Oscars 2022: Event Highlights From the Week's Most Glamorous Gatherings

Bright red was a recurring fashion trend at this year's show, with A-listers like Tracee Ellis Ross, Jennifer Garner and Kirsten Dunst donning red designer dresses for the event. So it’s appropriate that the Academy had also opted for a bold floral statement on the red carpet. In addition to the traditional Academy logo made from white cutouts, shades of deep red and blue florals added a fun backdrop to the celeb-filled space.

Emmy-winning production designer David Korins designed the set for this year’s Oscars at the Dolby Theatre. In a series of Instagram posts, Korins described the design as "a statement for the future" that's focused on "inclusivity, community and a world that boldly and unapologetically glows with positivity from within." The set included a combined 12,940 Swarovski crystals and 252 strands, weighing a total of 1,350 pounds.

Related: Oscars 2022 Review: Event Producers Give the 94th Ceremony a B

The deep-red and blue color scheme seen throughout the red carpet and telecast continued into the Governors Ball, the Academy’s official after-party, which took place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom immediately following the ceremony on Sunday night. The glamorous event, which typically draws about 1,500 people, was once again designed and produced by Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions, who has been producing the gathering for 32 years.

Longtime collaborator Mark’s Garden handled floral design for the Governors Ball this year.

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck and his catering team once again created the menu for this year’s Governors Ball. New this year, though, the Wolfgang Puck Catering team collaborated with Bronx-based Ghetto Gastro, a culinary collective that blends influences from the African diaspora, global South ingredients and hip-hop to create menu offerings intended to address race, identity and economic empowerment.

Other vendors included linens from Resource One, furniture from Hire Elegance and FormDecor as well as audiovisual/lighting production from ShowPro. Entertainment came from DJ Reborn, D-Nice and DJ Millie.

Rolex once again sponsored the Academy Awards' backstage green room, creating a space inspired by Hollywood and its film studios. Design details included wall panels in an art deco style, which arranged elements from Rolex watches into mosaics that recreated classic Los Angeles landmarks. To craft the replicated landmarks, Rolex artists sculptured them and then sheathed each item in leather.

Event Eleven handled production for the green room.

On Sunday, Mercedes-Benz hosted its annual Academy Awards viewing party at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. Once again designed and produced by Sterling Social, the glamorous gathering drew guests including Jon Hamm, Derek Hough and Tayshia Adams. Typically held in the hotel’s ballroom, the Sterling Social team reinvented the layout and flow to take place primarily in the property’s outdoor Wetherly Gardens and surrounding spaces.

Inspired by the Mercedes-Benz EQG vehicle, Sterling Social took a bold, masculine and sleek approach to the event design, with a tonal color palette of black, pewter and slate gray. Black carpet and grey velvet fabric drapery created a sophisticated synergy throughout all of the spaces.

A central, circular bar in the main tent featured a black tambour wood bar with a concrete top. As a focal point, four suspended 4-foot Mercedes-Benz stars adorned with textured greenery floated above.

For the event’s signature viewing lounges, the team created intimate groupings of custom furnishings featuring rich textures of velvet, suede and leather with accents of black marble, acrylic, iron and chrome. Pops of translucent blue were seen through atmospheric lighting and subtle decor details, as a nod to the all-electric EQG vehicle. Statement collections of textured greenery were used in place of traditional florals to create a contrast with the muted design palette.

The Mercedes-Benz party’s step-and-repeat was designed with black metal panels, dimensional backlit logos in varying sizes and accented with panels of live greenery. Meanwhile, an interactive 10-foot Best Picture voting wall had a black marble effect with backlit dimensional Mercedes-Benz branding. Guests were able to vote for their personal selections using laser-etched, silver acrylic tokens.

In addition to Sterling Social, the event featured decor and furnishings from R. Jack Balthazar, graphics and branding from Messex Industries, lighting design from Lighten Up, Inc. and fabric drapery from Revelry Event Designers.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation hosted its 30th annual Academy Awards viewing party on Sunday at West Hollywood Park. The star-studded event was hosted by Lady Gaga, Billy Porter, Eric McCormack and foundation chairman David Furnish, and featured a performance by Brandi Carlile.

