awards evening (or have a representative from their business attend evening by proxy), to receive their award if announced the winner in their respective category.
If no representative from a finalist business is present to receive their award, the award will not be given at the awards evening, and the AWARD WINNER will automatically forfeit* their award.
(*Unless exceptional circumstances deem a WINNER in any category announced at the Gala event cannot attend. An executive decision will be made by the Award ORGANISERS in this instance, and no discussion or recourse will be entered into following this executive decision).
Where do I buy tickets for the awards evening?
Tickets will be available for purchase via this Wedding Industry Awards website www.wianz.nz from MONDAY, March 3rd 2025 Seats will be STRICTLY LIMITED. Once all seats/tables to the Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) Gala are sold, all other requests will be wait-listed in the event a last-minute cancellation occurs.
Cost of awards gala INDIVIDUAL dinner tickets* are $250.00NZD
Cost of awards gala BUSINESS/GROUP TABLE dinner tickets* (*when purchasing a full Table of x10 seats as a BUSINESS or combined GROUP) is $2,300.00NZD* (*saving $200.00 when purchasing Table versus INDIVIDUAL ticket(s))
The link for tickets sales will also feature on our official Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) fb page HERE.
What do I receive as a winner?
You will receive:
- Framed certificate
- An ‘official’ Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) WINNER seal*
You will also be required to have a photo with your category sponsor. Please note any/all images taken during the Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) gala will be used for marketing purposes post- event.
*Following the event, as a FINALIST or WINNER at Wedding Industry Awards (NZ), you will receive a free Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) seal of recognition for your email and/or website, and of course – bragging rights.
You will ALSO have the option of purchasing a Crystal award. Details of how to purchase your award will be released post-awards night.
What happens if the Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) 2025 Gala is postponed/cancelled for any reason?
If, in the exceptional circumstance of a resurgence COVID-19* (*or its Omicron variant), or any other significant event inhibits our ability to host the awards gala due to public safety concerns, all FINALISTS and INBOUND GUESTS who have purchased gala tickets will advised via email and a post on our ‘official’ facebook and Instagram pages, and with information and dates of the next earliest rescheduled date.
Attending guests will be notified a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the awards Gala if this is the case.
Tickets purchased will NOT be refunded in the instance of a postponement, however, they will instead be carried forward into the new postponement date.
If postponement of the awards gala is not possible, then the ORGANISERS will make a decision to cancel the event. If the event is cancelled, then awards tickets will be refunded in full accordingly.
Questions?
Any questions we haven’t covered off? Please feel free to email peter@wianz.nz or txt/call Pete via (0276) 277 963 OR send private message c/- the official Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) facebook page HERE.
PEOPLE’S CHOICE CATEGORY – DEFERRED TILL 2026 AWARDS
Voting OPENS :: DEFERRED TO 2026 AWARDS – To Be Confirmed (NZ time)
Voting CLOSES :: DEFERRED TO 2026 AWARDS – To Be Confirmed (NZ time)
For this category, beyond the initial entry, it’s all about securing votes. Now, you have to get all your past & present clients, suppliers, industry peers, family, friends, workmates, acquaintances, [and random strangers if need be], to vote for you.
GET THE WORD OUT via email, print, radio, social media networks, smoke signal, or any other means possible.
How do people vote?
To lodge a VOTE, simply go to www.weddingindustryawards.nz* (*PLEASE NOTE: VOTING OPENING DATE TO BE CONFIRMED IN 2025 – DO NOT TRY VOTING YET).
You’ll find your name, or business name*, in your chosen category. Voters simply vote for you by selecting you as their chosen provider from the options available. There is only one vote per email/IP address.
*If for any reason your business name doesn’t appear on the list of those mentioned, please contact us immediately via peter@weddingindustryawards.nz or private message our official fb page HERE and we’ll add your business name accordingly.
REMEMBER: If we’ve not received your entry fee alongside your official entry, we will not be adding your business name to the list of those featured on the ‘People’s Choice’ voting list on the official Wedding Industry Awards (NZ) website.
If you are only entering the ‘People’s Choice’ category, and no other category in this year’s awards, you will still be required to pay an entry fee of $55.00NZD to qualify for entry.
Create a viral campaign through social media
If you, or your business, use social media as a promotional/selling tool, we will provide a badge which you can use on your facebook or other social network to tell people you’ve been nominated.
Given the sheer volume of entries received in this category, all official entries received will go into MORE FM ‘People’s Choice’ category. The WINNER of the MORE FM ‘People’s Choice’ category is determined solely on the greatest number of VOTES received.
Following the official closing date of the ‘People’s Choice’ category, the top five businesses who have received the most votes will be contacted (in no particular order of ranking), and advised they are one of the top five businesses to have received votes in the ‘People’s Choice’ category.
A representative from each of the five businesses will be required to be present at the awards gala, or have someone represent them if they are unable to attend in person.
PLEASE NOTE: If, when announcing the WINNER in the ‘People’s Choice’ category at the gala awards, a representative from the winning business is NOT present to receive the award, then the win will be deemed null and void.