Washington the Magazine BRIDAL 2018

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DESTINATION

WEDDING

Rustic, historic, elegant — BoCo's a dream for the wedding minded

featuring Vendors, venues and planners — all add up to the perfect day

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 WASHINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 1

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2 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

The Harbor District is the heart and soul of Washington, and within this urban core resides our community’s unique character, history, and future.

Downtown Washington is the hub for entertainment, business, art and culture, shopping, and civic service.

Whether you’re here to shop, dine, play or even stay, there’s always something to do downtown!

Visit us at www.whda.org for more information, including our business directory and calendar of events!

Thanks to Your Generous Support,

The Future Is Brighter for These Students...

And for Many More!

Thanks to the generosity of foundation donors, this year the BCCC Foundation helped deserving students achieve their education goals by awarding scholarships and grants to 157 of our students.

Approximately 80% of our students need some type of financial assistance to complete their course of study. Your support of the BCCC Foundation makes it possible for us to help meet those needs. The return is dramatic...on average, our graduates can expect to see their salaries increase by 40% upon graduation...and over 95% of those graduates either become employed in North Carolina or are enrolled in further higher education.

Learn more about the work of the BCCC Foundation and how you can help.

Visit us in Building 1 at the college or call Foundation Director Serena Sullivan at 252-940-6326 or email serena.sullivan@bccc.edu.

www.beaufortccc.edu

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Beaufort County Community College

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5337 Highway 264 East, Washington, NC 27889 • 252-946-6194 100 NC Hwy 32 North, Roper, NC 27970 • 252-741-9090 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 3 33460 US Highway 264,JANUARY/FEBRUARY Engelhard, NC 2018 27824 • 252-925-3451

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Professional Solutions

In this issue

FEATURES & DEPARTMENTS RIVER WEDDING

IN EVERY ISSUE

30

8 10 26 50 52 56 60 62 66 67

DESTINATION WASHINGTON: Elegant, rustic, authentic — Washington hits all marks of the perfect wedding

30 WEDDING PLANNING 36

BEHIND THE SCENES: Wedding planners a vital part of pulling off the perfect day

Publisher’s Note The Scene What's in Store Cast a Line What's to Eat Calendar Word on Wine Dining Guide Why I Love Washington Advertiser Index

36 VENUE 42

THE PERFECT SPOT: County offers charming array of authentic venues

42 VENDORS 45

45 6 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT WEDDING VENDORS: All that little Washington has to offer

ON THE COVER Brandi and June Sanchez celebrate marriage on the Belle of Washington, a cruising wedding venue.

[PHOTOGRAPHY BY HALEY BRADDY]

Publisher Ashley Vansant Editorial Kevin Scott Cutler Ben Deck Caroline Hudson Michael Prunka Vail Stewart Rumley Contributors Richard Andrews Beth Baker Haley Braddy Photography Carolina Lilly Photography Inner Banks Wedding Association Will Greene Photography Advertising Director David Singleton Marketing & Sales Theresa Futas Thomas Hall Cecilia Prokos Amy Whitaker Distribution Sylvester Rogers Art Direction Elizabeth Reed Contact information Washington the Magazine P.O. Box 1788 Washington, NC 27889 Advertising inquiries 252-946-2144 Ext. 221 Subscriptions & change of address 252-946-2144 Washington the Magazine is published six times a year by Washington Newsmedia, LLC. Copyright 2016, Washington Newsmedia, LLC

A note from Ashley

THE PERFECT WEDDING

W

ashington and nearby Beaufort County communities are well known for their smalltown charm, waterfront views and eastern North Carolina hospitality.

For many, this area is home. For others, it’s a destination. For either, it’s a great place for a wedding. It has so much to offer in that regard, we’ve dedicated an entire issue to the subject.

Washington is a special place all on its own. That makes it a naturally good fit for a couple’s special day — the perfect place for the perfect wedding. From the picturesque downtown waterfront and historic district in Washington to Bonner’s Point in Bath, explore the many

local settings often chosen for the big day, starting on page 30.

Behind any fairytale wedding there’s a fair amount of work, planning and stress.

A lot has to happen before “I do.” The experience can be overwhelming, but there is help. Wedding planners can play a vital role in pulling off the perfect day. Go behind the scenes on page 36, then see if you’re ready. Check out one wedding planner’s checklist, a guide to planning your wedding, on page 41.

One of the biggest decisions before brides-and-grooms-to-be is venue. Big or small? Historic church or stately mansion?

Beaufort County offers plenty of options.

Pick your perfect spot on page 42.

The choices don’t stop with venue. It’s

all in the details. Music. Meals. Flowers.

Photography. Vendors play a pivotal role on the wedding day team. Learn how to make your picks for an unforgettable day on page 45.

As a guest, family member or especially if it finds you at the altar, I hope that your next Washington-area wedding is wonderful.

Ashley Vansant, Publisher

We would love to hear what you think about Washington the Magazine. Email us at news@ Write thewashingtondailynews.com or write to P.O. Box 1788, Washington, NC 27889. Letters chosen for publication to us may be edited for length and clarity. All submissions become the property of Washington the Magazine.

8 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

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THE SCENE BCCC 50TH ANNIVERSARY Beaufort County Community College celebrated its 50th anniversary this year with a variety of events, and in December celebrants went back to the place where it all started. The school was founded on the second floor of the building housing the Washington Daily News, which has since been renovated into luxury apartments by Scott Campbell and Bill Sykes. To wrap up the year of events, Campbell and Sykes hosted a 50th anniversary party for BCCC staff, faculty, Board of Trustee members and other stakeholders.

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Jean Woolard, Russell and Denice Smith, Dave Loope, BCCC President

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10 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

Chelsea Huggins, Denny Bolafka, Jenny Futrell

Serena Sullivan, Galen Brady, Arthur and Ginny Williams

Rod and Gina Cantrell

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Bill and Laura Staton, Jennie and Jim Singleton

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Wayland and Penny Sermons, Dave Loope JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 11

THE SCENE BCPAL DINNER DANCE On Oct. 15, the Beaufort County Police Activities League held its sixth-annual Dinner Dance at the Washington Yacht & Country Club. President Al Powell spoke about what the program aims to do and also informed the audience about the progress of the program’s Aviation, Technology and Fitness Center.

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THE SCENE SOUND RIVERS OYSTER ROAST Every November, oyster lovers gather under the lights outside the Washington Civic Center to make a meal, and a celebration, of local oysters. The annual event sells out most years, and this year was no exception. A major fundraiser for Sound Rivers, an grassroots environmental advocacy nonprofit, the oyster roast features live music, craft brews, a silent auction, chili and plenty of oysters to go around.