While Elton John himself couldn't join in person due to his rescheduled tour, he tuned in via satellite to perform a few hits. In a fun twist, guests were gifted limited-edition Elton John Eyewear "Gold Dust" frames, sold exclusively at Walmart in partnership with Elton John AIDS Foundation, to wear during his livestreamed performance.

Chef Wayne Elias and his Crumble Catering team designed and prepared the dinner, while Antony Todd designed the event and Virginia Fout of V Productions handled event production. The night's live auction was hosted by Simon de Pury, who helped the evening raise $8.6 million for the foundation's work to end AIDS.

ESSENCE magazine hosted its 15th annual Black Women in Hollywood event last Thursday afternoon at the Beverly Wilshire. One of Hollywood's most highly anticipated award-season events, this year’s brunch was designed and produced by creative and production agency MVD Inc. “Creatively, we leaned into the Black Cinematic Universe theme and chose to create an aesthetic that would highlight the 15th anniversary,” explained creative director Massah David. “The vision we had was to create a space that would feel bold and edgy yet elegant and sleek—from the abstract gold and chrome tones weaved throughout the event on stage and in the photo moments, to the geometric-laden designs adorning the carpet. My production design goal was to capture the timeless essence of Black cinema while gracefully embracing the now and ushering in the future.”

The annual event recognizes the achievements of the industry's most inspiring Black women who help tell diverse Black stories. Honorees this year included actress/producer/director Nia Long, Oscar-nominated actress Aunjanue Ellis, actress/comedian/creator Quinta Brunson and actress Chanté Adams. Damson Idris hosted the A-list gathering.

MVD Inc.’s Miatta Johnson and Massah David worked with ESSENCE’s senior experiential director, Carmen Jones. “Black Women in Hollywood sees our women through an authentic lens. It’s an honor to be the canvas for such an extraordinary and necessary moment for the culture,” said Jones. “This year, we celebrate the 15th anniversary recognizing the undeniable global impact of our honorees expressed in the 2022 theme, Black Cinematic Universe."

In addition to MVD Inc., the event featured furniture rentals from Revelry Event Designers, additional rentals from Town & Country, tablescapes from Casa De Perrin, greenery from Jackson Shrub, audiovisual production from Above the Live and a photo booth from The Bosco. Shawna Yamamoto handled the stage, portrait studio and honoree wall.

The following day, ESSENCE hosted its third annual ESSENCE Hollywood House, developed to provide compelling and engaging live content aimed at sparking meaningful conversation and action to drive more inclusion in Hollywood. Another goal? To provide an opportunity for Black creatives—aspiring and established—to educate, collaborate and empower one another. The experience featured thought leaders, industry stakeholders and members of the creative community including actors, directors, writers, showrunners, studio heads and others who led a curated schedule of interactive conversations, virtual panels, masterclasses, fireside chats and more. The content was later featured on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCE.com on March 29.

ESSENCE Hollywood House was sponsored by Disney’s Onyx Collective and Warner Bros Television Group. MVD Inc. handled design and production, while Tic-Tock Florals handled floral design, Treehouse Fabrication handled staging and Above the Line handled audiovisual production.

On Friday, the Los Angeles chapter of Women in Film (WIF) hosted its popular annual party, which honors the 60 women—both in front of and behind the camera—who were nominated for an Academy Award this year. The event, which was co-hosted by WIF board president emerita Cathy Schulman and Oscar-winning artist H.E.R., was held at Bar Lis at the new Thompson Hollywood.

Guests could receive on-site makeup touch-ups from Charlotte Tilbury Beauty artists, and all took home a gift bag with an assortment of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty products. Other sponsor integrations included a portrait studio from IMDB, and drinks from Heineken and Tequila Don Julio. Event Eleven handled design and production.

The Academy Museum, which opened last fall, hosted its inaugural Oscars Night at the Museum event on Sunday night. The open-to-the-public (but ticketed) event invited more than 1,000 guests to experience Oscars glamour for the night by walking a red carpet, enjoying a 360-degree slow-motion photo booth, listening to sets from DJ Mamabear and Lady C courtesy of dublab, exploring the museum’s exhibits and accepting their own award in the Oscars Experience area. At show time, attendees filled the museum’s David Geffen Theater, where emcees and entertainers performed during commercial breaks. Wolfgang Puck Catering provided food, along with local food vendors Vurger Guyz and Thai-Mex Cocina.

