See All the Perks of an Oscars VIP – Before They Do!

And the envelopes, please! Custom stationary designer Marc Friedland, whose clients include Oprah and Tom Hanks, created both the Oscars invitation and the winners' envelopes for this year's awards. "The original design was born out of the inspiration of the glamour of the golden age of Hollywood," Friedland says. "Taking our cues from existing Oscars icons, we set out to create a new icon: the envelope."

Backstage during the ceremony, presenters will kick back in the plush Architectural Digest green room, conceived this year by designer Madeline Stuart. "We wanted it to be both glamorous and comfortable," Stuart says of the art deco-inspired space that pays homage to Cedric Gibbons, the creator of the Oscar statuette. "We used fabulously luxurious fabrics that encourage lounging and relaxing – even for just a minute!"

After sitting through the hours-long ceremony, guests at the swank Governors Ball at the Hollywood amp Highland Center will be treated to savories and sweets from chef Wolfgang Puck. Aside from must-have chocolates and flatbreads shaped like Oscars, attendees will enjoy dishes like duck, kale salad and mango crumble – all served by waiters wearing costumes designed just for the bash.

Care to share? Bite-sized appetizers at the fete include Puck's spicy tuna tartare in sesame miso cones and mini Kobe beef burgers with cheese. "This year what is great is the variety – just like the movies," the chef says. It'll be "like going and trying 10 restaurants in one night."

The night's attendees will toast the occasion with two signature cocktails. Our pick for best beverage? The Patrén Gold Cosmopolitan, featuring a heady mix of Patrén silver tequila, Patrén Citrénge orange liqueur and blackberry and orange juices – all served in glasses rimmed in 10-karat gold.

1 ½ oz. Patrén Silver Tequila
½ Patrén Citrénge Orange Liqueur
2 oz. organic blackberry juice
1 oz. fresh orange juice
Fresh blackberry garnish
10-kt. gold rim

The stunning Ray Dolby Ballroom – which sits atop the Hollywood amp Highland Center – will boast a 120-ft. chandelier on the ceiling and an 18-ft. golden Oscar statuette on the dance floor come party time. About 1,500 bottles of Thienot Champagne and 2,280 bottles of Sterling Vineyards wine were ordered for the occasion, so here's hoping we'll see some inspired dance moves as the night rolls on.

Florist Mark Held of L.A.'s Mark's Garden is sourcing orchids, calla lilies and more from far-flung locales like Singapore and Hawaii to make the Governors Ball arrangements. Promising "modern and super sexy" bouquets, he's even adding flowers to the base of some cocktail tables for an extra-dramatic effect.