The Island

Hand-painted style map of Cumberland Island, Georgia, lying on its side with the south end on the left and the Atlantic Ocean along the bottom
Cat and Ledyard just after getting engaged, ring out, with the Dungeness ruins behind them

Dungeness Ruins

Where it all began

Ledyard proposed to Cat here among the ruins of the old Dungeness mansion. This is us minutes after she said yes.

Ledyard standing on the long wooden dock over the marsh

McFadden Homes

Home base

Where our families are staying for the weekend. That’s Ledyard out on the dock.

Cat standing in the branches of a giant live oak

Greyfield Inn

Fri welcome party · Sat ceremony

The heart of the weekend: the welcome party Friday evening and the ceremony Saturday, under live oaks like this one.

Pig Heaven

Fri bonfire · Sat on the beach

Bonfire on the beach after the welcome party, then come hang out here Saturday before the ceremony.

Two friends hiking the Parallel Trail beneath moss-draped live oaks

Parallel Trail

Worth a hike

The shaded walk under the moss-draped oaks, and the prettiest way to get anywhere on the island.

Ledyard running up the sandy main road beneath the oaks

Plum Orchard

Worth a visit

The grand 1898 mansion up the island, kept just as it was. That’s Ledyard running the sandy main road that takes you there.

Family walking single file down the trail near Lake Whitney

Lake Whitney

Worth a wander

A freshwater lake hidden behind the dunes. This is the trail out to it. Keep an eye out for gators.

The family on the steps of the little white First African Baptist Church

First African Baptist Church

The Settlement

The tiny white church at the island’s north end, built in 1893, where JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette secretly married in 1996.

Two of the family out clamming on the tidal flats with a rake and a blue basket

Christmas Creek

Low tide

Tidal flats at the very top of the island: clamming, sandbars, and the best shelling around.

Cumberland Island, painted for the occasion.