Party 101: Throw an Award-Winning Oscar Bash

It’s frigid outside, but prep for the 2015 Academy Awards is just starting to heat up! Celebrate in style with nominee-themed dishes, decorations fit for the stars and red carpet-ready cocktails. Here’s a quick how-to guide for throwing your very own Oscar-worthy bash:

Decor: Get Your House Oscar-Ready

First up, decorations. Get your television-viewing area in tip-top shape for the big event. The Academy Awards are all about the glitz and glamor, so decking out your abode with some gold accents only seems appropriate. I’m a huge fan of this gold-brushed balloons tutorial from Pottery Barn Kids. The project is cheap, easy, chic and high-impact. It doesn’t get much better.

Mason jars sprayed with gold paint achieve a similar effect and can be reused for other events including bridal/baby showers, weddings and birthday parties! Place a few wildflower-filled jars (a shoutout to Reese Witherspoon’s nominated flick Wild) around your house for an elegant, glamorous look that will make your guests feel just like Hollywood celebrities. This tutorial on how to make them will help.

Cocktails: Drinks Fit for a Movie Star

Watch nominees Reese Witherspoon, Rosamund Pike and Julianne Moore sashay down the red carpet with some red(ish) cocktails. Martha Stewart’s champagne-based Cranberry Orange Sparkler is perfect for the occasion. Not into champagne? This classic cranberry vodka spritzer should do the trick!

Appetizers: Nosh Like the Rich & Famous

Unless you are incredibly hardcore, I’m going to assume you won’t be dressing up in gowns and tuxedos like the stars attending the show… but that doesn’t mean your food can’t be totally decked out. Admire the perfectly tailored tuxedos of nominees including Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch (swoon) while chowing down on these tuxedo cheese-wedges. This easy-to-prepare recipe will impress your guests.

You’ve got your cheese course, now bring on the crudite! Celebrate Oscar-nominated flick American Sniper with a patriotic veggie platter. I suggest keeping this one in your arsenal for July 4th as well! Get details on how to compile the vegetable perfect flag on Living Locurto.

Main Course: Kill Two Birds with One Drumstick

The main course is a tribute to two Best Picture nominees: Birdman and Whiplash. How exactly? Slow cooker sticky chicken drumsticks! The poultry is a shoutout to the “bird” in Birdman, while the drumsticks are the perfect nod to Whiplash, a film about young man who desperately wants to become a jazz drummer. The Novice Chef shows you how to make this easy, prepare-ahead dish.

Dessert: Courtesan au Chocolat à la The Grand Budapest Hotel

Treat your guests (or just yourself) to a decadent Courtesan au Chocolat pastry, fresh off The Grand Budapest Hotel screen. These delicate, chocolate-filled treats were created specifically for the Wes Anderson flick, and anyone who has seen the movie know they are the true star. Anderson worked with a baker out of Gorlitz, Germany, where the film was shot, to create the scrumptious dessert.

Buzzfeed has an awesome tutorial for making your very own Courtesan au Chocolate in the comfort of your kitchen. Create this culinary masterpiece and be sure to send us photos of the finished product!