Produced by Monica Hart
Photographed by Rachel Coward
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!
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!?
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!
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.
SEVEN hours earlier that same day……
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
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.
Join us as we celebrate the beautiful
bride to be!
DIY Fresh Floral Drink Tags ~
Off the top, thought it would be cool to have the gals get
crafty and create DIY fresh floral drink tags with
these pretty Kate Spade white and gold confetti coasters.
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!
Then, it was off to the Campari Spritz Bar,
a nod to Gina’s Italian heritage.
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.
.
Next it was time to hit up the fresh floral and cedar photo booth.
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.
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
heart design. My sisters are my best friends and
my best friends are like my sisters.”
Along the way, Gina has truly been there for each of them
through weddings and babies and
now it was HER turn to be celebrated for her upcoming nuptials.
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
the same three year old kid who would
drive around town with her Auntie Monica,
tunes blaring, singing all the words to Michael Jackson’s Beat it!
* * *
Time to serve up quick bites of
grilled fresh peaches and burrata cheese with a drizzle
of minty dressing and shrimp with
a fresh tarragon sauce…
and then it was game time!
Put a Ring on it Bridal Shower Game!
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
game, playing in HEELS no less!
More than once, the hoops hit the water and the “pool boys”
(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.
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 :)
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! }
Gina & company dined on Nicoise Salad with grilled ahi tuna served
UP in martini glasses.
The Dessert Bar ~
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.
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.”
A night to remember for me too Gina :)
Can’t wait for your wedding!
XXO, Auntie
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
Inspired by a love of beautiful, yet simple design, food and entertaining. Monica’s distinct approach led this former television news gal to create La Famiglia Design. 
Your backstage pass to Girls' Night In with Monica Hart is
Monica, Thank you for all you did to shower our Gina! Truly over the top loving and beautiful! These pictures tell it all! Rachel did a superb job in capturing this soiree.