Summer bridal shower inspiration in the Hamptons

It was all pretty in pinstripes & pink for this poolside editorial in Southampton, New York. Planned by Michelle Rea. Photographed by Siobhan Becker. Menus & calligraphy by Carisse Design Studio.

Hot pink letterpressed menus paired with calligraphy place cards set the tone for this vibrant, poolside bridal shower

In June, Long Island wedding planner Michelle Rea put together an incredible team of vendors for a styled shoot at the Bentley Hotel in Southampton, New York. The pool deck was bathed in sunlight, making it a picture perfect day – from the vibrant décor to impeccable bridal outfits, this editorial was bursting with creativity & inspiration for a summer bridal shower. 

Long Island-based wedding planner Michelle Rea flawlessly styled & coordinated this Hamptons summer bash with ease

The day kicked off with model Theodora – who also happens to own Pretty Little Pearl Boutique – getting ready in one of the Bentley Hotel’s 40 suites. The rooms at the Bentley are bold, colorful & playfully designed, each with a separate living area, kitchenette and outdoor patio, making it perfect for bridal parties & weekend getaways. 

Bridal wardrobe from Pretty Little Pearl Boutique in Long Island

Meanwhile, Michelle and the team executed her flawless vision – bright, floral & fun with vibrant pink & orange hues as the color palette.  

Nicole of Glitzed Events hit it out of the park with the florals – vibrant blooms were impeccably placed along the table runner and hung from the most picturesque champagne cart from Le Petit Chariot. Naturally, Table Talk Rentals had the perfect glassware to match. Paired with the cutest bow-top drink stirrers and garnished with dried orange slices, these were some of my favorite details!

The table was set against a colorfully painted mural that was just the right vibe for the event. For the menus, I was inspired by the Bentley’s resort-style pool and chose bright, hot pink pinstripes as a design focal point. They were letterpressed on double-thick cotton cardstock – it’s a small detail, but I like it when the menu rests flat on the plates (instead of bending slightly), which is why double-thick paper is so important. 

Printing menus on double-ply paper ensures they rest perfectly on top of your place settings

I love working with Michelle because she adores calligraphy just as much as I do, so of course we added calligraphy place cards to the tablescape. We decided on elegant, white ink calligraphy on bright orange tented cards, which paired perfectly with more dried orange slices placed delicately on top of the menus. 

White ink calligraphy pops on brightly colored paper, making it perfect for this pink & orange themed bridal shower

Stacy from Shanti Studios dreamed up the signage for the shoot – I’m obsessed with her work! The die-cut hanging welcome sign made such a statement. With its organic shape and playful colors, it signified fun & festive before you even walked into the party.

Now, the outfits … Theodora of Pretty Little Pearl in Long Island curated an impeccable collection of outfits perfect for bridal showers, bachelorette parties, or really, any wedding-related event.

And of course, every detail was beautifully captured by wedding & family photographer Siobhan – from the sparkle of the engagement ring during the toast to the perfectly placed place cards. 

I loved being a part of this shoot and collaborating closely with Michelle & the other vendors to execute the vision of bright, fun and floral. Michelle wanted a chic & colorful aesthetic, and I was more than happy to design menus & place cards to match. It's wild that summer is already almost over ... I want more summer parties like this one! If you're looking ahead towards summer 2025 and want bridal shower or day-of calligraphy details like these, it's not too early to book. Reach out to me here - I can't wait to see what we can dream up together!

Vendors:

Planner & Creative Director: Michelle Rea, By Michelle Rea Events (@bymichellerea)

Venue: Bentley Hotel Southampton

Photographer: Siobhan Becker, Photos by Siobhan (@photosbysiobhan_)

Videographer: Mia & Peter Santa Cruz (@santacruz_photography_)

Content creator: @postwithjoy

Hair: Kerri of Ritual Bridal Co (@ritualbridalco)

Makeup: @gabkglam

Linens: The Finishing Touch Linen Rentals (@thefinishingtouchny)

Rentals: Table Talk Rentals (@tabletalkrentals)

Florals: Nicole Esoff, Glitzed Events (@glitzevents)

Wardrobe & Model: Theodora of Pretty Little Pearl Boutique (@shop_prettylittlepearl)

Champagne Cart: (@lepetitchariot_nyc)

Signage: Stacy Roth, Shanti Studios (@shantistudios)

Menus & Calligraphy: Carisse Moy, Carisse Design Studio (@carissedesignstudio)

Welcome to the Carisse Design Studio Blog

So excited to welcome everyone to the Carisse Design Studio blog!

Here I’ll dive into everything from tips, trends and useful information about wedding stationery to inspiration & what I’m loving right now.

Assembling each piece of your custom invitation suite by hand is my favorite part of the process

More to come soon - stay tuned!