Buttery, brown sugar sweet, tangy tomato base with a hint of mustard and a black pepper kick. A competition-quality grilling sauce and condiment, made from a family recipe with all natural ingredients and containing zero high fructose corn syrup or msg. They are the perfect enhancement to any grilled or smoked meats and seafood.

I recently became acquainted with Griffin Bufkin on Facebook. Griffin is the force behind Southern Soul BBQ in St. Simons Island, GA. I’ve been hearing good things about the joint — and good things about the BBQ sauce they are cranking out.

Bufkin was kind enough to offer us a sample bottle for our review. Their Sweet Georgia Brown sauce is simply delicious. We made a killer BBQ chicken and enjoyed the heck out of it. The sauce is slightly reminiscent of the mustard-enhanced sauce made at the legendary Johnny Harris BBQ in Savannah. However, Sweet Georgia Brown offers a smooth buttery finish that is difficult to find with most mass produced sauces. Small batches often = high quality and that is certainly the case here.

We look forward to visiting this cool looking dive (seen above) on our next trek along the Georgia coast. Get your own bottle of this dandy BBQ sauce at www.southernsoulbbq.com if you can’t wait for your next drive by!

Thanks, Griffin … keep up the fine work!

Last year for our first married Thanksgiving, we headed down to St. Simons Island, GA.  Both of our families live up North, and our schedules didn’t allow us to travel for the holiday.

Instead, we decided we were going to celebrate Thanksgiving on the beach at sunset.  It was probably the most amazing Thanksgiving ever.  We sipped wine, ate Honeybaked turkey, chips and salsa, Triscuits and cheese, salad, and enjoyed fruit salad for dessert.  It was far from a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but I can’t imagine a better way to spend our first major holiday as a married couple.

I just love St. Simons Island.

We need to go back sooner rather than later.

One of the most important things to consider when you plan your beach wedding is your wedding dress. Whether you have chosen a beach wedding that is formal or casual, it all comes back to your personal taste and of course, making sure your choice is practical.

Most girls coordinate their beach wedding gown with the style and theme of their wedding. Beach weddings are almost always casual, although they can be very formal. If you decide to go with a formal beach wedding, then you will want to choose a formal style dress that is very light and simple.

Whether you have your beach wedding at an exclusive  oceanfront hotel or on a favorite beach, your wedding attire and decor can be designed to suit your individual tastes. Before you buy your beach wedding dress, be sure the gown is beach-proof. Don’t let the sand or wind distract your appearance.

Important things to consider when shopping for your beach wedding gown:

• A short wedding gown train with a finger hold or no train at all is best for beach or outdoor weddings.
• A slip dress is a very popular choice for beach or outdoor weddings, as are halter, strapless, and sarong style dresses.
• A beach wedding dress can be short or long, however, if it is long, make sure it is short enough to allow for your feet sinking in the sand.
• The beach is most often very breezy or windy, shop for wedding gowns that are straighter lined rather than full and flowing.
• Remember to stay away from heavy fabrics and pantyhose.  If you think you absolutely must wear pantyhose, be sure and wear a long and lightweight wedding dress.
• If you want to wear a veil, make sure it is weighted at the bottom so it does not fly away during the ceremony. If you have chosen a beach wedding dress with a hat to match, be sure to pin the hat down well so the wind does not carry it away. An orchid pinned behind the ear or a wreath of flowers worn like a crown is a very popular choice among beach wedding brides, as well.
• Shoes are another important thing to consider when planning your beach wedding. High heels and hose just don’t work for beach weddings. Most brides choose dressy sandals or even barefoot!

If you are in the market for a beach wedding dress, the best choice is one that fits your personality and style, as well as the theme of your beach wedding.

http://www.stsimonselopements.com/

stsimonselopements@yahoo.com

The rehearsal dinner generally takes place after your wedding rehearsal and the evening before your wedding. It’s an opportunity for the wedding party to get together for a good time, but also for the bride and groom to thank all the people who have helped out with the wedding planning.

Traditionally the groom’s parents pay for the rehearsal dinner, but very often the couple includes this expense in their overall planning budget. Sometimes both sets of parents host the dinner together or another relative or friend may step in and pay for the rehearsal dinner as a gift to the bride and groom.

The groom’s mother is usually the rehearsal dinner planner, but it is a good idea to check with her to make sure she is willing and able to do so.   If she wants to take on the responsibility, then that will work out great, and it gives her some participation in the planning process.  If her taste is not the same as yours, don’t worry…..the guests will know that you were not involved in the planning.

During dinner, the bride and groom usually thank or toast their families and the wedding party. Many times there are many other informal toasts from the wedding party or family.  Sometimes this toasting can become a bride and groom roast….. but remember it’s all in good fun.  You can also plan to have games for everyone or even a fun home-movie of the couple.  If you’re not having a bridesmaid’s luncheon, this is the best time to give bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts.

One important thing to remember is that printed invitations to your rehearsal dinner are typically sent a few days after you send the wedding invitations. They don’t have to be expensive, either.  I would suggest printing invitations from a template on your computer, to save money.

