Amelia Island Weddings - Spring 2013

Our Vow to You

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Residence Inn - Amelia Island

Just steps away from the Beach

Bridal Showers • Beautiful Receptions • “Tides Terraceâ€? Weddings Intimate Rehearsal Dinners • Romantic Honeymoon Packages All Suite Hotel, Full Gourmet Kitchen in Every Suite, Resort Style Pool/Hot Tub, Fire Pit. Conveniently located Near a Variety of Historic Attractions • Beach Activities • Golf • Fishing • Shopping

www.ResidenceInnAmeliaIsland.com Group Sales: 866-245-6099 • Main Hotel: 904-277-2440 2301 Sadler Road Fernandina Beach, Florida

Exclusive Venue, Expert Planners

The setting is a page from history with a gracious clubhouse established in 1928, as a playground for the affluent. Tucked away on pristine waterfront parkland, among majestic southern oaks, the Ribault Club is an historically restored and intimately secluded venue that is as timeless as it is contemporary.

The Ribault Club’s dedicated staff creates, designs and manages weddings, large and small, that guests will long remember.

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AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 1

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LETTER FROM THE

As the publishers of Amelia Island Weddings, we have the sincere pleasure twice each year of writing about one of the most important occasions in anyone’s life: their marriage. It gives us great satisfaction to spotlight in each issue some wonderful couples who are beginning their lives together. These happy stories of hope and love make for great reading.

When we first moved to Amelia Island, we had many visitors from both of our families who wanted to see the little corner of northeast Florida we were now calling home. One of those people was my cousin, Frank, who had been plotting a move to sunny Florida from the Boston area for many years. In an effort to find just the right place, he visited every friend and family member he had in Florida, crisscrossing the state in the process. On one trip to south Florida, he stopped for a visit with us on his way home. It was an overcast weekend with some rain, but we drove around the island, had lunch downtown, sat on the beach, and, two weeks later, we got a phone call from Frank telling us he was moving to Amelia Island.

We were thrilled, and we completely understood his feeling: he had found a beautiful place—despite the adverse weather—with a charming downtown and a great community of people where he wanted to build his life. Since then, 2 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

Editor

we have watched Frank enter into the life of the island as a musician, a friend to many, and a dedicated volunteer for many local charities, particularly the Nassau Humane Society.

When Frank began dating Shannon, who grew up on Amelia Island, we had the feeling right away that we might see them married in a few years.

They formed a close connection pretty quickly, and we are happy to report that they were married with great joy this past October. Their wonderful wedding celebration embodied what we always think makes this island the perfect place to get married. Friends and family flew in from all over the country, as well as Europe, fun events were planned, Frank and Shannon were to be married on the beach, and a lovely reception following at one of the island’s elegant venues.

Their wedding was a great getaway and a fun vacation for everyone who attended.

It is a story we regularly hear, but it is ever new because each couple puts their own unique stamp on their celebration, and, on Amelia Island, there is a great variety of ways to do that. In Frank and Shannon’s case, they had hoped to arrive at their ceremony on horseback, but rain interfered. The horses ultimately had to remain in the trailer and the ceremony was moved to the reception venue overlooking the marsh, but the weather cleared and the celebration was memorable. Just as a little rain didn’t dampen Frank’s enthusiasm on first visit to Amelia, so it couldn’t dampen the joy of their wedding celebration years later.

And, as is often the case, many of their guests are already planning a return visit here to enjoy a little Amelia Island magic of their own.

Our congratulations go out with a hug to Frank and Shannon, and to every couple married on our little island paradise in the last six months. Best wishes for many happy years together.

STAFF Philip Kelly Deana Basile Kelly Publishers Deana Basile Kelly Editor Tom Barrett Art Director Dickie Anderson Theresa Duncan Nan Kavanaugh Karen Miller Julie Simmons Kate Yandoh Harris Contributing Writers

CONTACT US Sweetpea Media, Inc. P.O. Box 16624 Fernandina Beach, FL 32035 904-277-8012 Fax 904-277-8076 info@ameliaislander.com www.ameliaweddingsmag.com

Amelia Island Weddings Magazine is published twice a year in January and July.

All editorial contents including maps and photographs are copyrighted 2013 Sweetpea Media, Inc. Reproduction of any material contained herein in any manner, in whole or in part, is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other artwork cannot be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. No responsibility is assumed for unsolicited materials. The cover and the magazine’s contents are fully protected and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Amelia Island Weddings Magazine is distributed free of charge on and around Amelia Island. Back issues may be purchased from the publisher for $2 per copy plus postage if sent through the mail.

Features SPRING 2013

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A WEDDING YOU’LL 8 FOR FALL IN LOVE WITH Amelia Island is the ideal backdrop to many beautiful, romantic memories.

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STORY 14 COVER Ashlee Grubbs and Allan Lehmann met on the job in Arizona and became engaged in California, but, when it was time to get married, Ashlee came home to Amelia Island to be surrounded by family and friends.

WEDDING STORIES 18 ISLAND Four recently married couples share their unique wedding stories.

SPOTLIGHT: 26 VENUE THE FLORIDA HOUSE INN In its illustrious history, the Florida House Inn in historic downtown Fernandina Beach has hosted an American president, titans of industry, and Hollywood movie stars. Today, its historic charm and Southern hospitality make it the perfect place to celebrate a wedding.

THE PERFECT GOWN 34 FINDING An overview of some of the latest trends in wedding gowns to help you find the perfect dress.

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CHECKLIST 6 WEDDING A helpful list of things to do and when to do them.

FOR YOUR JEWELRY 28 CARING Engagement rings and wedding bands are

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY TITANIA RADIANT PHOTOGRAPHS

SPRING 2013

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Inside

year, and Professional Wedding Consultant Lisa Presnell of Coastal Engagements highlights some of the most interesting.

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TRENDS 30 WEDDING New weddings trends are popping up this

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beautiful jewelry with great sentimental value. Lindy Kavanaugh of Lindy’s Jewelry shares some tips on the proper care of your most personal jewelry.

SCRAPBOOK 32 WEDDING A peek into the wedding albums of some recent brides and grooms

OF THE BRIDE 40 FATHER Weddings are often about

brides and mothers, but fathers have an important role, too. A couple of local dads who recently walked their daughters down the aisle share their stories.

42 FLOWERS A checklist of wedding floral arrangements 44 HONEYMOONS Romantic accommodations, fun activities, and superior dining

47 DIRECTORY Names, addresses, phone numbers, and websites of people who can make your wedding a complete success.

ABOUT THE COVER Newlyweds Ashlee and Allan Lehmann on the grounds of White Oak Plantation. Photo by Ashley Brooke, brookeimages.com.

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Let us make the best day of your life, the best day of your life

www.artistic-florist.com 1430 Park Avenue

Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

904-261-5546

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 5

Amelia Weddings 12+ MONTHS PRIOR Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Propose!

Research rings and stones to choose engagement ring.

Set an initial budget Determine what type of ceremony you want (church/religious group/ justice of peace) Determine the type of reception you want (day/evening, indoor/outdoor, formal/casual) Select a target wedding date and back-up dates Select location of wedding (hometown/destination/resort) Research availability of reception venues, according to the location and wedding type you’ve chosen Determine size of reception and draw up preliminary guest list Decide if you want a bridal party and, if so, how large Reserve venue as soon as possible, especially if you’re planning a large wedding If planning a destination wedding, collect lodging information for guests Interview and choose caterer Start to research bridal gowns/bridesmaids’ dresses/tuxedos or groom’s clothing Interview and choose wedding planners/photographers/ videographers/musicians Visit bridal shows

SIX TO NINE MONTHS PRIOR Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Refine guest list with families Purchase the bride’s gown and groom’s attire Confirm guests lodging for destination wedding Purchase the bridesmaids’ dresses Shop for dress accessories (veil, jewelry, other accessories) Go over music program for both ceremony and reception Research destinations for honeymoon Interview and reserve florist Order the wedding cake, if not provided by caterer Start planning rehearsal dinner and reserve a restaurant Arrange for wedding party transportation to the wedding (limousines, horse & carriage, vans)

FOUR TO SIX MONTHS PRIOR Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Check requirements for blood test and marriage license in your state Shop for wedding rings Select and order invitations and stationery Make sure that men’s attire has been ordered Complete the guest lists Send your engagement announcement to the newspaper Inform mothers to select their dresses Finalize honeymoon details and make the necessary reservations

TWO TO FOUR MONTHS PRIOR Q Confirm the menu and catering details with caterer Q Prepare all maps and directions for the ceremony and reception Q For a destination wedding, collect info on local activities and restaurants for guests Q Select your wedding rings Q Buy a wedding guest book Q Set the dates and times for rehearsal with the person officiating marriage Q Plan the bridesmaids’ luncheon or any other parties Q Plan the design and printing if you choose to have a program for the ceremony Q Finalize details with florist, musicians, photographer, videographer, etc.

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WEDDING PLANNING CALENDAR

Q Arrange the necessary accommodations for out-of-town guests Q Confirm rehearsal dinner time and place Q Confirm the wedding cake details with baker

SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Mail invitations and announcements Prepare a portrait if planning a newspaper announcement Set appointment with photographer for formal bridal portrait Select gifts for your attendants Ask family or wedding party members to prepare speeches or toasts Set appointments with any hairdressers and/or makeup specialists Hire the limousine or other form of transportation

FOUR TO SIX WEEKS PRIOR Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Update the expected number of guests with caterer Buy a gift for your intended Schedule a final fitting for gown Purchase a going away outfit Pick up your wedding rings Purchase or borrow all wedding accessories, such as ring pillow, goblets, candles, etc.

Confirm florist details and delivery times Plan the seating for the reception as well as other details for the ceremony Write placement cards or table assignments Make sure that all bridesmaids’ attire has been fitted Meet with d.j. or musicians to confirm reception music: first dance, parent dances, wedding party

TWO WEEKS BEFORE Q Q Q Q Q

Make arrangements for wedding gifts to be safeguarded and transported Handle business and legal details such as name changes, address changes, etc.

Reconfirm your guests’ accommodations Check all clothing and accessories for you and bridal party Get marriage license and any blood tests

ONE WEEK BEFORE Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q

Review any seating details with ushers Make sure all wedding attire fits Finalize the seating arrangements with caterer Reconfirm honeymoon reservations and start packing Call any guests who have not responded, and give final head count to caterer Finish all the place cards for reception Confirm dates with musicians and vocalists Delegate wedding day responsibilities to reliable individuals Wrap and present the wedding party gifts

O N E D AY B E F O R E Q Get a manicure or massage to relax Q Stay with family or friends the night before and get to sleep early Q Review and rehearse all the details with your participants

T H E B I G D AY Q Q Q Q Q

Rest and Relax with a good bath Allow yourself plenty of time to get dressed Be sure to eat properly Leave plenty of time for hairdresser and makeup appointments Enjoy your wonderful day and cherish every moment!

THE

U LT I M AT E

BRIDAL

AC C E S S O RY

AT Beautiful Smile! his is your special day and you want it to be perfect! Capture the joyful moments of your Wedding Day with a bright, white smile! Our doctors use the latest dental technology to create the most beautiful, healthy smiles possible. Let us help you, your groom, bridal party, and family members smile more than you ever imagined on the Day of your Dreams!

Call us today to schedule your Smile Consultation!

COSMETIC TOOTH WHITENING s TAKE-HOME WHITENING TRAYS s SMILE MAKEOVERS PORCELAIN VENEERS s BONDING FOR CHIPPED & STAINED TEETH s IMPLANTS s CROWNS

1947 Citrona Drive, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034

www.ameliadental.com

s C. K. Owens, DDS s George R. Van Etta, DMD s Laurie A. Kitson, DMD s Joshua O. Bietenholz, DMD

“For all of your catering needs!�

On-Premises Wedding Events • Rehearsal Dinners American Beach • 1408 Lewis Street at A1A

(904) 261-8973 Intimate Evening Dining ~ Everyday Brunch ~ Gourmet Shop

Choose from Our Private Dining Room Upstairs Overlooking Historic Downtown or Our New Orleans-Style Garden for Your Rehearsal Dinner or Small Reception Open for Lunch & Dinner 6 Days a Week • Closed Tuesday

Breakfast M-F 8am. Lunch Noon-5pm Everyday.

