I recently had the opportunity to travel to Amelia Island, in north Florida to attend my sister’s wedding. If you have never been to Amelia, it is definitely worth the trip. It’s an hour and a half flight from D.C. to Jacksonville and than a 45 minute drive to the island. Amelia’s warm weather makes it the perfect spring getaway. And, as an added bonus, Savannah is just a two hour car ride from the island.

The mossy trees that I was obsessed with

My boyfriend and I took the “scenic” route from the Jacksonville airport which skirts rows upon rows of moss-covered trees and beautiful waterfront state parks.

One of many of Amelia Island's State Parks

We stayed at the Amelia Island Plantation, which is on the southern tip of the island. The Plantation is a delightful resort with a wide, sparsely-populated private beach and a beautiful golf course. I could not get over the amount of seashells that had washed up onto the beach, AND, they allow dogs. Who can ask for anything more?

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The view from my room at the Amelia Island Plantation

The wedding service was held on the beach with the bridemaids in light pink dresses of their own choosing and the groomsmen wore khakis, blue blazers, and pink Vineyard Vine ties. A wonderful reception followed with cocktails on the terrace and dinner and dancing in one of the Plantation’s festive dining rooms. Everyone had a fantastic time soaking up the sun and exploring the island. My three day trip to the island was way too short, I would like to come back for a longer stay.

If you have a preppy vacation spot for the Preppy Girl email it to preppygirl@thepreppylife.com

Recently, I stumbled upon Dalia MacPhee, a great clothing line with an absolutely amazing collection of dresses. The dresses are perfect for a spring gala or cocktail party. I wish I had known about the collection when I was searching for my bridesmaid dress. The dresses are priced in the $150 to $400 range and can be purchased at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.

Here are a few of my favs. Check out the rest of the collection at www.daliaonline.com.

Perfect for a night on the town!

Love the color!

Ultra Chic Wedding Dress

Greek Goddess

Recently, I had to do one of the many things that scares me; and I am not talking about my bumpy flight back from Amelia Island.  I had to give a wedding toast.  What is it that makes toasts so terrifying? I think it is the fact you actually have to say something meaningful. Ideally, you want a memorable toast; something that is charming, sweet, and well-delivered. Unless you are an amazing public speaker with a team of speech writers, this is quite a daunting task. How do you sum up years of friendship, love, and hope for the future in just a few paragraphs? You have me stumped.

Being the procrastinator that I am, I worked on my toast until I had to report for my “maid of honor” duties, hoping some new inspiration would hit me.  In the end, I borrowed a line from my uncle and surrendered to grandfather time.

Having crossed this major hurdle, here is my advice:

1. Speak from the heart, but don’t get too sappy.
2. Don’t ramble.
3. Remember to compliment the groom;
4. and practice, practice, practice.

And to all of  you wedding-goers out there, if you find yourself in the position of giving very last minute unsolicited advice to the toaster–please don’t! You will only annoy the speaker.

So the stars aligned the weekend of the bachelorette party. The weather was wonderful, the food was good, and the BF was a saint, helping me prepare for the party. The girls came over for cocktails followed by dinner at a local restaurant and dancing at the grooviest of watering holes.

The House:

The BF and I finished our “chores” not a moment too soon. The walls were patched and the hallway, kitchen, and bathroom were painted. The morning of the party, I perfected my cosmo recipe–citron vodka, cranberry, lime juice & triple sec–and tasted the hors d’oeuvres. In the afternoon we hung pink and black streamers and strung white lights around the downstairs. The tables were decorated with candles, tiaras, pink satin, and bridal trivia games, a great conversation starter.

Last Minute Clean-Up

Guests were greeted with the music of Jack Johnson, Jimmy Buffet, and Abba, a perfect way to set the tone of the night. Everyone signed a photo frame for the bride-to-be, as a keepsake of the evening. And for the bacherlorette party guests, I put my degree in art to use; I painted pink and white polka-dot wine glasses; personalizing each glass with hearts, diamond rings, and the bride’s wedding date.

Painted Wine Glasses by the Bar

It wasn’t a weekend in Vegas, but a damn good time was had by all.