Bob Hudkins, Roy Carleton, Matt Butler, Joe Hester, Ernie Larkin, Keith Hackney, Frank Phelps

Fritz Herman, Larry and Jennifer Cambell

Liz Herald, Louise and Tom Parker

Jacob Canady, Nathaniel Canady, Walter Manning, Bill Mallison, Nick Bertram

16 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

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THE SCENE CONTEMPORARY ART EXCHANGE OPENING The Contemporary Art Exchange opened its doors to the public for the first time in December with an exhibit by Greenville artist Jack Blount. Washington resident and artist Tina Jandrow created the downtown Washington facility to inspire artistic exchange through exhibits, classes, gallery space for unrepresented artists and a place to have a seat and absorb the ever-changing array of artwork.

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THE SCENE TOYS FOR TOTS LUNCHEON Book clubs of Beaufort County unite each year to give back to their community through Toys for Tots. Organized by Tea and Topics member Carolyn Wetmore and a slew of volunteers, the event draws booklovers together, each bringing a new, unwrapped toy for Beaufort County’s program. The Dec. 7 luncheon was held at the Washington Yacht & Country Club and featured special guests in U.S. Military Service Members serving in eastern North Carolina.

Sergeant Nick Vallejo, Jackie Woolard, Katherine Adams, Cecil Smith, Carolyn Wetmore, Sergeant Arthur Roland

Pat Litchfield, Jane Bateman, Susan Cleve, Travis Walker

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22 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 23

What's in store

A piece of

Washington WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY ELIZABETH REED

a. b.

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24 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

e.

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Save the date:

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Help remember the day with custom made ornament keys from The Thrifty Gifter in downtown Washington. It makes the perfect gift for the bride and groom on their special day. $32 per key (h.).

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 25

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DESTINATION WASHINGTON 30 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

elegant, rustic, authentic

RIVER FOREST MANOR AND MARINA, BELHAVEN SOUTHBOUND VINTAGE RENTALS | WILL GREENE PHOTOGRAPHY

Washington hits all the marks of the perfect wedding WRITTEN BY BEN DECK

A

s the days grow warmer and hours of sunlight increase each spring, radiant flowers and blooms on trees are joined by another annual tradition – gatherings of wedding parties on the Washington waterfront for photos.

Brides in shimmering white, a rainbow of bridesmaids and groomsmen in formal attire appear like the returning blossoms, heralding the warmer days and promise of summer to come. The processions also demonstrate another enduring truth – Washington and surrounding communities in Beaufort County boast a multitude of desirable locations for wedding ceremonies, photos and receptions.

“Washington is already a special place, but as a wedding destination it becomes even more special,” said Lynn Wingate Davis, tourism development director at the Washington Tourism Development Authority.

The charm that draws couples to Washington is encapsulated in two popular nicknames for the community – “little Washington” and “the original Washington.” Although that second moniker is sometimes employed as a rejoinder by partisans who bristle at “little” as an unfairly dismissive adjective, the notion of Washington as a small town is a benefit when it comes to weddings.

Two popular themes in wedding planning these days are “elegant-rustic” – think wine glasses on a wooden barrel draped in white linen with a swatch of burlap accent – and authentic. This area checks

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 31

KENDRA AND AUSTIN | WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

both those boxes, and in doing so it “endears Washington to couples,” Davis said. “Part of the appeal of Washington is that authenticity.”

With a history stretching to the 1700s and an official name bestowed in 1776, Washington is the first city in the United States to be named for the Revolutionary War general and first president of the country. The city’s authenticity is on display throughout the Washington historic district, a downtown core where three churches, First United Methodist, First Presbyterian and St. Peter’s Episcopal, date from the 1800s and the Civic Center from 1904. The red brick interior walls in the Civic Center, a beautifully converted railroad warehouse, along with exposed beams and original wood flooring, make the site a popular venue for wedding receptions. The center hosts 30 to 40 receptions a year, and some couples choose nontraditional days like Sunday or even weekdays in part because so many Saturdays are booked early, Davis said.

32 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

But Washington’s appeal extends well beyond its historic district.

“Of course, waterfront and nautical are always popular,” said Davis, and Washington and surrounding communities deliver that experience in spades. The downtown waterfront, with its picturesque brick walkway and backdrop of sailboats and other vessels, is always popular for photos, and the gazebos of Festival Park adjacent to the water are a prime destination for outdoor ceremonies. On the east side of town, children playing at Havens Gardens park regularly are joined by wedding parties holding ceremonies or taking photos amongst the live oaks along the water’s edge or by the large flywheel from a steam engine that has been a fixture at the park since the 1970s. Picnic pavilions at the park offer guests the opportunity to hold receptions or rehearsal dinner cookouts with stunning sunsets regularly on offer.

A short drive east of Washington lands

visitors in Bath, which boasts a 300-year plus history and a picturesque waterfront of its own.

Bonner’s Point with views of Bath Creek and the Pamlico River is another prized destination for photos and outdoor weddings, Davis said. The area, known as the heart of the Inner Banks, offers the waterfront charm without the “sand dollars and seahorses” of the beach.

And Washington’s popularity as a venue extends beyond weddings. Many events are held in the community throughout the year, and it behooves those planning weddings to check the social calendar when selecting a date, Davis said. Some competing events can actually be a benefit as they offer wedding guests entertainment options, but others might provide logistical headaches. The spring weekend when the Cycle North Carolina tour comes through town, for example, is one when the tents of camping bicyclists dot the grass of Washington’s waterfront public spaces.

Those tents are not overly obtrusive, but they might not be the first choice of backdrop for a ceremony or wedding photos.

Washington also offers tremendous value, said Virginia Finnerty, a member of the City Council.

The community’s resources are available for a fraction of the cost of many competing venues.

Finnerty, who also owns the Pamlico House bed and breakfast, said she became even more convinced of the community’s value during a wedding event held at her site. A father of the bride was overheard bragging about the amount of money he had saved, and the gleeful parent’s soliloquy prompted at least one of Finnerty’s friends to encourage her to increase her prices.

“It’s all about money,” Finnerty said of Washington. “It’s a very affordable place to do a wedding.”

The Pamlico House and another local bed and breakfast, Elmwood 1820, offer the historic

CAROLINE AND NATHAN | WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

KAYLA | FOX HALLOW FARMS | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 33

KYLE'S PROPOSAL TO STEPHANIE | WASHINGTON WATERFRONT | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

charm and elegance many brides seek, but such venues also offer wedding parties much more space to socialize during a ceremony weekend.

Sitting rooms and wide porches allow guests opportunities to gather that they simply cannot find in a hotel room, Finnerty said. When a wedding party rents out an entire bed and breakfast, those socialization opportunities come with a degree of privacy that helps make a wedding that much more special.

Another city official, Mayor Mac Hodges, has been convinced of the value of Washington

34 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

as a wedding destination for more than a decade. After seeing the popularity of other area communities, especially those on the Outer Banks, Hodges became convinced that Washington as a wedding destination was a viable proposition.

“I thought it would be a good thing to get out in front of here in Beaufort County,” Hodges said.

