It 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 cocktails while being served artisanal summer bites.

The two bars at the event were stocked with Mingle Mocktails in their 6 flavors (Cranberry Cosmo, Blackberry Hibiscus Bellini, Cucumber Melon Mojito, Key Lime Margarita, Blood Orange Elderflower Mimosa, Moscow Mule). Mingle’s delicious mocktails are vegan, gluten free, non-GMO and kosher. Below, Mingle is featured as the HOTTEST MOCKTAIL OF 2023 in LUX LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE.

Mingle founder, Laura Taylor, is a mother, wife and business leader in corporate America. She is passionate about fitness, health, wellness and maniacally goal-oriented to lead a life with purpose and passion. She created Mingle for anyone who chooses to give up drinking for the night, week or as a lifestyle choice but still wants to feel included and part of the occasion. Taylor wants people to feel part of the party and believes that the choice to be alcohol-free should be celebrated.

Mingle does not taste like alcohol, but uses blends of fruit juices and botanicals with an effervescent finish that provides a pleasant and special mouthfeel to taste. And they look adorable on your barcart!

Created to celebrate your choice and your spirit, whether you choose not to booze for a day, week or forever. Mingle aims to foster inclusion, social connection and fun by including everyone, whether or not you choose to drink.

The consummate Hamptons hostess, Kelli 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. She included 19th century copper jugs and watering cans, a collection of vintage items, and a European Wicker Basket Garden Wagon filled with an explosion of vibrantly-colored blooms to create a bit of South of France magic in the Hamptons.

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. Dianne O’Connor noted that, “Kelli’s spectacular gardens and perfect catering created an enviable summer in the Hamptons’ Fourth of July weekend event that will be remembered for its beauty, good taste, and flawless elegance.”

Twenty authors were selected by Kelli and Jane Ubell of Bedside Reading who places books by the bedsides, poolsides, firesides and in the hands of VIPS through their partnerships with luxury and boutique hotels. Their clients include traditional, hybrid and indie publishers as well as self-published authors.  Bedside Reading believes that authors need help. They offer visibility and discoverability through their unique system of partnerships with five-star luxury hotels and destinations. Authors enjoyed showcasing their latest books while guests enjoyed hearing exclusive details about the books directly from the authors!

Kelli’s gifting table for guests included luxurious beauty products from Biography as well as the delightful sets from Kelli’s favorite tea company, Tea Forte. Tea Forté’s new limited-edition Jardin Collection offers an assortment of organic teas in the prettiest packaging curated in collaboration with The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG).

We were elated to see everyone enjoying the holiday weekend and celebrating at the much anticipated Books, Bubbly, & Blooms event!

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

For more about Mingle visit here!

Written by: Emmanuela Panepinto

Images by: Eric Striffler