Hosting an epic Oscars viewing party doesn’t have to be a struggle. (Though watching the broadcast, which regularly clocks in at close to four hours, might be.) With the 97th Academy Awards broadcasting live this Sunday, March 2, we reached out to Hank Stampfl, founder of events company Revel Rouge, for some high-impact, low-stress entertaining ideas that will have you feeling like a winner. With over 18 years of experience orchestrating everything from weddings to conferences, at venues like The Plaza Hotel and Bloomingdale’s, Stampfl knows his way around a fabulous fête. Here are the key takeaways for your big Oscars bash.
Angelina Jolie stars in Pablo Larrain’s Maria, which is nominated for best cinematography.
Let Your Invitation Set The Tone
“Require guests to arrive in black tie,” suggests Stampfl. “Who doesn’t love a reason to get dressed up? This will also make for more iconic photos.” If you don’t feel comfortable enforcing a gowns and tuxedos mandate, we suggest leaning into a cinematic theme—maybe a room full of popes, after Conclave, or a den of vampires, for the Nosferatu fans in the house. Whatever path you choose, highlight the theme in your invitation, and make sure you send it sooner rather than later so that no guest feels excluded.
A tablescape by the events company Revel Rouge.
Take Decor Cues From The Production Designers
“As friends walk in, greet them with a gold-drenched wonderland—gold plates, silver accents and sparkling glassware, as if you were at the actual awards show,” says Stampfl. Subtle decorative nods to contenders, like floral arrangements in pink and green for Wicked, will keep things from getting too (pop)corny. You don’t want your space to look like those infamous Dune: Part Two popcorn buckets. Or maybe you do?
The set of Wicked.
Gamify the Evening
Before the awards begin, have your guests fill out ballots to predict who’ll win in each category. “To nod to The Brutalist, keep the ballots minimalist in style, using gray and black tones with simple block fonts,” says Stampfl. “You could even print them on concrete-looking paper or in black envelopes with metallic seals.” To keep it fun—and fair—have each person pass their completed sheets to the person two seats over, ensuring that no one cheats.
Curate a Menu That Proves You Know the Nominees
You could tip your hat to awards frontrunner Emilia Pérez with Mexican-inflected favorites like a taco bar, or deconstructed guacamole, or dip your toe into more conceptual waters by serving Baked Alaska in honor of the Demi Moore vehicle, The Substance. “Moore plays a character that faces change and a slow burn of self-destruction,” says Stampfl. “I can not think of a better fit than this iconic dessert.”
Timothée Chalamet stars as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.
Serve a Specialty Cocktail
Stampfl suggests guests be greeted with a specialty cocktail as they enter. This is another opportunity to thematically align with one of the year’s best movies, like the Timothée Chalamet-starring A Complete Unknown. “We would prepare a Chameleon, a cocktail that is layered with flavors that change and surprise, reflecting the shifting identities and the unpredictability of that film,” says Stampfl.
Sean Santiago is ELLE Decor’s Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality and travel, culture, and luxury shopping. Since starting his career at an interior design firm in 2011, he has gone on to cover the industry for Vogue, Architectural Digest, Sight Unseen, PIN-UP and Domino. He is the author of The Lonny Home (Weldon Owens, 2018), has produced scripted social content for brands including West Elm and Streeteasy, and is sometimes recognized on the street for his Instagram Reels series, #DanceToDecor
