We make our home in New York City. I’ve always been passionate about fashion and now am a Production Manager for Stoney Clover Lane, a company that allows for a high degree of fun personalization of bags and accessories. I love yoga and pilates, and I have to admit I love shopping.
My mom is a floral designer. She’s so amazing at what she does, and I find it relaxing to be with her when she’s working and even help when I can. My other favorite hobby is spending time with my husband! We’ve been inseparable since we met eight years ago. Ryan works in IT for Fetch, a pet insurance company. He’s super passionate about golf and has been playing his entire life. He’s a people person who loves live music, something the two of us enjoy together.
The invitation was engraved onto heavyweight racing green card stock with a beveled edge. The suite is wrapped in a custom dyed velvet ribbon and features a wax seal with custom duogram in antique gold.
Q: What stands out about your experience with Bespoke?
My mom steered me toward working with Shari, but honestly I don’t think anyone could have steered me in a different direction. I would have gone to Shari no matter what. I know how creative Shari is. Even before I started shopping for my wedding, I remember going into the shop and seeing the wall of gorgeous invitations and thinking: I want to be on that wall.
All of her things are so beautiful, and it’s such a beautiful store. Each time I went in I felt like a kid in a candy store between the invitations and the gift registry as well. It was such a personal experience working with Shari, Monica and Tasmine. They kept me really strong throughout the process. I loved planning my wedding, but I have to admit there were times when the number of details felt like a lot. For example, I knew I wanted a ribbon on my invitation, and Shari steered me toward a color I’m not sure I would have thought of. It was fabulous, but then that ribbon became unavailable. Shari overnighted me 6 other options - it’s things like that that kept me strong and kept me from freaking out and panicking. Bespoke was there for us, and we appreciated them so much.
A collection of vintage stamps on each envelope added to the timeless design.
Q: What influenced your vision for your invitations and stationery?
I had a vision for what I wanted, and Shari helped point me in the right direction. Being in fashion, I have a plethora of ideas in my head all the time, which is both a blessing and a curse. It’s nice to have someone like Shari, who really knows what she’s doing, to respond to my ideas. I never thought I’d be a winter bride. When Ryan proposed, I wanted to marry him the very next day! My sister was engaged, and we felt we should wait until after my sister’s summer wedding.
Being married in December shifted my vision of what my wedding would be. In my head, my theme was Winter Wonderland meets Great Gatsby meets Ralph Lauren. I used to work for Ralph Lauren and I will always love the brand. I wanted everything to feel very special. Ryan’s favorite color is green, so I wanted to tie that in too. The racing green felt very masculine and reflected him. I was happy to see how Bespoke tied in my vision to the day-of details. There were two different styles of cocktail napkin, matchbooks, menus with a ribbon and wax seal. It was so personal and it all looked beautiful. These items became sentimental mementos of the day.
For the registry, the couple was drawn to green, and together we built a tabletop look with layers and textures that captured the interest and energy that they were looking for.
Q: How did you approach your registry?
I loved everything at Shari’s shop and knew I wanted to have a variety of china. I love when my mom sets the table for occasions - she makes the most beautiful tablescapes. Ryan helped me choose, and was drawn to green again, his favorite color, which I loved. The color guided me. I selected china and Tasmine helped me build the look of the table with layers and textures.
We were gifted all 12 sets of china by my Great Aunt, and we’re so excited. My Great Aunt told us not to be afraid to use china, that these items are replaceable. Don’t have a fit if something breaks, you can get another piece. I think we are all sometimes afraid to display and use our nice items, but I don’t think we should be afraid because when we surround ourselves with beautiful things, it makes us happy. Ryan is supportive of that, and loves that we chose these things. We can’t wait to entertain with everything!
The look of the invitation suite was carried through into the menu and other day-of items, such as the custom napkins.
Q: Any tips related to invitations, wedding inspiration and registry that might help other couples?
Throughout the entire wedding planning process, be easy on yourself. It’s important to remember not to be hard on yourself. Likewise, it’s important to listen to your gut. Take everything step by step. Connect with your partner and support each other.
I hope that no one would get so bogged down or hard on themselves they would forget the feeling of excitement of getting married. That feeling of excitement is critical. My other advice is to spend time looking around and preparing your ideas. It helps to get a sense of what you like, whether it’s online or window shopping. I spent years building a Pinterest board.
