An oceanfront celebration filled with thoughtful touches and timeless charm.
Gabriella’s bridal shower was the perfect blend of elegance and coastal charm—hosted at the beautiful Gatsby on the Ocean in Wantagh, NY. Located right at Jones Beach, Gatsby offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and a stunning event space lined with floor-to-ceiling windows. The natural light poured in, the waves rolled just beyond the glass, and the entire afternoon felt like a dreamy, beachside escape.
Gatsby was a meaningful venue choice for Gabriella, who said she’s “a huge beach lover and also a lover of old and cool things.” The space itself felt like a perfect match—“a gorgeous, classy old Long Island money style,” she shared—and the view? Truly unmatched. From planning with their incredible event coordinator Heather to the amazing food and service, Gabriella said she and her guests were beyond pleased with the entire experience.
The theme for the day was Elegant Coastal—and it couldn’t have been more fitting. Guests were welcomed with thoughtful favors, including white heart-shaped sunglasses and soft beach towels, setting the tone for a relaxed yet refined celebration. A candy bar added a sweet touch, filled with blue, beach-inspired treats that were just as pretty as they were delicious.
Gabriella’s twin sister, Deb, took the lead on many of the day’s special details, and she absolutely knocked it out of the park. From start to finish, the shower felt personal, thoughtful, and so well put together. “Being that she’s my twin, she knows me better than I know myself sometimes!” Gabriella said.
One of Gabriella’s favorite surprises? The custom Seaside Sundae jars her sister made by hand. “She slaved away to make them and I thought it was so creative!” Each jar was filled with chocolate starfish and graham cracker crumbles, with a note encouraging guests to pour it over ice cream later for a beachy treat. It was such a sweet and clever way to end the afternoon.
There were also so many fun games woven throughout the day—each one beachy, heartfelt, and interactive:
Guess the Seashell
“Where Were They in This Photo?”
A musical round of "Guess That Tune"
And the much-loved “Pass the Pearl” game, where guests passed a string of pearls while listening to a sweet poem all about Gabriella and her soon-to-be husband.
The Message in a Bottle station stood out in a big way—literally! Gabriella shared, “I couldn’t believe she found such a big bottle for the message in a bottle!” It was such a memorable touch and a beautiful keepsake from the day.
The tables were just as gorgeous as the view, featuring lush floral centerpieces by Flowers by Burton and pale blue table numbers framed in gold—elegant, subtle touches that tied the theme together beautifully.
From the ocean views to the tiniest thoughtful detail, Gabriella’s shower was effortlessly beautiful and filled with so much love. A celebration that felt like sunshine, sea breeze, and a whole lot of heart.
