There are events you plan, and then there are nights that become something far beyond what you imagined.
hamptonBRIDE celebrated summer with close to 150 East End wedding industry professionals at EHP Resort & Marina for A Toast to Summer, our Signature Drink Cocktail Party, bringing our vendor community together while showing off a side of EHP that many of our guests had never experienced.
Sí Sí may be the setting most people immediately associate with weddings at EHP, but we wanted to shine a light on another side of the property. The Boathouse and adjoining beach offer an entirely different setting, relaxed, waterfront and full of possibility. We wanted our vendor community to experience the space firsthand and see how beautifully it could become part of an EHP wedding weekend.
And we have to give a lot of love to Vanna Gworek and Tess Wonderling of EHP Resort & Marina. They were amazing partners from the very beginning and truly let us run with the vision. Their servers and setup staff were equally incredible, working alongside our vendors, helping us transform the space and making sure everything came together.
And with that, A Toast to Summer came to life.
We created hamptonBRIDE to connect couples with the incredible talent behind weddings across the Hamptons, Montauk and North Fork. Along the way, a true vendor community began to grow, one where relationships are built, ideas are shared and collaborations begin. When the best of the East End wedding industry comes together, everyone benefits, especially the couples they serve.
A Toast to Summer was a celebration of exactly that.
It Started With the Cocktails!
And these weren’t just cocktails. They were part of the experience.
Joe Coleman and his team at Doublespeak Craft Cocktails crafted a trio of signature drinks, Bitter Blossom, Honey I’m Home and Something Blue-Berry, that were truly works of art. From the ingredients to the presentation, every detail showed why Joe is a master of the craft cocktail.
They mixed behind a gorgeous 26-foot white serpentine bar from Ace Party & Tent Rental, an instant focal point of the party. Ace completed the look with beautiful glassware, including a collection of vintage coupes, each one completely unique and adding a little history to every pour.
Custom artwork by Alexandra Bertakis, known for her chic dog and cocktail illustrations, brought another layer of personality to the bar and signature drink signage, making the entire setup a showstopper.
Demitris Maddox, owner of Frost Social has completely reimagined the frozen cocktail. Their Garden Party, a refreshing blend of cucumber, elderflower, honey and mint, and Pink Mirage, with watermelon, lime, hibiscus and mint, were frozen delights that made one thing clear: move over daiquiri, there are two new frozen cocktails in town. Their beautifully elevated setup made the experience every bit as stylish as the drinks, with gorgeous garnishes adding the perfect finishing touch of elegance.
Simon Cascante of Montaukila brought the chill, laid-back energy every summer welcome party needs. Guests were seriously impressed as his rosemary Paloma flowed straight from the tap, while the spicy dragon fruit margarita brought just the right amount of heat. Relaxed, unexpected and seriously delicious.
Amanda Thomann and Michelle Cannizzo of Sauced Co. always know how to wow a crowd. Known for taking cocktail branding to the next level, Sauced served branded coconuts and topped their martinis with custom logos, creating an Instagrammable moment to say the least. Their Salt Water Kiss and High Tide cocktails quickly became guest favorites, proving that the details really can be just as memorable as the drink itself.
The result was exactly what a Signature Drink Cocktail Party should be: unexpected flavors, beautiful presentation and four distinctly different cocktail experiences.
Then Came the Food
To get a welcome party right, the food has to impress, and our vendors absolutely delivered.
Insatiable Eats kept the canapés coming all night, each one beautifully presented and seemingly better than the last. Fresh ceviche, filet mignon crostini, roasted vegetable tartlets and chicken satay were just a few of the standouts in an impressive lineup that never seemed to stop. The variety, presentation and attention to detail turned passed bites into a true part of the experience, with guests eagerly anticipating what would come out of the kitchen next.
Chef Danielle of The SOFO Spoon created a Mediterranean grazing table that was as beautiful as it was abundant. Grilled pita, classic and beet hummus, baba ganoush, marinated feta, olives, grilled vegetables, crudité and cucumber tomato salad came together in a colorful celebration of peak-summer ingredients. Fresh, vibrant and effortlessly elegant, it was summer entertaining at its best.
