The 70th annual Primetime Emmy Awards took over the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles earlier this week, shifting to a Monday night to accommodate host network NBC’s football schedule. Hosted by Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che and Colin Jost, the evening's big winners included Game of Thrones, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story—and, of course, Oscars director Glenn Weiss, who proposed to his girlfriend in his acceptance speech.
But the celebrations really began more than a week before the September 17 broadcast, when the Television Academy handed out its Creative Arts Emmys over two nights, September 8 and 9. Those ceremonies—plus Monday night's main event—were followed by the Academy’s official Governors Ball after-party. This year, all three parties ditched the seated dinner approach, instead taking the form of a reception-style event at the outdoor L.A. Live Event Deck. Sequoia Productions handled starry-night-inspired design for the events, while Patina Catering served a small-plates menu to the 8,300 guests.
Other big brands hosted parties and suites throughout the week, with many taking over buzzy new venues including the Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood, Avra Beverly Hills, and the Nomad Hotel Los Angeles downtown. The city’s biggest event designers and producers were also on call, with Billy Butchkavitz being tapped for HBO’s lush “Garden of Eden” theme after-party, Sterling Engagements handling the Fox party's geometric-style decor, 15/40 Productions designing Hulu’s elegant bash, Event Eleven producing Entertainment Weekly's rose-filled event, and many more.
Other splashy parties came from Netflix, Audi, Bafta Los Angeles, Turner, the Hollywood Reporter, and more. Click through to see decor and details from these and other star-studded Emmy events.
Television Academy’s Governors Ball and Creative Arts Balls
The Television Academy's official after-party, held at the L.A. Live Event Deck after the Primetime Emmys telecast, drew more than 4,000 winners, nominees, and members of the entertainment industry. For their 20th year designing and producing the event, Cheryl Cecchetto and her team at Sequoia Productions created a starry-night effect, using 28,000 individual LED lights suspended from the ceiling. Furniture, table linens, florals, and other decor came in shades of blue, gold and silver metallics, and white. The same decor was used for the Creative Arts Emmys dinners, which were held on September 8 and 9.
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
Television Academy’s Governors Ball and Creative Arts Balls
Previously a seated dinner at the Los Angeles Convention Center, this year’s new venue allowed for an indoor-outdoor reception format.
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
Television Academy’s Governors Ball and Creative Arts Balls
Longtime collaborators Patina Catering created a menu of more than 35 different small plates, including tabletop snacks, tray-passed hors d'oeuvres, and a variety of small-bite stations. The menu also included an assortment of vegetarian and vegan items, plus dessert stations. (Click here for more details.) Ketel One Family-Made Vodka, the official spirits partner of the Emmys, poured specialty Emmy-inspired cocktails.
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
Television Academy’s Governors Ball and Creative Arts Balls
The LED lights pulsed and changed colors throughout the night, with audiovisual production by ShowPro. Additional vendors included L.A. Premier for florals, Bright Event Rentals for rentals, and Resource One for textile design.
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
HBO’s Emmy Party
Following the Monday-night ceremony, HBO hosted its annual star-studded, design-heavy bash at the Pacific Design Center’s fountain plaza. HBO’s Cindy Tenner and Ashley Covarrubias once again worked with event designer Billy Butchkavitz; it was Butchkavitz’s 20th consecutive year producing the event. The night had a lush, flower-filled Garden of Eden theme.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
HBO’s Emmy Party
Guests arrived to find a floral tunnel filled with on-theme design touches. Agile Eye Solutions handled all large-scale decor elements, and SoCal Tents handled custom tenting for the evening.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
HBO’s Emmy Party
Photographer Gabor Ekecs created several large-scale photo collages and art pieces that tied into the theme, and Emerging Entertainment handled audio while 24 Seven Productions provided the entertainment, band, and DJ.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
HBO’s Emmy Party
Many more longtime collaborators returned for this year’s event, including Special Event Contractors, which created 200 feet of a 25-foot-high perimeter wall, as well as elevated subfloors, bridges, and walkways, and a custom stage and dance floor. Images by Lighting handled lighting design, and Bart Kresa created dramatic animated projections that were projected onto the walls of the plaza. Town & Country Event Rentals provided furniture and other rentals, while Wolfgang Puck Catering handled food.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
Fox’s Emmys Party
Fox Broadcasting once again teamed up with FX, 20th Century Fox TV, and National Geographic to host a Monday-night party. Held at Vibiana, the event was designed and produced by Sterling Engagements. The colorful bash had a geometric theme, with pink lighting and ceiling projections by Kinetic Lighting.
Photo: Maya Myers Photography
Fox’s Emmys Party
A variety of lounge setups were designed by Edge Design & Decor, with rentals by Bright Event Rentals. Additional vendors included audiovisual production by Sweetwater, linens and pillows by Luxe Linen, and a golden video booth by OM Digital. Vibiana and Redbird chef/owner Neal Fraser and his team handled catering, which included a four-sided raw bar by Ice Bulb in the center of the venue.
Photo: Maya Myers Photography
Fox’s Emmys Party
The geometric pattern and color scheme extended to a mix of vases and floral displays by Shawna Yamamoto Event Design.