That idea has become a reality, and Washington is indeed a destination that draws much more than locals. People who came to

know the community while studying at nearby East Carolina University come back, and even people without direct ties to the community choose Washington for their ceremonies. The downtown waterfront is one of the closest to metropolitan Raleigh and Durham, making it a perfect site for couples seeking that authenticity and charm to enhance the “I do” moment. Some couples choose to venture beyond the waterfront, opting for a wedding afloat on the Belle of Washington, and the adventurous have even proposed while skydiving from the Washington airport, Davis said. Whether sky high or down-to-earth, Washington is the total package.

“We have a lot of picturesque points that brides find appealing,” Davis said.(

KENDRA AND AUSTIN | WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 35

BEHIND THE SCENES

STACY AND BRANDYN | FESTIVAL PARK | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

Wedding planners a vital part of pulling off the perfect day WRITTEN BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

36 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

I

t’s supposed to be the perfect day — the fairytale wedding, in which everything goes off without a hitch; where the bride and groom, family and friends gather together and rejoice in a new life together.

But what people don’t often tell the bride- and groom-to-be is that getting married can be one of the most stressful things they’ll ever do.

There are so many decisions to be made, from the smallest, such as who’s responsible for, and will do a good job of, pinning boutonnieres on groomsmen on the day of, to the largest, such as deciding an overarching theme for the wedding. Band or DJ? Sit-down dinner or buffet? Wedding cake flavors and designs; choices of invitations, officiants, venues, bridesmaids’ dresses, tuxes, flowers, reception seating, food, beverages, everything from silverware to glassware to napkins to what song to dance to with the father of the bride, with the groom, receiving lines — the list is endless. Ensuring all those things come together at one time and in one place is a major task.

It’s a lot. Some might call it overwhelming. And that’s why there are wedding planners.

“A wedding planner is there to ensure that your day goes off successfully and to handle any little inconvenience behind the scenes,” said Beth Baker,

WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 37

BETH BAKER, COTTON SAILS DESIGN & EVENTS | WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER PHOTO BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

38 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

co-owner of Cotton Sails Design & Events in Washington, along with her daughter, Paige Horne.

It’s Dec. 9, and Baker is standing at a table in the Washington Civic Center, tucking white lilies and miniature white roses into a vase artfully filled with curly willow and greenery.

She’s in the process of making 15 centerpieces for the white tablecloth-covered tables spread throughout the main room of the restored railroad station. Horne sits on the Civic Center floor parsing out glass votives and filling them with tealight candles. Onstage, the band is setting up — band members singing an a cappella rendition of The Proclaimers’ “I Would Walk 500 Miles.” In the 15 minutes Baker’s been on the premises, she’s moved a bar that was delivered to the wrong place, received the wedding cake from its maker, sent someone next door to Bill’s Hot Dogs to pick up two trays of banana pudding an employee made for the reception and started on the centerpieces.

Somewhere out there, the bride and groom — on this day, it’s Elizabeth Harris and Justin Spruill — are focusing on their day and the coming ceremony and reception, as opposed to the many details involved behind the scene.

That’s the job. Baker’s been in the business for 27 years; three of them in Washington.

She and Horne do about 20 weddings a year — each is unique, just as each bride is unique.

For some, she and Horne handle all the details, working with the bride from engagement to marriage; others, they’re hired simply to handle a specific task for the wedding and reception.

“It’s not uncommon in this area that you have brides that say that ‘Aunt Susie wants to be in charge of everything,’ and they’ll come to us and ask, ‘Can you handle just our flowers?’”

Baker said.

Even taking on the job of designing

MARIA AND JOHN | COTTON SAILS DESING & EVENTS | WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER | PHOTO BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces is one less thing for the bride (or mother of the bride) to worry about.

“Wedding planners take the stress off of them. They reduce stress and allow the family to enjoy the event without concern that everything is being done and done properly,” Baker said.

Things do go wrong, pretty much always, but it’s a wedding planner’s role to make sure the bride never knows about it. And sometimes that job is expanded to mediator when tensions are high on the big day. Baker and Horne described one incident in which the stress level got to be a little too much, and they had to step in.

“We managed to keep the bride and mom from going at it,” Horne laughed.

Though wedding planners are there to reduce stress, not every wedding planner is for every bride, and vice versa, Baker pointed out.

“Personalities don’t always click. Their design ideas may not be an area that I really enjoy working with,

CAROLINE AND NATHAN | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

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but I know another planner where that’s in their wheelhouse. Regardless, we want them to ultimately have their perfect day,” Baker said. “Make sure you find someone who fits your personality and understands your vision for your day, because otherwise it could end in disaster.”

Another important aspect of choosing a wedding planner is finding someone who is intimately acquainted with the area where the wedding and reception will be held.

“Don’t try to get a planner from somewhere that has never worked that area before. They need to have a good feel for that community.

They need to have a good list of vendors that are reputable and do good work,” Baker said.

Most important for any future bride, though, is to have a budget and be practical. Baker said many brides come to their planners with

wedding ideas they’ve found on Pinterest, but what they don’t realize is that those ideas come with a hefty price tag.

“Most Pinterest weddings are $30,000 or up and are not in their budget,” Baker said. “We are glad to look at what they’ve pinned. We’re glad to discuss it with them and try to give them what they want, but within their budget.”

It’s a tough business, but one vital to pulling off any bride’s perfect day. It’s a stressful time; things do wrong, but they’re usually minor.

“We haven’t had anybody lose the rings.

Nothing’s caught on fire. Everyone’s shown up — I haven’t lost a bride or groom yet,” Baker laughed.

Pulling off perfection is nothing any seasoned wedding planner can’t handle — and nothing any bride or groom should have to worry about. (

STACY AND BRANDYN | ELMWOOD 1820 | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

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A guide to planning your wedding What to do & when to do it There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding, and any good wedding planner will keep a bride and groom on track to help them achieve their goals — and an amazing experience. Beth Baker advises couples stick to the timeline of what needs to be done and when it needs to get done. Baker is co-owner of Cotton Sails Design & Events, as well as one of the founders of the Inner Banks Wedding Association, a consortium of vendors, venues and more that cater to the wedding industry.

12+ months before ☐ Envision your wedding and draw up a budget. ☐ Assemble your “planning team.”

Consider hiring a wedding consultant. ☐ Pick a wedding date and time. Select several options, then check with your venues, officiant and important guests before finalizing. ☐ Start planning the guest list. ☐ Look for and book ceremony sites and reception sites. ☐ Ask friends and relatives to be in the wedding party. ☐ Optional: Have an engagement party.

You may want to register beforehand for gifts.

8–10 months ☐ Bride: Think about, shop for and order your gown. ☐ Envision reception food. ☐ Decide what type of entertainment you want. A pianist for the cocktail hour, strolling violinists, a DJ or band? ☐ Think about your floral décor. ☐ Research and book your wedding professionals. Interview vendors: photographer, videographer, reception band or DJ, and florist. ☐ Research a wedding insurance policy to protect your deposits. ☐ Research and reserve accommodations for out-of-town guests.

