ROCKPORT, Maine  and HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — My daughter and I have just returned from the trip of a lifetime! But before I get started with all the glitzy details, Emma and I would like to thank the dozens of people who made this dream come true for us. Because of our friends, both new and old, my daughter and I were able to travel to Los Angeles, Calif., to experience the Academy Awards and Oscars red carpet. But most of all I'd like to thank my husband, Seth Silverton, who raised funds and held bake sales and wrangled and bargained and drove through the night twice to get us there and back, by way of Boston’s Logan Airport.

The success of the annual Academy Awards is built on its global fan base. Each year, through sponsored events, the Academy allows fans from around the world to enter contests to win seats along the red carpet into the venue to view the arrival of celebrity nominees and presenters.

Through a People magazine Oscars Fan Experience contest, 15-year old Emma Silverton and I were able to experience the novelty of watching the red carpet entrances, and see spectacularly beautiful people in divine dresses and handsome suits up close March 2, 2014.

We were told by the Academy to arrive at 8:30 that morning — “no earlier, no later” — to check in. After showing multiple forms of identification, we were presented with official “Red Carpet Bleacher” photo badges, which we were instructed to wear all day, but not to reproduce in any way, under threat of being ejected from the bleachers. We also received a “Red Carpet Experience” gift bag that contained snacks, product samples, sunglasses, a branded T-shirt and a water bottle.

It was rainy in LA for most of the day, but there was a covering over the Red Carpet Bleacher area and the backstage sponsor's booths. As part of the package, we spent the morning and early afternoon getting makeovers and manicures from Covergirl, and our hair done by Pantene stylists. There was also a photo booth for "after shots." Before sitting down in our assigned seats in the bleachers, we were handed box lunches, but most of the bleachers attendees were too nervous or distracted to eat!

Our seats were fourth row from the front, almost directly in the center and directly across from Robin Roberts’ interview station for ABC's Good Morning America show. When stars were interviewed by Roberts, we were directly behind them while they were on camera, and thus we were visible on television. My brother, Brooks Manbeck, sent me a screen shot during the event to add to our mementos.

Just before the celebrities arrived, the rain ceased and the California sun came out in full force; Seth texted Emma, “Amy Adams just arrived,” and that was it! I have to review the photos to remember the order of the arrivals, since it became a blur of beautiful, smiling people who I was busy trying to photograph.

It's difficult to say what the most memorable part of the Oscars red carpet experience was for me, but it was the simplest gestures that touched me most, including Jared Leto gesturing to his heart and then his fans, Meryl Streep giving a funny "voodoo" wave, Leonardo DiCaprio taking cellphone photos of us, Jennifer Garner just standing there beaming, Matthew McConaughey coming over to the bleachers to shake hands.

As for Emma, I was amazed as how composed she was. When I asked her how she was feeling, she told me, "I'm excited, but hungry." She completely lost that composure when British actor Benedict Cumberbatch arrived.

"I was looking forward to seeing Benedict, when I finally did see him, I freaked out and took a million pictures!" Emma recalled.

After we left the red carpet at 6 p.m., we were guided across the street to the historic El Capitan movie palace, where People magazine and Cover Girl makeup company sponsored an Oscar viewing party. This featured a catered dinner and wonderful soft seats, in which we sat back and watched the show in sorely needed comfort.

The combined hundreds of amateur photos that we took of people who we greatly admire, as well as seeing the clothing (oh, those dresses up close!) will be reminders of this once in a lifetime trip that we were lucky enough to be part of.

To view more of Jessica and Emma’s 2014 Oscar red carpet photos, visit this photo gallery.

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Jessica Manbeck lives in Rockport with her husband, Seth Silverton, and their children, 15-year-old Emma and 17-year-old AJ.