Photo: Maya Myers Photography
Fox’s Emmys Party
Sterling Engagements also extended the look to Vibiana’s outdoor area, where lounge seating was defined by golden backdrops with a linear design. The outdoor pendant installation was done by Amber Event Production, and greenery from Jackson Shrub helped amplify the space.
Photo: Maya Myers Photography
'Entertainment Weekly' Pre-Emmy Party
Entertainment Weekly magazine hosted its annual pre-Emmy party on Saturday night at the Sunset Tower Hotel. Presented by L’Oréal Paris, the event drew stars including Sterling K. Brown, Laverne Cox, Ann Dowd, and Busy Phillips. The magazine’s special projects director, Lisa Simpson Briel, worked with Event Eleven on production and decor, which included bright red florals and details.
Photo: Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly
'Entertainment Weekly' Pre-Emmy Party
Event Eleven worked with Floral Crush to create a rose-covered photo op.
Photo: Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly
'Entertainment Weekly' Pre-Emmy Party
In the outdoor pool area, candles were gathered around an oversize EW logo.
Photo: Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly
Hulu's Emmys Party
Hulu celebrated its Emmy-nominated shows The Handmaid’s Tale, I Love You America With Sarah Silverman, and The Looming Tower with an elegant Monday-night bash at the new Nomad Hotel Los Angeles. 15/40 Productions handled event production and design.
Photo: Line 8 Photography
Hulu's Emmys Party
Hulu branding appeared throughout the hotel's lobby and mezzanine, popping up behind the bar, in the photo booth, and even on branded ice cubes.
Photo: Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Hulu
Hulu's Emmys Party
Another highlight: an on-site vending machine, where guests could get prizes including Hulu subscriptions, Lyft gift cards, and tongue-in-cheek products inspired by the company's biggest shows. At the end of the night, Shake Shack burgers were served as additional parting gifts.
Photo: Presley Ann/Getty Images for Hulu
Netflix’s Emmys Party
Netflix celebrated its Emmys wins with a star-studded bash on Monday night at Neuehouse. The event, designed by Kate Hefler at Netflix with Swisher Productions and R. Jack Balthazar, used different shades of orange to create an upscale, immersive effect. A drop ceiling was made from over 5,000 hand-tied ribbons. Guests dined on sushi, sliders, and small bites, and Jon and Vinny’s pizza was served as a late-night snack.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Netflix’s Emmys Party
The entrance to the event was designed with gray tones and textures, and had a custom geometric carpet. Guests could trade in high heels for comfortable sandals at a shoe check.
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
Audi’s Pre-Emmy Party
Audi, the official automotive partner for the Emmys, took over the new Kimpton La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood for a Friday-night event. Celebrity attendees including Issa Rae and Samira Wiley were chauffeured to the event in 2018 Audi vehicles, and the new Audi e-tron made its red carpet debut. The evening’s decor was inspired by the new electric car, with futuristic blue lighting and neon touches. Anchor Street Collective handled design and production.
Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Audi
Turner’s Pre-Emmy Party
Designed and produced by the Firm Event Design, Turner’s pre-Emmy party on Saturday night was held at a private estate. The event had an elegant golden design, with clusters of gold sputnik chandeliers hanging above a central bar, emerald velvet accent chairs surrounding gold coffee tables, and hundreds of geo-shaped orbs with terrarium florals and hurricane candles. Custom lighting created patterns on the floor to enhance the look. Designer8 provided rentals for the evening.
Photo: Line 8 Photography
Turner’s Pre-Emmy Party
Custom floral logo molds and a candlelit path greeted guests at the entrance to the backyard event.
Photo: Line 8 Photography
Bafta Los Angeles TV Tea Party
On Saturday, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles celebrated Emmy weekend with its daytime TV Tea Party. The annual event, designed by MTA Events and held at the Beverly Hilton, celebrated the year’s Emmys nominees. Gold masks depicting the Bafta logo were nestled into a wall of succulents.
Photo: Courtesy of MTA Events
Colin Jost and Michael Che’s Host Party
The Saturday Night Live writers and Emmys hosts held an after-party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Monday night. Sponsored by Google, the event included a branded doughnut cart.
Photo: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Google
Showtime’s Emmys Party
Showtime took over Chateau Marmot’s lobby level for an indoor-outdoor event on Sunday night. Simple white flowers and string lights allowed the iconic venue to take center stage.
Photo: Eric Charbonneau/Showtime
'The Hollywood Reporter' and SAG-AFTRA Emmy Nominees Night
The entertainment magazine and the actors' guild celebrated Emmy nominees including Tiffany Haddish and Samira Wiley on Friday night at Avra Beverly Hills. Simple, photo-focused decor allowed the new restaurant’s Greece-inspired decor to shine. Emmy nominees were invited to write down words of advice for their peers, which were displayed by the red carpet.
Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images
Emmy Awards’ Giving Suite
At Backstage Creations' official Emmy Awards Giving Suite to benefit the Television Academy Foundation, Josh Johnson Home designed a sparkle-filled lounge filled with silver and pink accessories from the Howard Elliott Collection. Emmys presenters such as Angela Bassett received gift bags with products from Halo Top, Topgolf, 23andMe, and more.
Photo: Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Backstage Creations