Weekend Brunch 8am. Dinner T-Sa 5 to 10pm.

www.GourmetGourmet.com AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 7

PLANTATION PHOTOGRAPHY

Amelia Island

F O R U N F O R G E T TA B L E W E D D I N G V E N U E S , A M E L I A H A S I T A L L

By Karen Miller

DESTINATION WEDDINGS ARE VERY POPULAR TODAY, and Amelia Island is considered by many to be the perfect destination, with its sparkling beaches, indigo skies, and the luminous waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

But Amelia is hardly a typical coastal community. This intimate barrier island is located directly on the Intracoastal Waterway and offers lovely views of pastoral marshes, moss-draped live oak trees and sun-drenched shorelines. With lots of activities available in and around the island, a weekend wedding event is more than a marriage ceremony; it’s a spectacular vacation getaway that will be remembered long after your guests have shaken the sand out of their shoes. In fact, PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

many couples fall in love all over again when they

8 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

marry on Amelia Island, making Amelia a special place to celebrate future anniversaries and other signiďŹ cant events over the course of their lives.

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salons can provide a perfect place to store gifts, or a place for kids to gather and watch a movie during a reception. Lorna Meehan and her professional staff will help you with every detail for a truly memorable event.

Oyster Bay Yacht Club, a private yacht club and marina, is an exquisite destination for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, and corporate retreats.

Nestled among canopied oak trees with expansive water views, the stunning clubhouse boasts 7,500 square feet of combined venue space. Whether it’s a casual coastal wedding marsh-side on the Oyster Deck or formal exchange of vows at sunset overlooking the marina, Oyster Bay Yacht Club can effortlessly accommodate your every need. The wedding party and guests can even arrive by water taxi from historic Fernandina Beach. From extravagant galas to intimate get-togethers, Terrie Sanders and the courteous staff will help you create an unforgettable event at this enchanting location.

If you’re looking for an elegant on-island venue that overlooks beautiful, manicured lawns, look no further than Fernandina Beach Golf Club. Set among 27 holes of true Florida golf, Fernandina Beach Golf Club provides a beautiful setting for weddings, receptions, parties, and more, and can also be the perfect place for a wedding weekend golf outing. The course offers a fun and enjoyable day of golf at rates that won’t bust your budget. The spacious clubhouse, with its professional kitchen PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

TRADITIONAL ELEGANCE Legendary for their exceptional service, the ladies and gentlemen at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island are devoted to creating a truly memorable experience for every bride who walks through the door. The talented team, led by catering sales managers Erin and Amanda, employs a full-service approach to planning that addresses every detail, while allowing the couple to feel as though they are guests at their own wedding.

For the event itself, the property can accommodate everything from an intimate seaside ceremony for two to a grand gala for hundreds on the sweeping oceanfront lawn. Inside, a variety of sumptuous spaces showcase the classic sophistication of the island’s only five-diamond resort. In November 2009, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island completed construction on a modern new ballroom.

The romantic exterior colonnade and the exquisite interior décor combine to create a perfect setting for the bride seeking a venue touched by Southern elegance.

For an elegant wedding celebration that will sweep you back in time to the luxury of a by-gone era, try The Ribault Club.

Located on beautiful Fort George Island just south of Amelia, The Ribault Club began as a luxurious winter retreat for wealthy industrialists in the late 1920’s. A fantastic circular drive leading up to the elegant Georgian facade of the clubhouse makes for a fabulous entrance and exit for the bride and groom. Surrounded by ancient live oaks dripping with moss and towering palm trees, the exquisitely restored historic building, made of wood and white painted brick with French windows and green shutters, is the perfect setting for a stunning wedding.

Designed in a horse-shoe shape with a ballroom on one end and a dining room on the other, the club offers a variety of different spaces, including a covered verandah overlooking the lush shaded lawn and the Fort George River. A series of smaller

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 9

COURTESY OF THE RITZ-CARLTON, AMELIAISLAND

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

facilities, can accommodate everything from large receptions to small, intimate wedding celebrations. Food & Beverage Manager Melanie Robertson and her staff are on hand to help you with every detail. Her relationship with local wedding vendors will help you in planning and saving on your event. Please contact Melanie for more information about pricing and availability.

OCEAN ATMOSPHERE If you are looking for an affordable venue with a luxurious atmosphere, look no further than the new Residence Inn by Marriott ~ Amelia Island, where innovation meets relaxation.

Located in the heart of Amelia Island and just steps from the beach, this spectacular resort-style hotel features spacious suites with gourmet kitchens, an outdoor recreation area with a putting green, an over-sized pool and hot tub, a state-of-the-art fitness room, and beautiful gathering spaces. Nestled near the pool area, the contemporary Tides Terrace makes the perfect venue for a poolside wedding. The Residence Inn can accommodate weddings from five to 85 people and offers exceptional rates for wedding groups. Indoor function space is also available for corporate functions, bridal teas, rehearsal dinners, and other events. Guests enjoy an array of complimentary services such as transportation to the beach, delicious breakfast every morning, grocery delivery, and wireless Internet access. Director of Sales and Marketing Dottie Richards can help you plan your wedding or event and help you with accommodations for all of your guests.

Right across from the beach is Amelia Hotel at the Beach, a beautiful Mediterranean-style hotel with plenty of room for your wedding guests at a great value. This charming, centrally located hotel features spacious rooms, many with oceans views. Their Terrace Suite is the perfect place to spend your honeymoon night with its king bed, Jacuzzi tub, and private oceanview balcony. Ask about their meeting rooms if you plan a small, intimate ceremony or reception up to sixty guests. The hotel wedding coordinator will assist you in creating a memorable event tailored to fit your expectations, the comfort of your guests, and your budget.

According to the hotel’s wedding coordinator, the Amelia Hotel at the Beach “loves” weddings. “We help plan the event and focus on the details so the bride and groom can enjoy their day whether it be indoors or on the beach.”

Right on the beach at the foot of Sadler Road, Sliders Seaside Grill offers a festive atmosphere for couples who are looking for an authentic island experience. With their Oceanfront Tiki Bar and 10 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

deck, Caribbean-style dining, a raw bar and sushi bar, and even a children’s playground, Sliders has something for everyone in your group. With the addition of a brand new second floor oceanfront bar and deck, Sliders now offer space for over 200 guests with unsurpassed views of the beach and the sandy dunes just steps away. Sliders oceanfront location lets you marry on the beach, if you wish, and walk through the dunes right into Sliders back courtyard. Sliders will prepare the perfect menu to suit any taste for a memorable reception, rehearsal dinner, or bridal luncheon or tea. Located on the ocean next to Seaside Park, Sliders is also close Now open for special events, the Ocean Club of Amelia offers the perfect setting for your wedding festivities. New owners George and Michelle Stewart have created a magical setting sure to indulge your every desire. The coast cottage atmosphere overlooks the whimsical dunes and renowned shorelines that form beautiful Amelia Island. The Ocean Club offers both interior and ocean front exterior seating, accommodating up to 80 guests.

Whether you prefer an island casual bridal luncheon or an over the top reception, this venue is ideal for any occasion! For more information, please contact Events Manager Denease Taylor at (904) 557-6156. Google Earth Ocean Club at 2080 South Fletcher Ave, Fernandina Beach, Fl. The Days Inn & Suites is one block from the beach, and its accommodating staff is ready to handle all your wedding arrangements. The hotel can handle weddings from the very formal to the more casual, and the centrally located inn itself can serve as a hub for various fun activities. The Days Inn & Suites has three spacious banquet rooms, the Jasmine, Azalea and Magnolia, from which to choose. Each guest room has a microwave and a refrigerator, and some rooms offer kitchenettes. A pool is available to relax in or do morning laps, and a lounge offers entertainment in the evening. Because the inn is so close to the ocean, it is an ideal place to stay before and after a beach wedding, and a great place to hold a reception.

Located just one block from the beach on Sadler Road is the award-winning Hampton Inn, Amelia Island at Fernandina Beach. Their wedding specialist offers several wedding packages from which to choose. Their spacious and comfortable rooms feature all white bedding, new 32” high definition—flat paneled televisions, a microwave, refrigerator, coffeemaker, and high-speed wireless Internet access. The hotel features a complimentary hot breakfast each morning and a sizeable outdoor pool. Don’t miss the fresh baked cookies each evening! The hotel also loans their guests

beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, and beach towels at no cost.

And the central location means you can walk to the beach, a variety of restaurants or shops, and you’re just a short ride from historic downtown Fernandina Beach. For brides, the Hampton Inn also provides a free personalized wedding website and the chance to earn free rooms. This location can accommodate large groups comfortably, all with the 100% Hampton money-back guarantee.

On the Atlantic Ocean at Main Beach is the new Seaside Amelia Inn. The inn’s 47 comfortable guest rooms or onebedroom suites are elegantly appointed and include flat screen televisions, microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and Internet access, with oceanfront, pool, or sunset views. A complimentary breakfast is also included. The Seaside Amelia Inn boasts a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the ocean for receptions or events, as well as reception rooms for smaller groups or events. Enjoy a wedding ceremony on the beach and entertain your guests on the rooftop terrace, the outdoor courtyard, or the pool deck.

For honeymoon or guests’ lodging, the Amelia Surf & Racquet Club offers one-, two-, or three-bedroom condominium suites with private balconies overlooking the beach. With magnificent views of the Atlantic, direct access to a private beach, and two pools overlooking the sandy beachfront, a stay at the Amelia Surf & Racquet Club gives its guests an oceanfront vacation experience. Each suite is professionally decorated and offers amenities such as cable television, a full-sized kitchen, and washer and dryer. Free tennis on clay surface courts is included, and local golf courses, restaurants, and plenty of activities are all within minutes of the resort.

For an exclusive private wedding on Cumberland Island, Greyfield Inn, built by the Carnegie family in 1900, offers a luxurious hotel with all the contemporary amenities. The Inn specializes in exclusive and intimate three-day wedding events, accommodating 32 guests for a private weekend getaway. Famous for its wild horse population, Cumberland Island is rich with wildlife and scenic beauty, and guests can enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, and bird-watching on the tranquil island. Weddings can be held on a pristine beach or under a canopy of moss-draped live oak trees, with the reception held outside or inside the inn, which is graced by an enormous front porch and sprawling lawn.

Receptions are available for up to 75 people and the Greyfield Inn also offers wedding planning that covers everything from food to flowers. Call the Inn for more information on a romantic Cumberland Island wedding.

intimate setting for your special day. The circa 1856 Amelia Island Williams House on South Ninth Street in downtown Fernandina Beach is owned and operated by Byron and Deborah McCutchen.

Beautifully landscaped gardens and a spacious courtyard are the perfect venue for a wedding celebration whether intimate or grand. Smaller weddings and receptions can also be held in the elegant dining room and Victorian parlor. Byron and Deborah’s attention to detail has created a special place for an island wedding and they are ready to help you with all the arrangements. The beautifully restored Victorian is also on a quiet street downtown within easy range of all the restaurants, shops, and sightseeing that the downtown has to offer.

Also in historic downtown Fernandina Beach is The Florida House Inn on South Third Street, the oldest continually operating hotel in Florida. The inn was built by the founder of the Florida Railroad, Florida’s first Senator David Yulee, to serve the nineteenth-century tourists who flocked to Fernandina by rail car.

The Florida House Inn has undergone a recent renovation and it is a luxurious inn with a beautiful courtyard that can accommodate weddings of various sizes. The Mermaid Bar and restaurant at the Inn offers delicious food and live entertainment that many enjoy after their ceremony or reception. Emily Saltmarsh is ready to help you with all of your wedding planning needs.

