The White House Correspondents’ Dinner: Cue the Pre- and Post-Parties, Presidential Pleasantries, and More

From kickoff celebrations to exclusive after-parties at the Colombian and French Ambassadors’ residences, a Sunday morning hangover, and more, see how brands partied all weekend long in honor of the “nerd prom.”

Shannon Thaler

May 18, 2022

When the nearly 400 VIP attendees entered the 7,500-square-foot AutoShop for an invite-only brunch (hosted by CNN) to close out the weekend, they were greeted by printed, tiled stairs with pops of live greenery and a CNN logo, indicating to invited guests that they were definitely at the right place. The staircase “led them to the main event space, where people were greeted with an assortment of Prosecco, rose, and white wines,” said Caroline Cook, the director of creative brand marketing of events and activations for CNN Worldwide.Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNNWASHINGTON, D.C.—One of D.C.’s most prestigious gatherings returned to the Washington Hilton on April 30 following a two-year hiatus. The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner (WHCD) brought together high-profile politicians, journalists, and celebrities—which, this year, included Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson making their red carpet debut as a couple—and anchored a weekend of surrounding parties and programming.

Also aired on C-SPAN, the night was the first time in six years that the president attended the dinner; and in true WHCD fashion, President Joe Biden ended the night with a comedic monologue. “A special thanks to the 42% of you that actually applauded,” Biden quipped as he took the podium. “I’m really excited to be here tonight with the only group of Americans with a lower approval rating than I have,” he continued, garnering “awes” and giggles from the star-studded crowd.

The Daily Show's Trevor Noah hosted the dinner with 2,600 in attendance, forecasting that the event would get flack for taking place despite a COVID outbreak attributed to the lesser-known precursor of the WHCD, the Gridiron Dinner.

“Like, do you read any of your own newspapers?” he humorously asked the journalists in the room. He also called the gathering “the nation’s most distinguished superspreader event,” but it was no joke when ABC political journalist Jon Karl, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and CBS CEO George Cheeks tested positive for the virus.

However, A-listers didn’t let anything stop them from experiencing the WHCD and the over-the-top celebrations that historically accompany the affair. On Friday, the day before the WHCD, Funny Or Die (FOD) and People magazine kicked off the weekend with a celebration-themed FOD, literally—Funny, Original, and Diverse—in a playful reference to the television company.

CBS News and Politico teamed up for an exclusive pre-dinner reception, where guests were greeted by a full-staffed red carpet and mingled, drink in hand, as a xylophone played live in the background. And after dinner, Paramount+ took over the French Ambassador’s residence for an artfully branded, late-night bash. Meanwhile, at the Colombian Ambassador’s residence, D.C.-based communications agency CRAFT Media/Digital held its own after-party, nodding to the South American country’s rich history with a “magical realism” theme.

On Sunday morning, CNN returned for another iteration of its political hangover brunch to round out the weekend, complete with—you guessed it—all the acceptable cocktails to sip on pre-5 p.m. Themed “From the White House to the World” and inspired by the media company’s global reach, guests journeyed through Italy, Paris, London, and Asia as they walked through the multilevel, indoor-outdoor venue.

Keep scrolling for a closer look inside the events.

CBS News/Politico’s Pre-WHCD Reception

CBS News fittingly teamed up with political journalism company Politico for a reception at the Washington Hilton ahead of the WHCD. Hosted by CBS News president and co-head Neeraj Khemlani and Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami, the brands gathered White House administration officials, some of the nation’s most reputable journalists, business leaders, diplomats, and celebrities for a red carpet entrance. Bond Events (which produced Politico’s garden brunch WHCD celebration back in 2018) executed the silver-and-gold-embellished backdrop, complete with branding and twinkling chandeliers overhead.

Photo: Courtesy of CBS

The Paramount After-Party

CBS and Paramount, in partnership with MTV Entertainment, Comedy Central, and Showtime, took over the French Ambassador’s residence, a Tudor Revival manor house, for an after-party following the WHCD on April 30. Philippe Étienne, the Ambassador of France to the United States, greeted guests upon arrival.

Once inside, guests could enjoy libations from a selection of five bars in five different rooms—one for each event partner.

Photo: Courtesy of CBS

In the Paramount-branded space, the decor nodded to The Offer, a biographical drama on the making of The Godfather in 1972, which debuted on Paramount+ two days prior to the event, on April 28. And in reference to the film’s iconic line, “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli,” Brooke Lorenz, CBS News’ director of communications, said that decaf coffee and cannolis were served to-go as guests exited the affair as more of a “Leave the party. Take the cannoli.”

Photo: Courtesy of CBS

Guests grabbed branded napkins as they sipped on the cocktail of the night, “Portnoy’s Punch,” playfully named after WHCD president, Steven Portnoy of CBS News and CBS News Radio. And food was provided by D.C.’s Well Dunn Catering, and included buffets, passed hors d’oeuvres, and mini breakfast sandwiches served at 2 a.m. Other branded details? The event partners’ logos appeared on cookies, pillows, and ice cubes.

Photo: Courtesy of CBS

CNN’s WHCD Political Hangover Brunch

CNN held an invite-only brunch to close out the weekend, where White House correspondents, political reporters, newsmakers, advertisers, and friends of the network could get some much-needed R&R. Themed “From the White House to the World,” the event took place at the AutoShop in the Union Market District, celebrating CNN as “the leader in global news,” Caroline Cook, the director of creative brand marketing of events and activations, CNN Worldwide, told BizBash. She added of the theme: “We operate business on six continents, which gives CNN the ability to cover news whenever and wherever it happens—something that differentiates us from other news networks. Our goal for this brunch was to bring guests on a journey through a cohesive range of experiences … to incredible locations where you will always be able to tune in to CNN.”