The fourth annual Griot Gala Oscars party took place on Sunday at BOA in West Hollywood. The event was intended to be a toast to diversity and inclusion as well as film and entertainment. Sponsored by Beam Suntory/Courvoisier and hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, the gathering drew names like Phylicia Rashad, Cheech Marin and Lamar Odom. The event had a Parisian theme inspired by the Moulin Rouge and was designed and produced by Dwight Eubanks and Annette BibbyOliver from Dreamhouse Marketing & Branding.

The Hollywood Reporter kicked off Oscars season on March 7 at Spago in Beverly Hills. The magazine’s annual Nominees Night included VIP attendees like Kristen Stewart, Taika Waititi, Rita Era, Ariana DeBose and Heidi Klum, and was presented by IHG Hotels & Resorts and sponsored by Heineken. A floral- and plant-covered bar served as an eye-catching focal point.

The Latinx House, a community of people who celebrate Latinx excellence in film and entertainment, hosted its inaugural pre-Oscars celebration at West Hollywood’s Issima on March 24. The event gathered Latinx community members—including Wilmer Valderama, Gloria Calderón Kellet and the casts of films like Bestia, Encanto, Please Hold and West Side Story—for a thought-provoking fireside chat with Dr. Ana Christina Ramón about diversity in Hollywood.

In addition to the discussion, guests enjoyed a meal from Issima that was inspired by the event’s three themes: power, culture and truth.

W Magazine kicked off Oscar weekend with its annual Best Performances party on Thursday night. The star-studded affair took over Gigi’s Hollywood and drew stars like Andrew Garfield, Dakota Johnson, Jonah Hill and Zoë Kravitz. The event, hosted in partnership with Louis Vuitton, featured light bites and specialty cocktails, plus an eye-catching, silvery photo op in front of the magazine's W logo.

On Saturday night, a group of eco-conscious celebrities, athletes and thought leaders gathered at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Hosted by Energy Independent Now (EIN) and Global Green USA, the pre-Oscar gala aimed to raise funds for research, policy advocacy and public outreach to promote diverse zero-emissions solutions. The rooftop event featured musical performances from Jake Wesley Rogers and Eric Krasno; there were also live auction items focused on sustainable entertainment, along with car showcases, sustainable foods and drinks from Schaffer LA and planet-friendly gift bags. Global Green USA donated a share of its event proceeds to Green Cross Ukraine.

Additional vendors for the event included 204 Events, Town & Country Event Rentals, Red Carpet Systems, Beverly Hills Florist and Valet Proper Parking.

EMILY’s List, the nation's largest resource for women in politics, hosted its fifth annual Oscars event on March 22. Themed “The Collective Power of Women,” the gathering highlighted the successes achieved when women work together, with speakers including actress Amber Tamblyn, WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike, marketing executive Bozoma Saint John, U.S. Representative Karen Bass and more.

Debbie Durkin, a leading TV and film product-placement producer focused on sustainability, hosted her annual ECOLUXE Pre-Oscars Luxury Lounge at the Beverly Hilton. Intended to honor award nominees, directors, producers, screenwriters and other VIPs, the eco-friendly, outdoor experience took on a walk-thru format this year. Sponsor activations included one-hour spiritual healing classes from Louise Jones LA Confidante, private caviar tastings from Prince Caviar, hand-painted Champagne bottles from Raised in LA Artwork and more.

The US-Ireland Alliance changed locations for its annual Oscar Wilde Awards, moving from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot HQ to the larger Ebell of Los Angeles to allow for more social distancing. The event honored Kenneth Branagh, Adam McKay, Jamie Dornan and up-and-coming Irish actor Dónall Ó Héalai, while Abrams served as M.C. The casual, festive gathering featured music from Irish band True Tides and duo Loah & Bantum, plus a menu of Irish classics from Kensington Caterers.