That helped a lot, although I was flexible as well because working with talented professionals opens you up to new ideas. With the registry, imagine that you want to host not just dinner, but brunch or lunch, even just having someone walk into your home. The wedding is not the finish line but just the beginning.
Don’t be shy. It’s easy to not add things to your registry that you want, but it’s fun to add! More is more! Go for it! This is the time to begin building your home. When I registered at Bespoke, Ryan was golfing, so I sent him a full-on video of what I had chosen for us. The items covered the table and even went on to the floor. He responded back, so beautiful, love it all. It made me giddy and happy. We were filled with the feeling that we just can’t wait to have our home together.
]]>Before we became friends, I was a long-time follower and a fan of Elizabeth Moyer's blog The Pretty Pink Tulips . Like all of her followers, I hold my breath each spring as a series of gorgeous pink tulips reveal their splendor in her garden. Originally from Dallas, Texas, her Westchester, New York garden is where we share her joyful love of tulips and her adorable dog Molly.
Elizabeth is known as a most gracious hostess, gathering friends and family for special occasions and every day specialness. Her tables are always an expression of her "joie de vivre" and effervescent Southern charm.
We had so much fun setting this gorgeous table in Elizabeth's light filled Great Room! The scented candles were lightly wafting through as we created a table scape that was perfect for a gathering to celebrate Valentine's Day - or any day, actually.
On the very grey rainy day that we were here, I have to confess that I kept looking out the windows longingly at her garden, just imagining all of the beauty quietly resting over winter. I know that I will feel even more anticipation than ever for Elizabeth's pretty pink tulips to reveal themselves this spring.
Elizabeth's delicious cocktail "Cupid's Arrow" will be up on her blog shortly. Don't miss the very special love card that we created (below) especially for Elizabeth to give to her daring husband. Of course we made one for Elizabeth, too!
You can buy the fluted coupe and shop the whole look here.
We have some special collabs in the works with Eiizabeth, so please be sure to follow the blog and be the first to know! oxo Shari
]]>In Shelley’s words:
My daughter and I had a long list of things we didn’t want. We wanted to not follow a trend. We wanted to be off trend. Shari loved that. She understood that we wanted to create something unique. With Shari’s guidance, we created a truly bespoke invitation where each invite was individually hand painted. Shari helped us to scale this for the size of our guest list. She was great about putting on her thinking cap and making the concept work for us.
The invitation suite begins with original watercolors of flowers from the garden. It is layered with hand calligraphy that is engraved, then each piece has hand flourishes added in gold, and wrapped in a custom dyed silk ribbon.
The process was professional and on time. We were in the best of hands. We were pretty easy clients because we were decisive. The whole experience was incredibly seamless, a huge delight. The cost was high, that’s true, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Shari made us feel special, and everything felt warm and personal.
The day of details included the wedding programs, menu card and table cards. It was totally creative and carried my daughter’s vision through the event. It was a garden wedding, and we liked the idea of the program reflecting the invitation but we didn’t want to carry the invitation feel to the table. Shari had the idea to put a dragonfly, so you felt like you were in the garden, and the theme was still there, but it wasn’t a replica of the invitation.
It’s so interesting how a bride can evolve. My daughter chose something incredibly romantic, which wasn’t what I expected. She found something that spoke to her and it was a beautiful thing to see. She wanted the flowers that we have in our garden. She wanted the invitation to look like it was plucked from our garden. You knew what the venue was going to be by looking at the invitation.
Everybody said it was the most gorgeous invitation they had ever received. They loved seeing the invitation echoed in the program booklet at the wedding. My daughter’s peers were blown away. With this kind of invitation, you know you are going to a really special event.
My advice for others: even though you have a vision for what you want, be open minded. You might change course and you might evolve. It’s great to bring ideas and your Pinterest board, and at the same time, be open to Shari’s creative process. If you give her an inch, she will run with it in the best ways. Be a good listener and trust Shari. I love beautiful things and I know what I like, but you have to trust your designer because this is her wheelhouse. You get a level of service and attention, a really bespoke final product, and the value is really there.
For mothers of the bride, know when to step back. It’s not your wedding, you’re there for guidance. Remember it’s your daughter or your son’s day. Be there for them, but don’t try to take over. Working with great professionals also helps. There were times when Shari helped refocus us—we knew we were in good hands and it took the pressure off the mother-daughter dynamic. Shari knew when to voice an opinion and when to step back. She’s a people person, and the whole team is incredible.
