Williams House Happenings | Amelia Island Williams House, Fernandina Beach, FL

Archive for the ‘Williams House Happenings’ Category

Room Changes at Williams House

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

We have recently changed the room “Confederate Memories” to “Southern Memories” and have completed a thorough make-over. It now has a king size bed, new furniture, new draperies, fresh linens, and painted walls. Earlier we had added a column in the bath to make a more romantic feel. Taken together we believe the room is now on par with any in the Inn and recent occupancy suggests visitors agree. Some new photos are attached to highlight the changes. Come and experience the our new look!

King size bed awaits guests

Light and airy with new furniture and wall color

Seating area

Large whirlpool tub

Tags: Guest Experiences, williams house rooms
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Everything’s Blooming on Amelia Island

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Spring has come early to Amelia Island and it seems everything is at least a month ahead of schedule. As of March 14, Azaleas are nearly bloomed out and all spring flowers are entering the rotation at a fast pace. Many of the flowers we often lose when winters are colder have survived and are growing again. Attached are a few photos of flowers in and around the Williams House.

Williams House front yard

Pick your favorite color

Loaded with blooms

Williams House rose garden area

Tags: williams house gardens
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Amelia Island Williams House December Wedding

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Wedding family on Williams House porch

John and Keri from Texas gathered at the Williams House just before Christmas for a beautiful December wedding. It’s been a warm fall, but their special day was a bit cool but sunny and beautiful. Keri joined John on the Williams House front porch and recited vows with Byron while guests looked on. The reception followed in our courtyard under the 500 year old live oak. Deborah prepared a variety of tasty items followed by a beautiful wedding cake and a champagne toast.

Bride and groom recite vows with Byron

Wedding cake

Team color cupcakes

Wedding guests enjoy reception

Cinnamon enjoys reception his way

Cake cutting

Champagne toast for the lovely couple

Tags: williams house weddings
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Williams House Tea Party

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Tis the season to be jolly…and have tea at the Williams House. A group of ladies joined us for a festive start to the Holiday season with a tea prepared by Deborah with finger sandwiches, scones, chicken salad pastry, cheese pastry, and sesame sticks. Dessert included chocolate covered strawberries, cookies of several varieties, and filled pastries! It was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and enjoy the Williams House.

Williams House set for Tea

Ready for Tea

Enjoying Tea

Tags: Amelia Island Activities, Guest Experiences, tea party
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Thanksgiving Tea and Carriage Rides at Amelia Island Williams House

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Tea set for Williams House guests

This Thanksgiving holiday we provided an afternoon tea and carriage rides for guests of the Williams House as well as an evening dinner at a local restaurant. Deborah prepared tasty finger foods served with hot tea, iced tea, punch and several nice dessert options. Either before or after tea, guests could ride with Amelia Island Carriages for a tour of several historic homes and learn about the rich history of Amelia Island. We try to change our packages each year and this is the first time we have had carriage rides on Thanksgiving. Served from 2-4 pm the Tea was the perfect bridge between our full and delicious breakfast and the 6 pm timing for the main Thanksgiving meal. As the official taste tester at the Williams House, Byron sampled all the offerings and deemed them satisfyingly tasty! Meanwhile, Cinnamon enjoyed a long afternoon nap on the porch and multiple visits from guests willing to provide love and petting. Seems he has little evidence to judge holidays as being different from his usual day at the Inn.