A rehearsal dinner used to be only for the wedding party and the immediate family of the bride and groom.  Proper wedding etiquette and many wedding magazines dictate that you should invite your out of town guests to your rehearsal dinner.  My personal opinion is to give your out of town guests a list of restaurants that are close by, so as not to leave them stranded in an unknown city.  Also, you can include a note in your invitations saying “If you’re in town the night before the wedding, we’d love to see you at the Oceanside Pub after 9 pm – please join us if you can make it.”   Then order snacks or appetizers for your guests, which will still be less expensive than providing all your out of town guests dinner.

Before you decide on your rehearsal dinner, remember that it doesn’t have to be a big deal at a fancy restaurant or an expensive catering hall. Some of the best rehearsal dinners I’ve seen were relaxed backyard BBQ’s, cookouts, or potluck dinners. The most important thing is to provide a time which will allow your wedding party and family a chance to really get to know each other.  But, by all means, do have a rehearsal dinner.  You’ll want to take this time to thank all the people who mean the most to you and who made your wedding day happen.

Carla Pryor
Wedding Planner & Officiant

For more information, please visit my website at http://www.stsimonselopements.com/ or e-mail me at stsimonselopements.com

I’m still perplexed by this traffic circle under construction at the entrance to St. Simons Island.  While I’ve already voiced my complaint but after driving through this circle some more over the past several weeks, I have this to say…

Now, consider that a good chunk of the residential population of St. Simons Island live Mid-North to North on the Island as it is not as developed commercially as the South end… and consider also, that since the South end of the Island is indeed more commercially developed than the northern parts of the Island, there is less residential traffic but more business related traffic and therefore, commuters from the Mainland on the south end of the Island.

So now imagine the evening rush hour… as people who work on the Mainland come home across the 4 mile stretch of the Torras Causeway… they approach the end and must now veer right onto the circle and then eventually veer left.  At that point, the circle (which is down to one lane right now due to on-going construction) meets up with the very critical road by which anyone leaving work in the Village area (the business/tourist heavy part of the Island) will invariably approach.  Right now, it is just a back up… it took us 20 minutes just to get our way through this last Friday around 3:50pm from just past the Golden Isles Marina. Folks leaving the Island must yield to traffic coming on the Island… it backs up both in-bound and out-bound… all because of the light at Demere Rd.

So, once this other lane opens, imagine this:  Out-bound traffic comes westbound and veers right onto the circle. In-bound traffic comes eastbound and veers left into the circle.  Now, they are both northbound, out-bound on the right lane, in-bound on the left. But… now, each side of traffic must effectively switch places… Out-bound traffic must move to the left lane to catch the left turn light and get off the Island… and In-bound traffic must get on the right lane to either go north through the light or make a right onto Demere.   Am I making any sense here? Boy,  I think I need a dandelion break… sigh.

Hence, I’m still really confused by the whole thing.

Here’s a brief visual review of my experience on St. Simon’s Island.

!!!

At the southern tip of the historic island is a village with a beautiful park and a spectacular lighthouse.

If you imagine a Coastal City, the first thought that comes to mind is probably cheesy resort hotels, over commercialization, and an over abundance of tourist. While St. Simons is a tourist destination, most of the inhabitants of the island are actually residents of St. Simons and nearby coastal Georgia. If there’s an over abundance of anything, it’s ancient, live oak trees, draped in Spanish moss.

There’s a feel to St. Simons unlike any I’ve ever experienced elsewhere. An easy pace, relaxed atmosphere, and a feeling of permanence. That’s why I chose to make St. Simons my home.

St. Simons is a bargain as a honeymoon/elopement/wedding destination. By flying in to nearby Jacksonville, Florida, a couple can pick up a rental car, stay at their pre-arranged destination on St. Simons, have an intimate elopement, (couples only) or have a wedding extravaganza for much less money than if they were to do the same thing in many larger cities. Not only that, but you don’t have to leave afterwards to depart for a honeymoon because you are already at the beach. With the many boutique shops, historical points of interest, world class restaurants, and the occasional celebrity sighting, St. Simons is a great place to spend a honeymoon. With activities ranging from lounging on the beach, to golfing, to kayaking, there’s something that fits every interest and budget.

St. Simons is such a romantic location. To be married on the beach, in front of the lighthouse, under the oaks, in a park, or one of the many locations designed for weddings, St. Simons offers an abundance of choices. For receptions, the remodeled Casino, one of many restaurants, or even hotels, will more than meet your expectations.

And this is where I come in…….elopements and weddings are what I do. If this is something that you are interested in, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Share your vision for a wedding or elopement with me and together we can plan one of the most memorable events of your life in an atmosphere seemingly designed for it.

Kenny and Stephany Holshouser

http://www.stsimonselopements.com

stsimonselopements@yahoo.com

My fame is spreading! Well,  maybe it’s not my fame that’s spreading, maybe it’s just my name. Or perhaps they are the same? Yikes, writing like that would never get into one of my novels. Inadvertant rhymes? That won’t do! Still, the sentiment is true. Someone, somewhere has heard of me, because yesterday I received an invitation to be a speaker at a writer’s conference!

Scribblers’ Retreat Writers’ Conference would like to cordially invite Pat
Bertram to be a guest speaker for one of our four conferences in 2010. We
have ten speakers for each conference and four conferences annually.