I built a relationship with Bespoke. I wanted to shop locally. I’m old school. I like to go into a store. It was important to me to be able to pop in.
The invitation suite sets the tone for the rest of the wedding. It’s not the corner to cut. The Bespoke invitation was so gorgeous—it was everything we wanted it to be. If you are looking for simply the perfect partner, that’s Bespoke Designs. We couldn’t have been happier.
Photo Credit: bridal images by Jacqui Cole
]]>Henry and I met in college. Now we live in Washington, D.C. I work in the pharmaceutical industry, and Henry is an investor with a private equity firm. We love to travel and we love wine.
What stands out about your experience with Bespoke?
Honestly, working with Bespoke Designs was one of my favorite parts of planning our wedding! My mom lives in the New York area, so she and I drove up to Westport to meet Shari in person. We had such a great experience. We pulled inspiration off the wall, shared ideas, and it became a special day. Shari helped me refine my vision and find my direction. To me, it felt like this is the way planning a wedding should feel!
I loved the style of everything in the store, so I decided to do my registry there. Tasmine was amazing. I explained what I was looking for, and she pulled everything together in a way that I never could. She helped me find pieces that we would have forever. Monica created invitations that were so beautiful. I appreciated the patience of everyone on the team. I am detail oriented and they were dedicated to getting everything just right.
The invitation combines barely blush letterpress and a low luster shimmer of matte gold foil to create a classic but fresh vibe.
What influenced your vision for your wedding stationery suite?
Shari helped me flesh out my vision. Our wedding was in the springtime, so I loved the idea of floral touches. My dress and my bridesmaids' dresses had florals. I wanted everything to tie together nicely, but I wanted a unique element too. What I love about Bespoke is they can customize everything. It’s easy for stationery suites to feel cookie cutter - but this did not feel that way at all. For example, for the rehearsal dinner, Henry didn’t want the invitation to feel as feminine as the wedding invitation, so we did the New York City skyline and we pulled through the block font from our save the date. You cannot get those nuances with off the shelf stationery.
What feedback did you receive, and how did your stationery fit into your overall wedding plans?
When our save the dates came out, we got such compliments on the quality of the paper. To be honest, I didn’t think the stationery was something I would care about. But then, working with Shari and Monica, I fell in love with paper. It’s tactile. It’s like your photos. It’s one of the tangible items that you can hold in your hands and keep forever. The invitation became so special to me.
The design vision carries through many aspects of the guests’ experience.
The save the date was designed first, and that was when I discovered how much I was going to love my stationery. I wanted the invitations to be classic. Having examples in the shop is so key. You can see everything, and your eye is drawn to certain things. I chose a motif in florals and Monica evolved it to be in my color palette. We did a lot of font mixing. That again made it feel really personal. This is another example of how the process was truly bespoke. Whatever was working for me visually, Shari said, “we can do it,” and they did!
How did you approach your registry? What worked well for you?
We registered for a set of everyday dinnerware and formal place settings. Tasmine curated all this with me and for me. She was super helpful and a pleasure to work with. She shared ideas for me to consider, and I never felt like I was annoying her, even when I was indecisive. The attention to detail was incredible. Living in D.C., I couldn’t pop over to the shop, but Tasmine FaceTimed me and sent me pictures, so the distance was never an issue.
Our wedding had a lot of gold touches, from the stationery to the decor of the event. I was thinking of white and gold for our dishes, but suddenly that seemed boring, and I wanted a little pop. Tasmine understood exactly. She found gorgeous hand-painted pieces, inspiring us to pivot to layers of champagne and blush. We went from super simple to something more modern with an expanded color palette…and I LOVE what we got.
Tasmine recommended pieces I never knew I needed, and we are using them all the time. She picked wine glasses that we are obsessed with. We’re not big entertainers, but this has made us want to find reasons to host. We are looking forward to bringing these pieces with us to our next home and as we start a family. These are things I know we will be able to grow into, and that’s exactly what I hoped for.
The gift registry was first based on classic gold and white, then evolved to include hand-painted pieces in layers of champagne and blush – a more modern expanded color palette.
Any tips related to stationery and registry that might help other couples?