Fireplace and Christmas decorations add to ambiance of Tea

Deborah describes food choices to guests

Guests prepare to enjoy carriage ride

Cinnamon relaxes

Checking out the carriage

Tags: Amelia Island Activities, Carriage Rides, Guest Experiences, Holidays
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Weddings at Amelia Island Williams House

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Williams House Wedding in rose garden

We’ve had several weddings and a vow renewal this fall at the Williams House ranging in size from two to eighty people. Most weddings are held on the front porch but in smaller groups we often use the rose garden, or beneath the 500 year old live oak in the back courtyard. Receptions are mostly in the back courtyard and are generally Deborah’s delicious food creations although a few of the larger weddings have used local restaurants or caterer’s. Byron performs many of the ceremonies since in Florida you need only be a notary to perform weddings. We enjoy the process for weddings from the first time meeting bride or bride and groom through the visits by family and friends and exploring how the Williams House can make a destination wedding fulfill the dreams of brides. Most weddings are coordinated by Deborah and the bride and groom generally need only plan for centerpieces, get a license, choose appropriate attire, and show up. We really enjoy taking the hassle out of the wedding process and letting the bride and groom enjoy their special day and their family and friends. A sampling of photos from recent weddings are attached.

Tags: Guest Experiences, williams house weddings
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Williams House Honored in Food and Wine Magazine and Yahoo

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Williams House wedding

Food and Wine Magazine featured an article on the Top Ten B&B’s in America this summer and the Williams House was listed as the number two in on their list. Yahoo then picked up this article and put it on their website under travel and again listed the Williams House as one of the top ten Inns in America. Our internet traffic picked up considerably and we have had numerous people call to congratulate us, and others to book rooms at our Inn based on these rankings. It is always a pleasure for us to receive such an honor and we know we have to earn it with every guest and the way they experience the Williams House. A few weeks ago we were sitting on the front porch with a couple who were married at the Williams house one year ago, Ken and Joann. They were kind enough to share a bottle of very nice champagne as we relived their beautiful and memorable wedding. Like many couples they find that friends and family treasure the memories created by having their wedding at our B&B and enjoy the special interaction and experience of staying here. They said wedding guests not only remember where the wedding was held but also which room they stayed in. We really enjoy the personal relationships we develop with guests and it is perhaps the most rewarding part of our job. It’s always fun to see a returning guest knowing we will have the opportunity to catch up on their lives and share what’s been going on in the B&B and the area. We appreciate the honor bestowed on the Williams House by Food and Wine Magazine and Yahoo and look forward to providing an excellent experience to many new and returning guests in the near future.

Tags: Williams House awards
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Cinnamon at the Williams House

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Relaxing by big tree

Hi-my name is Cinnamon.

I’m the resident cat at the Amelia Island Williams House. Byron and Deborah own the Williams House and they live here all the time. They don’t let me come inside because they say some guests may be allergic to me, but that’s OK cause its usually nice weather here in Florida. There are three houses here so I have some really cool or warm places to nap depending on the time of year. Usually you can find me along one of the porches. They have a courtyard with a fish pond and that is my favorite drinking fountain. I watch the fish, but don’t think I could catch them. I love being at the Williams House because they have people coming here to stay all the time and that means I get lots of petting and scratching and sometimes the guest will feed me or give me treats. There are squirrels here and I hear Deborah complaining about them eating the bird seed in the feeder. I tried to chase them up the huge oak tree in the courtyard, but I got stuck and it took me awhile to get back down. So now I just watch them.

Byron is a softy and keeps kitty treats by their front door. If I run fast enough and get to the door before him he will toss me a couple. Each morning I wait for them to get up and fix breakfast. Sometimes I get to sample breakfast casserole, but I’ve noticed if there are lots of people here I have to eat dry cat food. Deborah gave me some wet food one day and I’ve been hooked on it ever since. Of course I also need my milk after the main course!

The Williams House is really fun. They do special events like weddings. Sometime I like to walk down the sidewalk with the girl in the white dress. Byron is always waiting for her with some other people. They say a bunch of words, then everybody claps. They get on this pretty white carriage and go for a ride with Boomer, the carriage horse. He is really big and I try to stay out of the way for fear he’ll step on me. He eats even more than me! Deborah makes really good food for the party afterwards. My favorite is shrimp. After everyone eats and dances awhile they cut this really big cake and pass it out to the guests. Byron let me taste it once and now it’s one of my favorties.