Scribblers’ Retreat Writers’ Conference is an international, non-profit,
literary arts organization dedicated to bringing together “those who have
made it” to “those who want to”. By creating the most innovative,
educational, and dynamic symposiums composed of the literary elite, we offer
those attending a unique opportunity to learn from and socialize with the
people they admire. This is a way to impart your talents to the global
community; to make a difference.

The conferences are held on beautiful St. Simons Island, Georgia. You will
be able to take advantage of the tranquil atmosphere provided by live oaks
and beaches, the history and art, ghost and dolphin tours, or even climb the
old light house.

Please look at your calendar to see which dates would be more preferable and
browse our website below. Join us in this grand endeavor in literacy and in
fulfilling dreams of success.

To talk about writing in a gorgeous place? Sounds like a dream. I have to choose a single topic, though. Hmmm. Which should it be: Style and technique? Networking? Writing support groups and blogs? I’ll get back to you — and them — about that.

: : : : : : : : : :

The other day, I was talking with a photographer that I work with on occasion, and he asked me what I thought about offering advice to the bride and groom on kissing once given permission by the officiant during the ceremony. I thought it was strange at first but the more I think about it, it makes since. Sometimes, brides and grooms will go into the ceremony with no idea about how they are going to kiss or be kissed. This photographer said that he wanted our bride and groom to kiss in a certain way so that it would be better from an image standpoint and also add a little bit of romance to the ceremony.

This is what the photographer recommended as the way for a bride and groom to kiss once given permission by the officiant. Head should be kept as vertical as possible and whether you are a right side or a left side kisser, the noses should be as close together as possible at the moment.

Leading up to the kiss, the bride and groom should both keep their mouths as normal as possible without puckering lips or sticking their tongue out. And then pause or hesitate once their lips are about an inch apart. And then seal the ceremony with a kiss.

Passion is shown in the placement of the hands. If a groom places his thumbs in front of the ears of the bride with the rest of his fingers extending behind her ears and into her hair, and then the bride places her hands behind the groom’s head, from an appearance standpoint, it is a very passionate and heartfelt kiss. For a little more flair the groom can dip the bride and the bride can kick up a leg.

The kiss between the bride and the groom is the climax of their wedding ceremony and as a bride or groom, you will want everybody leaving the wedding with that moment galvanized in their mind.

If you’ve got a good photographer, they will be willing to spend the time with you to go over the visual impact of different things during your wedding day. From the bouquet toss, the garter throw, the cake cutting, the kiss, the dance, etc. It’s not necessary to manage these things, but when they ARE managed, the results can be just that much more breathtaking.

Wedding planning and elopements are what I do. In my experience, the more planned out every aspect of the wedding day is, the better it will go. It’s my job as a planner to ponder and plan for the things that might not have occurred to the bride and groom before hand. A wedding is more successful in my mind when there is a smoother transition from each scheduled occurrence during a wedding event. I never would have thought to plan a kiss, because in my mind, it’s highly personal. But on thinking about this, it’s no different than planning the schedule for the first dance or the bouquet toss. The bride wants everything to be as successful as possible…….and that’s why they hire me, after all.

Carla Pryor

http://www.stsimonselopements.com

stsimonselopements@yahoo.com

]]> http://gullahgeechee.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/david-pleasant-gullah-geechee-performance/ Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:44:33 +0000 gullahgeechee http://gullahgeechee.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/david-pleasant-gullah-geechee-performance/

David Pleasant

Special Gullah Geechee Performance

October 10, 2009 at 7pm

Ritz Theater

1530 Newcastle Street

Brunswick, GA  31520

For information on individual/Group Ticket Sales,  call:  912-262-6934 or 912-638-8770

      Reserve your tickets early.  This is a must-see event! 

Learn about the history of music and its connection to the Gullah-Geechee.

David Pleasant is a multi-faceted percussion virtuoso, rhythm effects vocalist, avant-garde performance artist, Storyteller and lecturer who specializes in African-American traditions. Born in Savannah, GA and    raised in McIntosh County, Pleasant grew up immersed in the rich  Gullah/Geechee (Georgia and South Carolina Sea Island) culture, which thrives in that area. The Gullah culture, particularly juba, hand jive, pattin’, `rhappin” and shout has played a major role in the development of David Pleasant’s RiddimAthon!®, a performance and teaching method developed from a synthesis of African, Caribbean and African American musical traditions. Using assorted drums, cymbals, tambourines and marimbas, as well as the body percussion rhythms of shout, juba, and jive, RiddimAthon!® aims to get everyone singing, dancing and clapping.

Pleasant is a Fulbright Senior Specialist who presents his work at universities and institutions worldwide. He is also a critically acclaimed, award-winning composer/performer and soloist who has worked with Tony and Grammy Award artists such as: Audra McDonald, Regina Taylor, Graciela Daniel, Paul Simon, Jonathan Tunic, Wynton Marsalis, Michael John LaChiusa, Erykah Badu and others.

Gullah/Geechee culture has influenced over 25 years of Pleasant’s work which has been featured from Broadway to television to dance. Pleasant’s   collaborations with major choreographers and companies such as Jawole    Zollar (Urban Bush Women), Ron Brown, Dianne McIntyre, Jane Comfort,  Harris, Marlise Yearby, Abdel Salaam (Forces of Nature), Batoto Yetu, Step Afrika! and others support his belief in high artistic standards and educational relevance.