Be aware that you’re making memories with your invitations and registry. Invest the time and energy and enjoy the process because it all ties together. I love looking at all our registry gifts. I remember choosing Old Fashioned glasses with my husband and carefully choosing our dinner plates. I chose these things at Bespoke, a shop I love, and then received them as gifts from people we care about. It’s been so fun to open everything. I’m a sentimental person, so the whole experience makes me love using everything we got. Try to see the connections you are creating. It will bring you so much joy.
]]>
Bespoke Designs is teaming up with wonderful New England photographer Abby Cole to offer a limited number of photo mini-sessions. Abby has selected a super fab location and will be shooting on October 7th & 8th.
The mini sessions are offered together with a custom designed holiday card. In addition to your mini session, you will have time with our lead designer Monica to create a seriously special card. Monica is available for appointments on October 5th - 7th in our design studio in Sconset Square, Westport.
There are a limited number of photo sessions, so we highly encourage you to book
soon! NOTE: The package includes BOTH the mini-session and the custom cards, we cannot separate the two.
]]>Q: Tell us a bit about you and your spouse.
My husband and I met in the summer in New York City as interns. We reconnected after both graduating from college. He graduated from Bowdoin and I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We lived in NYC for several years after college and just moved to Connecticut as married weds!
The invitation suite’s fresh florals and delicate birds are inspired by the hand painted Chinoiserie wallpapers of de Gournay. The romantic, watercolor tones, as reimagined by Bespoke, began with the envelope liner, then carried through a range of event details.
Fresh, young, bamboo green is the pop of color on the beveled edge. Our master calligrapher created flowing, romantic hand calligraphy that was engraved to perfection in French Blue.
Q: What stands out about your experience with Bespoke?
We worked closely with Shari and Monica throughout the wedding planning process. Our wedding planner, Sarah True, connected us with Bespoke Designs. Bespoke was with us every step of the way - listening to our ideas and bringing our vision to life, all the while remaining patient with me as I tend to be incredibly indecisive! They were the creative force behind our invitation suite and all the design details found throughout our design desk.
Beginning with an original oil painting, the family crest was painstakingly designed for sculptured blind emboss. To display the full depth and details of the crest, we approached one of only a few remaining artisans in the field to hard carve it out of a steel block.
Q: What influenced your vision for your invitations?
Our vision was inspired by the wallpaper in the lobby of our West Village apartment building. We both adored our lobby’s beautiful de Gournay-like wallpaper. Every time we walked into our building, it felt like we were going back in time. We wanted our invitation suite to feel old school and elegant, yet fun and playful. Our wedding was at the beginning of the spring season, so we chose blue and green as a nod to the season and the brighter days ahead!
Etiquette dictates that the invitation summon guests to the marriage ceremony, in this case at the house of worship. This necessitates a formal reception card, a.k.a., the invitation to the party!
Q: Any tips related to invitations and wedding inspiration that might help other couples?
Inspiration is all around. Start taking note of anything that sparks your eye. Talk through your vision with your team and trust them to bring your vision to life! Be open to suggestions and ideas, but also stay true to yourself!
Masterful, arched calligraphy on the inner envelope…breathtaking.
The arched calligraphy continues on the escort cards and for each individual menu.
The liner print becomes wallpaper for the escort board and decorates all of the bars at the reception.
Photography: Leila Brester
Flowers: Hana Floral
Planner: True Event
]]>Capture the magic of summer and get your holiday card, engagement announcement, or whatever you have in mind - “one and done” with a Rebecca Love photo mini-session combined with a beautiful letterpress or engraved card from Bespoke. It’s easy!
NOTE: Shoot dates are only available on July 27, August 8 & August 10.
Voted “Best of Nantucket,” Rebecca Love is talented, kind, a joy to work with, and a master of summer light. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to create the card or announcement that perfectly evokes your summer of 2023.
Bespoke Designs will offer personal stationery and Truly Bespoke wedding invitation consultations at Eleish Van Breems home. Ready to feel the love for paper? Book your time with Shari now!
Based in Westport, Eleish Van Breems Home’s island location is on Easy Street (yes!) in the heart of Nantucket’s stylish shopping area. Celebrated for Scandinavian design of the past, present and future, Eleish Van Breems Home helps create a look that is classic yet fresh and unexpected.
Eleish Van Breems Home
14 Easy Street, Nantucket
Ph: 508-901-9912
We can’t wait to see you there!
]]>
Q: Tell us a bit more about you and your spouse.