Register for gifts. ☐ Contact rental companies if you need to rent anything for the ceremony or reception, such as chairs, tables and a tent.

6–8 months before ☐ Book ceremony musicians. ☐ Order bridesmaid dresses. ☐ Start planning honeymoon. ☐ Send save-the-date cards. This is a particularly good idea if you’re marrying during a tourist or holiday season or having a destination wedding.

4–6 months before ☐ Attend pre-wedding counseling, if required. ☐ Shop for and order invitations and wedding rings. ☐ Shop for formalwear.

☐ Renew or get passports, if necessary. ☐ Envision your wedding cake and research, interview and book a cake designer.

3 months before ☐ Order wedding cake. ☐ Hire a calligrapher, if you want your invitations professionally addressed. ☐ Attend your shower. (It may be earlier, depending on when your hosts decide to have it.) ☐ Groom: Rent the men’s formalwear. ☐ Hire wedding day transport: limousines, other cars. Look into transpor tation sooner if you’re considering renting streetcars or overthe-top travel.

2 months before ☐ Mail your invitations. ☐ Write your vows. ☐ Purchase gifts for parents, attendants and each other. ☐ Book your stylist and try out wedding day hairstyles. ☐ Book a makeup artist and go for a trial run.

1 month before ☐ Apply for a marriage license. Check with the local bureau in the town where you’ll wed. ☐ Bride: Have final gown fitting. Bring your maid of honor along to learn how to bustle your dress. Have the dress pressed and bring it home. ☐ Call all bridesmaids. Make sure they have their gowns ready for the wedding. ☐ Make last-minute adjustments with vendors. ☐ Create a wedding program to hand out to guests. ☐ Order and plan in-room welcome baskets for out-of-town guests.

2 weeks before ☐ Review final RSVP list and call any guests who have not yet sent a response. ☐ Deliver must-have shot lists to your photographer and videographer.

Include who should be in formal portraits and determine when portraits will be taken. ☐ Deliver final song list to your DJ or bandleader. Include special song

requests and songs you don’t want played. ☐ Bride: Get your last prewedding haircut and color.

1 week before ☐ Give reception site/caterer final guest head count. Include vendors, such as the photographer or band members, who will expect a meal. Ask how many extra plates the caterer will prepare. ☐ Supply location manager with a list of vendor requests such as a table for DJ or setup space needed for a florist. ☐ Plan reception seating chart. ☐ Print place and table cards, or finalize list with the calligrapher you’ve hired. ☐ Call all wedding vendors and confirm arrangements. ☐ Give ceremony and reception site managers a schedule of vendor delivery and setup times, plus contact numbers. ☐ Groom: Get your hair trimmed. ☐ Attend bachelor/ette parties.

2–3 days before ☐ Bride: If you need to, have your gown pressed or steamed. ☐ Groom: Go for final fitting and pick up your formalwear. ☐ Groom: Ask the best man to make sure all groomsmen attend fittings and pick up their outfits. ☐ Determine wedding party positions during the ceremony and the order of the party in the processional and recessional. ☐ Hand off place cards, table cards, menus, disposable cameras, favors and any other items for setting the tables to the caterer and/or reception site manager. ☐ Reconfirm final details with all vendors. Discuss any necessary lastminute substitutions. ☐ Call the limousine or car rental company for pickup times and locations. ☐ Arrange for guests without cars to be picked up from the airport or train station. Ask friends, attendants or relatives to help. ☐ Deliver welcome baskets to the hotel concierge; include names and delivery instructions.

Day before ☐ Provide all wedding professionals with an emergency phone number to call on the day of the wedding. ☐ Write checks and/or talk to wedding hosts (usually your parents, if not you) about any final balances to be paid at the end of the reception.

Night before ☐ Rehearse ceremony. Meet with wedding party, ceremony readers, immediate family and your officiant at the ceremony site to rehearse and iron out the details. ☐ Bring unity candle, aisle runner, yar mulkes or ot her ceremony accessories to the site. ☐ Give your marriage license to your officiant. ☐ Attend rehearsal dinner. ☐ Present attendants with gifts at the rehearsal dinner. You’ll want to do this especially if the gifts are accessories to be worn during the wedding.

Day of Date: ______________________ ☐ Present parents and each other with gifts. ☐ Give wedding bands to the best man and maid of honor to hold during the ceremony. ☐ Give best man the officiant’s fee envelope, to be handed off after the ceremony. ☐ Introduce your reception site manager to your consultant or maid of honor for questions or problems during the reception. ☐ Assign a family member or attendant to be the photographer’s contact so he/ she knows who’s who.

Postwedding Date: ______________________ ☐ Prearrange for someone to return any rentals. ☐ Preplan for attendants to take the bride’s gown for cleaning and return the groom’s tux to the rental shop. ☐ Write and send thank-you notes to gift-bearing guests and vendors who were especially helpful.

KENDRA AND AUSTIN | RIVER FOREST MANOR AND MARINA, BELHAVEN | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

THE PERFECT SPOT County offers charming array of authentic venues

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WRITTEN BY CAROLINE HUDSON

ne of the most important aspects of planning a wedding is picking the perfect venue.

Venues set the scene. They provide the ambiance. In some cases, the venue makes the wedding. Finding a location to match a theme, while also trying to avoid breaking the bank, is no task to take lightly.

Washington and the greater Beaufort County area offer a wide range of venue options — waterfront arrangements, historic churches, striking mansions, rustic locations with a twist of southern charm. It’s all here.

Lynn Wingate Davis, director of the Washington Tourism Development Authority, said one of the most attractive parts of Washington is the affordability factor.

“Because you can find just about everything you will need for your wedding locally, the costs of having a wedding here could be much less than other coastal destinations,” Davis said. “Your

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guests will have plenty to do while they are here, like shopping, exploring, paddling and more. Photography locations are without limits. Even if you don’t get married on the water, there are plenty of places with scenic waterfront backdrops.”

Teresa Hamilton, events and facilities supervisor with the City of Washington, said some of the most popular venues in town include the Washington Civic Center, Festival Park, Washington Yacht & Country Club, Fox Hollow Farms and Havens Gardens, among many more.

Booking a venue is about finding what works for the bridal party and finding what fits the wedding itself. The bride should have a particular vision in mind.

“There are combinations sometimes.

People want the Estuarium but they want a larger outdoor space, so they will also rent outside the small gazebo to go along with the Estuarium,” Hamilton explained.

She recalled one bride who decided on Washington after her dream of a beach wedding was hindered. This area was listed with the likes of New Bern and Morehead City when it comes to capturing the waterfront feel without having nuptials right beside the ocean. For this bride, Washington was the best of both worlds.

Davis, who recently got married, offered some tips on finding the perfect spot. She said the three main areas to consider when scheduling the venue are the wedding date, the size of the guest list and the amount allotted in the budget.