Explore “the history and mystery” of the Golden Isles during evening ghost tours. The tours begin at 9:00 pm, at the foot of the St. Simons Island fishing pier. Jenny Strauss, your hostess and guide, leads her groups on a 90-minute journey through the past. Along the way, she shares the tales that have been handed down through the generations: of the ghost ship that plies the waters of St. Simons Sound, a disagreement that ended in murder, and the young millionaire who built a church as a memorial to his bride. This activity is a must for all fans of spooky legends and tales! For more information please visit the Embassy Suites Brunswick Guide

When I stepped out of the car, the sultry heat of a Georgia summer afternoon pressed against me like an unwelcome lover.  Within a short time, I felt it cling to my skin in layers until I was wearing a heavy cloak of humidity that kept the heat pulsing against my skin. The main street of cafes and shops selling summer clothes and gifts in St. Simons Island village was deserted, like something out of the twilight zone – harsh afternoon light, heat waves shimmering off the sidewalks, blasts of cold air from the open shop doors with windows filled with colorful goods and nary a soul to be seen.  As the day cooled into evening, people appeared from everywhere and the scene was lively.

I was on St. Simons Island to interview Heather Whitestone Miss America 1995, the next day for Pretty Smart: Lessons from our Miss Americas.  So I had that afternoon to wander and explore.  After a short walk – too much like swimming against a slow moving current – I got in the car to do a little sight seeing and to scope out where Heather lived so that in the morning I would know where I was going. 

The island had that peculiar southern smell that I remembered from my childhood when my family would drive down to Florida for a summer vacation.  I don’t know where it emanated from or exactly what it was.  But as soon as I smelled it, I was back decades to childhood memories of cars without air conditioning, the hot wind blowing in my face for hours, hanging Spanish moss, South of the Border restaurant signs tempting travelers for miles along the highway, and bickering with my brother in the backseat until my father threatened to leave us by the roadside.

Heather Whitestone, Miss America 1995 and me at the Miss America Pageant

Heather’s house, though on a main road, was hidden behind a tall lush hedge set back from the road.  It was a classic example of an old southern home; I admired its white clapboard siding, big windows and mossy brick path from the driveway to the main entrance. 

The front door was all glass and through it I could see a large oil portrait of Heather on the wall in her Miss America crown and gown.  I watched as she approached the door, smiling, with a baby on her shoulder.

“This is Wilson,” she said greeting me with a hug showing me her three month old son.  We settled in her living room which overlooked a large yard and the marsh beyond.  Her sleek dark hair was pulled back in a low pony tail. She wore no make-up, but her beauty was apparent. Dressed in a filmy white short sleeved peasant blouse over a white tank and blue and white cropped pants in a small check, she focused her large gray-blue eyes on my face.

Heather had been made deaf at eighteen months old when she was given high doses of oto-toxic antibiotics to fight a life threatening infection. I was not surprised that her speech was that of someone who had learned to speak under difficult circumstances.  The cadence of her words was sometimes halting and her speech had that distinctive quality that I had heard from other deaf speaking people.  I was aware that I needed to speak a little slower and directly to her to be sure that she understood.  Occasionally, when she would turn away to care for Wilson, she misunderstood what I was asking or saying. 

Her story is a complicated one, having had to deal with being different from a very young age.  And she was frank about having faced depression (though she never called it that) during her teenage years.  She, more than most, having been deaf since toddlerhood, has been coping with a limitation in her life few ever have to face.  And yet, she has never let it limit her, nor seen herself as a victim. Her mother gave her ballet lessons as a child, believing that dancing and the rhythm and discipline that went along with studying ballet, would strengthen her speech skills.  Heather learned to dance, not because she could hear the music, but by watching others.  Yet she found joy and grace in movement.   Her talent for the Miss America Pageant was to dance ballet.

Heather has never seen herself as handicapped, though she was confronted with the fact that others saw her as disabled when she became Miss America.  It took her awhile to understand the power of her position to change the perception of people who believed individuals who were deaf or hard of hearing were less capable.  She became a beacon of hope for so many.

Clearly her faith has given her much strength to deal with the cards she was handed and she has used it to achieve so much.  I loved her statement that the greatest handicap anyone can have is what exists between their ears – their own limiting self-beliefs and negative thoughts.  Heather has always believed in pushing herself past any barriers that life might throw at her on  her journey to her dreams.

I have just returned from a trip to the beautiful Georgia coast with a childhood friend whose parents have a lovely home right on the beach.

In the early 80s, Emily (now a talented batik artisan whose work you may view—and purchase—here) and I splashed our way through sticky summer days, and giggled well into the night, scheming and whispering until we fell asleep on her playroom floor.

We were both bossy children, quite used to having our own way, and how we became—or remained—friends I do not recall. We both had short hair, flat chests, and freckles.  Saturday morning television, American Top 40, and the Lillian Vernon catalog held our rapt attention.  We shared an appreciation of music, polished stones, and a good ice cream sundae.  We loved Sandra Boynton, grosgrain ribbon, scented pencils, and anything with a duck on it.  We feared starting our periods at school, boys in general, and that one Herbie Hancock video. We both played the piano, she always in practice of some Mozart intricacy, me adding too much pedal to Piano Man.