Alex and I live in the Gramercy neighborhood of New York City. We are both from Connecticut (New Canaan & Norwalk) but met 7 years ago through mutual friends in the city. Alex works in finance at Goldman Sachs and I work in marketing for Paramount.
We both love to entertain, Alex as the mixologist and myself the chef/baker, for friends and family. In fact, we host a weekly Sunday dinner for family and friends that has quickly become the highlight of our week and a big influence on some registry items.
When not at home we love checking out new restaurants, playing tennis and paddle together, and traveling. Next on our list is Turkey and Amalfi Coast!
Q: What stands out about working with Bespoke?
What stands out was the personalized attention. Sitting down with Shari and then working with Monica felt very hands on. After sharing with them my mood board, I felt like they instantly understood the vibe and look we wanted to achieve.
I loved seeing the inspiration wall at Bespoke during our first meeting with Shari. It was helpful to see the previous season's invitations to open my eyes to the variety and possibilities.
It was fun to flip through and see what couples had selected - some we even knew! - and understand what details were most important to us.
Letterpress Wedding invitation with custom duogram.
Q: What influenced your vision for your invitations?
Working in advertising and marketing, I’m familiar with creating a masterbrand and having elements ladder up into an overall theme to ensure cohesion. I think this was a driving force in how I approached our wedding, especially the stationery.
We worked with Bespoke to pull these themes into the invitation suite. From the fern leaf envelope lining to the mix of serif and script fonts, we were able to express our personal style and wedding vision through these details.
We saw the Save-the-Date as the introduction to our wedding festivities and used it to set the tone and give a sense of place to our guests. We wanted to capture the area's beauty.
Also, I would be lying if I wasn't also hoping to clarify that while the property had the word "farm" in its name - there would be no animals or hay bales.
The biggest compliment we received was when guests said not only how beautiful the invitations were, but more importantly, how much the invitation suite felt like a reflection of us. To hear that our friends and family could see our style and hear our voices in the stationery meant the world to us and a sign of a job well done.
The wedding invitation suite with watercolor images, printed envelope liner, custom duogram with letterpress printing.
Q: How did you approach your registry? Was it fun, challenging or a bit of both?
Living in a NYC apartment, we had to maintain a delicate balance of what we would use right away and what we wanted for the future and considering how it would all fit (thanks mom and dad for serving as our personal storage unit ;)).
We also focused on entertaining pieces as we host weekly - if not more - dinner parties. Growing up, I used to love helping my mom set the table for gatherings, and I wanted to start my own collection of fun tabletop items. It was also important to me to offer our guests the opportunity to support a local and independent store, like Bespoke, and have unique pieces that we don't see on every other registry.
I think registry shopping/planning was one of Alex's favorite parts of wedding planning. Not only was it fun to browse all the items from various shops, but also it brought up conversations of pieces he loved from his childhood home that he wanted to continue with our family.
Adaire and Alex's New England Modern registry moodboard.
Q: Any tips related to invitations and registry that might help other couples?
Looking back, I wish we registered for more quantities of items such as napkins. We started with six or eight and have found ourselves setting the dining room table a few short - mixing in a few Paprika Herringbone Fringe with the Grass Herringbone Fringe napkins.
Also, you can never have enough serving trays and platters! For anyone starting a registry now, I would say: Stay true to your vision! The benefit of social media is there is endless inspiration, but this can also become a negative as you start the design and registry process. Remembering your own personal style throughout can be hard but so worth it.
]]>What memories will you make this summer? Now is the time for you to create those indelible moments for your friends, your family, your kiddos, or maybe just you and your special someone.
Why does a beautiful table make such a difference? A well appointed table sets the scene for all your occasions. Layered settings with lovely linens make guests feel cared for. Food is visual. The right serving pieces enhance whatever you are serving and allow guests to love what they see before they take their first bite. Summer flowers become showstoppers in the right vase (that is, not the one you kept from the last time someone sent you flowers).
If you enjoy serving a signature cocktail or a nice bottle of wine, how’s your glassware? Part of the fun is holding a great-looking drink in your hand. Gorgeous glassware elevates anything you might drink, another lesson from Harriet (my fab mom). Her eternal Diet Coke is always served on the rocks in an elegant glass.
Smile, people! This is your life! Shop with Bespoke, stay in touch (notecards anyone?) and share your summer memories with us - we can’t wait to see the magic you make!