And could there be anything more East End than a raw bar dockside?
Cody Homan of Braun Seafood brought nearly a century of North Fork seafood tradition right to the marina. Fresh oysters, littleneck clams and shrimp were piled over ice and served just steps from the water. Impeccably fresh, beautifully presented and quintessentially East End, the raw bar became a natural gathering spot throughout the night.
Frankie’s Fabulous Italiano turned the late-night bite into a moment. The custom-branded “Love at First Slice” pizza boxes had cameras out before they were even opened.
And inside? Freshly made heart-shaped pizzas that were every bit as delicious as they were photogenic. Playful, unexpected and impossible not to love, it was the kind of detail guests talk about long after the party ends.
We’re calling it now: Frankie’s Fabulous Italiano is about to become the late-night wedding experience everyone wants, with custom boxes, heart-shaped pizzas and a delivery guaranteed to impress guests.
And because no party should end without something sweet, Meghan Saccone of North Fork Flour Shoppe rolled up in her adorable pink dessert truck and made sure every sweet tooth was satisfied. Pistachio macarons, chocolate chip cookies, coconut layer cake, chocolate blackout cake, rainbow cookies, apple cider doughnuts and fudge brownies created an irresistible lineup of nostalgic favorites and beautifully made sweets. The pink truck, the desserts, the whole presentation, it was impossible to walk by without stopping.
The Experiences Everyone Was Talking About
Weddings are becoming more experiential, and this night was filled with ideas we expect to see a lot more of.
Alexandra Bertakis, who also created the custom cocktail illustrations and signage that gave the bar so much personality, carried her artistry into the evening with hand-painted, summer-inspired watercolor postcards for guests. Each one was an original, painted right there at the party and inspired by the charm of summer on the East End. There was something wonderfully nostalgic about watching a watercolor come to life, then leaving with a tiny piece of summer painted just for you. From the bar artwork to these personal keepsakes, Alexandra brought her signature whimsical style to the night in a way that felt completely one-of-a-kind.
Kathryn McCabe Art brought her unmistakable talent for live guest portraits, capturing people with an incredible likeness while still giving each piece her signature artistic style.
Watching her work is part of the experience. She has an amazing ability to notice the little details that make someone instantly recognizable and translate them to paper in minutes. And Kathryn herself is every bit as memorable as her art. Warm, engaging and an absolute bright light, she draws people in, making the experience of sitting for a portrait just as special as the keepsake guests take home.
Angela Placido of Every Sunday Studio brought an effortlessly chic photo experience to the evening. With its sculptural wood-framed camera, custom hamptonBRIDE screen and beautifully styled backdrop, every element felt considered and elevated. It was sophisticated, beautifully executed and an experience guests naturally gravitated toward all evening.
Brittany Rosen of Embrittery brought personalization to the table, embroidering linen cocktail napkins for guests right on the spot. Choosing a design and watching it stitched onto linen made the experience feel personal and special, while the finished napkins became beautiful keepsakes guests could actually use long after the party. Chic, useful and beautifully made, it was a perfect example of wedding personalization that feels elevated rather than expected.
Always a crowd favorite, Nicole of East End Sticker Vend brought her one-of-a-kind sticker vending machine to the party with a playful cocktail-inspired twist. Nicole has taken the nostalgia of a classic vending machine and turned it into a completely original guest experience, with custom stickers designed to fit the celebration.
Matthew Perlman of ArtisHouse NYC brought his signature engraving and matchbook experience to the evening.
Guests could personalize brass matchboxes, lighter covers and compacts with live engraving, or browse hundreds of vintage matchbooks to find one connected to a favorite restaurant, hotel or meaningful place. Selected matchbooks were then transformed into custom shadowbox art, turning a tiny piece of nostalgia into a personal keepsake.
Consider this one to watch: a nostalgic, personal experience made for bachelorette weekends, bridal showers and wedding weekends.
AMP Set The Tone
Husband-and-wife team Jimmy and Ana Salvemini, owners of AMP DJ/Band Hybrid, set the vibe from the moment guests arrived, and we truly can’t say enough about the talent they brought with them. Ana was every bit the diva and queen, commanding the stage with powerhouse vocals and a presence impossible to ignore, while Jimmy nailed it, bringing a little old-school flavor to the party.
