It’s the biggest event in any celebrity’s calendar – but, once you’ve picked out your outfit, rehearsed your acceptance speech, and practised your gracious loser face, the real hard work begins; choosing who to take with you as your plus one.

For many celebrities, such as Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, the answer was obvious; your romantic partner. However, for the likes of Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, and more, the prestigious show became an opportunity to pay tribute to the other important people in their lives.

From best friends to doting mums, here’s our pick of the best non-romantic couples at the 2017 Oscars.

Dev Patel, who was nominated for Best Actor at the 2017 Oscars thanks to his stunning turn in Lion, brought his proud mum with him to the red carpet ceremony.

“It’s mind-blowing. It’s amazing I’m with my mother and this is a very, very beautiful and special moment. I’m still trying to absorb it,” he said.

Meanwhile Anita, when approached by the press, couldn’t stop herself from gushing about her boy.

“It’s a dream to go to the Oscars with your son, the actor,” she beamed. “We always knew he would do well. And he has done so well. He’s only 26 years old and he has an Oscar nomination. We thought it might happen for him one day, but not this soon.”

She added: “To get an Oscar nomination is wonderful… he’s a winner just to get that nomination. That’s what I believe anyway.”

Read more: A-list fashion from the 2017 Academy Awards

Ryan Gosling caused a stir on Twitter when eagle-eyed viewers spotted that he had brought his beloved sister, Mandi, to the Academy Awards as his plus one.

Speaking about the important role she has played in his life back in 2015, the Best Actor nominee told Shortlist: “I have strong female characters in my life. And I was raised by my mother and my sister, so I feel like I think like a girl sometimes...

“[And] it’s way better than thinking like a guy. Girls are better than us, that’s no secret.”

Read more: La La Land incorrectly announced as Oscars’ best Picture winner over Moonlight

Michelle Williams and her BFF Busy Phillips have a longstanding tradition of taking to the red carpet as a team, ever since they filmed Dawson’s Creek together over a decade ago.

So it came as no surprise that Williams brought her pal along as her date for the 2017 Oscars.

“I’m here with my best friend,” Williams told People at a special screening of her movie, Manchester by the Sea.

Referring to Phillips as her date, she added: “I’m so in love with her. She’s proof that the love of your life does not have to be a man! That’s the love of my life right there.”

Read more: The best behind-the-scenes pictures from the 2017 Oscars

Emma Stone, who picked up the coveted gong for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, brought her brother Spencer along with her for the big moment.

It’s not the first time that she has brought her life-long BFF with her to a major red carpet event – and we imagine that it won’t be the last. However, despite the fact she name checked him as she picked up her statuette, she did not allow him to write her acceptance speech for her – as she did back at the Guy’s Choice Awards in 2015.

At the time, she was forced to say: “I brought my little brother Spencer as my date, and when I told him that I was nominated for this [Hot and Funny] award, he told me that if I won, I had to say the following things…

“You guys are idiots. I am neither hot not funny. And Spencer… oh god, do I have to say this? Spencer Stone is the f**king coolest. He is fly as hell. Do people even say fly anymore? And he could have had a professional rap career, but he’s too chill and wants to lay low.”

Spencer had his beleaguered sister finish by saying: “Also, if Mila Kunis is here, he will be backstage for the next 45 minutes.”

Images: Rex Pictures