The Newsmagazine of Long Beach Island and Southern Ocean County

By Victoria Ford | on June 29, 2022

BOLD, BEAUTIFUL: Cricket Luker (left), gallery owner and curator of Wildflowers by the Lighthouse in Barnegat Light, provided stunning, artful items for the runway portion of the evening. Artist and clay teacher Kerith Creo modeled. (Photo courtesy St. Francis Parish)

Bonnet Island Estate was a sea of pink and green during Wednesday’s celebration and annual fashion show to benefit St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Crowds of women dressed in elegant sundresses, big and bright hats, and high-heeled shoes for this year’s Garden Party by the Sea.

The June 22 event featured summer styles from fashion houses across Long Beach Island and included a light luncheon, gift bag and wine raffle. A crowd of roughly 250, many in pastel dresses, chatted animatedly as they helped themselves to London broil, pasta salad, salmon, vegetables and more.

The Garden Party tradition started around 10 years ago, with nine committee women from the parish meticulously planning the event together. Bonnet Island Estate owner Chris Vernon donates the venue, and the rest is up to them, according to committee member Lisa Suddeth.

“We divvy up people helping with the fashion, people helping with the caterer. There’s people in charge of donations. We all kind of work together,” she said. She was in charge of the catering, which was from Foodies in Harvey Cedars.

After lunch in the dining room overlooking the bay, the women filed into a large ballroom lined with chairs. Local donors provided wine and handbags for the raffles. Some items were valued up to $1,000.

“We start planning this in February,” Suddeth said, as evidenced in the careful color coordination and thoughtful prizes. After the raffle, the models walked the runway.

Men and women of all ages, including sisters and friars, strutted to the middle of the ballroom, modeling various styles. Some were in floppy hats and flip flops, while others wore bright dresses and high heels.

Boutiques donated the outfits from Sink ’R Swim Men’s, Sink ’R Swim Women’s, Wink, Sur La Plage and Wildflowers by the Lighthouse. The packed room was filled with cheers and claps.

Victoria Vasquez, who had previously modeled at the fashion show, expressed her excitement about walking the runway. All four of her outfits were styled from Sink ’R Swim.

“It’s been awhile, since during COVID, it got cancelled. It’s nice to be back, to see so many people here. It’s sold out,” she remarked.

“I feel like because it was a couple years since we’ve had this event, people were so anxious to get out,” said Amanda Defusco, special events, communications and volunteer coordinator for St. Francis Parish.

Committee Chair Tina Kelsall dashed around the event, ensuring everyone was having a good time. Defusco described Kelsall as “amazing.”

“I helped her as much as she possibly needed it. She’s fantastic,” Defusco said.

It was Kelsall’s vision that was brought to life in the theme of the garden party, down to the color of the napkins.

As for her inspiration, Kelsall said pink and green is a favorite color combination. “It’s happy!” she said.

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