Walking back into her home after some twenty years, the first thing I noticed was the distinct scent of the house.  A heady bouquet of lavender, spice, clean linen, and woven rugs blended together, and, for an instant, it was 1982.

When I saw the playroom, however, twelve quickly dissolved into thirty-eight, as I realized our beloved haunt was now her father’s office.  A Queen Anne desk marked the boundaries where our sleeping bags were once spread, and running awards claimed the bookshelf where Dan Fogelberg’s The Innocent Age album used to rest.  The piano Emily played as I got my first real kiss was gone as well—in its place a barrister bookcase stuffed with thick volumes.

“Where am I going to be?”  I asked, motioning toward the bedrooms.

“In my room,” she said.

“Was your bed always this size?”

“Yes,” she said, laughing.  “WE grew.  It stayed the same.”

I settled in a bit, and then went upstairs to greet her parents.  I was properly hugged and squealed over, and told to make myself at home.  (Which I summarily accomplished by both knocking over a lamp and shattering a wine glass.  Klutz.)

(Aside: I’m just going to go ahead and issue the disclaimer that this next bit is going to be kind of Beaches-y, except neither of us has a terminal illness and I don’t much care for Barbara Hershey.)

The next morning, after coffee and pleasantries, we all headed to the beach.  Emily, Lee, and their two children, Robin and Elijah, and I.

Watching her children play, I realized they are very much like she and I had been, though a bit younger.  Elijah favors his father, but is every bit his mother.  He is fearless, adventuresome, inclined to climb things, intolerant of idiocy or foolishness, unable to refrain from expressing his disgust with the situation at hand, and a master of common sense.  And Robin is cautious, fearful, a little sneaky, very girly, prone to chatter, somewhat repetitive, a bit fickle, and a tad obsessed with self, as am I.

On our first beach trek, Elijah led the way, yards ahead of everyone else.

“Come on!” he shouted over his shoulder as he rolled a neon blue inner tube along the surf’s edge.  “I know the best place!”

“Can we stop now?”  Robin asked. Twice.

“No!” Elijah replied running faster.

After maybe ten more footsteps, Robin offers, “This is a good place.  This is a good place, Mama.  Isn’t this a good place?  Can we stop here?  It’s a good place.”

Meanwhile, Elijah is halfway to Jacksonville, and I am reminded of biking over the island with Emily.

“Can we stop now? I’m tired and it’s hot.”

“No! Come on!”  And she stood up on her pedals, increasing her speed in an effort to spur me on or just out of sheer spite.  I never knew which.

The day we went to the pool, Elijah barreled down the water slide, backward, forward, and on his stomach, splashing, jumping, and having a marvelous time.  A hive of children buzzed in the shallow pool around the slide.  Robin stood at the pool’s perimeter, bit her lip, pretended to inspect her swim goggles, and stole careful glances at the suspicious contraption and the squealing hoard surrounding it.

“Come on, Robin!” Elijah yelled to her.

“I don’t think I want to,” she said.

“It’s fun!  Come on!”

“I don’t know.”

“Why not?”

“It looks scary.  I could hit my head.”

“Whattttt Everrrrrr!” he said, sloshing into a tunnel, as Robin turned and walked to the pool behind her, lowering herself under its calm surface without a sound.

Again, I recall a similar interchange in the shallow end of a wave pool at a water park in Florida.

“Let’s go to the deep end,” Emily suggested.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to get water in my nose.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, swimming away.

Offices overtake playrooms, and Capri Sun gives way to cheap white wine, but the fundamental Emily/Lynne dynamic remains, both in our own actions and those of her children.  Watching Robin and Elijah fight, play, cajole, and love each other, I am warmed by nostalgia.

But I am also envious, and perhaps a little bitter.  Beyond genetics, those two will share something Emily and I did not.
They will be able grow up together, and of that, I am jealous.

As a wedding planner specializing in beach weddings along the Georgia Coast, I most often recommend that couples consider the time of day for their wedding.  Weddings at Sunrise or at Sunset are gorgeous as well as comfortable.  These times are considered “golden hours” to photographers, as well.  They are by far the most intimate and romantic of ceremonies.  I also watch the tide charts religiously to insure my brides and grooms are on the beach for the exact moment of sunrise or sunset and the tide is far enough out so as not to come crashing in over the wedding party and guests during their ceremony.

The Georgia Coast is beautiful and most often a cool breeze is flowing, but it can be very hot during June, July, and August.  The best months for beach weddings and weddings under the huge live oaks along the coast are the Autumn months of September, October, November and the Spring months of March, April, and May.  These months are warm, but not hot, and cool, but not cold.  This is also considered to be the “off season” for hotels and motels and it’s a great place to save money on lodging for the couple and their guests.  Also, by planning a wedding for September, October, or November, you will avoid most of the ever present insects that make these islands their home.

There are several islands along the coast of Georgia that are perfect for that intimate, romantic ceremony.  Each island has different settings which give options for the bride and groom to consider.  Whether it’s white sand, lighthouses, piers, gazebos, driftwood beaches, moss hanging from the live oak trees, sunrises, sunsets, or just total seclusion, these Georgia Islands offer it all.

