The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's 74th annual Golden Globes took over the Beverly Hilton on January 8, with Jimmy Fallon as first-time show host. About 1,300 A-list guests filled the hotel’s International Ballroom for the televised dinner ceremony. The film La La Land took top prizes, and among the standout moments was an impassioned speech from Cecil B. DeMille winner Meryl Streep that immediately went viral.
Simultaneously and immediately following the show, the hotel swelled to accommodate a crush of 6,000 guests who filled multiple spaces throughout the property for viewing- and after-parties. Hosting huge-scale bashes on Globes night were the likes of HBO, Fox, In Style, NBCUniversal, and the Weinstein Company. From trends like statement chandeliers to muted palettes accented with metallic tones—plus free-flowing Moet champagne delivered in artful, compelling ways—here are the highlights of many of the biggest events’ splashy productions.
The event’s main installation was 800 floating lanterns assembled like a free-formed chandelier, with a view of the night sky through the clear tent above. Glowing stone walls nodded to the elements inspiring the event: metal, stone, earth, and air. DJ Tendaji spun for the crowd.
On the Golden Globes red carpet, Moët & Chandon celebrated its 26th anniversary as the official champagne of the event. The brand set up an opulent black and gold color-blocked bar at the end of the carpet, and invited celebrities to participate in the “Toast for a Cause” initiative. It asked celebrities on the red carpet to raise a toast with Moët & Chandon Impérial minis, and in exchange, the company would donate $1,000 to the celebrity’s charity of choice in his or her name. Moët & Chandon is also donating an additional $1,000 per participant to fund the Moët Moment Film Festival.
HBO’s Cindy Tenner worked with longtime design partner Billy Butchkavitz on the annual bash, which took over the Hilton's Aqua Star Pool and Circa 55 Restaurant and Trader Vic's bar areas. Butchkavitz, renowned for his over-the-top and detail-rich designs, called this year’s event, “about as clean and minimalistic as Billy Butchkavitz can get, which still means lots of vibrant patterns and textures but with a much calmer color palette.” Colors included champagne, gray, khaki, and silver.
Bart Kresa created the event’s animated 3-D projections, and Images by Lighting handled the lighting. Special Event Contractors built the sub floors and pool installation, plus the party’s 24-foot high and 180-foot-long perimeter wall. Billy Butchkavitz worked with his brother, Brian Butchkavitz, on the textiles, custom carpet, tabletop decor, custom furniture, and other details.
The centerpiece of the festivities was a dramatic so-called "Shimmering Pavilion,” floating within the Beverly Hilton's Aqua Star Pool. Floating decor pieces in the exposed section of pool surrounded the pavilion.
For InStyle and Warner Brothers, Thomas Ford of Tom Ford Designs constructed a tent that completely covered the hotel fountain, transforming the Oasis Courtyard venue into what the party billed as “Matrix Glam.” The design concept came to life with a palette of peacock blue, plum, and fuchsia, meant to combine modern technology with an opulence evocative of a retro '70s era. Sponsor Eyelove presented the event.
The chandelier, an original design for the party, took its inspiration from both Purple Rain and The Matrix. The 20-foot-wide metallic gold structure also included 500 feet of LED neon.
The lighted walls throughout the party drew inspiration from computer boards. Images by Lighting handled the party's lighting.
JOWY Productions produced the bold, colorful party, where DJ Michelle Pesce spun for the crowd.
Fox partnered with 15/40 Productions for the production of its annual viewing- and after-party.
Below the lantern installation sat the main bar, an onyx grid design meant to incorporate all of the warm tones used throughout the space.
Catering came from chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo, who were 2016 James Beard award winners. (Carmelized Productions is the catering division.) The menu featured a Jon & Vinny’s pizza station. Caffe Luxxe provided coffee in a lounge area, and Helen Johannesen, of Helen’s Wines, created the cocktails from Patron.
The environment was meant to evoke nature, with a palette of coppers, golds, and silvers, and clusters of yellow forsythias and lush green palms completed the Zen-inspired vibe.
The overall theme of this year’s NBCUniversal viewing- and after-party was 1920s modern deco. Event producer Angel City Designs created the look with a color palette featuring pewter, navy, and fuchsia with copper accents throughout the space. For a supper club-like feel, guests sat at café tables, curved couches, and half-round banquettes, all with a prime view of the multiple 90- and 60-inch plasmas located throughout the tent.
This year, Angel City Designs created a new path into the NBCUniversal party, which allowed guests a birds-eye view of the red carpet action below. Guests also checked out two luxury car displays provided by featured sponsor Chrysler as they proceeded inside, and had a chance to pose in front of the 45-foot-long step-and-repeat wall.
A large, circular center stage topped by a hanging chandelier provided a focal point to watch the entertainment, and then changed over to an elevated dance floor. Flowers came from CJ Matusmoto. DJ Kiss headlined.
As part of NBCUniversal's commitment to events with a lower environment impact, the majority of the lighting in the party from Kinetic Lighting used LEDs that consumed less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. Additionally, large items such as carpeting and artificial turf were recycled rather than destroyed so as to minimize the impact of the party on landfills.
Event producer Best Events created a luxe environment full of hanging greenery, dramatic drape, and chandeliers under a clear-top tent—concealing completely the muddy construction site that currently exists below the temporary space.
Best Events went with a vibe the company described as "deco meets modern lounge." The team kept the color palette neutral and accented with luxury touches like glass-like tiles hanging above passageways between party spaces.
Sponsor Moët & Chandon set up its ever-popular and Instagram-magnet champagne vending machine, which guests operated using golden tokens.
Sponsor Lindt offered a bar serving craft cocktails using ingredients inspired by its chocolate bars. Grey Goose also sponsored the bash.
On January 7 at the Montage Beverly Hills, Sean Penn and his J/P Haitian Relief Organization raised a record $37 million for initiatives in Haiti. Beck was the evening’s surprise performer.
W magazine celebrated the Globes with Audi and Moët & Chandon at the Chateau Marmont on January 5. There, guests strolled wallpapered halls lined with faces of Hollywood stars from the magazine.