Well, I see a car pulling up, so I must go see if some tender loving care can be had from the new arrivals. Oh they look real friendly. Now if they just have some treats………

My official portrait

Cinnamon on back ledge

Tags: Guest Experiences, Owner activities
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Exploring Fort Clinch with Family

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Byron's brother Gary at entrance to Fort Clinch

Byron’s brother Gary visited recently from Raleigh, NC and we had the opportunity to introduce him to one of our favorite local attractions, Fort Clinch, an historical Florida State Park. Started as part of the United States coastal defense system before the civil war, it never really saw action although Union soldiers occupied the fort during the war. It was worked on again as part of the 1930′s WPA projects as were many of these early forts. Since then it has been worked on with volunteers and donations and is largely intact and complete. It is usually manned by at least one soldier in period uniform who will gladly enlighten you on what life was like in the fort during the 1860′s. On the first weekend of each month in the summer, reenactments are staged with larger numbers of soldiers joining the historic setting. There are numerous tunnel like alley ways to and from various parts of the fort, cannons atop the walls, gun turrets, a dry moat, powder rooms, officer and enlisted quarters, jail, kitchen and blacksmith shop. The fort is about four miles from the current Fernandina Beach historic district and sits at the northern most point of Amelia Island. There is beach access and a fishing pier within the park as well. Views north to the south end of Cumberland Island are available from atop the river side walls. We always encourage guests at the Williams House to find time to visit this little piece of history and try to imagine what life was like on Amelia Island in the 1800′s.

Quarter masters office at Ft. Clinch

Bunk bed's in officer's room

View of ocean from gun port

Soldier explains gun turret workings

Cannon aimed along fort perimeter

Tunnel leading to gun turret

Ammunition storage

Gary climbs to the turret

Byron rests by the cannon

View of fishing pier and beach

Cumberland Island view

Tags: Amelia Island Activities, local attractions
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Cinnamon Enjoys May Weddings at Amelia Island Williams House

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

Bride Kinsee in rose garden

Cinnamon, our resident cat at the Williams House loves outdoor weddings, especially those with food that includes shrimp or fish. Our May weddings provided food to his liking. We began May with Bayne and Kinsee who set a Williams House record with eight groomsman and bridesmaids in attendance. Byron performed the ceremony and Deborah provided all the food on a day that began with some showers but turned into a beautiful afternoon for a wedding. Amelia Island Carriages with Boomer pulling a beautiful white carriage delivered the bride to the ceremony on the front lawn of the Williams House to meet her groom. The reception followed in our beautiful flower lined courtyard underneath the shade of the old oak tree. Guest enjoyed a wonderful fare and wedding cake decorated with dark blue trim that matched bridesmaids and table center pieces.

Boomer takes bride and groom for a ride

Eight beautiful Bridesmaids and handsome groomsmen

Friends and family enjoy reception

Bride and groom cutting cake

Cinnamon enjoys the event

Jennifer and Dad enter rose garden

Our next wedding was for Jennifer and Jeremy. They chose to be married by a friend in the Williams House rose garden with about thirty family and friends followed by a larger reception. The reception was catered by Kelley’s Courtyard Cafe, who’s owner is a friend of the bride and groom. The weather was again beautiful as was the bride.

Jennifer and Jeremy recite vows

Cinnamon awaits food

Now a married couple

Family portrait in courtyard

Wonderful food awaits guests

Bride and groom cut wedding cake

Our final wedding couple for May was Mark and Kathryn from South Carolina. This was a “Just the Two of You” wedding that grew to a few family and friends. Byron performed the ceremony in the parlor followed by a champagne toast.

Mark and Kathryn marry in the parlor

Family and friends celebrate with bride and groom

Champagne toast awaits

Bride and groom kiss on hall stairs

Guests toast bride and groom

Bride and groom share champagne