How to Choose Trophies, Medals and Mementos for Your Event
By DG Team
Whether it is a school annual day, a sports tournament, a corporate awards night or a retirement function, the trophy or memento is what people take home and keep for years. This guide walks you through choosing the right type of award, the right material and the right wording — and how much time to allow before your event.
Trophy, medal, memento or plaque: what's the difference?
| Type | What it is | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Trophy | A standing award, often a cup or figure on a base | Tournament winners, champions, top performers |
| Medal | A metal disc on a ribbon, worn around the neck | Sports events and races, given to every placed participant |
| Memento | A decorative standing piece, often acrylic, crystal or wood | Chief guests, speakers, sponsors, retirements |
| Shield or plaque | A flat engraved panel, usually mounted on wood | Long-service awards, recognition, wall display |
| Certificate | A printed document, often framed | Participation, course completion, all attendees |
Most events use a mix: trophies for the top three, medals for all finalists, and certificates for every participant.
Choosing the right material
Acrylic
Clear or coloured acrylic is light, shatter-resistant and can be cut into almost any shape. It takes full-colour printing and logos very well, which makes it the most popular choice for corporate awards and mementos. It is also good value for large quantities.
Crystal and glass
Crystal has a heavier, premium feel and catches the light beautifully. Choose it for top honours — "Employee of the Year", lifetime achievement or a chief guest memento. It is heavier and more fragile, so plan for careful packing if the award has to travel.
Metal
Metal cups and figures are the classic sports trophy. They are durable, look impressive on a stage and suit tournaments where a tall trophy is part of the tradition.
Wood
Wooden shields and plaques feel warm and traditional. They suit long-service awards, school houses and recognition that will hang on a wall for years.
Engraving vs printing
- Engraving cuts the text into the surface. It never fades and looks elegant, especially on crystal, metal and wood. Best for names, titles and dates.
- Colour printing reproduces your logo in its exact colours. Best for company and school logos, event branding and photographs on acrylic.
Many awards combine both: a printed logo with engraved winner details.
What to write on a trophy
Keep it short. Three to five lines are enough, and fewer words mean larger, more readable text:
- Name of the award — e.g. Best Outgoing Student
- Winner's name
- Event or organisation name
- Year or date
Best Performer of the Year
R. Karthik
[Company name] Annual Awards
2026
For a chief guest memento, a line such as "Presented to [Name] with gratitude, [Event], [Date]" works well.
Always send the winners' names in writing — a typed list in a message or spreadsheet — and check the spelling of every name before approving the proof. Spelling mistakes are the most common reason for re-doing an engraving.
How many awards do you need? A quick planning checklist
- List every category and how many places (1st, 2nd, 3rd) each one has.
- Add mementos for the chief guest, special guests, judges and sponsors.
- Decide whether participants get medals or certificates.
- Keep one or two spare blank pieces for any last-minute additions.
- Plan the display: tall trophies at the back of the prize table, medals in front.
How early should you order?
Custom trophies need time for design, proof approval and engraving. As a rule of thumb:
- 2–3 weeks before the event for most orders with custom logos and engraving.
- 3–4 weeks before for large quantities or school annual days in the busy December–February season.
- If winners are only known on the day, order the awards with the event details first and add winner names later, or use nameplates that can be attached afterwards.
Contact us with your event date and we will confirm exactly how much time your order needs.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, acrylic or crystal trophies?
Acrylic is lighter, stronger and better value, and it reproduces coloured logos well — ideal for most corporate and school awards. Crystal is heavier and more premium, so it is usually reserved for the top award of the evening.
Can you put our company or school logo on the trophy?
Yes. Send us your logo, ideally as a PDF or high-resolution PNG, and we will add it to the design and share a proof before production.
Can we order different names on each trophy?
Yes. Send a list with the award title and winner's name for each piece, and each one is personalised.
Do you deliver outside Neyveli?
We serve schools, companies and associations across Cuddalore district and deliver across Tamil Nadu. You can also collect your order from our Neyveli studio.
Browse our awards and trophies collection, or message us on WhatsApp with your event date, categories and quantities for a quote.