The event boasts “good food, good drinks, talented local creatives, and a fresh look at what celebrating at Shands can feel like.”
Attending a bridal expo or showcase is an excellent way to make progress on your wedding planning checklist. But between the vendors vying for your attention and the couples making their way through the same space, sometimes these events can feel a bit overwhelming.
That “overwhelming” feeling is what inspired the team at Shands General & The State Room to break from tradition with their upcoming “Wedding Social” on Tuesday, October 6.
“It’s comfortable, it’s welcoming, and it’s a night out.” – Shands General & The State Room
Julian Rizzo, Shands General & The State Room’s Event Director and Partner, envisioned the Wedding Social as a departure from the typical showcase experience . “I’m seeing a lot of brides, especially on Long Island, not wanting something super traditional,” she said. “So I wanted to lean into how we actually go about that night.”
While brides will be able to meet with area professionals like BOLI Preferred Vendor Xtreme Entertainment, Clover and the Bees Florist, Courtney Hotis Photography, Early Bird Vintage, Karasmatic Day Spa + Mane & Medi, the vibe of the evening will be relaxed, laid back, and friendly.
“Rather than have tables set up with vendors that you have to go around and talk to, which always felt a little awkward, I wanted to create an approachable atmosphere, right from the beginning,” she detailed. “It’s comfortable, it’s welcoming, and it’s a night out. That’s something we really wanted to exude with this. There’s no pressure.”
“There’s really so many different options.” – Shands General & The State Room
Once you check in and sip from your welcome beverage, you’ll be free to explore the versatile spaces of Shands General & The State Room. “Every area – and there are plenty – will feature something a little bit different,” Julian described. “The dining room will feel like a more formal, intimate rehearsal dinner or micro wedding. As you move throughout the downstairs, we’ll have music, and the whole bar will be available for guests who want to talk with our experienced team.”
“Heading upstairs will take you to The Loft and The State Room,” she continued. “We’ll have The Loft will be set up for a mock ceremony, and The State Room will be set up for a cocktail hour – jazzy, sexy, nothing too crazy, but with that speakeasy style that you don’t often find on the Island.”
“I find that with some showcases, you don’t really get to see what a venue looks like for these types of wedding events,” Julian added. “So this really puts you in a place where you can envision everything, with your own style of course. There’s really so many different options.”
“We don’t cut corners, and we make everything from scratch.” – Shands General & The State Room
What can brides of Long Island expect from their weddings at Shands General & The State Room? “We’re a restaurant first, of course,” said Julian, “and you want your guests leaving the night saying, ‘that was the best food I’ve ever had at a wedding.’”
“We don’t cut corners, and we make everything from scratch,” she continued. “That plays a really big part in our menu. We work with a lot of local farms, some not even 15 minutes away. We’re sourcing as close to the Island, if not on the Island, as possible. We bring in that local, seasonal feel, and that’s a big part of what excites our couples.”
If their standard menus don’t capture your interest, they’re more than willing to customize. “We go off-menu all the time,” she said. “We’ve had clients who had a special family meal and they really want to include it. We’ll practice it and get it to your liking. Customization is a big thing for us.”
“Our beverage program is phenomenal,” she added. “There was a time where our Beverage Director, who’s also one of the partners, purchased vermouth for a bride and groom because it was something they really wanted. We didn’t carry it, but he got it here for them. We sent them home with the rest of the case.”
But perhaps the biggest draw to Shands General & The State Room is their experienced staff. “For the most part, everyone who works here has been here since we’ve opened, which is really rare for the restaurant industry,” Julian said. “They all have had their hand in events. I come from luxury wedding planning myself, so I know what couples are looking for, what they’re worried about, and all the little details that often cause stress. I try to make the process as seamless as possible and extend my services. So, if wedding planning is something they want to add on, they have the safety net of a venue coordinator and wedding planner in one.”
“We’re opening it up to other wedding events, too.” – Shands General & The State Room
Pop the Wedding Social in your calendar! The event will start at 6pm on Tuesday, October 6, but sticking with the chill atmosphere, Julian mentioned that guests can arrive at their leisure. Tickets are $10 per person and $15 per couple, and can be reserved here.
“We’re also not keeping it to just weddings,” she said. “We’re opening it up to other wedding events, too. So if you want to bring your mom or friends because they’re planning your bridal shower, they’re welcome!”
And of course, they’ll be a few perks if you choose Shands General & The State Room for your big day. “We’ll have special incentives if you join us that night and end up booking,” Julian added.
SHANDS GENERAL & THE STATE ROOM’S WEDDING SOCIAL
Tuesday, October 6 at 6pm
Tickets: $10 per individual, $15 per couple
Reserve your tickets here.