“If you are going to have a small wedding, you won’t need an extra large venue. You have dreamed of an outside wedding, but you’ll need to factor in a back-up plan for weather,” Davis said. “First pick a date and a back-up

STACY AND BRANDON RECEPTION | ELMWOOD 1820 | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

STACY AND BRANDYN CEREMONY | FESTIVAL PARK | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

CAROLINE AND NATHAN RECEPTION | WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 43

date. Many venues book a year or more out. For instance, the Washington Civic Center already has weddings scheduled for 2019.”

She said many of the privately owned venues handle marketing directly, and WTDA does its part to promote the area as a wedding destination. However, the only tried-and-true way to spread the word remains word of mouth, Davis added.

With so many options from which to choose,

that’s exactly what Davis and other stakeholders try to do — spread the word. Waterfront, rustic or historic options await in this area. Creating the perfect spot for the perfect day has never been more in reach.

“Call us partial, but the venues and historic churches here make for a beautiful fairy-tale wedding day,” Davis said. “All of our venues here are unique, but it’s the authenticity that makes them unique.”(

BRANDI AND JUNE | BELLE OF WASHINGTON | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

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KENDRA AND AUSTIN | WASHINGTON CIVIC CENTER | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

ASSEMBLING YOUR Wedding Dream Team WRITTEN BY MICHAEL PRUNKA

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 45

B

STACY AND BRANDYN | RECEPTION LOCATION, ELMWOOD 1820 | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

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ooking a venue, finding a photographer, deciding on music, chasing down the most succulent meal and picking the prettiest floral arrangements.

That’s only scratching the surface on the months of work that goes into hammering out every last detail when planning a wedding. And each detail means as much as the last. For a bride, this is a day that has been imagined time and again for years prior to the stroll down the aisle. A vision of the perfect wedding day may have been evolving for a very long time.

There are dozens — even hundreds — of different considerations to make when working with all the different vendors that make a wedding and reception fit that vision. Budgets often present the loftiest of challenges. Time is another.

There are some details — those that are relatively minor — that can be finished late in the process. Vendors say that most are best squared away about four to six months, if not longer, in advance.

But there is one common denominator. Most vendors say the most effective way to make this day that’s been imagined for years into a reality is a personal relationship.

Allowing a vendor intimate insight allows these business to best tailor their services to each specific wedding.

Oftentimes that rapport begins before the groom takes a knee and proposes. That’s especially true in a community like Beaufort County.

STACY AND BRANDYN | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

“We feel as though we get the bride before she becomes a bride,” said Carryout by Chrislyn owner Chrislyn Wedderien. “They come in and buy sandwiches. They come in and buy deserts.

Then, all of a sudden, they become engaged and they know us.”

Once a girlfriend becomes a bride-to-be, there is a sort of order to be followed. Certain details need to be in place as the planning moves from one detail to the next. For example, a photographer needs to know where the wedding will take place before that aspect can be outlined.

“I need as much information as possible.

I need the date, the venue and all the other little details she has been planning,” Will

Preslar said. Preslar is the co-owner of Carolina Lily Photography and co-founder of PartyBox PhotoBooth. “Stuff that has some significant meaning to her, I love to get that information up front to make sure there’s nothing I miss.

“I typically like to take them out for a dinner to meet their significant other, and to have my business partner there so they can meet me and Stacey (Mayer) and see our dynamic.”

Working ahead is the best advice that vendors, across the board, tend to offer. Getting everything squared away months out is the best way to make sure that a bride’s dream wedding is realized. Timing is important to developing this intimate relationship with each vendor. This way they can do their part to make a wedding

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CAROLINE AND NATHAN | HALEY BRADDY PHOTOGRAPHY

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one of a kind.

Furniture rental is one of many ways to customize the setting of a wedding or reception.

“Some of the pieces we use are new, meaning my husband and I built them,” said Nancie Silvestri. She and her husband, Robert, own Southbound Vintage Rentals in Washington and will be celebrating their own 25th wedding anniversary soon.

“We just basically walk them through and find out what their need is. … I think they enhance their special day with the special pieces they do pick. … Sometimes the bride will talk to us, maybe find a piece that we have, but we’ll custom make it for her. We do that a lot.”

The planning process is a long, tedious and stressful one. Rarely does everything pan out seamlessly. If something does go awry, each vendor is ready to help however they can.

They all know how special the day is. They’re eager to do their part to make it as close to perfect as possible.

“When the bride comes to you, they have this dream — this image — because it’s their day,” said Jessica Long-Mills, who owns The Flower Spot in Chocowinity. “My biggest thing is keeping it personal. They’re important.

They’re individual. Each wedding is special and each bride is special. Having that connection is important.”

It can start a year out, or even further, with reserving a venue for the ideal date. Then it’s time to find a photographer and start thinking about details like how many people will be attending. What’s the theme? How can a caterer, a florist and others bring that theme to life? Would a D.J. or a live band be a better fit?

Soon the months whittle to weeks, then days. When the day finally arrives, know that everyone involved is fueled with passion to make that day unforgettable. (

WASHINGTON PARK | SOUTHBOUND VINTAGE RENTALS | WINSTEAD PHOTOGRAPHY

RIVER FOREST MANOR AND MARINA, BELHAVEN | FLOERS BY YOUR PERFECT DAY SOUTHBOUND VINTAGE RENTALS | MAGNOLIA PHOTOGRAPHY

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Cast a line

Inner Banks can offer complete package for tourists

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STORY AND PHOTO BY CAPT. RICHARD ANDREWS

ver the years, I have carried my fair share of bachelor parties out fishing on the Pamlico. A fishing trip is an excellent way for a group of groomsmen to pass the time and enjoy an exciting outdoor activity during a weekend wedding event at one of our many wedding venues in the Washington or Belhaven area.

Weddings have been and are continuing to become a major draw for out-of-town visitors to our area. They are just one piece of the tourism puzzle that forms the foundation for a memorable experience for a guest to our area.

As residents and business owners in a budding tourist destination, we should all work together to make sure any visitor experiences the complete package.

While the primary reason for the majority of my fishing parties traveling to this area is to fish, some are here for other reasons and are seeking an exciting and fun-filled activity while they are in town. I feel that any overnight fishing guest needs three important offerings to have a complete Inner Banks experience: comfortable and hospitable lodging, a great place to eat dinner and a fun activity such as fishing.

Fishing our river is a fine way to showcase our best asset and in my opinion, the best way advertise our area as a premier outdoor tourism destination both within our state and beyond.

I have carried anglers from all over the country and some from other countries.

Many of those anglers traveling from far away places were coming here for other reasons such as visiting family or friends; however, they returned home impressed with our fishing, and more so with how few fishermen and boats they saw on the

Tripp Andrews, 6 years old, nabs himself a late-fall striper on the Pamlico River.

water during their excursion.

Our waters are vast and beautiful and our fishery is doing well for recreational fishing. Let’s not take what we have for granted, continue to promote it for tourism as well as preserve it for our local economy and future generations.