]]>I love entertaining in my summer garden. Whether it's an early morning coffee with a neighbor, lunch with friends, or dinner with family. I love using serving pieces that are colorful, easy care, and versatile. MIx up textures as well as colors - I use woven palm pieces, hand painted ceramics and bamboo inspired flatware.
Enjoy this wonderful mocktail from British chef and dad Jamie Oliver. Or if you prefer, for extra kick, add Pimms No. 1 Cup or Barr Hill Vodka
Ingredients
Steps
oxox Shari
]]>
Here are some ideas to include on your registry.
When it comes to selecting wedding gifts for a groom who enjoys the bar scene, there are several options that can enhance his bartending skills and elevate his home bar experience. Some ideas are:
• Cocktail Shaker Set // A high-quality cocktail shaker set is a must-have for any aspiring mixologist. Look for a set that includes a shaker, strainer, jigger, and mixing spoon.
• Cocktail Recipe Book // Help the groom expand his cocktail repertoire with a comprehensive cocktail recipe book. Look for books that feature classic and innovative recipes, along with tips and techniques for perfecting each drink.
• Glassware // Add a variety of glassware to the groom's registry to cater to different beverage preferences. We love the highball and rocks glasses from Match.
Tajin + Farmhouse Lab flower petal salt (or your favorite flaky salt)
4 oz Tequila blanco (we love Casamigos)
2 oz Cointreau
4 oz honeydew melon purée
1 lime, juiced
Edible flowers (optional)
Mix the salt and Tajin together on a plate. Run half a lime over the rim of your margarita glass and dip into the salt until well coated. Set the glass aside.
In a shaker, add the tequila, Cointreau, honeydew purée and lime juice. Fill the shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into your margarita glass. Garnish with edible flowers if using and enjoy!
]]>
The Kentucky Derby on May 6th is a great reason for a swanky get together. Why not host a Derby Day party? Mix a batch of our Cherry Mint Juleps - another Bespoke Design exclusive from chef Caroline Fey. The race only lasts two minutes, but the party can go on as long as you like. Don’t forget your Derby hat!
Caroline's Cherry Mint Julep
Pour the bourbon and cherry juice into a double old fashioned glass, add the ice cube and stir.
Garnish with a cherry and fresh mint leaves and enjoy!
Shop the look: The ice is shown in a Bernardaud Louvre Bowl, the cherry juice in a William Yeoward crystal jug, the glass is our Match Pewter Rocks Glass, and the snacks are presented in a Match Pewter Cruditè Tray.
]]>Play with shapes and styles.
Let the shape, style, and finish of your glassware set the tone - a round bottomed coupe for a flirty daiquiri, delicately displayed; a substantial fluted coupe to add gravitas with a contemporary flair for your Friday night pisco sour.
Think about serveware and accessories
Crystal, gold and silver are all timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched endlessly, particularly because they all work as neutrals. Even if your dinnerware changes through the years, these pieces will be the constants, and so reaching for items that feel like a bit of a splurge will be constantly reached for like a classic trench coat that can be dressed up or down.
Here are some of our favorite neutral pieces:
Ikat napkins / napkin rings / neutral plates / coupe glass / gelato bowls / fruit stand / flatware / carafe / frame / napkin
]]>
Inspired by our fluted crystal coupe glasses my good friend and wonderful chef Caroline Fey created this Easter cocktail. She says that if you love carrot cake, you'll love this cocktail. And I can tell you - she's totally right - it's delicious! Cheers and Hoppy Easter! shari ox
RUM HOPPER by Chef Caroline Fey
✨SIMPLE SYRUP
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise, or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Heat all of the ingredients in a saucepan until simmering. Stir until the sugar has melted and the syrup is clear, about 2 minutes. Cool completely.
🥕 RUM HOPPER - makes 1 cocktail
2 oz @plantation.rum Pineapple rum, or dark rum of choice
2 oz carrot juice (we like Bolthouse Farms)
2 oz coconut cream
1 oz spiced simple syrup
Juice of ½ a lime
A few dashes of bitters (we like Fee Brothers Bitters, Old Fashioned bitters)
🌸 GARNISHES (optional)
½ cup desiccated coconut for rim
Micro carrots or thinly sliced carrots, threaded onto a bamboo skewer (our micro carrots are from @freshoriginsmicrogreens)
Edible flowers (ours are from Gilbertieswestport)
🐇TO MAKE:
Dip the top of your glass in a little bit of spiced simple syrup, then gently press the rim into a bowl with desiccated coconut. Set aside.
