Another Wedding at Pauline Manor
Mike and I had the pleasure of hosting a second wedding here at Pauline Manor – this time for our oldest daughter, Samantha. There is a kind of pride that comes with watching your children start this next chapter, and getting to celebrate it right here at home, surrounded by the people who love them most, made the entire day feel even more meaningful.
Samantha and Tristan were married on Pensacola Beach earlier in the day, and everything about it felt like it lined up exactly the way it was supposed to. The weather could not have been better; traffic onto the beach was practically nonexistent, which anyone local knows never happens, and the entire morning moved with an ease that made it feel like we had somehow skipped over all the usual stress that comes with a wedding day.
By the time everyone made their way back to Pauline Manor for the reception, Mike, Kayla, and I had everything in place and ready to go. Somehow, despite a few hurdles, everything flowed perfectly throughout the day. It ended up being a full twelve hours of celebrating, from the early moments on the beach to the last conversations late that night, after wearing ourselves out under the solar-light-made dance floor.
This time around, I found myself in a very similar role as the first wedding, mother of the bride, but also the default coordinator since everything was happening here at the house. The difference was that I knew a little more going into it, and that made some difference in how the day unfolded. There were still a million moving pieces behind the scenes, but it felt more manageable this time, like I knew what to expect and where I needed to be without second guessing every decision.
There were flowers everywhere, bubbles floating through the air, and the kind of energy that makes everything feel a little playful and relaxed. I am very glad that I invested in the large tents instead of simply renting them, and I can say without hesitation that it was one of the best decisions we made. Not only did they pull everything together visually, but they made the entire space feel intentional and comfortable, and I already know they are something we will use again and again.
It really did take every single one of us to make Saturday what it was. The wedding party, Tristan’s family, Mike, Kayla, Angie, all of us were up late Friday and Saturday night, working side by side to get everything set up and then taken back down before the rain rolled in on Sunday. It wasn’t just a few people behind the scenes, it was truly everyone showing up, pitching in, and making it happen together, and that is something I will never forget.
We were also so lucky to have some incredible local businesses be part of the day. Every single one of them added something special, from Everything And The Wedding Too keeping everything flowing with great music and even surprising us with live guest photos on the porch screens and a zip drive before the night was over, to Haley Lynn Photography capturing the entire day from those early moments at Pensacola Beach through the reception, to my friend Elden Scott and his team from Sonny’s BBQ making sure no one went hungry with an incredible spread that somehow tasted even better the next day. Bashes on the Coast delivering and picking up tables and chairs that made the whole setup feel polished without adding any stress at all.
Between our friends, our families, and these businesses, there is no way this day would have been what it was without all of them. I am so grateful for every single person who showed up and worked so hard, and I would recommend these businesses a thousand times over.
This was our second wedding here at Pauline Manor, and once again it proved something I don’t think I fully understood the first time around, this property has a way of holding people. Even with over a hundred guests, cars coming and going, music, food, and everything else that comes with a wedding, it never felt crowded or overwhelming. It just worked.
For now, Pauline Manor is still what it has always been first, our home, the place where the bakery runs, where the farmstand is growing into itself, and where life happens day in and day out. But standing out there that night, looking around at everything that had come together so easily, I can see how the idea of doing something more with it starts to quietly take root.
More than anything, I keep coming back to how grateful I am. For the way the day unfolded, for the people who showed up, for how hard everyone worked, and for getting to watch Samantha and Tristan start this next chapter surrounded by all of it.
We love you both so much, and we could not be more proud.
