Vacation Rental Catalog 2016 | Page 192

DREAM WEDDING H AV E Y OU A LWAY S DR E A MED OF BEING A BAREFOOT BRIDE BY THE SE A? Let our experienced and talented staff make your dreams come true… • Wedding & Anniversary Event Planning • Uniquely Beautiful Ceremony & Reception Sites • Family Reunions • Luxurious Accommodations • Corporate Retreats • Referrals for top notch caterers, musicians, photographers and floral design WEDDING TRADITIONS Was your Emerald Isle Realty wedding beyond compare, amazingly fun for your guests and the most romantic setting imaginable? Here’s your chance to tell us why and win a romantic three-night getaway package during our Islander or Sports season with Sand Castle accommodations, champagne, roses and dinner for two. Send us your entry by September 1, 2016 telling us how our beautiful island and Emerald Isle Realty made your wedding day the most incredible day of your life for you and your beloved. BROUGHT TO YOU BY… Krystal Bequette Senior Events Director Certified Wedding Planner Jennifer Luckenbaugh Assistant Events Planner ASeasideWedding.com • [email protected] • 877.423.6401 • Visit Our Showroom at 8002-E Emerald Drive Emerald Isle, NC Photo by Big Star Studios 2015 WEDDING TRADITIONS WINNERS Emerald Isle has always been a very special place for both of our families. When I was a child, my family would rent a place in Emerald Isle each year. We always loved spending hours and hours on the beach or exploring local shops! And the best way to end a sun-filled day was to play a family game of mini-golf under the stars. So many summers there left me wishing for more… a dream wedding at the beach. During all those years at the beach with my family, little did I know that my groom-to-be was just right up the road with his family! It wasn’t until many years later that we finally met. We started dating in 2011 and over time we learned about each other’s love for the area! Steve, my new husband, grew up vacationing just up the beach in Salter Path. He told me about paddling out with his grandfather to collect crab pots for their fun family dinners, and he shared the mischief he and his friends got into at the go-kart track near their beach house. Despite his younger wild side, it was very clear that he was a keeper! As our courtship continued, we spent many weekends at Emerald Isle sharing our memories and making new ones. After Steve proposed to me in 2013, I soon learned that he was as excited about a beach wedding as I was, and planning was underway! Knowing which beach we wanted, we just needed the contacts to help us with details. My family had a long history with Emerald Isle Realty so we emailed them for more information. This is how we met the amazing Krystal! She immediately sent us a long list of appropriate event houses and other options. After a few weeks of narrowing down the venue choices to our top three houses, we were ready for tours. Krystal took an entire Saturday to show us all three, telling us about the ceremony layouts in the past and their guest capacity. We were worried about finding a house big enough … until we went to the Boat House! Nestled on the sound-side in east Emerald Isle, just a half mile from Salter Path, it was perfect! Its location on the narrow part of the island gave us the option for either a beach or soundside wedding, and the house could still handle the one hundred plus guest list if we got rained out. I was a very happy bride-to-be! Over the next few months we put Krystal through quite the test. We took every opportunity to get down to the beach for “planning trips.” Each trip consisted of a theme, be it the “flower trip” or the “photographer trip.” I was in heaven with all the options Krystal gave 855 .9 05 .19 62 | us. Steve especially enjoyed himself on the “caterer and cakes trip,” but who doesn’t love that one! Before we knew it we had all the major details covered and still had a year to go until the big day! Having Krystal down there was proving to be priceless. Aft er polishing up the last few details before April, we were ready to come down for our paradise wedding. Steve and I and my family arrived a week before for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. Krystal and her crew had the house looking amazing for our arrival. We basked on the beach and cooled off in the sound, preparing for our big day! As Saturday grew closer, the house came alive with a friendly staff setting up tents and tables. Gardeners even came to plant new hibiscus all around the deck! Everything was starting to come together and we hadn’t so much as lifted a finger. After enjoying the week, Saturday got here before we knew it. Krystal had been over plan B with us the day before in case of rain, but luckily as the hour of the wedding grew closer the skies cleared and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. We decided on a sound-side afternoon wedding in the back yard of the Boat House. I watched while getting ready from the bridal suite on the third floor as Krystal and her helpers put the finishing touches on everything. It looked splendid and I couldn’t have asked for better. Once all the guests were seated and the music started, my father and I carefully worked our way down all the steps to meet my excited groom out back! The ceremony went smoothly and Steve even remembered to say “I do”! Some of our friends have described their wedding day as a blur, but we both were so well taken care of that we had the opportunity to enjoy every moment. After our ceremony concluded we were greeted with cool drinks and the first round of appetizers from Floyds 1921. The buffalo oyster shooters are still mentioned when we see friends to this day! We headed over to the beach with the wedding party for some fun pictures and cocktails. Dinner was served shortly thereafter. After cutting the cake and getting as much in Steve’s beard as possible, we headed down to the dance floor to boogie the night away. 4EverAll, Krystal’s band recommendation, was perfect. It was my dream wedding come true, a beautiful celebration of our love! EMILY STEVE SCOTT – BURLINGTON, NC W W W. E M E R A L D I S L E R E A LT Y. C OAND M 191