It was was the perfect summer day at Maple Shade; the historic Hamptons home of KDHamptons founder Kelli Delaney Kot and Dr. Mark Kot. Hosted by KDHamptons, the Luxury Lifestyle Diary, LUX Lifestyle Magazine and Bed Side Reading, the exclusive “Books, Bubbly, and Blooms Garden Party” was held on July 2, attracting invited Hamptons influentials, tastemakers, writers, and passionate readers who came to celebrate the holiday weekend. A dynamic group of selected authors signed their hot new summer reads, and guests toasted with Kelli’s favorite new cocktails, including Via Carota’s Craft Cocktails, while being served artisanal summer bites.

The consummate Hamptons hostess, Kelli (above, center) is known for always adding a fun party trick to all of her gatherings. Guests swooned over Kelli’s jaw-dropping BLOOM BAR filled with over 1,000 fresh cut floral stems from Island Time Farm of Shelter Island. Farm owners Kelci McIntosh and Chris DiOrio arranged beautiful custom bouquets sweetly wrapped in burlap and sealed with a pink pin for each guest to take home – a flower lovers dream. Weston Table Founder and CEO Dianne O’Connor curated the BLOOM BAR design to look like a French flower market as well as dressing the bars and tables with her elegant French linens.

The event was hosted in the Kot’s gorgeous blooming gardens which featured charming conversation tables and sitting areas styled with Weston Table decor including French table linens, Arte Italica Scalloped Pitchers filled with layers of peonies and pink Chinese forget-me-nots, and pastel pink and white Mosser Glass cake stands that served as pedestals for locally-made Sundae Donuts and sensational Oishii strawberries.

Twenty authors were selected by Kelli and Jane Ubell of Bedside Reading which places books by the bedsides, poolsides, firesides and in the hands of VIPS through their partnerships with luxury and boutique hotels.

Guests toasted with craft cocktails by Via Carota. The team at Via Carota Craft Cocktails came together around the deep connection that they felt towards Via Carota; the award winning West Village restaurant. The warmth of the restaurant space, the relaxed elegance of the experience and of course the exceptional food and drinks all combine to make Via Carota both timeless and perpetually contemporary. To them, Via Carota is the ideal destination for a big celebration or an easy night in NYC’s best neighborhood, elevated by a perfectly-crafted cocktail in unique and beautiful bottles.  This was the inspiration that led the team to create Via Carota Craft Cocktails so that you can enjoy the spirit of Via Carota wherever life finds you…perhaps at the next fabulous KDHamptons  event!

At the Books, Bubbly, & Blooms event, KDHamptons served the following Via Carota Craft Cocktails at the three bars; The White Negroni, The Old Fashioned, The Expresso Martini. The craft cocktails were not only delicious but they were the perfect accessory to any party picture! To recreate the craft cocktails at home follow the recipes below…

KDHamptons hopes you enjoy these party details and cocktail recipes! To find out more about Via Carota Craft Cocktails, visit HERE. In the Hamptons you can find it at Watermill Wine and Spirits 760 Montauk Highway in Watermill.

To see more great images from the event, visit our exclusive photo album HERE.

Written by Nicole Vawter

Photos by Eric Striffler and Kelli Delaney Kot