A Few Words On A Simple Beach Wedding
When discussed years ago, before a suitable groom had been identified, the desire was for a very simple wedding on the beach at the Sandbar Restaurant on Anna Maria Island—just the bride's family and the groom's—maybe about ten or twelve in all...
Last year, when a suitable groom had been identified, it was determined that Sandbar's prices were on the upside of ridiculous just over the edge from extortionate. A search was initiated for a suitable locale with the assistance of a rental agency on the island. Several gorgeous properties were visited and how the rich live was once again brought home to us. At last, we arrived at Blue Horizon, which was in the final stages of construction.
The owner/architect/decorator had designed a beautiful property as one may see by visiting the web site. It was decided that this was the place and a deposit was placed for the period November 7th to 12th. Since the property can sleep 22 people, about ten more than originally envisaged, but manageable some additional guests could be included. By the time the planning was completed the available space in the house had been filled and the balance of the guests, now totaling about 50, had to find their own accommodations. The property has two dwellings, separated by the pool and patio; the smaller dwelling with just three bedrooms was reserved for the bride's parents and guests.
Feeding and drinking 50 people requires a caterer and a bartender. Make up for the ladies and hair coiffing had to be provided and a salon for this purpose was established in the small house, starting shortly after breakfast on the day of the wedding it seemed to the Blogger. Never having had an overwhelming desire to visit a ladies' salon, Blogger discovered that his previous policy was well founded if for no other reason than the noise created by so many members of the fairer sex being gathered together in one confined space. Blogger's opinion of the results of the make up applied certainly demonstrates his complete lack of understanding of the subject. The coiffing was fine.
But one is ahead of one's narrative. Clearly the bride's mother needed a very special outfit and, it was hinted that the bride's father should wear something more presentable than his usual attire—not a suit or anything dramatic like that, but maybe a nice shirt and some decent slacks. The priority was to acquire the bride's mother's outfit.
Since a visit had been scheduled to visit friends in Estero several weeks before the wedding, it was clear that the Outlets would be a great place to start. Blogger acquired a very nice Tumi wallet, which he did not need and a floppy cotton cardigan, which seemed an incongruous choice when the temperature outside was in the low 90's. Nothing for Mrs. Blogger though.
We moved on to Periwinkle Place on Sanibel Island, where we acquired nothing for no one. Next was a visit to Captiva Island, the little plaza right at the end. Blogger was able to snag a very nice Tommy Bahama silk shirt deemed suitable for the wedding and a pair of chinos, which he certainly didn't need or want to add to his collection of about ten similar pairs. Nothing for Mrs. Blogger though. We had a very pleasant, late lunch at The Mucky Duck and a brief walk on the beach after losing Ivan for half an hour. Lunch times are not as crowded as dinners as the tourists have been told that viewing the sunsets is essential. It seems that the staff is more cordial than at sunset.
Next day, we set out for Naples. Visited two places, tried on lots of dresses and found nothing. Blogger was able to buy a nice pair of Tommy Bahama dress slacks, in The Village on Venetian Bay, which he did not need to add to his extensive collection of dress slacks but, unfortunately, nothing for Mrs. Blogger though. We had a nice lunch at M Waterfront Grille, overlooking the waterways of Naples; Ivan and I stayed on the Verandah while the ladies did more shopping and we returned to Estero.
Next day, on the way back up to Tampa, it was felt that we should stop at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. Pay dirt at the first stop: one dress acquired. On the opposite side of the circle another hit and another dress. The final requirement was a pair of shoes, which were acquired a day or so later at Macy's in Wiregrass and so, several hundred dollars later we were kitted out for the simple beach wedding.
Provisioning the houses was easier than getting dressed and cases of wine had been stockpiled throughout the Summer. A magnificent Tommy Bahama cooler had been acquired by the groom and was stored in our house until the big event. [No, this is not a paid commercial for TB, thank you for asking.] Several of the bride's friends contributed vast amounts of food and beverages, soft and hard, which were duly stowed for the five day stay. The ladies of the big house prepared magnificent breakfasts for the full complement of guests each day for which we were truly thankful! Some decadent people enjoyed Mimosas with their breakfast—might just as well have been a shot 'n a beer.