Destination weddings or elopements are very popular and brides can save money by using a wedding planner that is local to the area.  Some planners offer elopement packages with amenities that save you time and money . . . not to mention eliminating stress.  The planner will be familiar with the best vendors to use and will be able to get discounts where they are not ordinarily given.  She will know who will make the exact cake you want, the most gorgeous flowers, the most amazing photography,  as well as hair and nail appointments, and many other vendors that you will need.  She can also suggest the perfect location for the wedding of your dreams.

Come to the Georgia Coastal Islands for your wedding.  We make weddings from dreams.

For more information on elopements or weddings to Coastal Georgia, please visit my website.  I would be delighted to hear from you!

http://www.stsimonselopements.com/

We’re here with Mike’s parents (they live here) and it’s just beautiful. Today I got the chance to work out in the AM and hung out at the pool with Charlie (like you care). Until I find something more exciting to blog about, check out a fun event with Yacht Rock tomorrow night. I LOVE this band and they will be playing a big party for me coming soon (stay tuned for that!!).

Miss you. Not really.

Here’s the info:

photo by Paint Chips via Flikr

Warning:  This post is gonna be a little touchy-feely, maybe even to the point of being vomitous.  Proceed at your own risk.

Early today, I received a message from an old friend with the following statement:

Once I…figured out how truly unexceptional I was… I’ve never been able to shake (it)…

I was completely taken aback by this declaration, because this particular friend, to me, is anything BUT unexceptional.  I realized that this particular friend was obviously not privy to the thoughts and memories in my head, where she exists as not merely exceptional, but as a bit of a hero.

Were it not for this particular friend, big chunks of my life would be incomplete, like those five missing pieces of elf-cottage from that God-awful Thomas Kincade* 8000-piece puzzle your mom bought at the church rummage sale for what earthly reason you cannot fathom.

And so, I’m inviting her—and you—into the recesses of my adolescent memory so that you may all see that we never truly know how we affect the lives of others.

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d have had no clue about the inner workings of the female body save for that tiny bit gleaned from some after-school playhouse special my dad clicked off the second they said “period.”

Were it not for this particular friend, I would never have developed a life-long love of Dan Fogelberg’s musical poetry, nor would I have thought of this particular friend every single time I’ve heard Same Old Lang Syne in the last twenty years.

Were it not for this particular friend, I wouldn’t have gone through the phase where I insisted upon packing for travel in giant LL Bean canvas bags instead of suitcases. (Because her family did.)

Were it not for this particular friend, I wouldn’t have once sulked all day after trying to make toasted pita bread—distressed that it did not taste like her mom’s.

Were it not for this particular friend, I might never have uncovered my crafty side, or learned how to make meringue cookies.

Were it not for this particular friend, who was unselfish enough to share a boy with me, I might never have gotten my first French kiss.  (Of course, I might also not have said “Yuck!” out loud either.)

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d know very little about tidal pools or how quickly sand bars can become non-sand.  Or the names of various coastal flora, e.g. Spanish bayonet and saltwort.

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d never have climbed a palm-tree (yes, a palm tree) with a pillow (yes, a pillow).

Were it not for this particular friend, I might never have had a child, since it was she who first gave me an account of the child-birthing process that was matter-of-fact and not at all like a horror story.  (And, interestingly enough in a small world kind of way, I now work at the hospital where she delivered her first child nearly ten years ago.)

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d have no memories of running through her neighborhood in the summer night, hiding—for no real reason—in azalea bushes when cars would pass.

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d never have know the joys of eating chocolate ice cream in a bowl smeared with crunchy peanut butter and topped with a banana.  (Which she inventively termed, “conglomerchoc.”)

Were it not for this particular friend, I wouldn’t know to buy men’s polo shirts if you want them long.

Were it not for this particular friend and her very cool, multi-compartment Lucite organizer for nail care implements, I’d have never been interested in such girly pursuits.

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d have no clue what “duck shoes,” were, nor would I have continued to wear them well into college, and not just when it rained.  (I know, I know. It took me a while to find my style, ok? Hush.)

Were it not for this particular friend, I wouldn’t know all the words to Margaritaville, or The Boxer, or that song about the little boy who wasn’t allowed to color flowers unless he used red and green.

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d have never enjoyed the fresh, crisp taste of a salad topped with only fresh lemon juice. (The way her dad ate his.)

Were it not for this particular friend, I’d never have (poorly) played Dungeons & Dragons.  As a result, I would not have the knowledge that enables me to be able to make the “Is that a polyhedral die in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?” joke.

No matter how imperfect, loathsome, or undesirable we believe ourselves to be, someone, somewhere, at some time sees us differently.  You may be part of the edging that frames their puzzle, or you may be that lopsided inner piece of sunset sky.  Either way, you’re an integral part of the whole, and you are, without a doubt…

Exceptional.

*I freaking hate Thomas Kincade. I’d rather hang a velvet panel with a coyote and a dream catcher in my home than one of those lamp-lit gnome-hut monstrosities.

Since I spend most of my weekends traveling around Florida, this past weekend was an extra treat, in that I went to one of my favorite places in Georgia – Jekyll Island. I first went there around 9 years ago, and have been back a few times since, but this was the first time in about 7 years. And though there have been a few changes on the island since then, it was definitely worth the wait. I drove up with a couple friends who I knew would truly enjoy this special place, which was known as the playground for the rich and famous back in the early 1900’s.

