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.

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.

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

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

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

 

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Pippi Longstocking or Captain's House in Old Town

When Europeans first arrived in Florida and Amelia Island, the Timucua Indians inhabitated the area known as Old Town.  Occupying 40 acres between the Amelia River, Egans Creek and Bosque Bello cemetery this was the sight of early Spanish missions.  In 1597 Father Micahel Aunon and his group were massacred after denouncing polygamy and angering local native inhabitants.  Military outposts were later established.  In 1808 the spansih controlled Amelia Island and a town began on the bluff looking over the Amelia River and near the entrance of Egan’s Creek.  The US Embargo act prohibiting trade with England and France and the abolition of slavery was likely responsible for growth as Fernandina became a smuggler’s paradise with easy access to Georgia just across the Amelia River.  In 1811, streets were set in place by Surveyor General Don Jorge Clarke within the 1573 Spanish Law of the Indies.  Clarke placed a public plaza on the edge of the river known as Plaza de la Constitution.  Although none of the original Old Town structures survived, the plaza, now called Plaza San Carlos still exists as a Florida State Park.

Last weekend, Old Town or the original Fernandina celebrated its bi-centennial with open houses, music, food, pirates and historic presentations.  Deborah and I were able to visit and tour old town and it was interesting to see where it all started for Amelia Island and Fernandina.  The U.S. purchased Florida from the Spanish in 1819, it became an official territory in 1821 and achieved statehood in 1845.  The town of Fernandina was “moved” to the other side of the marsh in 1853  and renamed Fernandina Beach.  This was accomplished at the urging of David Yulee to ease building of the railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Key on the gulf coast creating the first cross Florida access for trade.  Old Town didn’t completely disapear as some of the sea captains found it to be a convenient location but the center of commerce clearly shifted to the new location.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and improved in 1998 with enhanced streets Old Town now has numerous residents who enjoy the tranquility, beauty and history it offers.  In addition, archaelogical digs have confirmed it has been occupied by humans for thousands of years.

Shared below are the sights and history of Old Town as unveiled by last weekends celebration.

Ladies Street, home of bordellos in the settlement

Captain Sharpe House

Food and fun at celebration

Historic Plaza San Carlos

Pirates remind us of Fernandina History

The Daniel Kelly Cottage

Pirate club group photo

Pirates sell bounty near their ship

Music with a river view

Amelia River from bluff of Old Town

Archaeological digging

The Boat House

Dickie Anderson, author greets visitors in period costume

Egan's creek marina

Azaleas bloom at Williams House

 Springtime comes early most years on Amelia Island and this year is no exception.  With temps in the mid eighties the past week everything seems to be blooming.  The gardens around Williams House and all up and down city streets are letting mother nature appear in her full glory.  Regardless of your color preference, you can find something to your taste.  Of course along with the beautiful flowers comes loads of pollen and the leaf change over for our large live oaks. I’m not sure why they shed leaves in the spring instead of the fall like most other oaks, but they are in full leaf replacement mode and Byron has already done one large leaf sweep with more to come.  Keeping the Koi pond clear is an hourly battle.  We will be getting back to high 70 temps later this week and into next week, which is great since we aren’t quite ready for summer to begin this early.  It’s a great time to visit on Amelia Island!

more azaleas

white blooms abound

Azaleas and bird bath garden

Williams House rose garden

Flowers and a bunny

Another rose garden view