If you are looking for more room for your wedding party, the Hampton Inn & Suites Historic Harborfront Hotel might just be the answer. Director of Sales Bill Pennington says, “‘Location!

Location! Location!’ is an old advertising term, but it really does apply as to why so many brides pick our unique destination.”

Located on the Intracoastal Waterway overlooking the Fernandina Beach Marina, the Hampton Inn & Suites offers spacious and comfortable accommodations. Take advantage of staying in the heart of the historic district—a short walking distance to many of the island’s renowned restaurants and shops. The Hampton Inn & Suites can accommodate weddings and receptions from five to 85, and offers specialty suites for all types of brides. Room types include traditional rooms, two-room suites, and deluxe whirlpool rooms. For those seeking a truly special place to rest, a stunning bridal suite and a high-class presidential suite are also available.

Pennington can provide you with all the information you need and help you with all of your wedding accommodations.

Comfort Suites Hotel is located just 135 yards from the beach. Each room at the Comfort Suites is a studio suite, oversized and comfortable, with a sleeper sofa, microwave, refrigerator,

WILLIAMS HOUSE PHOTO BY PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

AND THAT’S NOT ALL Of course, there are lots of options to choose from when you’re considering an island wedding. On Amelia, there are many lovely bed & breakfast inns that can provide an elegant and

COURTESY OF RESIDENCE INN AMELIA ISLAND

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 11

ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

coffeemaker, hairdryer, and high-speed Internet access. The Comfort Suites also features a complimentary hot breakfast, fitness center, guest laundry, and an outdoor pool. This new hotel is located in the midst of Fernandina’s Main Beach area, next to Fort Clinch State Park and only 1 1⁄2 miles from the downtown Historic District.

Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro, located in the heart of the historic downtown, can also graciously accommodate wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and private parties. Joe’s has ample seating room upstairs and down, with a second-story porch that overlooks the Fernandina Beach harbor, as well as a lush, New Orleans-style courtyard. Their helpful staff will help you design the perfect menu of carefully prepared and delicious food for your wedding celebration, and Joe’s has an excellent wine cellar to compliment whatever menu you choose.

Of course, being by the beach also means enjoying the casual beach atmosphere like at The Crab Trap in historic downtown Fernandina Beach. Located on South 2nd Street, this restaurant is a great place for a rehearsal dinner or small reception. The Crab Trap has been a local favorite for 26 years. Owned and operated by the Germano family, The Crab Trap’s nautical décor, friendly service, and great food make it the perfect place for a special Fernandina Beach celebration. The Crab Trap serves fresh local seafood, as well as steaks, lobster, chicken, and oysters. With banquet facilities, a private dining room overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, two full bars, and two fireplaces, The Crab Trap can accommodate your every need.

Nestled under the live oaks in Palmetto Walk, Bar Zin is a chic neighborhood bistro that’s all about having fun with family and friends, while enjoying great American bistro food and wine.

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What better place for a very special gathering of friends and family? With an outdoor brick-paved courtyard under the canopy cover of the live oaks, as well as a wraparound porch and elegant dining room and bar, the indoor and outdoor spaces are ready to welcome small intimate parties, or larger gatherings of up to 49 people. (The courtyard can hold another 49.) Whether it’s a rehearsal dinner, a bridal luncheon, a small reception, or just a gathering of friends, owner Tim Seyda’s passion for excellent wine and food and his attention to detail promise to make every event one to remember.

Located in Fernandina’s historic district, Le Clos serves delicious Provençal dishes by candlelight in a charming, intimate 1906 cottage. For a romantic and enchanting atmosphere, Le Clos hosts rehearsal dinners or other bridal events, as well as small receptions. But it’s not only about the atmosphere: classically inspired Provencal cuisine is finely crafted and presented by Chef/ owner Katherine Ewing, who received full degrees in both cuisine and pastry from Le Cordon Bleu and L’Ecole de Gastronomie Francaise Ritz-Escoffier, Paris, and trained at The Ritz Hotel, Paris, France. Le Clos also offer an exceptional wine selection, and their menu emphasizes the freshest ingredients, including local fresh seafood. With its superb setting and cuisine, Le Clos is the ideal place for exceptional events.

Located inside a charming historic building on Third Street in historic downtown Fernandina Beach, Cafe Karibo offers a fun and relaxed atmosphere, with several different areas from which to choose. Indoors, you’ll find colorful furnishings in a comfortable environment, as well as the inviting but laid-back bar at Karibrew, the restaurant’s own brew pub. Outdoors, a large garden patio is shaded by huge oak trees for wonderful al fresco experience. With the addition of a second floor, Café Karibo now offers spacious seating for up to 80 people, perfect for rehearsal dinners or receptions. With its unique atmosphere, well-appointed bar, and microbrewery, as well as a wonderfully eclectic menu, an event at Café Karibo is always a fun and memorable dining experience.

For a beautiful country setting, the Hilliard Mansion is a lovely, quant historic venue near Amelia Island. The Mansion, as it is known, can handle anything from intimate events to large weddings of up to 200 people. It has four upstairs rooms with a balcony and stairwell coming out of the bedroom located off the back side of the house. The stairwell leads to a beautiful private garden setting with an elegant pavilion. Brides make their entrance down the beautiful staircase to meet their groom at the uniquely designed ceremony pavilion. From there you are only steps away from the reception hall. The reception hall is equipped with a rustic bar, as well as air conditioning and heat. Four fireplaces, two upstairs and two downstairs, lend the Mansion a charming ambience. At the Hilliard Mansion, brides make all the decisions, from choice of vendors to personalized décor, so they can enjoy a wedding celebration exactly as they have imagined it.

WHATEVER YOUR HEART DESIRES Whether shaded by a canopy of ancient oaks, overlooking scenic marshes, or on a pristine beach, Amelia Island provides the perfect natural backdrop to an unforgettable wedding celebration. With its Southern charm, vivid history, great natural beauty, and abundant activities, it’s a great place for a one-ofa-kind wedding. And the many gracious establishments here on the island are ready to help you create a wedding—on any scale—that is perfect for you.

k Step back in time and make the Florida House Inn your home away from home with all the people you love most!

Recently restored 1857 inn evokes essentail Old Florida with modern conveniences 17 lovely guest rooms

Wedding and rehearsal dinners for up to 200 guests Delicious Southern cooking, fresh cocktails, and welcoming friendly staff In-house event coordinator and flower designer Located in the heart of Downtown Fernandina Beach Enjoy old southern charm within our enchanting courtyard gardens Southern Dining Restaurant and full liquor Mermaid Bar Trolley Packages Available

FOOD • LODGING • SPIRITS

22 SOUTH 3RD STREET • FERNANDINA BEACH, FL

904-491-3322 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS innkeeper@FloridaHouseInn.com • FloridaHouseInn.com

13

Ashlee & Allen

W H I T E O A K P L A N TAT I O N

By Julie Simmons

Photography by Ashley Brooke, brookeimages.com YULEE

Ashlee and Allan are both architects, and they met on the job

leading to White Oak Plantation remind guests, “You’re still in

at a Phoenix firm. “We both attended Arizona State University,”

Florida!” The reminder helps, since White Oak comprises over

Ashlee explains, “but we actually met when I was interning under

seven thousand acres of natural beauty along the St. Mary’s River

Allan, and we started dating after I finished my assignment. He

and is home to families of endangered animals you don’t usually

was a little nervous about asking out the intern,” she laughs. In

find in Florida, like cheetahs, giraffes, and rhino. It is truly a

March 2008, Allan relocated to Los Angeles to serve as architect

special place. But, on April 14, 2012, White Oak Plantation was

for the LAX International Terminal restoration project and they

particularly special for Ashlee Grubbs and Allan Lehmann, who

continued dating. During a vacation in early 2011, Ashlee visited

stood before one hundred fifty family and friends and said, “I do!”

Allan in California, and he suggested they visit the Huntington

THE

WOODEN SIGNS ALONG THE SIDE OF

14 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

GILMAN ROAD

IN

Botanical Gardens. The bride-to-be had no idea that Allan had hidden a sign among the foliage, made to look like an official Botanical Garden sign, which read: “Will You Marry Me?” As the two passed the homemade sign, Allan asked Ashlee the name of the plant surrounding it to draw her attention, and she replied, “Angel’s Trumpet,” later laughing that it was the only plant in the whole place she could recognize. Her pursuer asked again, and, when she looked back and saw the sign, she said – with a horrified look on her face – “Let’s get outta here! Someone is about to propose!” And that’s when Allan got down on one knee, with a ring in his hand. “I was still thinking he was joking, but, of course, I was thrilled to say, ‘Yes!’” Ashlee Grubbs grew up on Amelia Island, where her mom opened Artistic Florist, which is now owned and run by her sister, Brooke Raulerson, AIFD, FSMD. “After we were engaged, the one thing I knew was that my sister would do my wedding flowers and décor,” explains Ashlee.” The bride’s mother scouted AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 15

local venues for the couple to visit. “We visited White Oak, with its natural beauty on the river and the beautiful backdrop of the outdoor gazebo and animals, and we knew right away that this was our location and we didn’t need to visit anywhere else,” says the couple.

The bride left the décor to her sister. “White Oak Plantation was an absolutely beautiful venue and was extraordinary to work with in creating this wedding,” says Brooke. “All I had to do was work with nature and its natural color palette, not against it.” The bride and bridal party were dressed in ivory, which allowed the use of vibrant orange, pink, and purple as accents, explained Brooke.

The ceremony was held in the Yacht Club’s gazebo, and it was carefully planned by the bride to include people the family loved. “A lifelong friend traveled from Oklahoma to officiate the ceremony,” says Ashlee, “and childhood friends sang ‘Psalm 139,’ a song I’d requested since our high school graduation.” The bride’s uncle performed the ceremony music and wrote the song to which Ashlee walked down the aisle. Following the ceremony, guests moved to the Pavilion next door for the reception, where Brooke presented her sister with a masterpiece of décor. “The centerpieces carried the circular theme from the ceremony gazebo with hot pink, green, and orange orbs arranged in tall glass vases. Assorted orange, coral, and peach paper lanterns were inserted into the centerpieces amongst tall green flocked branches imported from Holland. The pool featured a garland of lush foliage, gerbera daisies, and roses, and finished with floating gerbera daisies,” explains Brooke.

16 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

Guests enjoyed a New Orleans-style Cajun buffet prepared by the chefs at White Oak, who also baked the mango and blueberry filled wedding cake. The River Town Band of Jacksonville entertained the guests, and Ashlee danced with her father to the song, “Go” by Plumb. Professional Wedding Consultant Lisa Presnell of Coastal Engagements worked with the couple and suggested presenting guests with a favor to remember the day.

“On Saturdays, we love to make pancakes,” says Ashlee. Brooke was ready to help. “My staff worked for hours creating favor adornments of fabric roses with ribbon leaves to sit on a purple box filled with the Banana Chocolate Chip Pecan Pancake Mix and homemade syrup,” she laughs.

Out-of-town guests enjoyed their stay at Amelia Hotel at the Beach. The couple presented each with a plastic beach bucket filled with sweets, local brochures, and a list of the couple’s favorite island restaurants. “The rehearsal dinner was at my parents’ home, catered by Billy Bob’s Florida BBQ, and, of course, Cold Stone Creamery, which my mom now owns,” says Ashlee.

As their wedding celebration drew to a close, the couple boarded a jet ski and departed for their wedding night at The RitzCarlton, Amelia Island. It was a special ending to a special day, and the two young architects were ready to embark on their biggest project yet: building a new life together.