The experience did just that, with a room inspired by Asia, complete with a fabric ceiling installation made out of floral and patterned textiles—plus some adorning CNN’s logo. A fun touch? Ramen by UZU, also located in the Union Market District, was on-site serving belly-warming bowls of brothy noodles. “It was important to CNN to showcase and support local D.C. vendors,” Cook said.

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

A photo-worthy seating nook leaned into the international theme, with black lounge seating, a jungle-like background, and stand-out red clocks representing times in different countries around the world.

Decor was provided by locally based Social Supply, and Linder Global Events produced the hangover brunch.

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

CNN selected food and beverage vendors “who could complement our global feel and give our guests an opportunity to feast on a range of delicacies,” Cook said. Cue a CNN-branded macaron tower from French-based patisserie Ladurée, Peruvian sandwich experts the Peruvian Brothers, Great Britain-inspired eatery Aboveground, and more. “Food vendors were stationed in market booths so guests could choose their own food and beverage experience throughout the event,” Cook explained. And not to be forgotten—the brunch favorites that were passed around hors d'oeuvres style courtesy of Occasions Catering.

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

AutoShop was the perfect venue for CNN’s international guest journey thanks to its urban-chic vibe and open floor plan, mezzanine level with partitions, and outdoor terrace overlooking the Capitol. Such a configuration allowed for a London-inspired floral market constructed by D.C.-based Flowers at 38, comparable to the ones that bloom throughout the English city every Sunday. And after picking a bouquet, guests made their way to an Aperol Spritz Bar, where they could pick up a glass of the Italian cocktail before heading to the terrace.

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

In a fun, immersive touch, New York-based Candy5 was on-site sculpting artistic figures of an attendee’s choice out of candy. (You heard that right!) Candy5 specializes in amezaiku, a traditional Japanese craft that involves molding candy into magnificent sculptures.

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

What would brunch be without a Bloody Mary? CNN had a branded bar out on the terrace with the hangover-curing cocktail, made with “a dash of Old Bay,” Cook said.

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

A spicy Paloma fountain was an oasis amid a wall of live greenery. And DJ Alex Love was in attendance, spinning international hits, which Cook said “set the mood for an upbeat afternoon.”

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

The event took place 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. so, naturally, CNN provided an international coffee bar as a way for guests to caffeinate. A bonus? Cappuccinos and lattes were served with printed CNN logos.

Photo: Jeremy Freeman/CNN

A Night of Magical Realism After-Party

CRAFT Media/Digital took over the Colombian Ambassador’s residence in the heart of Dupont Circle for an invitation-only WHCD after-party that began at 10:30 p.m. on April 30. More than 500 guests attended the event, which was sponsored by cryptocurrency exchange company Binance. Upon arrival, “guests walked the red carpet, which was positioned against a luscious hedge wall. A step-and-repeat (backdrop) featured moving butterflies embedded in green,” Sinead Casey, the senior vice president and head of events at CRAFT, said. She added that the kinetic butterfly feature was notable for “bringing a surprise element to the experience.”

Photo: Courtesy of CRAFT Media/Digital

The “magical realism” theme that inspired the affair celebrated the return of the WHCD after a two-year hiatus. “We knew there would be a sense of magic in the city—reuniting colleagues and celebrating that ‘D.C. is Back.’ We wanted to capture that feeling of bliss,” Casey said.

And the CRAFT team did just that—from the Colombian musical duo that serenaded guests on the carpet and a floral wall featuring more than 200 Colombian roses, to 15-foot coconut palms swaying in the ballroom and an outdoor patio, complete with colorful uplighting and tulips in full bloom to transport guests to a Colombian coastal city.

Photo: Courtesy of CRAFT Media/Digital

Leaning into the venue as the chateauesque-style residence of the Colombian Ambassador to the United States, food and drink throughout the night “nodded to the flavors of Colombia,” Casey explained. Specialty cocktails included a Paloma and passion fruit mojito, while hors d'oeuvres courtesy of Windows Catering consisted of chorizo spoons, empanadas, and arepitas. A sit-down dinner was also served in the ballroom, where a DJ spun songs from a rose-adorned balcony overlooking the crowd.

Photo: Courtesy of CRAFT Media/Digital

Funny Or Die Kickoff Party

The event highlighted Funny Or Die (FOD) with the theme “Funny, Original, and Diverse,” playing on the TV company’s name. Guests were greeted with a larger-than-life, FOD-inspired photo op, danced to songs performed by DJ Lina, and dined on Texan foods—an ode to FOD owner Henry R. Muñoz III’s roots.

The event was produced by Dufour Collaborative, Occasions Catering provided F&B, and Social Supply executed the decor and staging.

Photo: Courtesy of Funny Or Die

Special guest Billy Eichner (pictured) jumpstarted the evening with a speech titled “We’re Back D.C.” that spotlighted recent anti-LGBTQ legislations, referenced Eichner’s Billy on the Street game show, and emphasized the importance of laughter while jokingly referring to the WHCD as “nerd prom.”

Photo: Courtesy of Funny Or Die

The LA-based TV company teamed up with People magazine for a star-studded kickoff party at The Reach at the Kennedy Center. Notable attendees of the 350 on the exclusive guest list included Brooke Shields (pictured), FOD owner Muñoz and CEO Mike Farah, plus Gayle King, Ana Navarro, Harry Hamlin, and more.

Photo: Courtesy of Funny Or Die