In the year 2024, gone are the days of raging bachelorette parties – you know, the kind you might not remember the next morning. Instead, we’re embracing the spirit of “Girls Gone Mild” with open arms. One of our editors, Katie, got married this spring – and we were so excited to celebrate our newly-wed bride with a themed bridal shower rightfully named “Katie’s Last Toast on the Coast”! We can’t wait to share the details of this day, which was jam-packed with darling details, delicious apertifs, and multiple surprises that you won’t want to miss. Read on to see how we surprised Katie with her very own “Last Toast on the Coast” bridal shower!
For Katie’s coastal bridal shower, it only made sense to begin our celebrations on the water with Duffy Electric Boats in Newport Beach. Tucked away right off of PCH, Duffy Electric Boats is home to a fleet of stunning duffy boats that are handmade in California and boast classic coastal charm in their design. We of course had to choose their iconic pink duffy boat for our celebrations!
Arriving to Duffy Electric Boats was a breeze, as they were a quick turn off of PCH and had plenty of parking. They even have lounge areas on the property that you can rent if you and your party want to have a home base while cruising the bay! Prior to our arrival, our friends Sam and Trish at For The Table Club designed a gorgeous tablescape and layout for our duffy boat ride. Using their bespoke curation of rental pieces, they decorated our duffy boat with “coastal grandmother” as the mood–and it could not have been executed more perfectly.
There was so much to love about the design that For The Table Club brought to life, but a few of our favorite details had to be their vintage bow pillow, blue gingham linens, and their curation of vintage seashell tableware! It was such a weight off of our shoulders knowing that our team did not have to worry about any set up or tear down for our duffy boat picnic. Sam and Trish took care of everything before and after, giving us the freedom to truly enjoy every moment with our bride.
As we cruised around the bay, we enjoyed an incredible spread from Plums Cafe – one of the most notable eateries in Eastside Costa Mesa. Plums Cafe perfected our grazing table for the afternoon with quiche muffins, an array of colorful fruits and veggies, and mini toast bites topped with berries (to-die-for). A few of our editors have specific dietary needs, and the Plums Cafe team was so gracious in catering to us to make sure that everyone would be able to enjoy the spread!
3 hours was the perfect amount of time for us to cruise the back bay, catch up and celebrate our Katie with a coastal bridal shower. Once our time was up, we easily made our way back to the dock and got off the boat to head to our next destination!
We ended our perfect afternoon with some wining and dining at SET Steak & Sushi in Newport Beach. Tucked away within the opulence of the Pendry, SET is Southern California’s premier sushi and steak house. Their classic Americana menu is home to a prime selection of meats that are matched with fresh and sustainable caught seafood. Walking into the restaurant felt like a luxurious experience in and of itself, with modern architecture and moody lighting setting the tone for the evening.
We were seated at a table outside on their lush garden-inspired patio, where our table was tucked underneath gorgeous tree branches with lanterns hanging from above! With a menu that was completely new to our entire party, we trusted our waiter Marlin to guide the way and give us his favorite recommendations.
We of course began with drinks, with Marlin being generous with a heavy pour on the white wine – to match the celebratory spirits. Starting off strong with the bluefin tuna pizza, we truly felt like we tried it all courtesy of the chef and our waiters amazing recommendations! The steak fried rice is a must-order, with flavors including wagyu, roasted corn, and spicy garlic lighting up your palette.
Ending the night on a high note, our night-cap was a larger-than-life carrot cake that tasted as good as it looks. Our dessert consisted of multiple layers of spiced sponge cake with cream cheese frosting in between and a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream – heavenly is an understatement.
It’s safe to say that Katie’s Last Toast on the Coast bridal sh ower was one for the books. We are already looking forward to our next duffy boat picnic and can’t wait to explore more of the menu at SET! If you’re looking for more inspiration for your themed bridal celebration, we think you’ll especially love this one too!