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 17

Lauren & Heath THE GOLF CLUB OF AMELIA ISLAND

By Julie Simmons

Photography by Pam Bell Photography

“WHO DRAWS THE CROWD AND PLAYS SO LOUD; BABY IT’S THE GUITAR man…” say the lyrics of “The Guitar Man” by Bread. So it was for Lauren Richards, a music lover, who moved to Amelia Island in 2004 and set out to take in the local music scene. “I heard about this great guitarist—Heath Chauncey—and I wanted to hear him,” she explains. “Finally, I saw him at the Palace Saloon, and it’s funny, his glasses kept sliding down, and I kept reaching over and sliding them back up.” At the end of the night, Lauren left the Palace with more than a song in her heart. The couple exchanged phone numbers, and the romance began.

For their wedding, Lauren wanted a “vintage feel,” and that led the bride-to-be straight to The Golf Club of Amelia Island.

“The rustic oak trees on the property were ideal, so we decided on a ceremony on the 18th fairway,” says Lauren. In retrospect, the couple agrees it was the perfect choice. “The staff was amazing.

18 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

Anything special I requested, they delivered,” Lauren remembers.

Lisa Presnell of Coastal Engagements helped the couple plan their wedding celebration, right down to the nuptials, which she officiated for the ceremony.

On November 10, 2012 Lauren, wearing an ivory Vera Wang gown, walked down the aisle to join her groom to the tune of Bach’s “Air on the G String.” A company of the couple’s friends attended them, wearing orchid purple and black, joined by eightyfive family and friends who had gathered for the celebration.

“When you have a wedding on Amelia Island, everything is in close proximity and there are so many wonderful venues for activities—the ocean, miles of beaches, nature trails, sprawling oaks, intimate restaurants, and carriage rides,” offered the bride’s mother, Dottie Richards. Amelia Island also provides plenty of hotel options for out-of-town guests, including The Residence Inn

by Marriott Amelia Island, where Dottie is Director of Sales and Marketing. On Thursday night, there was a fun get-together for arriving guests at Sliders Seaside Grill, where everyone caught up with old friends. On Friday, the bride’s sister hosted a luncheon for out-of-town guests at Brett’s Waterway Café. “Brett’s did a fabulous job,” reports Dottie. “Special menus were printed for lunch, and beautiful wild flowers adorned the table.” In the evening, the rehearsal dinner, a catered barbeque, was held at the Chem Cell Club overlooking the Amelia River. Guests were transported to the club from the Residence Inn and back by Amelia Island Trolleys.

Later that night, the gentlemen sampled Fernandina’s nightlife.

Following the wedding ceremony, the guests moved into the Clubhouse for the reception. The popular Fireplace Room at the Golf Club includes plenty of shelf space, and the Chaunceys chose to dress it with vintage framed photos of passed loved ones. Dottie “B” Florist designed the floral arrangements for the celebration, including a collection of vases filled with purple, white, and ivory

arrangements decorated with raffia, which circled the room. “And each guest received a token of the couple’s special love of the ocean: a little Mason jar filled with salt water taffy prepared by Fernandina’s Fantastic Fudge,” adds Dottie.

On the day after the wedding, guests enjoyed a boat ride with Amelia River Cruises to Cumberland Island hosted by the bride’s parents. An Amelia River Cruise is a delight for anyone visiting Amelia. It’s a great chance to enjoy both the beautiful Amelia River, hear the history of the island, to see it from afar, and to get a glimpse at the unparalleled wildlife on Cumberland Island— complete with wild horses!

Looking back, Lauren and Heath smile remembering the guitar-shaped groom’s cake and their first dance to, of course, “The Guitar Man.” “He can make you love; he can make you cry,” the lyrics continue. When asked her favorite part of the wedding, Lauren responds without hesitating. “My vows,” she says. “I was crying, and Heath was wiping my tears and making me laugh.”

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 19

Ashley & Charles SLIDER’S SEASIDE GRILL

By Karen Miller

Photography by Amelia Island Beach Weddings

WHEN ASHLEY CAMPBELL WAS A LITTLE GIRL, SHE ALWAYS DREAMED of a beach wedding. Hailing from Dallas, Georgia, outside of Atlanta, Ashley would use any excuse to be closer to the ocean, visiting the beach with family and friends whenever she could.

One day, Ashley drove down to Amelia Island with a friend, who was dating a young man in the Navy. Ashley was introduced to their friend, Missile Technician First Class Charles A. Zander, II, who was stationed at St. Mary’s, Georgia, and, as soon as she met him, Ashley knew that he was “the one.” “People talk about love at first sight, and I never realized that there was such a thing—until I met Charles,” says Ashley. “It was like a dream come true.”

Both Ashley and Charles loved the beach, and that was the number one thing that brought them together. “We are beachy people, and we spend as much time there as we can,” says Ashley.

20 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

Charles asked Ashley to marry him one night while they were walking on an Amelia Island beach in the moonlight. “It was a complete surprise, and that’s when I knew I would have my beach wedding, just as I had dreamed of.”

Immediately, Ashley and Charles thought about using Sliders Seaside Grill for their wedding reception. They had eaten there many times and they felt the festive atmosphere and oceanfront setting would be perfect for their wedding guests. For the wedding ceremony itself, Ashley and Charles booked Amelia Island Beach Weddings to provide all of the decorations, equipment, chairs, and such for the beach, which included a bamboo arbor with flowing tulle and a professional photographer.

Sliders provided everything Ashley and Charles needed for the reception, which was held upstairs in their special banquet room.

Denease Taylor, Sliders’ Special Events Coordinator, helped the couple plan the event and choose the food for their guests. Sliders prides itself on using fresh, local seafood, but also offers a wide selection of other items that will suit all their guests. The couple’s buffet dinner included a mixed greens salad, coleslaw, fried shrimp, beef tips, flounder, garlic mashed potatoes, spring vegetables, and hushpuppies. The banquet room opens onto a lovely and very spacious porch that overlooks the ocean and the tiki bar, and that’s where Ashley and Charles enjoyed their first dance.

Ashley and Charles had to compromise on a few things while planning their wedding, but those compromises brought them closer together. “I like the color pink, and Charles likes orange,” said Ashley. “Since it was a beach wedding, I wanted everyone to be barefoot. We finally agreed on a ‘no shoes’ policy, and used both pink and orange in our colors. We also had our wedding officiant perform a sand ceremony, with different colors and layers of sand.

It was beautiful!”

The unity sand ceremony is a process that involves the groom and the bride pouring sand into a vase. As the bride and groom pour each vial of their own colored sand, wedding vows are spoken

to each other. The wedding sand ceremony symbolizes the unity of two lives joining together.

The rehearsal dinner was held in St. Mary’s at the couple’s home. Ashley and Charles’s forty guests stayed at Amelia Hotel at the Beach, Days Inn & Suites, and the Residence Inn Amelia Island, all within walking distance to the beach and Sliders Seaside Grill. All their friends and family members enjoyed a weekend at the beach as part of their wedding celebration, just as Ashley had hoped for.

Although Sliders provided all the table linens and everything they would need for the banquet, Ashley brought in her own special touches for the celebration, including colorful orange and pink table-toppers, chair covers, star gazer lilies, colorful ribbons, coral, seashells, and bubbles to go along with her beach-themed wedding.

The hit of the wedding, though, was the groom’s cake, which was an edible sculpture of Charles’ Jeep on the sands of Amelia Island, reminiscent of the place where Ashley and Charles fell in love.

Today, Ashley is working hard as a registered nurse, while her husband is busy defending our nation. Nonetheless, they always find time for each other, and, when they do, they usually spend it at the beach.

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 21

Caroline & Gregg WALKER’S LANDING

By Karen Miller Photography by Kristen Weaver Photography

CAROLINE BONVOULOIR HAS DEEP ROOTS ON AMELIA ISLAND. Although she lives in Atlanta now, the bride attended Bishop Kenny High School and Florida State University. Her mother, Penny, has worked as a front desk clerk at the Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Fernandina Beach for many years. The connections to Amelia Island are so strong that Caroline wouldn’t even consider another place for her destination wedding. Even though it’s a challenge to plan a wedding from afar, Caroline is organized and creative, and she knows what needs to be done because she and her fiancé, Gregg Willett, are wedding photographers themselves.

Caroline and Gregg chose Walker’s Landing for their reception, knowing how well that venue would photograph, and they hired a photographer from Orlando named Kristen Weaver, whose style was similar to theirs. “Gregg and I had photographed a wedding at Walker’s Landing once before,” said Caroline. “It was easy to make the decision to hold our reception there. The view, the building, the location; it was perfect.” Because many of their guests were from out of town—the Northeast, upstate New York, California, and even France—Caroline wanted her guests to be treated to as much local flavor as possible and enjoy the wedding weekend as a true vacation. To make it happen, Caroline and Penny lined up all their favorite Fernandina folks to participate in the memorable celebration, using as many local vendors as they could.

The rehearsal dinner was held at the Crab Trap, where Caroline had worked in high school. The wedding ceremony was held at St. Michael Catholic Church, and the reception following at Walker’s Landing was catered by Kelley’s Courtyard Café, close friends of the family. Amelia River Cruises provided the wedding party with a boat as they exited the event. Naturally, The

22 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

Hampton Inn & Suites offered up top-notch guest services for all of the couple’s friends and families, and Amelia Island Trolleys provided the transportation to and from the venue.

While Penny worked on the Fernandina end of the wedding plans, Caroline engaged other friends and family members in Atlanta to help her with the special details. Gregg’s mother, Nancy, sewed all the table runners for the reception, and one of Gregg’s florist friends from Atlanta styled the flowers. Caroline’s father, John, an engineer, created a special structure to hang Chinese lanterns at Walker’s Landing, and the one hundred forty guests were awed by the decorations that Caroline made herself.

The bride has a knack for putting colors together, and her wedding party (all eighteen of them!) were decked out in eggplant, brown, grey, and cream. The groomsmen wore grey suits and purple ties, with Greg in a purple striped tie. The bridesmaids carried exquisite purple and cream-colored calla lilies.

For good luck, the tradition of wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue has guaranteed a beautiful wedding and marriage for most couples over the years. Caroline’s mother Penny surprised her with something blue, a pair of diamond and sapphire earrings, to wear for the wedding.

But Caroline was full of surprises herself when she hired a bagpiper to lead a march around the block outside the church after the couple said their vows. For people of Irish descent like Gregg, a bagpiper at your wedding ensures even more luck and happiness for the newly married couple. The groom and his family couldn’t have been more pleased.

Even now, good luck continues to reign on Caroline and Gregg, whose successful wedding photography business keeps them in demand. The couple has built their business partnership in the world of weddings, and their own memorable celebration was just the beginning of their new partnership in life.

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 23

Audrey & Mark GREYFIELD INN

By Karen Miller

Photography by Ron B. Wilson Photography

AUDREY SEAGRAVES ONCE VACATIONED WITH HER FAMILY ON Cumberland Island, the southernmost island of the Georgia coast’s Golden Isles, staying at a place called “The Pink House.”

For a week, she and her family explored the beauty of Cumberland by bike, and also on foot. Audrey always remembered the magic of the island, and she knew she would return someday.

When Audrey became engaged to Mark Hyland, the couple knew that Cumberland Island would be the ideal place to hold their wedding. They lived in San Francisco, and although it was not exactly a stone’s throw from their own home, Cumberland Island was very centrally located for their other guests, who would be coming from Georgia, Washington, England, The Netherlands, and even Turkey.

24 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

The Greyfield Inn, a grand and graceful Cumberland mansion, would provide everything that Audrey and Mark needed for their weekend wedding celebration, with the help of Bonnie McGee, the Inn’s wedding planner. “We didn’t have to worry about anything,” said Audrey. “They provided our rehearsal dinner, picnic lunches, guided tours, private boats, and everything we needed for a perfect wedding.”