Winter fishing forecast: In the winter, most of our fishing will be focused on striped bass (locally known as rockfish).

Our winter striper fishing is excellent, and we have more stripers in the Pamlico River than any other time in recent memory. Even some of the old-time fishermen can’t remember us having so many rockfish.

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When located, they typically bite and are very opportunistic feeders. We catch them in the winter using a variety of baits but most of our fishing is with soft plastic baits on jig heads and on fly.

For the fly fisherman, this fishery is highly productive and fun. We are doing more and more fly-fishing each year, and the Pamlico continues to prove itself as a fly-fishing destination.

Capt. Richard Andrews is a resident of Washington and the owner of a local year-round guide service offering fishing excursions on the Pamlico and nearby rivers. He can be reached at 252-9459715 or richard@tarpamguide.com.(

Advertsie with Wasington the Magazine

BUILD YOUR

BUSINESS Contact your representative today.

252.946.2144 ext.297

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 51

LOVE, MARRIAGE WEDDING TREATS on the Pamlico WRITTEN BY KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER | PHOTOS AND FOOD PREP BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

T

he church is booked, flowers ordered and guests are arriving from out of town. How can you make their stay in the Original Washington more memorable?

The simple, very southern method is to feed them, of course!

House guests won’t go hungry with a variety of breakfast dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and eaten as desired. From banana nut bread and homemade muffins to yummy french toast and a savory breakfast casserole, bridesmaids and groomsmen may be assured their tummies won’t growl during the vows.

Gift baskets for your most special of guests will be a hit when filled with mouthwatering treats, including wedding cookies, sausage balls, mints and bourbon balls.

Tuck in packets of fresh baked cheese straws and, be still my heart, toasted pecans ... well, it just doesn’t get any better.

As always, these recipes are carefully selected from the Washington Daily News’ collection of Pamlico Pantry fundraising cookbooks.

Enjoy!

CHEESE STRAWS

Delores Mayo Hodges Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church, Chocowinity 6 cups sharp cheese, grated; 3 sticks butter, softened; 3 1/2 cups self-rising flour; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Grate cheese; add softened butter. Mix flour and pepper together. Blend into cheese mixture gradually.

Using cookie press, press out into long straws. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly brown.

Can be frozen in tight-fitting container.

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WEDDING COOKIES

Barbara Hardison First Free Baptist Church, Washington 2 sticks butter, softened; 3 tablespoons powdered sugar; dash of salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla; 2 cups self-rising flour; 1 cup nuts; additional powdered sugar.

Cream sugar, butter, vanilla and salt.

Add flour and nuts. Work with hands until a ball forms. Roll in small pieces and bake at 300 degrees for about 18-20 minutes.

While warm, roll in powdered sugar.

Makes about 120 cookies.

SAUSAGE BALLS

Susan Bartelt St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Bath 3 cups Bisquick; 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated; 1 pound fresh ground sausage, mild or hot; 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 tablespoon parsley, fresh or dried; 1 tablespoon water.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together. If not moist enough, add a little more water.

Form into 1-inch balls. Bake in a pan with a lip for 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels. These freeze well before or after baking. Yield: approximately three dozen.

BANANA NUT BREAD

Lillian Eubanks Church of God of Prophecy, Washington 1 cup sugar; 1/2 cup butter or margarine; 2 eggs; 3 to 4 bananas, mashed; 2 cups self-rising flour; 1 cup chopped pecans.

Using low speed on mixer, cream sugar, butter and eggs. Add bananas and flour alternately, beginning and ending with flour. Add pecans. Pour into loaf pan and bake at 325 degrees for one hour or until golden brown.

BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Malicia Braddy The Wilkinson Center, Belhaven 1 pound sausage; 1 (8-ounce) can crescent rolls; 2 cups grated cheese; 3/4 cup milk; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 4 eggs, beaten; 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Brown sausage in skillet; drain. Butter a 9 x 13 baking dish. Line with crescent rolls. Seal sides and perforations of crescent rolls. Sprinkle with sausage and cheese. Combine milk, pepper, eggs and salt. Beat well and pour over sausage and cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Let stand for five minutes before serving.

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FRENCH TOAST

Heather Alligood Beaufort County Grange No.1233 24 slices French bread (3/4-inch thick); 9 eggs; 3 cups half and half cream; 1/3 cup sugar; 2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 1/2 teaspoon rum extract; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; confectioners’ sugar.

Arrange the bread slices in two wellgreased 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pans. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, cream, sugar, extracts and nutmeg until well blended; pour over bread. Turn bread to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 500 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned, turning bread once. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Yield: 12 servings.

TOASTED PECANS

Bettye Christian Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, Washington 1/4 cup butter or margarine; 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon garlic salt; 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce; 5 cups pecan halves.

Melt butter or margarine in a skillet and add other ingredients, except nuts, mixing well. Combine with pecans and mix well to coat. Spread on baking sheet and toast in moderate oven, about 350 degrees, for about 30 minutes. Stir during toasting so the nuts will become well-seasoned. Drain on paper towels and store in an air-tight container.

Yield: five cups.

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MINTS

Charlene Alligood First Presbyterian Church, Washington 1 box confectioners’ sugar; 1 stick margarine, softened; 3 drops oil of peppermint; 1 tablespoon milk.

Mix sugar and margarine. Add oil of peppermint and milk. Mix well. Roll and cut. Let dry.

CHEESE MUFFINS

Kathryn Brake St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Bath 2 sticks butter, melted; 1 cup sour cream; 2 cups self-rising flour; 3/4 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated.

Melt butter and add sour cream. Sift in flour, blending well. Add grated cheese. Spray Pam in each well of muffin tin before filling. This quantity will fill four small-size muffin tins a little over 3/4 full in each well. Bake in 400-degree oven about 15-20 minutes. These freeze well. Just remove from freezer as needed.

BOURBON BALLS

Ann C. Latham The Wilkinson Center, Belhaven 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar; 2 1/2 cups crushed vanilla wafers; 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped; 3 tablespoons corn syrup; 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa; 1/4 cup bourbon.

In a large bowl, mix one cup confectioners’ sugar with vanilla wafers, walnuts, corn syrup, cocoa and bourbon. Sprinkle remaining sugar on waxed paper. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls.

Roll in sugar. Store in a tightly covered container for up to one month. Yield: 3 1/2 dozen.

PECAN PIE MUFFINS

Dot Moate First Presbyterian Church, Washington 1 cup brown sugar; 2 eggs, beaten; 1/2 cup butter, melted; 1/2 cup flour; 1 cup pecans, chopped.

Mix sugar, eggs and melted butter. Add flour; mix well. Add pecans last. Pour into muffin tin, small or regular. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. This recipe makes about 18 small muffins.

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Out and about JANUARY

ALL MONTH BCTMA Jam Turnage Theatre Beaufort County Traditional Music Association hosts open jam Thursday nights from 6:30- 8:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Musicians and fans are encouraged to attend and play. Free.