Put all cocktail ingredients together into a shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into your glass and garnish with carrots and flower if using. Enjoy!
Story Version:
Makes 1 cocktail
SIMPLE SYRUP
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
1 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise, or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
RUM HOPPER
2 oz Pineapple rum, or dark rum of choice
2 oz carrot juice
2 oz coconut cream
1 oz spiced simple syrup
Juice of ½ a lime
A few dashes of bitters
GARNISHES (optional)
½ cup desiccated coconut for rim
Micro carrots or thinly sliced carrots, threaded onto a bamboo skewer
Edible flowers
TO MAKE:
SIMPLE SYRUP
Heat all of the ingredients in a saucepan until simmering. Stir until the sugar has melted and the syrup is clear, about 2 minutes. Cool completely.
COCKTAIL
Dip the top of your glass in a little bit of spiced simple syrup, then gently press the rim into a bowl with desiccated coconut. Set aside.
Put all cocktail ingredients together into a shaker. Fill with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into your glass and garnish with carrots and flower if using. Enjoy!
SHOP THE FEATURED BARWARE
fluted coupe / pewter shaker / pewter jigger / pewter mixing glass / pewter ice thongs / pewter ice bucket
]]>Passover is a Jewish holiday celebrated mainly at home. It centers around a festive meal and an interactive retelling of the story of Exodus. Special foods play a prominent role. Let your table be a gracious setting for that important story to unfold.
First things first. The seder plate displays the symbolic foods that illustrate the journey to the promised land. Ours is sophisticated and heirloom-worthy. Embossed white on white with touches of gold, the design will blend with and elevate your holiday dishes.
For our Passover table, we feature a twist on tradition with whimsical blue and white tones and natural elements. Elegance blends with a fresh, modern feel. Our specialists can help you create a tablescape that follows your imagination and inspires your guests.
For younger participants, have fun making the 10 plagues come to life. Plastic frogs, fake hailstones, and if you want to go all out, delight the littles with Hex Bugs - battery operated “bugs” that can crawl all over the table (and under it) and generally bring smiles.
The festival of Passover is one of the most widely observed of all the Jewish holidays. Universal themes touch on springtime, history, spiritual redemption, social justice and freedom — including recognizing those who are still oppressed.
Gather family and friends around your Seder table to create traditions that will last through the generations.
]]>
Featured glassare
Star Cut glasses // Match Pewter and Crystal Glasses
original recipe found via Brides
]]>
We bring a design sensibility to the art of entertaining. We will help you create a registry filled with a tasteful array of tabletop classics from brands like William Yeoward, Ginori, Marie Daâge, Bernardaud, and L'Objet as well as current and exclusive finds from around the world.
Your personal Registry Specialist will work one-on-one with you to create a visual reference to keep your selections focused. You’ll enjoy a custom registry experience that anticipates your needs and recognizes the thrilling life moment you’re about to enjoy.
There are many great reasons to create your special occasion gift registry at Bespoke.
]]>
Bespoke was featured in Over the Moon, Carats and Cake, Style Me Pretty, New England Home Magazine, the Lenox Hill Neighborhood House Gala and the Fairfield County LOOK Holiday Table Design event.
You Said It Best
“Shari and her team of angels made my wedding invitations the MOST special and beautiful. I could not have asked for a better experience creating truly meaningful and personalized stationery for our wedding.” - Katie R.
“So happy we created a gift registry with Bespoke. It opened our eyes to the creativity of table top design and gave us the confidence to begin entertaining as a newly married couple. The service was amazing and so thoughtfully managed.” - Taryn B.
With much gratitude and warm wishes for a wonderful year ahead!
Shari
]]>Taper Candles // Beechwood Candlesticks // Ebony Candlesticks
]]>
Put a variety of fall stems in a vase or centerpiece. The mix of texture and height will feel elevated and can be paired with real pumpkins and our faux pumpkins in the shop to create another mix of texture.
Lastly, add the scent of the season and add a cozy feeling with a seasonal candle.
Here are some of our current favorites in store and online:
]]>Drop. Dead. Gorgeous. And we're not just talking about our couple Cameron and Sam. We're talking about the invitation suite and all of the elements that we designed for the guests’ experience at this gorgeous Castle Hill Inn wedding.
