Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
After the wedding ceremony on Sanibel Island.
After our wedding ceremony on the beach on Sanibel Island I asked the photographer to snap a few photos with my camera so we’d have a few to share without waiting for the professional photos.
Now it's official: David and Sue McRee.
The ceremony went pretty much as planned, with one minor, but significant hitch: sand flies (aka no-see-ums, properly referred to as “biting midges“). They came out in force right at sunset and made the ceremony and photo session quick. We are trying hard to laugh about it, but it pretty much disrupted the ceremony even though we were covered with bug spray.
I’ve been to Sanibel many times and have never been attacked by sand flies like that before. A word of advice to anyone planning a sunset beach wedding. Inquire about sand flies. Try to arrive the day before and go out on the beach around 3 or 4 pm and hang out until sunset to see if there are any of those nasty biting creatures. If there are, consider moving your ceremony to an earlier hour and plan to be off the beach by 4:30 p.m. If there is a steady breeze, especially a breeze off the water, the flies should not be a problem. We had no such breeze. Sand flies should not be a problem in cooler weather.
Dinner at the Thistle Lodge at the Casa Ybel Resort, which was practically next door to our condo.
Our dinner at the Thistle Lodge. Hibachi style salmon and Macadamia-encrusted mahi-mahi.
The evening took a turn for the better after we showered away the bug spray and treated the bug bites with hydrocortisone. We went to the Thistle Lodge for dinner and had a wonderful time. There were very few people in the restaurant this time of year so it was a quiet evening. Service and the food were excellent. We had planned an after-dinner trip to Ellington’s, another nearby restaurant with live jazz, but we were too tired and decided to leave it for another night.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Congrats, guys. Sorry about a little of Florida eating on ya’ll. Those are never fun.
sorry about the no-seeums, but it certainly adds to the wedding story! you both look so happy, and I’m so pleased for you. I look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks. marge
Congrats! Only a Florida beach expert would give detailed no-see-um advice in a wedding planning note.
See you at the seabean sympsosium soon. Margie
Congrats you two!
How wonderful; see you very soon at the Symposium!
Congratulations! Best wishes for a very long and very happy life
together. We love you both. Mom & Dad
Dave, that’s totally awesome! A Sanibel wedding. I’m green with envy. I wish you both all the best. My wife and I are at 27 years now. It just keeps getting better.
Dave, you really are my beach hero!
Congrats!! You look beautiful Sue and I’m very happy for you both! Sorry about the sand flies but it will be a story you can tell for many years to come. Enjoy your life together!
Congrats David & Sue. I didn’t realize you’d get married before David’s birthday! A happy month for you both.
Dear Sue, Finally you are married. very happy for you and Dave. you will have a lot of happy days ahead of you. see you tuesday!!! The sub zumba teacher is as good as you . we all like her too. Christina
Congratulations, Sue and Dave! May you have many, many years of happiness. Sorry to read about the no-see-ums, they are vicious little critters…. We enjoyed viewing your pics – we thought it was cute you took pictures of the food, too! Yummy.
Congratulations David and Sue! Salute to both of you on this special day.
Congratulations!!!!!! Dear Zumba teacher Sue!!!! You look beautiful !!!!
Best wishes for a long and very happy life together!!!!!
Virginia : )
Hafa adai from Guam, David and Sue. Benedisi i Saina i kasiumenton miyu yan i biba miyu! [Congratulations on your wedding and your new lives together!]
Cheers guys,
Alex
Sue and David———–Never too late for well wishes—Congrats! and may the Lord pour out wonderful Blessings on your life together!
Thanks Sandy! We appreciate your kind thoughts and words.