For more information, visit www. bctma.org/ or call 252-946-2504.

Jan. 1

First Day Hike Goose Creek State Park 10 a.m. Walk a portion of the Goose Creek, Flatty Creek and a portion of the Ivy Gut trails, approximately 2 miles. Meet at the campground parking lot, at the last parking lot. Call 252-923-2191 for more information.

Jan. 4

Taste the Good Life Turnage Theatre 6 p.m. Don’t miss this fun event!

At Taste of the Good Life, sample savory and sweet dishes that are being considered for Beaufort County restaurants. Limited number of tickets available. $35 tickets on sale soon.

Call 252-946-2504.

Jan. 11

Senior Dance Washington Civic Center 7p.m. Singles and couples over 50 are welcome to come and dance the night away. Admission is $8. 50/50 drawing. Door prizes. No alcohol, smoking or children.

CALENDAR Jan. 13

Guitarfest Turnage Theatre 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. Get a day of guitar music. Free event hosted by the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association. For more information, visit www.bctma.org/ or call 252946-2504.

Jan. 14

Broadway on the Big Screen Series Turnage Theatre

Washington Civic Center 10 a.m. View gorgeous waterfowl paintings, one of which will be chosen as the next official Wildlife Conservation stamp. Call 252-9489415, ext. 2 or 3.

Jan. 27

Hollywood Red Carpet Gala Turnage Theatre

3 p.m. Watch the Broadway show “Gypsy” on the Turnage Theatre big screen. Call 252-946-2504.

7 p.m. Join Arts of the Pamlico for an elegant evening of dinner, dancing, entertainment and social interaction at the Turnage Theatre.

Call 252-946-2504 for tickets or more information.

Jan. 18-21

FEBRUARY

Friends of Brown Library Book Sale Washington Civic Center At this annual sale, the entire building is filled with books. From rare to children’s, coffee table to best sellers — you can find it all. Call 252946-4300 for information.

Jan. 19

Jazz & Blues Night Turnage Theatre 6:30 p.m. Free blues and jazz in the gallery, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Call 252946-2504.

Jan. 19

Movie Night Turnage Theatre 7:30 p.m. “Airplane” (1980) Comedy. A man afraid to fly must ensure that a plane lands safely after the pilots become sick. Call 252-9462504.

Jan. 23

N.C. Duck Stamp Competition

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ALL MONTH BCTMA Jam Turnage Theatre Beaufort County Traditional Music Association hosts open jam Thursday nights from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. and Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Musicians and fans are encouraged to attend and play. Free.

For more information, visit www. bctma.org/ or call 252-946-2504.

Radio Tour of Bath Historic Bath State Historic Site’s Radio Tour. Call 252-923-3971 for more information.

Feb. 1

The Quebe Sisters Turnage Theatre 7:30 p.m. This group has shared stages with Willie Nelson, George Strait and Ricky Skaggs. Triplethreat fiddle champions performing western swing and vintage country music. Multi-part, close harmonies

and Texas-style fiddle tunes are authentic Americana music displayed in a cannonball of stage presence.

Sponsored by the Beaufort County Concert Association. Call 252-9481431 or visit www.gobcca.org.

Feb. 9-10

East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival Downtown Washington Arts of the Pamlico proudly announces the return of the East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival to Washington in 2018 for the 22nd year. Venues this year will include the historic Turnage Theatre, the Washington Civic Center, the North Carolina Estuarium, and the downtown art galleries. Call 252946-2504.

Feb. 10

Harbor District Art Walk, Turnage Theatre 5 p.m. Local ar twork and receptions featured in the downtown Washington art galleries located in the Harbor District. Call 252-9462504.

Feb. 11

Broadway on the Big Screen Series Turnage Theatre 3 p.m. Watch the Broadway show "Falsettos" on the Turnage Theatre big screen. Call 252-946-2504.

Feb. 15

Senior Dance Washington Civic Center 7 p.m. Singles and couples over 50 are welcome to come and dance the night away. Admission is $8.

50/50 drawing. Door prizes. No alcohol, no smoking and no children.

Feb. 15

Variety Show Turnage Theatre 7 p.m. Hear a line-up of local musicians at the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association’s variety show. For more information, visit www.bctma.org/ or call 252946-2504.

Feb. 16

Movie Night Turnage Theatre 7:30 p.m. “Ghost” (1990). After a young man is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover of

impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic. Call 252-9462504.

Feb. 17

Race for Epilepsy Half Marathon & 5K Downtown Washington 7 a.m. For more information, or to sign up, visit www.raceforepilepsy.org.

Feb. 17

Rock the Pamlico Weekend Jam Turnage Theatre 2-4 p.m. Open jam in the gallery

hosted by Rock the Pamlico. Free to view, free to play. All levels, ages welcome. Rock, acoustic, blues — all genres welcome to play. Concessions available. Call 252-946-2504.

Feb. 22

Hank and Patti Turnage Theatre 7 p.m. Part of the regional concert series sponsored by the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association. A family friendly show, this dynamic duo fills the stage in fiddle and banjo pickin’ bluegrass style. Free admission; donations

appreciated. For more information, visit www.bctma.org/ or call 252946-2504.

Feb. 24

Bath High School Preservation Oyster Roast Selby Farm Shop, Bath 4 p.m. This annual oyster roast “with extras” is a fundraiser for the ongoing renovation of the Old Bath High School into a community center.

Call 252-948-9415, ext. 2, for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 57

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PLANNING THE BAR FOR YOUR WEDDING WRITTEN BY VIRGINIA FINNERTY

W

hat to get, what kind of wines should you choose? How much should you buy?

Even though it’s “your” day, you are still the host and your guests’ comfort and enjoyment should be your first priority.

To that end, please: Know your guest list: are they young versus older, non-drinkers, beer or cocktail drinkers?

Think about the time of year: is the big event during warm or cool weather?

Consider the menu: are you serving rich meats or are you serving lighter fare such as fish or chicken for the main course?

Be mindful of the time of day and the theme (casual, black tie, country, tropical).

Guest List: Knowing and taking into consideration your guests’ preferences is crucial. As a general rule, males and younger guests tend to drink more beer. An older crowd will be likely to prefer cocktails. And always be sure to have options for nondrinkers.

Warm vs. Cool Weather: People will drink more white wine on a hot day, especially if the event is outdoors.

Having a selection of each of the three types — white, sparkling and red — would be a good plan. If you’re serving fish or seafood, you might consider also adding a rosé to the mix. In cooler weather, people tend to drink more red wine, and your wine selection should probably be half reds, half whites and

rosés.

Menu: Even if you are a diehard white wine lover, a full-bodied red is a must-have if you’re serving rich red meats to your guests. Much the same way a crisp white or rosé should be an option if you’re serving chicken or fish.