Leaving Friday morning for the 7-hour trek, we arrived on the island in the late afternoon, where we checked into the beautiful Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Even though I have stayed at this hotel before in the annex building known as the Sans Souci, this was the first time I got to stay at the actual hotel building. After checking out our living quarters for the next few days, we headed out for dinner on the Jekyll Wharf at the Latitude 31 restaurant. Great food and a beautiful sunset were the perfect ending to the start of our weekend.

Saturday morning started off with an unexpected room guest. After getting out of the shower, I heard a sound that immediately made me think there was an animal in the bathroom. After a few more noises, I was convinced there was a bird in the shower wall. And sure enough, as the hotel maintenance guy unscrewed one of the shower panels, there was a fledgling grackle. Too scared to fly away, it perched itself on my friend’s finger, as she eventually put the bird out on the window balcony, where it flew away. We were hoping to play a little morning tennis on the 1930 indoor tennis court, but unfortunately, the court is no longer playable, as it is being restored. I was particulary disappointed, as I used to play on this court when I would come visit in the past. It would have been way too hot to play anyways, as the temperature soon got up to about 100 degrees. We then walked around the historic district and looked into doing the tram tour around the island, which included a tour of a few of the several cottages from back in the 1920’s, owned by such illuminaries like Frank Goodyear and J.P. Morgan. My friend’s brother and his wife were coming to meet us in the early afternoon, so we decided to play it by ear as far as the tram tour went, and enjoyed a nice dip in the pool as we awaited their arrival.

Since the heat was getting a bit unbearable, we skipped the tram tour and we all went back into the pool. As it got just a bit cooler, we did a nice little bike ride around part of the island. We then enjoyed a great dinner at the Grand Dining Room, where we celebrated my friend’s birthday (it’s actually next week). After saying goodbye to my friend’s brother and his wife, I took a nice long walk with the birthday boy, where we encontered several deer grazing around the historic district. I tried to get some pictures of them, but it was just too dark.

Since we didn’t do the tram tour on Saturday, we discussed doing the Sunday morning one. But again, the heat dictated our mood, and we went to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center instead. Only around for a couple years, it was my first time at this new nature center, and it was prettry cool, as we saw quite a few different turtles, including a 35 year-old 250-pound Loggerhead. We then headed off the island and north onto St. Simons Island. We stopped by the St. Simons Lighthouse, and even though it was closed, I still got some great pictures of it. We then drove up to Fort Frederica. which was built back in the late 1730’s. Though no longer standing, it is full of history, and we thoroughly enjoyed the musket-firing demonstration.

As we drove back into Florida, we took the scenic route along the beach between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, where we stopped at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park for a little while. It was nice to get back home and in the air-conditioning, but it was also great to go back to Jekyll Island after so many years.

I had an opportunity to be 2^nd shooter for a local photographer yesterday and had a fabulous time as well as having learned so much from the experience.

The beach wedding took place at 3 p.m., and barely a breeze to be found. It was so hot, we had to put rocks on each corner of our yard, just to keep it from rolling up . . . so you know it was hot at the beach at 3 p.m.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 1: Never plan a beach wedding during June, July, or August between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.. . . . UNLESS, you offer ice cold bottled water to all your guests. It is actually dangerous for some individuals and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

I arrived at the beach ceremony site at 2:30 pm and in plenty of time to get some pre-wedding shots of the groom and his best man and father. The wedding ceremony site was set up with a decorated arbor and 8 chairs. I found out later that there were many more chairs that had been rented for the ceremony, but no one got them out of the van.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 2: Hire a wedding planner to take care of the entire set up of chairs, arbor, etc., and clean up after the ceremony.

The ceremony was to begin at 3 p.m. but the bride did not arrive until almost 3:30 p.m. while all of her 150 + guests were standing on the pier in 98 degree weather, waiting for direction as to what they should do. So . . . nobody did anything. Nobody knew what they were supposed to do. The bride was sitting in the car while her Dad was out at the beach talking to people. I finally took it upon myself to summon the Dad back to the car to walk his daughter to the ceremony site and also tell all of her guests to go on down to the ceremony site so the bride could make her appearance.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 3: Hire a wedding planner to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be at the time they should be there. The ceremony should begin at exactly the time specified.

The ceremony began while the musician played the horn of a song I did not recognize. The older relatives were seated in the 8 chairs, which were placed so far back from where the couple stood, that other guests stood in front of the seated guests. There was a huge trash receptacle to the right of the brides entrance which will most likely, NOT enhance the professional photography.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 4: Hire a wedding planner to make sure all chairs are placed properly and the ceremony site is not crowded with beach goers trying to walk through the site. Also, she will make sure the bride does not have to make her appearance next to a trash receptacle.

So the ceremony finally began. No one was smiling. Everyone was squinting and dripping sweat. The bride’s bouquet was still in the car. Her wedding dress was beautiful, although not a perfect fit and caused her to pull at it constantly.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 5: Hire a wedding planner to make sure no one forgets anything and the dress is altered properly to fit.

