Inauguration Photos: Highlights From Washington's Biggest Events

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama danced to Jennifer Hudson singing "Let's Stay Together" at the Inaugural Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Monday evening. Hargrove worked on the event for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, constructing the stage, drapes, and other design elements.

The stage that Hargrove built for the event featured a circular extension emblazoned with the inaugural seal.

The National Wildlife Federation's Green Inaugural Ball lit Newseum's glass exterior in green using eco-friendly LED lights. Elegance & Simplicity designed the event, with Chris Wayne & Associates handling production. The event lived up to its name in other ways, buying carbon offsets, composting, and laying down a recyclable "green carpet" for V.I.P.s such as Vice President Joe Biden.

Fox Ventures created custom furniture from recycled materials including pallet ottomans, as well as paper flowers. In another eco-minded touch, the event used LED candles and soy-based candles. "It's not just a ball to get dressed up at every four years, but there's a goal to the ball. The goal was to show you can have a fabulous event without being wasteful," said event designer Katie Martin, C.E.O. of Elegance & Simplicity.

Custom glass and lucite bars sporting the event logo and signature color were placed throughout the event. The Newseum's three glass elevators also hosted bars where general admission guests could order drinks during their ride. The event’s signature cocktail, the OM-bama, was created by mixologist Natalie Bovis.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies planned the swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. The inauguration's theme was Faith in America’s Future, referring to the 150th anniversary of the placement of the U.S. Capitol dome during the Civil War.

The "Forward" logo—referencing President Obama's campaign slogan—on stage at the BET Networks Inaugural Ball Monday took its design cue from the iconic Hollywood sign to go with a theme that mixed vintage Hollywood with fantasy. Underneath, sponsor AT&T's logo was incorporated into the "2013." Natasha Bryson, BET Networks manager of special events, produced the ball at the National Portrait Gallery with Syzygy Events International providing decor, rentals, and staging.

The decor at Monday's BET Networks Inaugural Ball included five giant balloons that used 3,000 cubic feet of helium. A bar that Syzygy Events International created for the event was a truss structure with spinning bottles of Hennessy.

For the BET Networks Inaugural Ball Monday, Syzygy Events International used a color palette of burgundy, gold, and French blue for an unexpected and sophisticated spin on patriotic red, white, and blue.

The Goo Goo Dolls headlined the Creative Coalition's inaugural ball Monday night at the Harman Center for the Arts. Produced by Ray Bloch Productions, the night drew 800 celebrities and V.I.P.s to the Chinatown concert venue for a private reception and performances, including a nearly 90-minute concert from the band. The night began with a welcome from C.E.O. Robin Bronk, who was joined on stage by the night's 17 celebrity hosts, including David Arquette, Alfre Woodard, Melissa Leo, and Tim Daly. In a tribute to the arts, each star recited an inspirational quote about a form of the arts from notable names like Albert Einstein, Donald Trump, Stephen King, and even Richard Nixon.

Svedka Vodka served drinks from a special stars-and-stripes bottle in the V.I.P. lounge at the Creative Coalition's inaugural ball.

Chicken-and-waffle skewers were among the dishes served at Art and Soul's Chefs Ball Saturday at the Liaison Capitol Hill. The event started at 11 p.m. to serve as an after-party of sorts after guests left other galas.

Headliner Lupe Fiasco lived up to his name at the StartUp RockOn Inauguration Celebration produced by Event Farm. The Grammy nominee gave a politically charged performance at the Hamilton Sunday by chanting an anti-Obama chorus for 30 minutes without moving on to another song. He eventually was asked to leave the stage.

Guests used Event Farm's mobile check-in app to gain entry to the StartUp RockOn Inauguration Celebration Sunday. They received Buzz Band R.F.I.D. bracelets at check-in, which allowed pics from the event's photo booth to be posted directly to guests' Facebook pages.

Local artist Maggie O'Neill painted live next to the photo booth, creating Washington-themed paintings available for purchase.

Nearly 2,000 people attended OurTime.org's "Generation Now" party, which celebrated youth political engagement. The event at the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday featured performances by Common, John Legend, and T-Pain. Will.i.am and Tate Donovan hosted, and Clearpath produced the event.

John Legend won the Humanitarian Award at the the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball Sunday at the Harman Center for the Arts. The event, produced by the Finn Group, drew a sold-out crowd of 800 guests. The vendor team included Desho Productions for decor, AFR Event Furnishings, and Tierra Floral Design.

Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball II sponsor Heineken put its logo and signature green color in a variety of places, including on pillows that dotted the white leather banquettes in the V.I.P. sections upstairs at the Harman Center for the Arts.

On Sunday, Washingtonian magazine hosted its first inaugural ball at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, drawing 800 guests. Decor stayed on theme with white and silver accents, including lit trees in the main space, white florals from Amaryllis, sleek white furniture, mirrored bars, and elegant candelabra and candles with crystal accents. Syzygy provided many of the rentals including bars and furniture.

Entertainment at the Washingtonian's event included "living statues" posed near guest check-in. One, fittingly, was reading the magazine.

In the V.I.P section, a bar offered Jim Beam bourbon tastings and illuminated star drink stirrers. Open bars were sponsored by spirits company Beam, with beer from Heineken and wine from Potomac Point Vineyard & Winery.

A candlelight dinner at the National Building Museum the night before the swearing-in was among the official events from the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Hargrove provided design, sound, technical production, and linens.

Hargrove turned the fountain at the National Building Museum into an inverted tiered chandelier. Stands of varying heights hung with handmade crystal strands held tall, narrow vases with floating candles.

At the South Carolina Presidential Inaugural Ball on Sunday, a projection of stars and stripes washed over the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's rotunda, where a dance floor was set up near the museum's iconic stuffed elephant. "We really like to do a museum because it gives our guests from South Carolina one more thing to experience while they are here," said Robin Muthig, chair of the inaugural ball committee. The event hosted 2,200 guests and took over the museum's Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals and the Sant Ocean Hall, staging bars and food stations from Occasions Caterers within the exhibit.

The Atlantic and National Journal celebrated the inauguration with a dinner at owner David Bradley’s home Sunday. One room featured archival photos of past inaugurations. Susan Gage Caterers handled the dinner decor and catering, and the Ociana Group provided florals.

For the Democracy, Justice, Hope, and Love Inaugural Ball at the Institute of Peace, Occasions Caterers prepared an hors d'oeuvres buffet that included roasted butternut squash dip, spiedini of mustard and herb-seasoned salmon, and rosemary chicken and sun-dried cherry strudel. The event benefited the foundation that supports the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.