Amelia Island Williams House, Fernandina Beach, FL

Williams House Weddings this Fall – Part 2

November 8th, 2011

Wedding on carriage at Williams House

We have had so many weddings this fall that I decided to split it into two groups. The one pictured at left was a first, performed on the carriage in front of the Williams House . Normally carriages bring brides into the wedding, but in this case the carriage was the wedding venue. Another trend we are seeing is the use of cupcakes and cupcake stands in place of the traditional wedding cake, or used with just a cake topper above cupcakes. It does make cutting the cake a bit of a challenge, but eases the guests eating and taking home of leftovers from the cake. We have a couple of bakeries in town that are perfecting this approach. Cinnamon our resident cat is usually present for our weddings unless barred from the event due to allergies or issues with cats. He particularly enjoyed a recent event with (you guessed it) his favorite “shrimp” on the menu. I’ve noticed over the time I’ve performed weddings that the groom is often the one who gets a bit emotional at time of vow reciting, so I have started preparing them ahead of time for this potential. Unlike the bride who has invested hours studying, preparing, debating, reviewing and detailing her wedding, most grooms come in just ready to share in the moment and participate. So..when finally on our porch, dressed in tux with family and friends staring at him, his beautiful bride advancing up the aisle it all begins to register and it may be more difficult than he imagined just to repeat a few vows. Hence we try to give him a heads up and a bit of support at this special moment. Small or large we enjoy making weddings a special time for bride and groom and their families. Hope you enjoy these pictures.

Jami and Jaime help us make beautiful weddings

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Weddings at Amelia Island Williams House

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.

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Williams House Honored in Food and Wine Magazine and Yahoo

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.

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Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off Amelia Island

August 30th, 2011

Yes, that title is a mouthful, but so was the barbecue at the last weekend’s Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off. Held on Amelia Island for the second year, it featured expert barbecue teams from all around the south. Having tasted several, I have to say they were great at their chosen profession or hobby! Crowds were good and every where you looked people were enjoying their favorite version of barbecue. Pulled pork, ribs, chicken were all available and the smell of wood fired cookers filled the air. Visitors could also get smoothies, funnel cakes, fries, onion rings and beverages. Held at main beach with ocean backdrops, it was a fun event with great views.

cooking up close

Crowds sniff out favorite barbecue

Unique vehicles add flair

Music added to the fun

Deborah with friends Bob & Sue order up

Welcome to great barbecue

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July 4th Special on Amelia Island

August 3rd, 2011

July 4 parade – Fernandina Beach

The July 4th holiday yielded lots of activity on Fernandina Beach including an event with specialty vehicles, games and live band at Central Park during the early hours. In the evening, a traditional parade with police, fireman, military and citizens was held. Later the same day, a free concert was held down by the waterfront and fireworks followed at 9:30 pm. It was fairly crowded on the Island with lot’s of folks enjoying the shops, restaurants, Fort Clinch (with reenac tments) and lot’s of local activities. We were full at the Williams House and in fact July in total was one of our busier months this year. We also had a small wedding on the Holiday weekend which we will cover later in another blog.

military vehicles at central park

Band entertains at central park

Color guard begins parade

Cool cars in the parade

Motor scooter mama's

Pirate ship ends the parade with a bang

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Cinnamon at the Williams House

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

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Exploring Fort Clinch with Family

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

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Cinnamon Enjoys May Weddings at Amelia Island Williams House

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

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Experiencing an Amelia Island River Cruise

May 18th, 2011

Deborah, Sue and Bob ready for departure

We recently had friends visiting from North Carolina and arranged for a river cruise to treat them to local views and history. We’ve been several times and are always impressed by learning something new on each trip, and on this particular visit, we were fortunate to get a very close up view of the wild horses, which histroically we have only seen from a distance. It was a strange day in that fires burning in the okefenokee swamp had created a smoke haze for the early part of the trip, giving the views a nostalgic old fashioned feeling.

These cruises are popular with Williams House guests since you get to see shrimp boats, Fort Clinch from the river, Old Town and the Pippi Longstocking house, beaches, marshes, the port, the paper mill, Cumberland Island, wild horses, flying manta rays, dolphins, and in our case the Dungeness ruins. In addition there is a history lesson on from the early days of the island to the present made interesting by your hosts on the tour. It’s a liesurely tour with great views. There are three cruises daily including morning, mid day and sunset.