Audrey and Mark rented the entire Inn for the weekend, and also the two cottages available on the property. A few additional guests stayed on Amelia Island as well. Their rehearsal dinner was an old fashioned Southern oyster roast, hosted by Cumberland’s well-known naturalist, Fred Whitehead. The local oysters were served with sherry butter and various sauces, all specially prepared

by the Greyfield Inn’s Five-Star Chef, who uses local ingredients and garden-fresh seasonal produce to create the Inn’s signature dishes. “I love that the Inn provided flowers from their own garden for the rehearsal dinner,’ said Audrey. “Those small touches meant everything.” The Friday night dinner was just the start of what was to be a magnificent weekend of freshly prepared foods and impeccable service for the couple’s forty-two guests.

The wedding ceremony was a unique one, which reflected the couple’s deep, spiritual faith, including an Irish and Apache blessing, performed by Father John Oliver of St. Augustine.

Their wedding flowers were provided by Island Flower and Garden of Amelia Island. Photography was by Ron B. Wilson Photography of Jacksonville. The Greyfield Inn prepared all the food, and, in keeping with true Southern flair, guests were treated to an authentic red velvet wedding cake and mint juleps, made with the chef’s own mint syrup.

One of the reasons Audrey was drawn to The Greyfield Inn

was because of its rich and interesting history. Cumberland Island was the nineteenth-century retreat of Thomas and Lucy Carnegie who, in 1900, built Greyfield for their daughter, Margaret Ricketson. In 1962, the mansion was converted to an inn by her daughter, Lucy R. Ferguson, and her family, who oversee the daily operations. Audrey and Mark, their families, and guests found that the Greyfield Inn emanated the welcoming atmosphere and charm of a true, family home.

The romantic hotel retains the original furnishings from the turn of the century, alongside the added luxury of contemporary amenities, with the comfort of its guests in mind. “The Greyfield Inn has so much character unto itself, we didn’t even have to provide decorations,” said Audrey. The couple’s wedding invitations were vintage handkerchiefs that Audrey had silk-screened for the wedding, and went right along with the wedding theme. “The Inn itself created the vintage, old feel and style that I wanted for our special day.”

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 25

STARFISH PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS TOM BARRETT

KATRIN BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

VENUE SPOTLIGHT

The Florida House Inn

By Karen Miller IF YOU’RE RECENTLY ENGAGED AND LOOKING FOR A WARM AND charming place to host a beautiful, Southern-style wedding, the Florida House Inn offers a romantic and unique venue that can accommodate any wedding event, from the most intimate affair to a larger celebration of up to 200 guests. Their brick-paved courtyard, enchanting landscaped gardens, and a huge 350-yearold live oak tree create the most serene backdrop for a wedding.

Constructed in 1857, the Florida House Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered the state’s oldest surviving hotel. It was constructed by David Yulee when he was building Florida’s first railroad, which ran from Fernandina to the Gulf of Mexico. During the Civil War, it was used to house Union officers. After the war ended, the Inn was purchased by Major Leddy, Provost Marshall of Northern Florida, and his wife, who added the dining room and additional 26 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

living space. The dining room would later serve such notables as the Carnegies, Morgans, and DuPonts, President Ulysses S. Grant, and film stars Laurel and Hardy and Mary Pickford.

The Florida House Inn boasts a warm and gracious ambience, and Innkeeper and Wedding Planner Emily Sands will assist you in coordinating and personalizing your event. The Inn has 16 guest rooms for family and friends, as well as a lovely bridal suite, all of which include a delicious home-cooked breakfast.

The Florida House offers full-service catering and a wait staff, and Chef Marshall Sands can design a menu that will please every palate. The Inn specializes in the very best in Southern cooking, from shrimp and grits to fried chicken, homemade biscuits, and desserts, all served with warm hospitality.

“We welcome the opportunity to be the hosts of your special day, and we are confident that it will be everything—and

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY STARFISH PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS

STARFISH PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOS

more—that you could ask for!” says Emily, who has a passion for wedding planning and decor. “We are ready to customize each celebration to a couple’s specific needs because we know not every wedding is the same, and that’s what makes each one so special to us.” The Inn offers wedding day flowers and décor packages, an in-house photographer, full-bar packages, and private parking.

The Saltmarsh family, owners of the Florida House Inn, recently purchased Amelia Island Trolleys, and the Florida House can now offer special packages for wedding parties who stay at the Inn and have an off-site ceremony, or guests who need transportation around the island. The Inn also owns the Green Turtle Tavern, a local bar next to the Inn, which is a great place for a private “after-party.” “There are many options for brides and grooms here at the Florida House,” says Emily. “We offer private venues, both inside and outside space, two bar locations, an on-

site ceremony area in our side courtyard plus reception venue spaces, and complete set-up and clean-up.”

Recent weddings at the Florida House Inn have included a New Orleans-style bash, which saw the Dynamic Les DeMerle Band lead a “second line” jaunt through the streets of Fernandina Beach, and a sweet, intimate affair that featured cheery sunflowers and a talented fiddler, with the bride and groom sipping champagne from charming, mason-jar glasses.

Along with the Inn’s hospitality and amenities, it makes for a perfect destination wedding getaway, located within the Historic District, within walking distance of the harbor, great shopping, and a variety of restaurants. Innkeeper Emily believes the inn’s special charm is perfect for a true, Southern wedding. “If you are a bride that likes a vintage, old-time feel, the Florida House Inn is for you,” states Sands. “My joy is wedding planning and floral design, and the Florida House allows me to blend the two seamlessly.”

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 27

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

caring jewelry FOR YOUR

By Lindy Kavanaugh SO HE POPPED THE QUESTION AND YOU’RE WEARING your dream engagement ring. What now? Proper care and maintenance of your jewelry can help to sustain its longevity and value for years to come.

Basic care of particular stones and metals means treating them with a little bit of tender loving care, as well as periodic visits to a trusted jeweler. In time, prongs can become bent, loose, or worn, so it’s best to return to your jeweler on occasion to have them clean your ring and check the setting. Using caution when handling household cleaners and limiting exposure to chemicals like chlorine and bleach, as well as avoiding extreme lifting, squeezing, pulling, and pushing, can protect the metals that your stones are set in. In addition, take care to learn about any limitations regarding certain stones set in your jewelry because some stones – like emeralds, pearls, and opals – do not hold up well to everyday wear.

It is a good idea to take your jewelry to a professional at least twice a year for a check-up, but cleaning your jewelry at home works well, too.

28 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

Many stores sell ammonia-based jewelry cleaners that sufficiently remove oils, dust, and grime. How you store your valuables is also important. Most professionals suggest using a jewelry box lined with soft material and placing each piece in an individual compartment to prevent them from becoming scratched or tangled.

As unromantic as it may sound, it is wise to consider having your engagement ring, and other valuable jewelry, insured. Many jewelers will include a statement of value with sizeable purchases, but independent appraisals can be obtained by an accredited jewelry professional for a fee. The value of the merchandise you are insuring should be based on the replacement value, regardless of what you paid for the item. Keep in mind that appraisals should be updated on a regular basis, and most insurance companies require a current appraisal when a new policy is issued.

Jewelry is not indestructible and should be handled with common sense, along with a basic knowledge of care and handling. Life happens, which I learned when I washed my own strand of pearls with the laundry, and when I had to reset a diamond ring for a customer after the ring went down the garbage disposal. But, after all, an engagement ring, like most jewelry, has a lot of sentimental value, is very personal, and is meant to be enjoyed and worn.

Lindy Kavanaugh is the owner of Lindy’s Jewelry, located at 202 Centre Street in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach since 2001. Lindy is a Graduate Gemologist of the Gemological Institute of America, with over 20 years of experience in jewelry making and design. For more information, go to www.lindysjewelry.com.

AMELIA

COMMUNITY

THEATRE Coming Attractions at ACT ****************** The uproarious comedy...

LEND ME A TENOR April 11-13, 18-20, 25-27 at 8:00 p.m.

April 21 Matinee at 2:00 p.m.

202 Centre Street • Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach • (904) 277-4880 www.lindysjewelry.com

Everyone’s favorite...

FATHER OF THE BRIDE June 13-15, 20-22, 27-29 at 8:00 p.m.

June 23 Matinee at 2:00 p.m.

The musical comedy...

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE August 15-17, 22-24, 28-31 at 8:00 p.m.

August 25 Matinee at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are available by calling 904-261-6749, or online at www.ameliacommunitytheatre.org.

207 Cedar St. • Fernandina Beach

Amelia Island Beach Weddings ...there are no “cold feet” in the sand...

Arbor & Chairs • Beach Set Up Music • Officiant Sand Ceremony • Wedding Directing And more…

(404) 881-0420 • ameliaislandbeachwedding.com 1719 Ocean Village Dr. • Amelia Island, FL 32034 AmeliaIslandBeachWeddings

Step outof the

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PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

BROOCH BOUQUETS Brooch Bouquets are increasingly popular because they are beautiful and shiny, and brides can incorporate family jewelry into them as well. It’s a way to memorialize family members that may not be with you any longer or just to add something from those people that you love. Brooch bouquets make wonderful keepsakes to pass on within the family.

C R E AT E Y O U R

own style

By Lisa Presnell, PWC There are no cookie cutter weddings, and every couple has their own style. The number one trend for weddings this year is that couples are reflecting their love and personality in many different ways throughout their wedding. Here are some interesting developments.

VINTAGE Vintage is the leading style in 2013. It allows brides to make the old new and trendy. Brides are opting for lace, peonies, pearls, and parasols. They are choosing soft sophistication. They are including family heirlooms, china, and antiques, such as old chandeliers.

PERSONAL TOUCHES More couples are choosing DIY (or Do-ItYourself) projects to include either at the ceremony, reception, or both. Hand-made signs, chalkboard seating charts, homemade guest favors and centerpieces. Couples are really taking it to another creative level to incorporate their own personal touches. Although do-it-yourself projects can be very time consuming, the guests will definitely notice and appreciate the thought that was put into making the event special.

30 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

STATEMENT LINENS Couples are choosing linens that make a statement. Whether it’s a table runner on hard wood tables or printed table cloths, plain white linens seem to be a thing of the past. Chevron and stripes are at the top of the list of pattern choices. Lace is also very trendy with vintage-style weddings.

FUN FOOD Couples are now including more fun elements into their wedding receptions. Mashed Potato and Grit Bars, Creative Food Stations, and late night snacks like sliders are increasingly popular. Some couples are adding carnival-type foods like popcorn machines, candied apples, hot dogs, and cotton candy. The even more daring are choosing Food Trucks! The fun late-night additions include taco, French fries, burgers, or even ice cream trucks. Sign me up!

SWEET TREATS Opting for desserts versus a traditional wedding cake appears to be a trend that will stick around for a while. Couples love the idea of cupcakes because it offers such variety. Some often create centerpieces with the cupcakes. Desserts buffets are also a hot trend, including such items as a variety of cookies and little milk cartons on ice to an array of bite-sized goodies or an ice cream sundae bar.

TRANSPORTATION In efforts to ensure the guests have a super fun night and remain safe after indulging in adult beverages, many couples are providing round-trip transportation for their out of town guests. They are choosing from the basic bus or van to open air trolleys and water taxis. What better way to show your guests how much care about them?

Create your own trends and make your wedding unique as you are!

Lisa M. Presnell is a Professional Wedding Consultant, Owner of Coastal Engagements, and lia sophia Fashion Advisor. Lisa offers over 14 years of wedding an event planning experience and has lived in Amelia for over 27 years. She can be reached at www. coastalengagements.com or (904) 206-3115.

Of course, lunch ~ tues - sat 11:30 - 2 lunch/brunch ~ sun 11:30 - 2 happy hour ~ tues - sat 4 - 6 dinner ~ tues - sat 5:30 - 10

SHE’LL SAY

select wines / craft beers local artisan cheeses & charcuterie local seafood, pasta & steaks saketini’s / american bistro cuisine alfresco dining / private dining

Available for small weddings, rehearsal dinners, and bridal luncheons.

