Dever & Jay | Cumberland Island Wedding
Posted on March 20, 2012
Dever & Jay’s coastal Georgia wedding was special for so many reasons. The bride is my husband’s sister, and we have been so excited for her to marry Jay! They live in St. Mary’s and have spent lots of time boating over to Cumberland Island and frolicking with the wild horses. They are the consummate hosts, so a backyard reception was a no-brainer for these two, who regularly host oyster roasts and cookouts for large groups of friends and family. Both the bride and groom embraced Pinterest for DIY lighting and decor ideas, and they did a fantastic job of creating a magical backyard reception venue.
The morning started as the bride and about 40 guests boarded the Cumberland Princess for the quick jaunt to the sleepy island that gained notoriety when JFK Jr. wed Carolyn Bessette there in 1996. The groom’s plans to drive his boat over separately were foiled by the howling 30mph winds, but the ferry worked out fine for keeping the bride and groom apart prior to their ceremony. It was also a fun way to start the festivities, as everyone mingled. After a spontaneous decision to relocate the ceremony from the windy waterfront to the remains of the Carnegie’s Dungeness, the Cumberland Island wedding kicked off around midday. Following the ceremony, guests noshed on an array of homemade picnic treats as a few wild horses wandered about. Next came family photos, hugs galore, then a walk back through the lush maritime forest for the trip back to St. Marys. While some caught catnaps, I headed out for an afternoon coffee but was turned away from the local java spot since Oprah and the BBC were in town. Unexpected!
After the cruise to the mainland, the small group dispersed, and the newlyweds headed to make the most of the hours prior to the backyard reception. Ribs in the smoker, oysters prepped for roasting, linens, ice, side dishes and a final check of all the lighting. Kids tossed beanbags, adults mingled in the twilight, and the yummy cake was served. What a fun and laid-back affair. Congrats to my sis-in-law and her handsome hubby!
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Tags: backyard reception, Cumberland Island, DIY bride, Dungeness, St. Marys
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7 Comments so far
Hi Holly — You can reserve a Cumberland Island wedding through the National Park Service. As for the reception venue, that lovely backyard is at the couple’s home. They went crazy for weeks planning and setting up their lighting, and it looked great!
Hello, I am interestedin doing something similiar for my wedding. Was that house available for rental or did you know someone? Thanks!
Hah! I dig all the shots, but the one near the beginning with the man in blue who’s waving at the camera just cracks me up. The wide shot of the building gets me, too…not cracking up, mind you, but it gets me
Wish I could have been there. What a beautiful family and place to have a wedding. They look so happy.
I love the pictures and the write up. It looks like a fun time!
Great job Jen pics are beautiful
Jen, you did a great job – as usual! My poor hair was not prepared for the weather that day! Thank you so much for your hard work during our special day! You being there was comforting, not only because you’re my sister-in-law, but I knew our memories were in the best hands. You are awesome! We hope y’all will come visit us soon. We promise to keep the chaos at a minimum.