One detail, which would have escaped Blogger completely, was the need for steaming of clothes before the ceremony. Fortunately someone had brought such a device and, since Gene stated his familiarity with the device, he was promptly assigned to steam a variety of dresses, slacks and shirts instead relaxing for a post-prandial, pre-nuptial drink and/or snooze. Note that, in order not to be unable to steam clothes in future, the Bloggers had to Amazon a steaming kit on returning home, just in case...
Other logistical matters involved the transport and set up of Blogger's Bose Latitudes sound system outside the small house under the extensive lanai. Music was acquired through Blogger's old iPhone emasculated into an iPod. Blogger's choice of music and the volume at which it was to be played were fine until the post wedding activities began in earnest. Blogger's iPhone was quickly unplugged and replaced by an iPhone containing more appropriate music. It is a testament to the owner's architectural skills that the noise could scarcely be detected even directly above the patio. The Bloggers retired. Ivan and Blanka retired, while Gene and Linda stayed to party until the small hours.
The wedding itself was very nice, to say the least. On the beach. Just before sunset. The wedding planners—the bride and her friend, April, had done a magnificent job planning every little detail from the table arrangements, the Cake, the drink containers, the menu, the lighting effects both for the dinner and around the pool patio, the flaming paper balloons launched after dinner, the colored balls thrown instead of confetti, the white beach balls floating in the pool, the invitations and certainly many other details Blogger has overlooked.
The photographer, Jack Elka, was so impressed that he suggested that the girls should cooperate with him on future weddings and that led to a business idea being created and subsequently formed called In Any Event Weddings.
The five days were over very quickly. Some guests departed on the day after the wedding; some stayed until Monday morning before moving on. The bride, groom, Ivan and Blanka and the Bloggers dined across the street, where the beer was appalling, but the food excellent. On the Tuesday morning we were up bright and early to pack the residual party equipment into the cars and at about 0950h the cleaners arrived to do what little cleaning there was to be done, since we were an amazingly well behaved gathering.
Last year, when a suitable groom had been identified, it was determined that Sandbar's prices were on the upside of ridiculous just over the edge from extortionate. A search was initiated for a suitable locale with the assistance of a rental agency on the island. Several gorgeous properties were visited and how the rich live was once again brought home to us. At last, we arrived at Blue Horizon, which was in the final stages of construction.
The owner/architect/decorator had designed a beautiful property as one may see by visiting the web site. It was decided that this was the place and a deposit was placed for the period November 7th to 12th. Since the property can sleep 22 people, about ten more than originally envisaged, but manageable some additional guests could be included. By the time the planning was completed the available space in the house had been filled and the balance of the guests, now totaling about 50, had to find their own accommodations. The property has two dwellings, separated by the pool and patio; the smaller dwelling with just three bedrooms was reserved for the bride's parents and guests.
Feeding and drinking 50 people requires a caterer and a bartender. Make up for the ladies and hair coiffing had to be provided and a salon for this purpose was established in the small house, starting shortly after breakfast on the day of the wedding it seemed to the Blogger. Never having had an overwhelming desire to visit a ladies' salon, Blogger discovered that his previous policy was well founded if for no other reason than the noise created by so many members of the fairer sex being gathered together in one confined space. Blogger's opinion of the results of the make up applied certainly demonstrates his complete lack of understanding of the subject. The coiffing was fine.
But one is ahead of one's narrative. Clearly the bride's mother needed a very special outfit and, it was hinted that the bride's father should wear something more presentable than his usual attire—not a suit or anything dramatic like that, but maybe a nice shirt and some decent slacks. The priority was to acquire the bride's mother's outfit.
Since a visit had been scheduled to visit friends in Estero several weeks before the wedding, it was clear that the Outlets would be a great place to start. Blogger acquired a very nice Tumi wallet, which he did not need and a floppy cotton cardigan, which seemed an incongruous choice when the temperature outside was in the low 90's. Nothing for Mrs. Blogger though.