4924 ½rst coast hwy 904.310.6620 www.barzin-bistro-winebar.com palmetto walk shopping village

C LOS RESTAURANT LE

9900 Amelia Island Parkway, Suite 2 • Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 (904) 491-1550 • www.scottandsons.com facebook.com/scottandsonsfinejewelry

Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach www.robisonjewelry.com 904.261.3635

Weddings Rehearsal Dinners Le Clos serves dinner nightly by candlelight in a charming 1906 cottage.

Eclectic wine menu.

Reservations recommended.

20 South Second Street

904-261-8100 www.leclos.com

~ CELEBRATING 60 YEARS ~ AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 31

wedding scrapbook

Marquette & Luke

LEVEQUE

Misty & Tim OCCI

SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

TITANIA RADIANT PHOTOGRAPHS

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

HIGHSTONE

NOVEMBER 10, 2012

ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

32 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

BASILE

SAPP

MARCH 2, 2013

ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY

OCTOBER 27, 2012

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Courtney & Rory

Shannon & Frank

Taylor & Chris

SOUTHERN SMILES PHOTOGRAPHY

Hillary & Chuck LORIO

OCTOBER 13, 2012

PLANTATION PHOTOGRAPHY

Jinmei & Stephen HSIA

APRIL 14, 2012

TITANIA RADIANT PHOTOGRAPHS

Katie & Pierce BRADFORD

OCTOBER 13, 2012

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Family Owned & Operated for Over 30 Years!

The perfect backdrop for your perfect day.

Banquet Rooms ~ Beach Weddings Honeymoon Suites ~ Group Discounts

1997 South Fletcher Ave, Amelia Island 904-206-5600 or 877-263-5428

AmeliaHotel.com

Banquets Rehearsal Dinners Anniversaries Reunions Serving Fresh Local Seafood & Steaks Open Daily for Lunch at 11am, Dinner at 5pm 31 North 2nd Street ~ Historic Downtown Fernandina (904) 261-4749

capturing t speciall moments t for a lifetime of memories...

pam bell PHOTOGRAPHY pambellphotography.com 904.277.9681 weddings, children, families & more

AmeliaCrabTrap.com

Fernandina’s Fantastic

v Fudge u

Give your guests a taste of Amelia Island. Fantastic Fudge has been handmaking chocolates and confections for over 23 years.

Our unique wedding favors and hotel gift bags are as delicious as they are memorable.

218 Centre Street ~ Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island

904-277-4801 ~ www.fantasticfudge.com AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 33

This Alfred Angelo gown offers an elegant neckline with a satin net jacket with re-embroidered lace.

The semi-cathedral length gown is offered in ivory or white with a matching jacket, in pearl with an ivory jacket, or without a jacket.

Spaghetti straps are optional on both styles.

IMAGE COURTESY OF ALFRED ANGELO, #2379J

This Justin Alexander crystal and bugle beaded mermaid silhouette gown features 3D lace over a fully sequin-lined gown. The cap sleeves trail into a crisscross deep v-back and a sweetheart neckline in the front. Buttons cover the back zipper to the waistline, and the gown Änishes with a chapel length train.

what’s your bridal style?

Let your own unique style shine through in your choice of wedding dress.

By Julie Simmons BRIDES, WHEN YOU PEEK IN YOUR CLOSET, WHAT DO YOU SEE? AS YOU prepare to choose the perfect gown, it’s important to ask yourself, “What is my style, anyway?” What kind of clothes do I like to wear? Do I prefer fitted or not so fitted; bling or no bling; princess or traditional? Most designers agree that your wedding gown should be a beautiful extension of your everyday style. The great news this spring is that designers are offering lots of options, from the complex to stunningly simple!

If you’re a frills type of girl, how about going with the peplum skirts that are so available in today’s fashion? What is peplum? It’s a 34 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

short skirt or ruffle that sits over the primary bodice of your gown.

This look is great to accentuate a small waistline, and, depending on its shape, it is also perfect to hide a portion of the waistline.

Given the variety in peplum wedding dresses, there is sure to be a peplum gown tailored to your body shape and bridal style. The way to make it work, say the experts, is to find the one with the right proportion for you, be it oversize and asymmetrical, sleek and simple, or cropped and airy.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is the very popular corset bodice. Designers and brides alike love the look that shimmies the

The Perfect Location For Your Beach Front Destination Wedding & Reception

Imagine the waves breaking in the background as a romantic setting for your new beginning! Stroll up to our elegant oceanfront dining room and porch overlooking the beautiful beaches of Amelia Island!

Call today to see why Sliders Seaside Grill is the perfect place to celebrate your special day!

1998 S. Fletcher Ave. Fernandina Beach

904.557.6156 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS Slidersseaside.com • info@slidersseaside.com

35

Above: Angel Sanchez presents the most popular peplum skirt in his white, strapless, Åoor-length trumpet gown. Made of silk and razmir, the gown features cascading rufÅes down the back.

Above right: Justin Alexander’s mermaid gown features Queen Anne Venice lace and organza. The chapel length gown is made with a conservative sweetheart neckline, and it offers a high illusion backside with buttons covering the zipper.

waist to achieve that hourglass figure. Moving up the body, off the shoulder necklines are as sexy and romantic in bridal fashion as they are today in eveningwear.

Lace has been quite the topic the last few seasons, and this spring it continues in a flirty way, while maintaining a classic look. One favorite this season is “lace tattoos,” which create a beautiful illusion on the neckline or sleeves of the gown. Lace tattoos are being presented this spring by all the designers, including Alfred Angelo, Mon Cheri, and Vera Wang. Another noticeable trend is the disappearance of bare 36 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

IMAGE COURTESY OF ALFRED ANGELO, #8515

Right: The neckline of this Alfed Angelo dress presents bold metallic accents and includes crystal beading and sequins. The skirt is soft net and ends in a chapel train.

Downtown Hampton p Inn & Suites

L

Special Rates ~ Spectacular Location

ife f is not measured by the breaths we take, but byy the moments that take our breath away.

ENJOY ALL THAT AMELIA ISLAND OFFERS! Y Romantic Sunset Walks on the Beach Y Specialty Suites, Spacious Rooms, Fireplaces, Balconies, & Second Floor Pool Overlooking the Marina Y Walking Distance to 50+ Restaurants, Attractions, Specialty Shops, and Spa Services

Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach 19 S. Second Street

(904) 491-4911

www.hamptoninnandsuitesameliaisland.com

My

Personal Chef Special Occasions Deserve a Special Place e

Wedding, Corporate & Private Catering Donna Reilly (904) 626-1677 • (904) 556-1401 mypersonalchef@hotmail.com

MAGNIFICENT HISTORICAL MANSION SEPARATE RECEPTION HALL PRIVATE GARDEN SETTING BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED CEREMONY PAVILION • GAZEBO

thehilliardmansion.com thehilliardmansion@gmail.com 15888 County Road 108 Hilliard, FL 32046 904-707-8111 facebook.com/thehilliardmansion AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 37

IMAGE COURTESY OF ALFRED ANGELO, #2388

Above: This Justin Alexander A-line gown has beaded lace on a tulle sweetheart neckline with cap sleeves. A V-back with buttons covers the back zipper and the gown features a chapel length train.

Above right: This conservative yet captivating Alfred Angelo gown features crystal beading, soft netting overlay, satin ribbon with organza Åower, and a chapel train.

Right: An illusion bateau neckline with a jeweled shoulder and Åutter cap sleeve on a tulle ruched make this Justin Alexander mermaid gown stand out. The gown features beading at the hip into a dropped waist and a chapel length train as well as buttons covering the back zipper to the dropped waist.

arms, inspired by the royal cover-up look first popularized by Kate Middleton two years ago. Sleeves come both billowy and skintight, so brides can find the style that suits them best.

Finally, beads, sequins, gold and silver highlights continue to provide a vintage-charm to gowns; it’s a look designers love this spring. So go shopping! Take a quick window-shop through your closet, identify your style, and then share this with the bridal shops to find the gown that expresses YOUR unique style on YOUR special day!

38 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

For the wedding of a lifetime...

Resort Hotel without Resort Prices!

Amenities Large Swimming Pool • Tennis Courts Jacuzzi • Kitchenettes Live Entertainment • Steps Away from the Beach

GREYFIELD INN CUMBERLAND ISLAND, GEORGIA w w w. g r e y f i e l d i n n . c o m

888.357.7629

Days Inn & Suites 2707 Sadler Road • Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 (904) 277-2300 Fax (904) 277-1839 www.daysinn.com

Photo by Ron B. Wilson Photography

Romance Elegance, and Old World Charm Whether a large elegant wedding or small intimate affair, no venue could be more romantic.

For the Moment of a Lifetime, choose a setting you’ll never forget.

103 South Ninth Street Amelia Island, FL 32034

904-277-2328 800-414-9258 www.williamshouse.com

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 39

father

OF THE BRIDE

By Kate Harris

“One day a man has a little girl in pigtails who skins her knee and goes through his pockets for chewing gum—and the next day she wants to marry a stranger who makes something or other...” ~ from Father of the Bride by Caroline Francke IN 1951, THE PLAY FATHER OF THE BRIDE PAINTED A Norman Rockwell-esque picture of mid-century American family life, and it went on to inspire a series of films. As Amelia Community Theatre prepares to bring the play to audiences this June, we talked to two local fathers—each with a daughter named Lauren—who recently walked their daughters down the aisle on Amelia Island about what a wedding means to a twenty-first century Dad. Attorney Jim Crowley was happy to be very involved in the wedding planning process. “But, I soon realized,” he recalls, “how carefully Lauren and my wife had been thinking about this for years! I decided that my role was recognizing that someone else had the situation very much in hand. All I had to do was lose weight, walk down the aisle, and give a speech.”

As it turned out, Crowley did have something else to do when the family discovered that their 40 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

church had been double-booked on Lauren’s wedding day. The Crowleys realized this would result in two unhappy brides, so they came up with a solution. They arranged for a private wedding Mass in New York celebrated by the Catholic priest who had baptized Lauren as a baby, and later confirmed her. What made the New York ceremony even more special is that the priest is now Edwin Cardinal O’Brien, formerly Archbishop of the U.S. Military and Archbishop of Baltimore, and now based in Rome as Grand Master of the thousandyear-old Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The Florida wedding ceremony prior to the couple’s Southern-flavored reception at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, was presided over by a dear family friend who is an experienced wedding officiant.

After his daughter’s engagement Charles Richards, the Yulee High School football coach and a teacher, found himself in a less than familiar place: David’s Bridal Salon. “We went with my wife, Dottie, and Lauren’s sister, Natalie,” says Richards.

“The planner had picked two dresses, and then her sister found one and that was it. We knocked it out in about two hours. I was kind of surprised it didn’t take a little longer.” The secret to the family’s scoring a dream dress in record time? “I do remember it wasn’t the cheapest one in the store.”

Richards was concerned about the unpredictability of early November weather as his daughter had “fallen in love with having the wedding at The Golf Club of Amelia Island.” Fortunately, the forecast that Lauren’s fiancé, Heath, had found in the Farmer’s Almanac turned out to be true, says Richards. “We had a bluebird sky, and a gorgeous spot on the grass under an oak tree,” he remembers.

Do the recently minted fathers-in-law have any advice for fathers currently getting ready for their daughter’s big day? Richards said that “investing a lot of time far enough in advance helps the decisions and everything else go smoothly, even though our joke was we hoped that Lauren didn’t change her mind since we were all ready and there were still months to go.” Crowley advises planning even further ahead: “When you hear the doctor say, ‘It’s a girl!,’ go ahead and start saving.”

Amelia Community Theatre will present Father of the Bride on June 13 - 29. Tickets are available at www.ameliacommunitytheatre.org or by calling 904-261-6749.

E njoy all the amenities, all the activities, and all the excitement available to you on Amelia Island.