Working closely with Cameron and her mom Joy, we designed a suite with rich classical elements, but presented with a crisp, fresh feeling. Young bamboo green and cool French blue are the colors that are at the core of the design - and they are carried through out every detail of the wedding day. We even created wallpaper based on the invitation liner and wrapped the bars and the escort card display.
And how about the family crest on the invitations? We started with an oil painting, working intensely down into the minutia of every detailed element to create the crest. A master carver then hand carved the crest into this steel block. That's the magic used to create the exquisite blind embossing at the top of the invitations.
And what a beyond gorgeous destination for L & R's late spring Newport, RI wedding. Beginning with the invitation suite, the soft pinky tones with gold flecks, the elegance factor is totally elevated.
Enjoy browsing through all of the truly beautiful details. Wishing L & R so much joy!
The medium blue grass cloth wallpaper and polished chrome light fixtures set the vibe for the gorgeous dining room designed by Jeanne. For the table we went with a palette of cool blues, softly layered, with accents of silver
Blue lucite mats peep through the woven palm mats. The textured earthenware plates are a white on white with just the littlest shimmer. The soft blue napkin has a herringbone pattern with a fringed edge. Bonus: these napkins don't need ironing.
All the best blue feels here with this group of blue cone candles. Airy and wispy, tall and bold, lacquered in glossy white. Perched on an vintage hotel silver cake stand - so chic!
Hand painted and hand calligraphy place cards, edged in silver - so on point with the vibe of the room. Truly bespoke pieces from Bespoke Designs.
JerMar is a full service luxury interior design studio and Jeanne is an absolute delight to work with. For tabletop and home decor, come see us in the shop in Westport, CT or online everyday. oxo shari
napkin rings / napkins / cone candles / cake stand
]]>
We say no no no to a boring bar cart. Throw caution to the wind and mix your metals to create some fun - and functional - drama while you serve up the magic.
The matte black stoneware pitchers are a super chic contrast to the vintage hotel silver martini shaker. It's the little details that make the drinks come alive. Slice up your garnishes - oranges, lemons, limes - and style them up in a vintage silver bowl.
Take your bar cart into the garden - or bring the garden to your bar cart. Either way, I love popping some flowers into an unexpected container - like we did here with this vintage 1960's hotel silver pitcher.
And summer is all about sharing good times and good cheer with friends, don't you agree? oxo shari
black pitcher small / black pitcher large / hemstitch napkins / cocktail set / cocktail shaker / simple syrup /
]]>What to serve? Mini sliders are always a crowd pleaser. Ours are topped with Chef Caroline Fey's "Dill Pickle Slaw". With the purchase of any of the items here we will send you her recipe.
How about a pop of color? We love using watermelon radishes. The color is happy and they are also really delicious. Chef Caroline has sliced these on a mandoline, but you can also get thin slices with a sharp knife.
For visual texture, I recommend our woven iraca palm place mats. Light and airy, they create some easy interest on your table whether you're serving inside or outside.
And what to drink? I'm a rosé any time girl, but I definitely love drinking out of these stemless acrylic glasses.
I'm not a huge fan of paper dinner napkins, so I highly recommend these heavy weight striped linen napkins. They are woven for us in Italy and I love that they are 24" square. Really great for spreading on your lap when eating poolside or at the beach.
Sliding into summer entertaining with me and Chef Caroline Fey. oxox Shari
]]>Nothing says summer more than chilled gazpacho soup. Gazpacho is a cold raw vegetable soup that is originally from southern Spain. The main ingredients are tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and olive oil.
Chef Caroline definitely has her own special twists in her preparation of this classic dish. With the purchase of any of our table top items featured here we will happily send you her recipe.
Garnish generously with heirloom cherry tomatoes in a blend of colors. I love the visual of the soup in our clear Italian gelato bowl. So so gorgeous! And pop the bowl on one of our Starburst plates. Wowzaa!
Don't be shy - use all of the tomato colors! Serving note: gazpacho should be served chilled, but not iced.
And add some tender small leaves of dark opal basil. It's a gorgeous visual. With the soup served as a first course, I love to put the stemmed bowl on top of our Starburst plates, hand painted in Italy. This gives me so many happy summer feels.
I'll confess that I'm really not sure why National Gazpacho Day is December 6th since everything about gazpacho says summer to me. oxo Shari
]]>