We moved on to Periwinkle Place on Sanibel Island, where we acquired nothing for no one. Next was a visit to Captiva Island, the little plaza right at the end. Blogger was able to snag a very nice Tommy Bahama silk shirt deemed suitable for the wedding and a pair of chinos, which he certainly didn't need or want to add to his collection of about ten similar pairs. Nothing for Mrs. Blogger though. We had a very pleasant, late lunch at The Mucky Duck and a brief walk on the beach after losing Ivan for half an hour. Lunch times are not as crowded as dinners as the tourists have been told that viewing the sunsets is essential. It seems that the staff is more cordial than at sunset.
Next day, we set out for Naples. Visited two places, tried on lots of dresses and found nothing. Blogger was able to buy a nice pair of Tommy Bahama dress slacks, in The Village on Venetian Bay, which he did not need to add to his extensive collection of dress slacks but, unfortunately, nothing for Mrs. Blogger though. We had a nice lunch at M Waterfront Grille, overlooking the waterways of Naples; Ivan and I stayed on the Verandah while the ladies did more shopping and we returned to Estero.
Next day, on the way back up to Tampa, it was felt that we should stop at St. Armands Circle in Sarasota. Pay dirt at the first stop: one dress acquired. On the opposite side of the circle another hit and another dress. The final requirement was a pair of shoes, which were acquired a day or so later at Macy's in Wiregrass and so, several hundred dollars later we were kitted out for the simple beach wedding.
Provisioning the houses was easier than getting dressed and cases of wine had been stockpiled throughout the Summer. A magnificent Tommy Bahama cooler had been acquired by the groom and was stored in our house until the big event. [No, this is not a paid commercial for TB, thank you for asking.] Several of the bride's friends contributed vast amounts of food and beverages, soft and hard, which were duly stowed for the five day stay. The ladies of the big house prepared magnificent breakfasts for the full complement of guests each day for which we were truly thankful! Some decadent people enjoyed Mimosas with their breakfast—might just as well have been a shot 'n a beer.
One detail, which would have escaped Blogger completely, was the need for steaming of clothes before the ceremony. Fortunately someone had brought such a device and, since Gene stated his familiarity with the device, he was promptly assigned to steam a variety of dresses, slacks and shirts instead relaxing for a post-prandial, pre-nuptial drink and/or snooze. Note that, in order not to be unable to steam clothes in future, the Bloggers had to Amazon a steaming kit on returning home, just in case...
Other logistical matters involved the transport and set up of Blogger's Bose Latitudes sound system outside the small house under the extensive lanai. Music was acquired through Blogger's old iPhone emasculated into an iPod. Blogger's choice of music and the volume at which it was to be played were fine until the post wedding activities began in earnest. Blogger's iPhone was quickly unplugged and replaced by an iPhone containing more appropriate music. It is a testament to the owner's architectural skills that the noise could scarcely be detected even directly above the patio. The Bloggers retired. Ivan and Blanka retired, while Gene and Linda stayed to party until the small hours.
The wedding itself was very nice, to say the least. On the beach. Just before sunset. The wedding planners—the bride and her friend, April, had done a magnificent job planning every little detail from the table arrangements, the Cake, the drink containers, the menu, the lighting effects both for the dinner and around the pool patio, the flaming paper balloons launched after dinner, the colored balls thrown instead of confetti, the white beach balls floating in the pool, the invitations and certainly many other details Blogger has overlooked.
The photographer, Jack Elka, was so impressed that he suggested that the girls should cooperate with him on future weddings and that led to a business idea being created and subsequently formed called In Any Event Weddings.
The five days were over very quickly. Some guests departed on the day after the wedding; some stayed until Monday morning before moving on. The bride, groom, Ivan and Blanka and the Bloggers dined across the street, where the beer was appalling, but the food excellent. On the Tuesday morning we were up bright and early to pack the residual party equipment into the cars and at about 0950h the cleaners arrived to do what little cleaning there was to be done, since we were an amazingly well behaved gathering.