800-414-9258 Book Now
Bed and Breakfast lodging near Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida.
Williams House set for Tea
Ready for Tea
Enjoying Tea
Williams House guests in PJ's depart for shopping
Photography in pj's
Mr and Mrs santa on scooter
Ready for bargains
And you wear this for sleeping?
Unique sleepwear
Crowds seeking bargains at Twisted Sisters store
Twins or just friends?
Christmas tradition for salvation army
More contenders for best dressed
How does that work on a pillow?
Family pjing together
Live music
A warm day for pj wearers
Fernandina Beach Christmas Tree
Tea set for Williams House guests
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
Amelia Island B&B cookie tour
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
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.
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
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
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.
Shrimp boats
Smoke from the fires blocks the sky
Captain's or Pippi Longstocking house from river
Fort Clinch
Dunes on Cumberland Island
Tree on Cumberland Island shoreline
Cumberland Island marshes
Horses walk the beach on Cumberland Island
Stallion leads the group
Returning to Fernandina
Damon and Janine on Williams House porch
We have had two weddings recently at the Williams House with great weather for both. First were Damon and Janine who were married on the front porch, followed by Jeffrey andTammy who were married in the back courtyard. Both were small and intimate with Byron performing the ceremony and Deborah as official photographer and wedding coordinator. Spring is a great time to get married on Amelia Island with flowers of many varieties blooming and generally great temperatures and sunny skies ( it is Florida after all). We enjoyed both couples and feel priveleged to participate in their special day. We hope for much happiness and many years of enjoyment as they start life together.
family portrait
Bride and groom on Williams House stair
Posing by stained glass windows
Byron officiates for Jeffrey and Tammy
Bride and groom by Koi pond
Wedding couple under 500 yr old live oak
Another view
Innkeepers: Byron & Deborah McCutchen
Toll Free: 800-414-9258
Local: 904-277-2328
Post: 103 S. 9th St. Amelia Island, Florida (FL) 32034
Email: info@williamshouse.com
