The Primetime Emmy awards wrapped Sunday night at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live. And afterward, the swirl of activity on the party landscape looked a bit different this year, with major player Entertainment Tonight sitting this year out. Still, high-profile hosts returned, including HBO at the Pacific Design Center, and of course the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' own Governors Ball at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Naturally, they provided eye-catching decor for the celebratory night.
Earlier in the week, Variety and Women in Film hosted a pre-Emmy party at the Montage's Scarpetta, honoring female nominees. Entertainment Weekly and L'Oréal hosted a bash Friday at Fig & Olive. Kicking things off even earlier were Audi and Derek Lam, which took over Cecconi's for a third annual bash a full week ahead of the awards.
And there were so many more. Here's a look inside Emmy week's big parties, suites, and events.
HBO Emmys After-Party
HBO hosted its 10th annual party at the fountain plaza in West Hollywood's Pacific Design Center. Working with HBO's Cindy Tenner, Nancy Lesser, and Michael McMorrow, longtime collaborator Billy Butchkavitz designed a splashy party based on the theme "A Glorious Garden." Bart Kresa and Images by Lighting supplied the event's splashy lighting, including a vibrant wall of HBO logos and floral motifs.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors Ball
The Emmys Governors Ball in the Los Angeles Convention Center's West Hall drew about 3,800 guests. Ball chair Joe Stewart, along with vice chairs Geriann McIntosh and Leslie Frankenheimer, worked with longtime producer Sequoia Productions, led by Cheryl Cecchetto, on the event's "Romantic Rhapsody in Red" theme.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors Ball
Massive, stylized decor pieces meant to evoke the look of rose petals were suspended overhead. Performers from the Red Hots also soared above to amp up the drama.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors Ball
Around 200,000 fresh-cut red roses from La Premier topped the guest tables, which were clothed in linens from BBJ.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors Ball
Beaulieu Vineyard poured its bottles as official wine sponsor. Grey Goose was the official spirits sponsor, crafting the evening’s signature cocktail, “the Emmy.” And vehicle sponsor Audi transported presenters to the show. Lux Lounge EFR contributed more than 150 furniture pieces, including the "Monroe Lip Sofa" pictured here.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors Ball
In addition to the Primetime Emmys ball, the same decor also decked the space for the Creative Arts ball on September 15. The two events combined draw about 7,000 guests.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors Ball
Patina Catering prepared the food for the 17th time, serving a first course of smoked salmon avocado spheres, a main course of roasted tenderloin with mushroom risotto fries, and a dessert of white chocolate raspberry cake. Marich Confections was this year's chocolate sponsor, for more sweets.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Governors Ball
Images by Lighting projected logo gobos in the shape of roses to further the theme.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
HBO Emmys After-Party
Floral motifs covered everything in and around the 50,000-square-foot party space—including the fountain—done in a palette of lemon, lilac, cornflower, and black. Butchkavitz used Waverly fabrics to create elements including the carpet, upholstered walls, banquettes, drapes, tablecloths, and an oversize flower-shaped ottoman.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
HBO Emmys After-Party
A 30-foot-diameter floral chandelier made by Set Masters decked the yellow dining pavilion under a clear-top tent. Wolfgang Puck Catering's custom menu included on-theme treats, like flower-shaped cookies that seemed to bloom from flowerpots. DJs Spider and Daisy O'Dell spun for the crowd. Town & Country handled the rentals.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
Audi and Derek Lam Pre-Emmy Party
A full week ahead of the awards, Audi and fashion designer Derek Lam kicked off the festivities with a party at Cecconi's in West Hollywood. Event Eleven designed and produced the event.
Photo: Michael Buckner/WireImage
Audi and Derek Lam Pre-Emmy Party
A custom large-format print combined with rear fiber optics lent a dramatic look of city lights to the bash. Select attendees arrived at the event in the Audi A8L, the brand's luxury flagship sedan.
Photo: Michael Buckner/WireImage
Audi and Derek Lam Pre-Emmy Party
Event Eleven's design for the party included sleek black Audi logos on white candles around the space. Rentals came from Classic Party Rentals.
Photo: WireImage
Audi and Derek Lam Pre-Emmy Party
Frosted decals emblazoned the bar with Audi logos, for an etched-glass-style look.
Photo: WireImage
'Entertainment Weekly' Pre-Emmy Party
Entertainment Weekly celebrated the weekend together with presenting sponsor L’Oréal Paris at Fig & Olive in West Hollywood. A custom L’Oréal Paris Colour Caresse by Colour Riche Luminous Lip Colour bar beckoned guests, who sipped champagne and popped into a vintage photo booth while listening to music from DJ Mick Boogie.
Photo: Dan Wilby
'Entertainment Weekly' Pre-Emmy Party
Fig & Olive provided the bites for Entertainment Weekly's pre-Emmy party, with production by Event Eleven.
Photo: Dan Wilby
'Entertainment Weekly' Pre-Emmy Party
The West Hollywood venue—decked with leaf-shaped projections from Felix Lighting—hosted celebrity guests like Aziz Ansari, Mark Cuban, Elisha Cuthbert, and dozens more.
Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly
'Variety' and Women in Film's Pre-Emmy Party
Variety and Women in Film toasted female nominees with a pre-Emmy event on Friday. Presented by Saint Vintage, the bash took to Scarpetta at Montage Beverly Hills and included food from chef Scott Conant. Big-name host committee members attended, including Alec Baldwin, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joel McHale, and Amy Poehler.