AMELIA RENTAL

& Management Services 5299 S. Fletcher Avenue

Rehearsal Dinners and Bridal Lunches in our private room upstairs.

Small Receptions On and Off Premises Full-Service Catering OPEN FOR LUNCH Tue – Fri 10am – 3pm

DINNER Wed – Sat 6 – 9pm

4828 First Coast Highway

321-2430

(904) 261-9129 • (800) 874-8679 • www.AmeliaRentals.com

www.horizonsameliaisland.com AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 41

FLORAL CHECKLIST

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

BOUQUETS: Q Bride Q Bride’s throw-away bouquet (separate bouquet for throw) Q Maid (Matron) of Honor Q Bridesmaids Q Flower girls’ bouquet or basket

Æowers

HAIR ORNAMENTS: Q Bride Q Maid (Matron) of Honor Q Bridesmaids Q Flower girls Q Junior Bridesmaids BOUTONNIERES: Q Groom Q Best Man Q Ushers Q Ring Bearer Q Bride’s Father Q Groom’s Father Q Grandfathers

T O B R I G H T E N Y O U R W E D D I N G D AY

CORSAGES (LAPEL OR WRIST): Q Bride’s mother Q Groom’s mother Q Grandmothers

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

TITANIA RADIANT PHOTOGRAPHS

CEREMONY: Q Altar Q Aisle or Pew Decorations Q Main Entrance Q Runner

42 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

RECEPTION: Q Table Centerpieces Q Head Table Centerpiece Q Gift Table Centerpiece Q Buffet Tables Q Bar Q Place-card Table Q Staircase Railing Q Cake Table Q Fresh Flowers for Cake REHEARSAL DINNER: Q Table Centerpieces ALSO CONSIDER: Q Thank-you Bouquet for Bride’s Parents Q Thank-you Bouquet for Groom’s Parents Q Arrangements for Out-of-Town Guests

Worldly Cuisine ~ Theme Nights Live Music Come spend the day on our beautiful courtyard and tryour award-winning brews!

Amelia Island’s Only Brewpub! www.CafeKaribo.com 904-277-5269 3rd & Alachua Downtown Fernandina Beach

a European Style florist Weddings are our specialty!

Rehearsal Dinners Complete Rental Services Fun to Formal Beach Weddings

- Island Flower & Garden 5381 south fletcher avenue amelia island, fl 32034

904.491.5056 www.islandflowergarden.com

Resort Talent

Wedding entertainment perfected.

AFFORDABLE ELEGANCE IN A WAT E R F R O N T C O A S TA L C A S U A L S E T T I N G .

Serving the brides and grooms of Amelia Island for more than 25 years. Offering the Änest musicians, bands and disc jockeys for your rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception.

904-277-2772 www.resorttalent.com Bonded, licensed and insured Florida Talent Agency TA742

Picturesque waterfront surroundings on an historic plantation with tree canopied oaks.

Call (904) 261-4773

for a personal tour www.oysterbayyachtclub.com

Waterfront ceremonies and receptions.

Weddings, Receptions, Rehearsal Dinners, Parties, and Corporate Events

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 43

honeymoon

ON AMELIA ISLAND

By Karen Miller A HONEYMOON ON AMELIA ISLAND CAN BE ANYTHING you want it to be, from an elegant, intimate, and romantic affair to a relaxing and charming getaway.

Whether you have decided to get married on Amelia Island or travel here for your honeymoon, Amelia Island is an exquisite honeymoon destination with a quiet, unspoiled ambiance.

Amelia Island is a barrier island rich in colorful history and breath-taking natural beauty. Upscale resorts with world-class spas, championship golf, and exclusive dining blend seamlessly with a captivating collection of bed and breakfast inns and historic sites.

Many of Amelia Island’s fine hotels and inns offer special packages for honeymooning couples, or anyone looking for a romantic and special vacation. There is much to do and see around the island, and plenty of time to relax peacefully with your new spouse as you begin your life together.

For couples who love the outdoors, Amelia Island is a great place for golfing, surfing, kayaking, and biking. For a more laid back and intimate experience, enjoy a spa treatment, a dreamy dinner for two, local music and concerts, dancing, art galleries, or even a theater performance.

44 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

The variety of amenities and friendly nature of Amelia Island business owners allows visiting couples to make their own plans or to put their trip into the hands of trained travel professionals.

One thing we hear a lot from visitors is that, everywhere you go, there are friendly people who will make suggestions of things to do while you’re on Amelia Island, whether they are servers from the local eateries or front desk clerks at the local hotels.

But, no matter what you choose, a honeymoon on Amelia Island is sure to be a memorable one.

In the center of Fernandina Beach, The Fairbanks House has been recognized as one of the most beautiful bed and breakfast inns in the country. Recently named the number one property in Conde Nast’s 2012 Gold List, the inn boasts striking Italianate architecture, along with rooms that are charming and comfortable, many with Jacuzzis and private porches. Innkeeper and owner Theresa Hamilton provides wine and chocolatecovered strawberries upon your arrival, as well as spa robes, upscale amenities, and free WiFi in the rooms. “We cater to romance,’ says Hamilton.

“We are all about quiet, romantic getaways, and we can accommodate every need.” Several of the oversized rooms even have small kitchens and all rooms have coffeemakers. A two-course breakfast, complimentary use of bikes, a pool and beach equipment, along with evening beverages and hors d’oeuvres, round out the carefree pampering that couples will remember for a lifetime.

Equally charming is The Amelia Island Williams House, a beautifully restored Victorian mansion on a quiet street close to the town center.

This award-winning inn features charming spacious guest rooms with working fireplaces, baths with whirlpool tubs for two, elegant bedding, and all of the amenities you need for an atmosphere for romance and relaxation. Their honeymoon packages feature chocolate-dipped strawberries, dinners for two, and romantic horse-drawn carriage rides through the quaint seaside town. A threecourse gourmet breakfast is served each morning in the dining room, plus complimentary beverages and snacks are available all day, as well as bikes, beach towels, and guest chairs for relaxing on the beach. Innkeepers Byron and Deborah McCutchen invite you to sit on their wide verandahs underneath live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss while you “wine” down the day, and enjoy views of their serene gardens, fountains, and koi pond.

The Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast, located in downtown Fernandina Beach, is an elegant 1905 Queen Anne-style mansion of gracious living of yesteryear. Known for its inviting guest and sitting rooms, three-course gourmet breakfast, and

Honeymoon with the ocean at your doorstep. luxurious amenities, this inn speaks of romantic elegance. Honeymoon packages include chilled champagne and fresh roses in the room, the use of the inn’s bicycles, and a large heated pool and spa.

In addition, the Hoyt House has a private two-bedroom, two-bathroom motor yacht available for full-day, overnight, or sunset cruises.

Located just steps from the Atlantic Ocean is the Amelia Hotel at the Beach.

This locally owned and operated hotel is convenient to area attractions, dining and shopping. “Our hotel offers spacious guest rooms with a location designed to leave guests with great memories at affordable prices,” says Holly Germano, General Manager. “Guests love the comfortable rooms with abundant amenities, Hot & Healthy Breakfast, as well as our evening refreshments—and our Lobby Lounge is the perfect place to enjoy a night cap.”

If you’re looking for a small, intimate lodge where you can fall asleep to the sound of the surf, perhaps the Elizabeth Point Lodge is right for you. With architecture reminiscent of Nantucket, it combines the twenty-four-hour service of a large resort with the quaintness of a boutique hotel. Breakfast is served in an oceanfront sunroom, after which you can settle into the rocking chairs on the porch to finish the morning paper, before plunging into the beckoning waves. “The majority of our honeymoon couples have chosen our Tradewinds oceanfront suite, which is decorated in a West Indies motif, and includes its own private sunning porch,” says owner David Caples. “Add to that around-the-clock concierge service, and a friendly, knowledgeable staff, and you’re sure to have a very special experience.”

Amelia Island is also a great jumping off place for other destinations. The Travel Agency, a local, full-service travel source, offers a network of contacts and experienced and well-traveled agents who can provide honeymoon packages with VIP status worldwide.

Honeymooning couples are known return again and again to Amelia Island, to recreate their special day. It’s an extraordinary place where new lives begin, and memories are made to last a lifetime.

904.277.4851 elizabethpointelodge.com

Luxury honeymoon packages filled with romance, pampering, history & fun.

FH

~ Now Offering Elopement Packages! ~

Fairbanks House Rated #1 in Florida on the Conde Nast Traveler 2012 Gold List In the charming Historic District of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island

888-891-9886

fairbankshouse.com

MONTEGO LIMOUSINE SERVICE

Driven to be there for you.

904.583.7337

www.montegolimo.com phil@montegolimo.com

More than just a ride, Montego Limousine is committed to value and first class service. Specializing in wedding day transportation.

We are the preferred choice for: JAX Airport • Mayo Clinic • Local Island Service • Night out AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 45

get even more ideas at ameliaweddingsmag.com.

Amelia Plantation Chapel

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

Nestled among beautiful gardens, oak hammocks and lake views, the Amelia Plantation Chapel provides a beautiful setting for your special day.

46 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

For planning details, availability and more photographs visit www.ameliachapel.com.

36 Bowman Road Amelia Island, FL 32034 (904) 277-4414

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY

An Interdenominational Community Church

island directory BRIDAL SHOPS/GOWNS ALFRED ANGELO BRIDAL STORE 9344 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225 (904) 726-8851 WWW.ALFREDANGELOSTORES.COM A FULL-SERVICE BRIDAL SALON; GOWNS

LOVE BRIDAL BOUTIQUE 434 3RD STREET NORTH JACKSONVILLE, FL 32250 (904) 242-9800 WWW.LOVEBRIDALBOUTIQUE.COM A FULL-SERVICE BRIDAL SALON; GOWNS

THE BRIDAL SHOP AT THE AVENUES 9365 PHILLIPS HWY., STE. 101 JACKSONVILLE, FL 32256 (904) 519-9900 WWW.BRIDALSHOPAVENUES.COM A FULL-SERVICE BRIDAL SALON; GOWNS

THE WHITE MAGNOLIA 1716 HENDRICKS AVENUE JACKSONVILLE, FL 32207 (904) 352-3309 WWW.WHITEMAGNOLIABRIDAL.COM A FULL-SERVICE BRIDAL SALON; GOWNS

CAKES BLISS CUPCAKERY & MORE 464073 STATE 200, STE. 9 (VERIZON CENTER) YULEE, FL 32097 (904) 849-7229 WWW.BLISSCUPCAKERY.NET WEDDING CAKES; CUPCAKES

CATERERS GOURMET GOURMET LEWIS STREET & FIRST COAST HIGHWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 261-8973 FULL-SERVICE CATERING; WEDDINGS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRUNCHES; PRIVATE PARTIES

HORIZONS CONTINENTAL CUISINE 4828 FIRST COAST HIGHWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 321-2430 WWW.HORIZONSAMELIAISLAND.COM FULL-SERVICE CATERING; WEDDINGS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRIDAL SHOWERS

JACK & DIANE’S 708 CENTRE STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 321-1444 FULL-SERVICE CATERING; RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRUNCHES

MY PERSONAL CHEF AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 626-1677 CORPORATE, PRIVATE, AND WEDDING CATERING

CHOCOLATES FERNANDINA’S FANTASTIC FUDGE 218 CENTRE STREET AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-4801 WWW.FANTASTICFUDGE.COM SPECIALTY CHOCOLATES; FUDGE; ICE CREAM

CHURCHES AMELIA PLANTATION CHAPEL 36 BOWMAN ROAD AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-4414 WWW.AMELIACHAPEL.COM WEDDING CHAPEL

DENTAL CARE AMELIA DENTAL GROUP 1947 CITRONA DRIVE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-7181 WWW.AMELIADENTAL.COM TOOTH WHITENING; SMILE MAKEOVERS; PORCELAIN VENEERS; BONDING FOR CHIPPED & STAINED TEETH