I thought the bride may have started crying at one point during the vows, but it may have just been sweat rolling down her face. The Groom and his Best Man wore tan suits with long sleeve shirts underneath. They wore black dress shoes.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 6: Wear only light weight wedding attire for hot summer weddings. Barefoot or sandals are preferred.

When the ceremony ended, the couple stood on the pier to thank all the guests for coming. Afterwards, we were able to get some excellent beach photography of the two of them together, although it was unbearably hot and all they wanted to do was get into the air conditioning at the reception.

The reception was held at a golf and country club nearby and was decorated quite beautifully with the newest colors for wedding chic. The food was beautifully presented by the caterer and the wedding cake was gorgeous with it’s beach theme and shells adorning the tiers. A DJ was also playing background music as the guests arrived thirsty and hungry while the bride and groom had more photographs taken outside.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 7: Hire a wedding planner to direct your guests into the reception and have them begin eating while the bride and groom finish their photography.

When the bride and groom arrived at the reception room, each member of the wedding party was introduced and then came the announcement of the newlywed couple. The couple and their immediate families were seated at the head table and after a prayer was said by the pastor, everyone lined up at the food table.

The happy couple danced together and then other couples joined in. No father-daughter dance or mother-son dance. The garter was thrown and the cake was cut before the last photographs of the families were taken outside with the golf course as a backdrop.

Wedding Planner Rule Number 8: Hire a wedding planner to take care of the organization of the reception so everything flows smoothly and everything happens in the order in which it should.

No doubt, this couple needed a wedding planner. I didn’t see a lot of happiness in the bride’s eyes and I am sure she was under too much stress from all the wedding decisions. The bride and her parents and her sister were seemingly at odds. This should have been the most wonderful day of their lives, although it looked to be the most stressful day of their lives.

You really do need a Wedding Planner.

Contact me at stsimonselopements@yahoo.com

or visit my website at http://www.stsimonselopements.com

If you think Wedding Planners are just for the rich and famous, think again! The evidence is quite the contrary.  Wedding Planners can help keep your wedding within budget, and save you money along the way.

Wedding Planners know just which baker to go to for the most delicious frosting. They know which venues are good for rain or shine. They also know which photographer will give you the best value or the most artistic touch. Your Wedding Planner will have lots of ideas to help save you money and in many cases, they can save you 10-25% off the list price from vendors because they have an established relationship with them. These discounts would more than pay for the cost of your Wedding Planner.

Once you set a budget, it’s easy to start adding a few more decorations here and there and before you know it, you’ve spent far more than you planned. A wedding planner will help you set a budget and stick to it. She’ll be able to give you pointers on what percentage of your budget should go to each aspect of your wedding, from music, to flowers, to decorations.

You’ll be able to continue focusing on your work, your hobbies, and your family while your Wedding Planner helps keep you on schedule and on target. She’ll be able to help you with the details, adding creative touches and industry know-how along the way. And having time to yourself in the weeks leading up to your wedding is priceless!

Most Wedding Planners offer various packages suited to a variety of budgets. They will be able to create a package to cater to your specific needs, as well. Another option that most Wedding Planners offer, in addition to “flat fee” planning, is “day of” services, to help just for your wedding day. This leaves you to plan your own wedding and she will help keep the ceremony day flowing smoothly.

Most importantly, hiring a good wedding planner can save you money. Wedding planners have special relationships with vendors and can get you great deals. They can also save you stress, put out fires on your wedding day, and generally give you peace of mind. You can hire them for a day, or for the whole event. They can negotiate contracts, keep you on task, and help you know what to ask when speaking to vendors.

For Wedding Planning, please contact me at

stsimonselopements@yahoo.com

or visit my website at www.stsimonselopements.com

The traffic circle construction is under way and we’ve finally been able to see a drawing of the plans. They actually started the construction a couple of months ago beginning with the tearing down of the beautiful oak that used to stand at the entrance to the Island… probably a couple of hundred years old, it was said that it was dead… word had it that the power company ’somehow’ placed a pole or something right near it’s root and was subsequently hit by lightning which then killed the tree… awfully convenient huh? A landmark tree dying RIGHT before plans for a new construction project gets approved. In any case, nefarious plots aside…

Currently, for those unclear, as you arrive onto the Island from the Torras Causeway, you have the option of veering right onto Kings Way which will take you towards the south end of the Island and the Village. If you continue straight as most do, you hit the traffic light at Demere and Sea Island Rd.

The new traffic circle will have all incoming traffic veering right with those heading toward the Village continuing the way they normally would. Those seeking to go down Demere along with those needing to head North on Sea Island Rd will continue onto what is essentially the current existing traffic light only this time, traffic will be coming from the south. Demere Rd. traffic will have to turn right and those heading onto Sea Island Rd will have to wait for the light.

For those leaving the Island from Sea Island Rd or Demere Rd. or turning left onto Demere at the traffice light… nothing changes. You still have the same old light. So it seems the only change is to have the bulk of incoming traffic going counterclock wise through this circle…

Now, personally, I fail to see how this is going to improve traffic flow any as most of the traffic coming onto the Island right now heads straight through the light onto Demere or makes a left onto Sea Island Rd… it seems the new traffic pattern still forces all those drivers to deal with the light, only coming from a circuitous route via the Kings Way turn off…