Time and Theme: Daytime affairs are inherently considered casual even if they are not “themed.” Evening events are generally regarded as more formal but can range widely depending on the dress code and/or theme. For casual occasions, a selection of beers, signature cocktails such as margaritas or wine spritzers would be good

60 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

choices. More formal affairs would call for a more traditional selection of wines and cocktails.

A second consideration, even though most of us may not want to admit it, is that we all have a budget. Regardless of what it is — $3,000 or $30,000 — it must be considered. Depending on what your priorities are, you first need to either determine the number of guests and figure out how much you will need, so you can then determine how much you can spend per bottle or you can decide what wines you want and how much they cost, so you know how many guests you can invite. (

How much wine to buy?

One Hope Brut $17, California

For 100 guests: divide the number of guests by 2.15 = 46 bottles of wine for the event. But you should always round up, so you would buy 4 cases. By the way, this formula works for all kinds of events.

Note: if you’re serving other drinks such as beer or signature cocktails reduce the wine amount by 30 percent.

Crisp green apple, lime zest and notes of white pear abound on the palate, all cleansed by refreshing, crisp acidity. Every case sold supports Childhood Hunger and provides 25 meals.

Other money saving ideas: • For the “Champagne” toast, it’s totally OK to splurge on one special bottle for the bride and groom; for everyone else substitute a cava, prosecco or other bubbly. As important as the Champagne toast is, most won’t drink more than a half-glass of sparkling wine. So, unless your guests are all Champagne aficionados, you don’t need to buy much. Divide your guest count by 7 to 9 (7 for sparkling wine fanatics and 9 for standard).

This should give you enough sparkling wine to pour everyone a half-glass of bubbly for the toast.

• Buy vs. Rent: As an alternative, buy wineglasses instead of renting; you can find them for less than $2 per glass at most restaurant supply companies.

When the reception is over you will have a lifetime supply of wineglasses.

• Avoid Corkage Fees: choose a venue that offers wine at competitive prices or allows you to bring your own at no extra charge. It will require some time researching and will more than likely eliminate many, if not most, hotels and restaurants but will save you a lot of money.

• Buy by the Case: most retailers offer a 10-15 percent discount when you buy cases, even if you choose a mix of wines. $100 per case is a reasonable starting point.

Risata Prosecco $20, Veneto, Italy The vineyards are located in the beautiful rolling hills of the Treviso Province, which is located in the Veneto Region of Northeastern Italy. Aromas of peach and pear lead into juicy flavors of Pink Lady apple, citrus and white peach.

Rivarose Brut Rose $20, Salon de Provence, France

Gentle effervescent bubbles give forth a bouquet of berries and grapefruit in this sparkling rosé wine.

With its rose-petal hue and yummy crispness, pop the cork and celebrate!

Sparkling from $20-50 J Vineyards Brut Cuvee $48, Russian River Valley, California Nuanced aromas of Meyer lemon and the crisp, clean allure of toasted almonds. Softer notes of honeysuckle mingle with delicate yeast aromas.

On the palate, flavors of Asian pear, lime zest, and vanilla are framed by lively acidity.

Collet Brut $48, Champagne, France

Sparklers $20 and under

Champagne Collet Brut is the distinctive cuvee and identity of Maison Collet, harmoniously combining Champagne’s three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Light golden-amber color. Toasted brioche aromas with fine citrus notes. Powerful and full-bodied revealing great freshness and amazing length.

La Marca Prosecco $18, Veneto Italy 86 points

Red Wines $10-$15

This is an elegant, luxurious sparkling wine that pairs beautifully with a variety of foods.

Check out developing wine regions such as Chile, South Africa, Argentina, Portugal, Spain and

Australia for quality options in this price range.

Think about alternatives to classic varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, for instance, Monastrell, Nero d’Avola, Petite Sirah, Primitivo and Touriga Nacional, to get more bang for your buck.

$15-$20 You can pretty much buy whatever variety you like in this price range. However, consider the developing wine regions listed above to find better quality wines. If you’re looking for crowd pleasers look for Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot and Syrah.

$20-$30

High-quality American wines are easy to find in this range. You can also look into Reserva level Tempranillo from Rioja, Chianti, Super-Tuscans and aged wines from the southern parts of France such as Corbieres or Côte du Rhône.

White Wines Unless you’re a huge fan of bold, buttery, oaked Chardonnays, it would be better to select a lighter, crisper white wine because they tend to be easier to pair with all styles of foods and a better quality for the price.

Zesty Whites

For crowd pleasing whites look into wines like Sauvignon Blanc, unoaked Chardonnay, Verdejo, Vinho Verde, Pinot Grigio; they are especially good for summer entertaining.

Bolder Oaked White Wines For classic choices on a budget look for oaked Chardonnay from Chile or Spain for great value; or else, look for great Chardonnays from Hunter Valley Australia and Sonoma.

Dry Rosé It’s a great choice if the main course is salmon or if you have a seafood-friendly reception buffet.

Furthermore, rosé wines match with a wide variety of cuisines including Indian, Mexican, sushi and Thai. Fun fact: dry Rosé is one of the fastest growing categories of wine purchases in the US.

WEDDING WINE CALCULATOR

sparkling

rosé

white

red

outdoor wedding sparkling

white

2.15

indoor wedding

red

# of guests Total bottles of wine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 | WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE • 61

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Why I love Washington Home is where the heart is WRITTEN BY BETH BAKER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VAIL STEWART RUMLEY

S

itting in The Meeting Place Café, listening to the laughter from a group of lifelong friends a table away, I observe the slow pace of traffic moving through the downtown street. I have been evaluating life and the world around me more frequently of late and appreciating the inner peace that this waterfront town brings to my heart and soul. Home, by definition means “where one lives,” and although I was not born in Washington, it is one of the places I have always felt most at home. Washington is an eclectic community that is home to generations of locals and transplants from near and far, which offers such diversity, there is no way

one can’t feel at home here.

Spending the day browsing local art galleries, sampling tasty morsels from the bakeries and restaurants or shopping in any of the local shops, is guaranteed to bring friendly smiles, animated conversations and a new treasure or two. Strolling along the boardwalk often yields more than just a beautiful river view and a variety of boats to admire.

It is not unusual to meet travelers from along the eastern seaboard, nor is it unusual to meet people visiting this charming and historic town in search of their new “home.” Just when you think the day couldn’t get any better, you are very likely to witness one of the most

66 • WASHINGTON THE MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

vibrant sunsets you have ever seen. If you are fortunate, you can find a seat on the patio of a local wine bar or bistro and sip a refreshing beverage and let the beauty of the sunset wash your cares away and soothe your soul. You may even hear fellow patio mates say, “There’s no place like home.”

So, as I make my way through town, saying hello to friends and strangers alike, I admire the architecture and charm that surrounds me. I smile as a warmth envelops my soul, and my heart says, “It’s good to be home.”

Beth Baker is co-owner of Cotton Sails Design & Events and The Wine Crate, both located in downtown Washington. (

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