Posts Tagged ‘Guest Experiences’

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

 
 
 
 
 

Black Friday PJ Shopping Party in Historic Fernandina Beach

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Williams House guests in PJ's depart for shopping

 
Black Friday is famous for its shopping opportunities and great bargains.  It’s no different in historic Fernandina Beach except……. you have to wear pajamas to get store discounts from local merchants.  There is also a contest for best dressed patron weraing pajamas as well as admiring stares from fellow shoppers and on-lookers.  We had one couple staying at the Williams House that got into the program and donned their best pj’s and headed for downtown.  Other guests felt they brought the wrong set of pj’s for such an excursion and just headed out to see the event in action.  It was fun for all and based on packages shopping was also in full gear.  We took a stroll and captured some of the more interesting and artsy efforts, many of whom will no doubt be in the running for “best dressed”.  It is a fun event and a great way to recover from the overeating on Thanksgiving with a healthy walk.

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

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

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cookies and Christmas in November on Amelia Island

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Amelia Island B&B cookie tour

The annual Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association Cookie Tour is coming soon on November 19 from 12 to 5 pm.  It’s an opportunity to see eight Amelia Island Inns decorated for Christmas (yes we know this is early and before Thanksgiving) and it will put you in the mood and give you ideas for Christmas decorating.  In addition you get cookies…lots of cookies at each Inn including the recipe for how to make them in case one turns out to be your favorite.  All the Inns are busy putting their Christmas decorations in place and the halls will be decked with Holly for all visitors to see and enjoy. 
We still have rooms at the Williams House and a special package with discounted room rates for two nights that includes two tickets for the tour.  Come join the fun, see decorated Inns and be inspired for the Christmas season before anyone else in your family or neighborhood.  Attached are some scenes from last year’s decoratiuons at the Williams House.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House Weddings this Fall – Part 2

Tuesday, 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

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off Amelia Island

Tuesday, 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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Experiencing an Amelia Island River Cruise

Wednesday, 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. 

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

Williams House Weddings on Amelia Island

Sunday, May 8th, 2011

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