Backed by an incredible lineup of musicians, standout sax moments and a DJ seamlessly woven into the live performance, the sound was exceptional from beginning to end. AMP knew how to build the energy without forcing it, and before long, guests were dancing in the sand.
Dan Castrogivanni and Christopher Lindsay, owners of Waterfront Aisles, showed just how far his custom work can go beyond the ceremony aisle. For the evening, Dan created a stage and extended boardwalk that gave AMP a polished performance space right on the sand, while allowing the band to move off the stage and connect with guests. Known for their beautifully crafted ceremony aisles and platforms, Dan and Chris took that same level of craftsmanship and reimagined it for the party, proving how a custom build can completely transform an outdoor space.
Mark Masone of Designs by Mark Masone is no stranger to the East End wedding scene. With decades of experience in floral and event design, Mark knows how to make an impact. For A Toast to Summer, he took our palette of pinks, greens and whites and ran with it, transforming the 26-foot serpentine bar with lush florals and framing the stage with arrangements that could be seen across the beach. Bold, abundant and unmistakably Mark, the flowers took our summer vision further than we could have imagined.
The People Who Captured It All
A night like this deserves to live beyond one evening.
Stephen Mayo of Heritage House Photography absolutely hit it out of the park. He moved seamlessly throughout the evening, capturing the energy, people and details so beautifully, while even sharing photos with vendors on the spot. And by the very next day, the full gallery was in our hands. That kind of turnaround is extraordinary, especially with work this beautiful. Beyond his talent, Stephen is a true gentleman and an absolute pleasure to work with.
Alexis Verdi and Samantha Hubble of AV Content made us want to do the whole night over again. Their reel was pure summer energy, the kind that instantly takes you right back to the party. It’s the content that makes you wish you were there, and very happy if you were.
Janelle, Brooke and Pat Ingravallo took the hamptonBRIDE Podcast to another level, turning it into exactly what we had envisioned from the beginning. Their interviews brought out the personalities, stories and passion behind our vendors in a way that felt natural, engaging and completely hamptonBRIDE. Watching them work the room and bring these conversations to life was one of the highlights of the evening, and we couldn’t be more excited about where they’re taking the podcast.
This Is What hamptonBRIDE Is About
Somewhere along the way, hamptonBRIDE became more than a place for couples to discover the best of the East End wedding industry. A real community formed around it. Vendors who support one another, recommend one another, collaborate, share ideas and genuinely want to see each other succeed. That has become one of the things we are most proud of.
A Toast to Summer was a chance for our vendors to be the guest for a change. To taste the cocktails, try the food, experience the activations and listen to the music, not just hear about what another vendor does, but actually experience it. Because when a planner, venue or fellow wedding professional can say, I’ve tasted it, I’ve seen it, I’ve experienced it, recommending that vendor for a welcome party, wedding day or after-party becomes that much more meaningful. That is a big part of why we create these evenings, and how this community continues to grow together.
To every vendor who poured a cocktail, served a plate, created something beautiful, entertained our guests, built, designed, photographed, filmed, painted, embroidered, engraved, illustrated or simply came to celebrate with us, thank you.
This community is what defines hamptonBRIDE. It is filled with incredibly talented people who care deeply about what they do, about the East End and about the people they work alongside. Bringing all of you together, and giving you the opportunity to experience one another’s talent, is one of the very best parts of what we do.
Until the next event…..
With Love, Kerry & Paul
hamptonBRIDE Vendors:
EHP Resort & Marina
Ace Party & Tent Rental
Doublespeak Craft Cocktails
Frost Social
Montaukila
Sauced Co.
Insatiable Eats
The SOFO Spoon
Braun Seafood
Frankie’s Fabulous Italiano
North Fork Flour Shoppe
Alexandra Bertakis
Kathryn McCabe Art
Every Sunday Studio
Embrittery
East End Sticker Vend
ArtisHouse NYC
AMP DJ/Band Hybrid
Waterfront Aisles
Designs by Mark Masone
Heritage House Photo
AV Content