EVENT RENTAL & DESIGN BEACHVIEW EVENT RENTALS AND DESIGN 101-B COMMERCIAL DRIVE WOODBINE, GEORGIA (912) 510-3800 (877) 782-7368 WWW.BEACHVIEWTENTRENTALS.COM WWW.BEACHVIEWWEDDINGS.COM TENTS; TABLES; CHAIRS; LINENS & ACCESSORIES; DANCE FLOORS; POOL COVERS

FLORISTS ARTISTIC FLORIST 1430 PARK AVENUE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-5546 (888) 261-5546 SMALL TO LARGE WEDDINGS

ISLAND FLOWER & GARDEN 5381 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 491-5056

EUROPEAN-STYLE FLORIST; REHEARSAL DINNERS, COMPLETE RENTAL SERVICES; FUN TO FORMAL BEACH WEDDINGS

HONEYMOONS AMELIA HOTEL AT THE BEACH 1997 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 206-5600 (800) 263-5428 WWW.AMELIAHOTEL.US

WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

AMELIA ISLAND WILLIAMS HOUSE 103 SOUTH NINTH STREET AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-2328 (800) 414-9258 WWW.WILLIAMSHOUSE.COM

WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE 98 S. FLETCHER AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-4851 WWW.ELIZABETHPOINTELODGE.COM HONEYMOONS; SMALL RECEPTIONS

FAIRBANKS HOUSE 227 SO. SEVENTH STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-0500 WWW.FAIRBANKSHOUSE.COM HONEYMOONS

HOYT HOUSE 804 ATLANTIC AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-4300 WWW.HOYTHOUSE.COM

WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

THE RITZ-CARLTON, AMELIA ISLAND 4750 AMELIA ISLAND PARKWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-1100 (800) 241-3333 WWW.RITZCARLTON.COM

WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

JEWELRY AMELIA’S FINE JEWELRY 317 CENTRE STREET, SUITE B FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-0665 NEW AND ESTATE JEWELRY

LINDY’S JEWELRY 202 CENTRE STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-4880 JEWELRY; RINGS; GIFTS

ROBISON JEWELRY 217 CENTRE STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-3635 WWW.ROBISONJEWELRY.COM JEWELRY; WEDDING RINGS; GIFTS

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING ON AMELIA ISLAND SCOTT & SONS FINE JEWELRY 9900 AMELIA ISLAND PARKWAY, STE 200 AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 491-1550 WWW.SCOTTANDSONS.COM JEWELRY; RINGS; GIFTS

LODGING – WEDDING PARTIES AMELIA HOTEL AT THE BEACH 1997 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 206-5600 (800) 263-5428 WWW.AMELIAHOTEL.US WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

AMELIA SURF & RACQUET CLUB 4800 AMELIA ISLAND PARKWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 261-0511 (800) 323-2001 WWW.SURFANDRACQUET.COM LODGING; HONEYMOONS

AMELIA RENTAL & MANAGEMENT SERVICES 5299 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 261-9129 (800) 874-8679 WWW.AMELIARENTALS.COM A FULL-SERVICE RESORT RENTAL COMPANY

COMFORT SUITES HOTEL 2801 ATLANTIC AVENUE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-0193 (800) 4CHOICE WWW.CHOICEHOTELS.COM/HOTEL/FL727 HONEYMOONS; LODGING

DAYS INN & SUITES 2707 SADLER ROAD FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-2300 WWW.DAYSINN.COM RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

HAMPTON INN AMELIA ISLAND 2549 SADLER ROAD FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 321-1111 WWW.AMELIAISLANDHAMPTONINN.COM WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

HAMPTON INN & SUITES 19 SOUTH SECOND STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 491-4911 1-800-HAMPTON WWW.HAMPTONINNANDSUITES.NET WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT – AMELIA ISLAND 2301 SADLER ROAD FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-2440 (866) 245-6099 GROUP SALES WWW.RESIDENCEINNAMELIAISLAND.COM WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

SEASIDE AMELIA INN 2900 ATLANTIC AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 206-5300 WWW.SEASIDEAMELIAINN.COM WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

SUMMER BEACH RESORT 4700 AMELIA ISLAND PARKWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-8015 (800) 245-4224 WWW.SUMMERBEACH.COM WEDDINGS AND RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRIDAL TEAS

AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS 47

island directory MUSIC RESORT TALENT 1941 ISLAND WALK WAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-2772 WWW.RESORTTALENT.COM DISC JOCKEYS AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTOGRAPHERS ISLAND PHOTOGRAPHY 1401 ATLANTIC AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 261-7860 (877) 204-7114 WWW.AMELIAISLANDPHOTO.COM FULL-SERVICE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY; PORTRAITS

PAM BELL PHOTOGRAPHY AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA (904) 277-9681 WWW.PAMBELLPHOTOGRAPHY.COM FULL-SERVICE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY; PORTRAITS; ENGAGEMENT, FAMILY, AND CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY

PLANTATION PHOTOGRAPHY AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GEORGIA (904) 277-5153 - AMELIA ISLAND (912) 996-4310 - ST. SIMONS ISLAND WWW.PHOTOSONTHEBEACH.COM FULL-SERVICE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY; PORTRAITS

TITANIA RADIANT PHOTOGRAPHY (800) 718-5893 WWW.PHOTOTITANIA.COM BARBARA@PHOTOTITANIA.COM FULL-SERVICE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY; PORTRAITS

RECREATION KAYAK AMELIA 13030 HECKSCHER DRIVE JACKSONVILLE, FL 32226 (904) 251-0016 (800) 30-KAYAK WWW.KAYAKAMELIA.COM KAYAK & BIKE TOURS; CANOE & KAYAK RENTALS

THEATER AMELIA COMMUNITY THEATRE 207/209 CEDAR STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-6749 WWW.AMELIACOMMUNITYTHEATRE.ORG COMMUNITY THEATER

TRANSPORTATION MONTEGO LIMOUSINE SERVICE AMELIA ISLAND, FL (904) 583-7337 WWW.MONTEGOLIMO.COM PHIL@MONTEGOLIMO.COM WEDDINGS; SPECIAL EVENTS

VENUES AMELIA HOTEL AT THE BEACH 1997 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 206-5600 (800) 263-5428 WWW.AMELIAHOTEL.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

AMELIA ISLAND WILLIAMS HOUSE 103 SOUTH NINTH STREET AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-2328 (800) 414-9258 WWW.WILLIAMSHOUSE.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

BAR ZIN BISTRO-WINE BAR 4924 FIRST COAST HIGHWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 310-6620 WWW.BARZIN-BISTRO-WINEBAR.COM RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS

48 AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

CAFE KARIBO 27 NORTH THIRD STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-5269 WWW.CAFEKARIBO.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRIDAL LUNCHES

THE CRAB TRAP 31 NORTH SECOND STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-4749 WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; PRIVATE PARTIES

DAYS INN & SUITES 2707 SADLER ROAD FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-2300 WWW.DAYSINN.COM RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

DON QUIXOTES 520 CENTRE STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 432-7194 WWW.DON-QUIXOTES.COM REHEARSAL DINNERS

FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF CLUB 2800 BILL MELTON DRIVE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-7370 WWW.FERNANDINABEACHGOLFCLUB.COM WEDDING AND RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRIDAL SHOWERS

FLORIDA HOUSE INN 22 SOUTH THURD STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 491-3322 WWW.FLORIDAHOUSEINN.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING

GREYFIELD INN CUMBERLAND ISLAND, GA (888) 357-7629 WWW.GREYFIELDINN.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS

HAMPTON INN & SUITES 19 SOUTH SECOND STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 491-4911 1-800-HAMPTON WWW.HAMPTONINNANDSUITES.NET WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

THE HILLIARD MANSION 15888 COUNTY ROAD 108 HILLIARD, FL 32046 (904) 707-8111 THEHILLIARDMANSION.COM

A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING ON AMELIA ISLAND LE CLOS RESTAURANT 20 SOUTH SECOND STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-8100 WWW.LECLOS.COM WEDDINGS; REHEARSAL DINNERS

OCEAN CLUB OF AMELIA 2080 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 572-7998 WWW.OCEANCLUBOFAMELIA.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRIDAL PARTIES

OYSTER BAY YACHT CLUB 96732 BAY VIEW DRIVE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 261-4773 WWW.OYSTERBAYYACHTCLUB.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; FUNCTION ROOMS

PEPPER’S MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA 530 CENTRE STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-2011 96096 LOFTON SQUARE COURT YULEE, FL 32034 (904) 491-6955 WWW.PEPPERSMEXICAN.COM.COM REHEARSAL DINNERS

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTT ~ AMELIA ISLAND 2301 SADLER ROAD FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-2440 (866) 245-6099 GROUP SALES WWW.RESIDENCEINNAMELIAISLAND.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

THE RIBAULT CLUB FORT GEORGE ISLAND, FLORIDA (904) 251-1050 WWW.THERIBAULTCLUB.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; FUNCTION ROOMS

THE RITZ-CARLTON, AMELIA ISLAND 4750 AMELIA ISLAND PARKWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 277-1100 (800) 241-3333 WWW.RITZCARLTON.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

SEASIDE AMELIA INN 2900 ATLANTIC AVENUE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 206-5300 WWW.SEASIDEAMELIAINN.COM

WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; PRIVATE PARTIES

WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; HONEYMOONS; LODGING; FUNCTION ROOMS

HORIZONS CONTINENTAL CUISINE 4828 FIRST COAST HIGHWAY AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 321-2430 WWW.HORIZONSAMELIAISLAND.COM

SLIDERS SEASIDE GRILL 1998 SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 277-6652 WWW.SLIDERSSEASIDE.COM

RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; BRIDAL SHOWERS

RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS

JACK & DIANE’S 708 CENTRE STREET FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034 (904) 321-1444

WEDDING CONSULTANTS: AMELIA ISLAND BEACH WEDDINGS 1719 OCEAN VILLAGE DRIVE AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (404) 881-0420 AMELIAISLANDBEACHWEDDING.COM

RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; PRIVATE PARTIES

JOE’S 2ND STREET BISTRO 14 SOUTH SECOND STREET AMELIA ISLAND, FL 32034 (904) 321-2558 WWW.JOESBISTRO.COM WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS; REHEARSAL DINNERS; PRIVATE DINING ROOMS

WEDDING AND EVENT PLANNING

Seaside Amelia Inn ~ Reception Rooms ~ ~ Complimentary Continental Breakfast ~ ~ Oceanfront Roof Terrace ~ ~ Outdoor Pool ~ Free Wi-Fi Interent ~ ~ Located at Main Beach ~

2900 Atlantic Avenue ~ (904) 206-5300 www.SeasideAmeliaInn.com

Bliss Cupcakery & More Pure “B P “Bliss” Bli ” bbaked k d ffreshh ddaily! il

Mon – Sat 10am to 7pm 464073 SR 200, #9 Yulee In the Verizon Shopping Center Call us for a free consultation for your next event.

Stop by and see our wide variety of cupcakes baked fresh everyday!

PHOTO: JULIE PAISLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Rehearsal Dinners • Weddings Private Parties • Catering

904-849-7229 www.blisscupcakery.net

Visit us on Facebook at blisscupcakery&more

~ Flavors to Savor ~ Breakfast ~ Lunch ~ Dinner

321-1444 708 Centre Street • Downtown Fernandina Beach AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS iii

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Let us create a wedding aisle among the dunes on the beach.

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Let us make a perfect pairing of oysters and prosecco.

Let us deliver Southern hospitality so genuine it will feel like coming home.

Let us make your reality even better than your dreams.

With world-class and personal attention, we can help make your wedding day unforgettable. For a wedding consultation call The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island at 904-277-1100 or visit ritzcarlton.com/ameliaisland.

iv AMELIA ISLAND WEDDINGS

©2013 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC