Weddings in the Golden Isles P

Bobby Haven) and a bouquet that cost $186. Its dried remains are plopped in a clear vase on a red corner kitchen cabinet to serve as a precious reminder.

But other weddings on the islands are usually grander or, at the very least, more populated. I wanted to share the weddings of three friends, all of whom married on St. Simons Island.

All weddings call for some problem solving but for Sara and Bryce, it was unique: Sara’s “uncle” is Uga, the bulldog mascot of the University of Georgia; a tradition begun by her grandfather, Sonny Seiler. Since the McKinnons were marrying in the autumn, that meant they had to choose the only “off weekend” for the Bulldogs — October 22. Uga did not attend because he was resting up for the Georgia-Florida game.

Kelly Bennett and Robbie Ross

Perhaps the most inexpensive wedding ever performed in the Golden Isles was mine and Tink at the Cloister’s gorgeous chapel. It included us, the preacher, three guests, the adorable photographer Nancy Reynolds (with her “assistant”

Sara grew up on the island and faithfully attended Christ Church with her brothers and parents, Shannon and Bess Thompson. At age 14, she was confirmed in the church which was rebuilt in 1886 by the legendary Anson Dodge.

Kelly, the granddaughter of the island’s much beloved Roy and Anne Hodnett, grew up at St. Simons United Methodist Church near the village. Her first wedding, at Cabin Buff, had been large and grand. Robbie’s first wedding in Augusta was big enough that an entire street had to be shut down to accommodate the crowd.

For this second marriage, the pair agreed that they wanted a small, mean- ingful event with close family and friends. They chose the picturesque chapel of the church. In the main sanctuary, one of the beautiful stained windows was placed in memory of her uncle and namesake, Kelly Hodnett, who died in a traffic accident at age 14.

Everything from flowers to the bride’s non-bridal grown was simple and tasteful. I was among the handful of invitees and can attest to the power of the simplicity, enhanced by the participation of Kelly’s son, Colton, and Robbie’s children, Ginna and Ray.

“We both had the big weddings,” explains Kelly. “But nothing could compare to the beauty of a simple wedding attended by the people we love most. It was perfect.”

Jules Foxworthy and Brendan Corley

Jules is a young woman who is a perfect blending of her parents. She is gregarious and fun like her father, comedian Jeff Foxworthy, and pretty and thoughtful like her mother, Gregg. Though raised in Atlanta, she always knew that she want- ed a destination wedding to marry her longtime sweetheart.

“I chose Sea Island because it was a special place to Brendan, who grew up going there with his family,” Jules explained. “It had everything I could have imagined plus it was still in my home state of Georgia.”

Jules, her mother, wedding planner, Suzanne Reinhard, and the Cloister folks went to work to create a wedding that was the opposite of mine and Tink’s at Sea Island — glittering, fantastical, and unique. One special detail was the guests’ room key card with a photo of Jules and Brendan rather than the Cloister logo.

Despite the best-laid plans, rain threatened to upset the evening. “The Cloister folks leapt into action,” Gregg recalls with appreciation. “In six hours, they transformed one of the ballrooms into a garden feel. It was stunning. It was a joyful experience working with the Cloister staff.”

“Did you cry?” I asked Jeff a few weeks after the wedding.

He nodded. “Yeah, I did.”

Jules and Brendan still cry when they rewatch the video of that night. “The Cloister at Sea Island made all my dreams come true,” Jules says. “It was everything I had dreamt of since I was a little girl.”

Taking to the Sea

1. GO ON A GUIDED TOUR

If you’re new to kayaking or the saltwater marsh, nothing is better than direct experience with a local guide. This year alone I have heard about several rescues where people didn’t have knowledge of their boat, the tide, or the general conditions. Everyone was OK (including a dog), but it’s worth mentioning that guided tours are invaluable for two reasons:

2. GET YOUR TIDE CHART READY

Sea kayaking is a moving meditation and a low-impact way to explore the incredibly beautiful and unique Golden Isles at walking speed. From the massive cypress trees in the Altamaha corridor, to the seemingly endless 400,000 acres of salt marsh, the temperate weather along the Georgia Coast from fall to spring makes kayaking easily one of the best ways to get outside and get to know the intricacies of the natural landscape. However, knowledge of winds, tides, and places to go are paramount. The following is a guide on how to get into sea kayaking.

- Knowledge of waterways and conditions

- Knowledge of nature and human impacts

Go out with a local kayak tour company. I recommend South East Adventure Outfitters, not only because I worked there for three years, but the guides have tremendous knowledge about the local environment. Nothing is better than direct experience and accumulated knowledge learned from others.

Tides are the biggest determinant of when and where you should paddle. I often see people make those happy accidents of leaving at the wrong tide and coming back to the boat put in only to have to walk through mud. That’s why proper shoes like Chacos are needed. The plough mud that lines the marshes will take flip flops or shoes right off your feet. Not to mention, oysters can be at the bottom. You do not want to step on those. Local bait shops and outdoor recreation companies typically have physical tide charts. There are some apps like Nautide that work. Many websites, in my experience, are not as good as a paper tide chart.

3. WIND – KNOW THE WIND AND KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

Wind can be cruel, but sometimes no wind will bring sand gnats and make your life miserable. When I was a tour guide, I would say, “pick you poison.”

The wind is a big factor when kayaking on the coast, espe cially in bigger, more open waters such as Village Creek, the Hampton River, or other less-protected areas such as the sounds between islands. In those areas, it can often be dangerous to paddle when the wind is raging. However, the marsh grass in the creeks often provides protection from the wind, so it can be crucial to find those areas next to the marsh grass where the water is still to take a rest or paddle the creek strategically.

4. GET TO KNOW THE LOCALS

Do you ever look out your window while driving on the causeway and wonder what kind of bird that is? I saw a meme once that said, “as you get older, birding becomes your favorite hobby.” Once you begin to learn more about the sheer number of birds that call the saltwater marshes and beaches their home, you realize that you really know nothing. In the past 70 years, shorebirds have experienced a 70% decline in North America. Their decline is related to increase development along the coast and sea level rise. That is staggering. Knowing how humans impact shorebirds is the first way to reducing impact on their natural habitats.

5. BONUS – YOU DON’T NEED MUSIC

The sounds of the creaking creeks, clapper rails, marsh wren, merganser wings, tern dive bombs into the water, and spooked great blue herons are nature’s music. Some times people play music on their phone when they are kayaking. I just don’t get it. When you’re deep in the marsh and there is no sign of human civilization around, you’re in the heart of a beautifully robust ecosystem full of nuances that deserve presence. There is a growing body of scientific literature that is indicating being in nature, listening to birds, and paying attention to the small details promote mental health. All the more reason to get outside!

$100

Don’t feel like going to a clinic but still want to be seen by a provider? In many cases, a virtual visit will be just the thing! Our nurse will come to your bedside and facilitate the visit with our provider virtually.

We Can Help With:

Cold and Allergy Symptoms

Fever

Rash

Nausea and Vomiting

Sty in the eye

Yeast Infection

COVID-19 Testing

Flu and Strep Testing

UTI's

Stomach Aches and Pains

(912) 268-0099

WWW.COASTALCAREPARTNERS.COM