Photo: Jonathan Leibson/WireImage
'Variety' and Women in Film's Pre-Emmy Party
This year’s event was inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and whimsical decor included hanging birdcages.
Photo: Joe Scarnici/WireImage
'Variety' and Women in Film's Pre-Emmy Party
The event at Scarpetta included Saint Vintage jewelry's signature "Love Bar," where celebrity guests could make necklaces, with all proceeds going to the cancer-treatment charity of their choice. Decor-decked hedging defined the party space.
Photo: Joe Scarnici/WireImage
Fox Emmy Party
Working with Fox's Bob Stillo, Russell Harris Event Group produced the Fox party at Soleto Trattoria and Pizzaria for about 600 guests on Sunday. Organizers arranged full buildout of the venue on quick turnaround necessitated by the restaurant's open hours. The existing patio area got a complete overhaul, with a 16- by 100-foot truss structure in reclaimed wood-stained paneling and carpeted base that covered the venue's water feature.
Photo: Dan Scott/American Image Gallery
Fox Emmy Party
The Russell Harris team described the event as having a "Restoration Hardware-esque" look, with design by Thomas Ford. A Ford-designed sculpture used old-fashioned sign letters, metal numbers, and plexiglass signage to represent the three hosting networks: Fox Broadcasting, 20th Century Fox, and the FX channel.
Photo: Dan Scott/American Image Gallery
Fox Emmy Party
Silver-toned Fox letters stood at the step-and-repeat entrance for talent on Fig Street.
Photo: Dan Scott/American Image Gallery
Bafta Los Angeles TV Tea
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles celebrated Emmy weekend with its annual Bafta Los Angeles TV Tea on Saturday atop the London. TV execs, celebs, Bafta members, and Emmy nominees nibbled on traditional British tea and scones.
Photo: Jason Merritt/BAFTA Tea 2012/Getty Images
Bafta Los Angeles TV Tea
On the London hotel rooftop, guests bid on items in the silent auction to raise funds for Bafta Los Angeles' community outreach and education programs.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/BAFTA Tea 2012/Getty Images for BAFTA
Emmys' Audi Greenroom
Event Eleven produced and Derek Lam designed the Audi greenroom for the Primetime Emmys. The space included design elements inspired by Audi vehicles, with a curving metallic fabric form that defined the entrance and vintage furniture inside.
Photo: Charley Gallay/WireImage
Emmys' Audi Greenroom
The Audi greenroom was part of “Backstage Live,” a digital multiscreen destination on Emmys.com and ABC.com, which provided fans a viewing experience simultaneous to the telecast on ABC. It included features like live footage behind the scenes, content related to the nominees, social media activity, and red carpet fashion roundups.
Photo: Charley Gallay/WireImage
'Los Angeles Confidential' Pre-Emmys Party
Evan Handler and Pamela Adlon, stars of the Showtime series Californication, celebrated the start of Emmy weekend Thursday night at the London Hotel in West Hollywood with Los Angeles Confidential magazine publisher Alison Miller and editor in chief Spencer Beck. The L.A. Confidential event was produced in partnership with Merrill Lynch.
Photo: Todd Oren/WireImage
'Los Angeles Confidential' Pre-Emmys Party
Logos from sponsor TW Steel decked throw pillows at the L.A. Confidential pre-Emmy event.
Photo: Todd Oren/WireImage
'Tonight We Tanqueray' Pre-Emmy Party
Tanqueray and 7 Wallace presented a pre-Emmys party, “Tonight We Tanqueray," on Saturday at Bootsy Bellows. Emmy nominee Idris Elba hosted the evening.
Photo: Donato Sardella/WireImage
HBO Luxury Lounge for the Emmys
L'Oréal—a staple on the award event circuit around town—built out a suite at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills for use as a salon as part of the HBO Luxury Lounge.
Photo: Charley Gallay/WireImage
HBO Luxury Lounge for the Emmys
Motorola's red-and-white draped space within the HBO Luxury Lounge at the Four Seasons showcased its technology.
Photo: Joe Scarnici/WireImage
HBO Luxury Lounge for the Emmys
Basil Hayden's poured its spirits in the form of signature cocktails (inspired by Emmy-nominated shows) at a bar decked in fall flowers and backed with rows of stacked bottles, for a smart-looking—and heavily branded—backdrop.
Photo: Joe Scarnici/WireImage
HBO Luxury Lounge for the Emmys
Brahmin was among the brands in the lounge offering its wares to guests.
Photo: Joe Scarnici/WireImage
Emmy Presenters Gift Lounge Backstage at the Nokia Theatre
On 3 Productions produced a gift lounge for the Emmy presenters backstage at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live. Black & Decker was among the brands on board.
Photo: WireImage
Emmy Presenters Gift Lounge Backstage at the Nokia Theatre
Emergen-C was among the sponsors of the lounge, presenting a jeweled display to hawk its products with Emmy-appropriate pomp.
Photo: WireImage
Softcup Emmys Beauty Retreat
The Softcup beauty retreat took over the opulent home of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Adrienne Maloof—who coincidentally put the place on the market over the weekend for $26 million. Guests noshed on bites created by Maloof's private chef, sipped cocktails using her new Zing Vodka, and unwound with spa treatments throughout the property, indoors and out.
Photo: Todd Seligman/ WireImage
Softcup Emmys Beauty Retreat
OMG Brandz was among the brands represented at the retreat, offering its light-up smartphone cases. Teleflora provided jewel-toned flowers.
Photo: Angela Weiss/WireImage
