Branding

This year, the Governors Ball went with a “Reigning With Radiance” theme executed with thousands of crystalline details from Swarovski. Governors Ball Committee co-chairs Barbara Cassel and Geriann McIntosh worked with the ball’s longtime designer and producer, Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions, to bring the theme to life.

The Governors Ball included 30 chandeliers in all. The fixtures done in swirling shapes included Swarovski crystals supported with extra beads from Shop Wild Things. The intricate creations dropped a dramatic 27 feet to the tables.

A crowd of about 4,000 guests dined on a meal catered by Patina Catering that included a first course of wildflower honey-poached pear salad, a main course of filet of beef tenderloin, and a single-origin Ghana brownie for dessert. 

The grand stage was the backdrop for a variety of performances by artists including Andrea Bocelli and David Foster. Dancing With the Stars' Maksim Chmerkovskiy and So You Think You Can Dance's Jacque LeWarne danced along with the musicians.

Designer 8 supplied furnishings, First Circle Design provided lighting design with equipment from ShowPro, and Goodman handled the sound. Dazian installed sparkle drape in the party space and created a perimeter of silver beaded curtains.

La Premier provided the flowers, which included arrangements of white calla lilies. 

Advancing a formal look, staffers for the evening wore floor-length white gowns or tuxedos with white jackets.

HBO’s party took over the outdoor space at the Pacific Design Center, with a fire theme appropriate for the sweltering day in Los Angeles. HBO vice president of special events Cindy Tenner once again worked with designer Billy Butchkavitz, who has been designing events for HBO since 1994. A 27-foot-high flame sculpture on a rotating platform was the party’s centerpiece, and ombré-patterned custom carpet covered 50,000 square feet underfoot. The event's 25-foot-high decorative perimeter walls were covered with flowing draperies embellished with iridescent paillette sequins and punctuated by 25-foot-high red lacquer columns.

Real fire was also a decorative element at the party: 24-foot-long reflecting ponds showcased multiple flaming sculptures. Inside the 120- by 100-foot dining pavilion, guests ate fare provided by Wolfgang Puck, such as burrata and peach salad, New York steak, and doughnut bread pudding.

HBO was a big winner at the Emmys, and awards dotted the elaborately clothed tables—done in full sequins—as did red and orange flowers in sculptural gold vessels.

Fox’s Emmy Post Party took place at Vibiana, following the network’s broadcast of this year’s show. 20th Television’s Jen Weinberg, FX’s Myesha Ward, and Fox's Bob Stillo oversaw the fete, designed once again by Mindy Weiss. Chef Neil Frasier’s Redbird set up a sizzling robata activation station, plus crudo and California-inspired cuisines. Mia Moretti was the DJ for the night.

Weiss's East Coast-meets-West Coast concept included a palette of muted blues, soft grays and greens, and textured pillow and linen patterns. 

Oversize logo decor pieces dotted the party space.

Tony Schubert of Event Eleven once again designed and produced the 500-guest Audi party, which this year included custom eight-foot-tall LED towers that lined the outside portion of the party. Schubert said it’s the first time the team has ever tried such a look.

Custom monochromatic white seating arrangements complemented the LED tubes. Roses in modern containers topped tables alongside votive candles—all white.

For the Entertainment Weekly party, Event Eleven this year removed all the furniture and trees from Fig & Olive's main dining room and added custom cushions and furnishings to the space. The producers also added a projection against the wall of the interior and filled the room with hundreds of candles. Gray sofas with brass end tables and touches of navy blue decorated the space.

Presenting sponsor L’Oréal Paris offered its products in a logo-covered bathroom.

Caravents this year produced the Vanity Fair Social Club program, which had a new twist on a photo booth: An activation by sponsor Viktor & Rolf took the form of a floral bed, with a camera positioned above. 

Grocerie by Foodink catered a menu for the digital media types who stopped by the weekend programming.

At the Kari Feinstein Style Lounge gifting suite at the Sunset Marquis, tropical foliage decorated a wood pallet wall, which served as an arrivals backdrop.