Produced by Monica Hart

Photographed by Rachel Coward 

Bridal Shower - Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

When a much loved rockstar niece like Gina Sacco  is getting married, she rates a

fun, bridal shower to remember, surrounded by her best girlfriends and sisters!

 

 Damon Bancroft Heilman and Gina are tying the knot in

October 2016!

  

Bridal Shower - Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

 I had the honor of throwing a bridal shower bash just for

her! Being that I happen to do the whole

lifestyle thing…well, how could I not  include a few sweet bridal bells and whistles!?

 

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But what really made this day so special – is the backstory  which

includes the incredible bond between Gina and her bridal squad! More on that to come but

first…

Okay, even in August, planning an outdoor  shower in the beautiful PNW can be

iffy. However on this day, August 20th, the temps hit 90!

 

Summer Bridal Shower - Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Maybe it’s the pool toys but I’m calling Gina’s shower, a summer swan song  of an

afternoon soirée that saw the sun set and the moon rise.

 

Summer Bridal Shower - Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

  

SEVEN hours earlier that same day…… 

 

Summer Bridal Shower - Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Bridal Shower - Monica Hart La Famiglia Desing - Rachel Coward Photography

 

The afternoon bridal shower began on the water. The ladies set off

from the docks in downtown

Kirkland. The boats, complete with banners started to

 

Bridal Shower Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography 

 arrive at our home on the shores of Lake Washington.

 

Gina and company were treated

dockside to pretty pink cans of Sophia champagne and the festivities began.

 

Bridal Shower - Monica Hart La Familgia Design - Rachel Coward Photo

 

Join us as we celebrate the beautiful

bride to be!

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

DIY Fresh Floral Drink Tags ~

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Familgia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Off the top, thought it would be cool to have the gals get

crafty and create DIY fresh floral drink tags with 

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

these pretty Kate Spade white and gold confetti coasters.

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

All the ladies had to do is mark the underside of the disk with their gold initial stickers and

then use floral adhesive to glue fresh  flowers to the coaster!

  

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Familglia Design - Rachel Coward photos

 

Then, it was off to the Campari Spritz Bar, 

 

Bridal shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

a nod to Gina’s Italian heritage.

 

Bridal shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Desing - Rachel Coward photography

 

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

The Campari Spritz is a refreshing herbal and fruit Italian summer classic.

Fill a pitcher with 1/3 Campari apéritif, 1/3 Prosecco and 1/3 soda water. Add lemon and

orange peel and sprigs of fresh mint.

.Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

 Next it was time to hit up the fresh floral and cedar photo booth.

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

These gorgeous gals are all strong, amazing women and they

come from different parts of

Gina’s life, from way back stroller babies to traveling soulmates.

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward photography

 

 Gina says, “We’ve been together through make ups and break ups, playing soccer, running half marathons with some and running therapy with others. Each have been woven into my story at different times, like little gold thread to make one big

 

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heart design. My sisters are my best friends and

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

my best friends are like my sisters.” 

Along the way, Gina has truly been there for each of them

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

 through weddings and babies and

now it was HER turn to be celebrated for her upcoming nuptials.

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Bridal shower toasts turned to happy tears, laughter and thanks as we recounted our cool life

journey with Gina. This beautiful and wicked smart woman is

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

the same three year old kid who would

drive around town with her Auntie Monica,

 

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography  

 

 tunes blaring, singing all the words to Michael Jackson’s Beat it!

*       *       *

Time to serve up quick bites of

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

 grilled fresh peaches and burrata cheese with a drizzle

of minty dressing and shrimp with

 a fresh tarragon sauce…

 

 Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

 and then it was game time!

Put a Ring on it Bridal Shower Game!

 

 Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Rosie, the rose-gold inflatable flamingo pool float was ready to roll as the ladies grabbed

hula hoops for the bridal shower ring  toss and let me tell ya, these gals got

 

 Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

game, playing in HEELS no less! 

More than once, the hoops hit the water and the “pool boys”

 

 Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

(my son and a friend) had to jump in the lake and retrieve them! HA!

 

Gina’s Table Setting  

The tables were set end to end in shades of light gray, beige and gold. I layered pretty Crate and

Barrel  cream doilies under glass plates and created mini bridal bouquets with dahlias,

daisies, palms and eucalyptus in clear paint buckets.

 Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

I called on Rendezvous Soy {Thank you!}  to make the custom candles in

one of Gina’s favorite scents, Pink

Velvet. Labels are printed up on sheets of craft store linen paper with the help 

of Gina’s dad, Ron Sacco AKA #Graphics Guy :)

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

The containers are metal, so I used floral adhesive to glue fresh pink daisies to magnets and

popped them on the containers.

{ Note: You can prepare the flowers the night before, spritzing them with a little water then

refrigerate to keep them fresh as a daisy! }

 

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Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

Gina & company dined on Nicoise Salad with grilled ahi tuna served

UP in martini glasses.

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

The Dessert Bar ~

 

Bridal shower Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photo 

 

Giant gold foil balloons and fresh blooms decorate the dessert bar, set up in our

dining room. The dessert bar featured white and chocolate

cupcakes with cherry liqueur pipettes…and more.

 

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Bridal Shower by Monica Hart La Famiglia Design - Rachel Coward Photography

 

 

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 The sweet afternoon soirée played on into the late evening. Gina later said,

“I will NEVER forget the night of my bridal shower dancing on the lawn with

my best friends and family while gazing at the most beautiful blood moon.”

 

Bridal Shower by Monica Hart - Rachel Coward Photography

 

A night to remember for me too Gina :) 

Can’t wait for your wedding! 

 

XXO,  Auntie

MonicaHartBlue1

 

A huge grazie to talented photographer & 425 Magazine

colleague Rachel Coward for beautifully capturing our day!

 

Thank you to my amazing squad of helpers which included family and friends :

Linda, Ron and Natalie Sacco
Boat Captains: Sim and Court Osborn, Joe and Phil
Court and Nick (Pool Boys)
Carol Hodovance
Irene Bernard
Chris Hard
Dana Landry

Shower Details

Nordstrom Sunnylife Pool floats

Rendezvous Soy candles

Kate Spade Coasters

Kate Spade Picnic Blanket

Crate and Barrel Doilies

Container Store Clear Paint Buckets

Urban Outfitters Gold Foil Balloons

Dawns Candy and Cake Pipettes