The Friday night welcome party will be outdoors on the yacht club pool deck with a coastal dressy casual dresscode. Think sundresses, jumpsuits, or fun pants for women, and button-downs with or without a jacket for men. No jeans, please. Weather in May on the water can totally vary, but expect an ocean breeze and cooler temps after the sun goes down. We recommend bringing a wrap or light sweater. And if the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move the party inside the yacht club!
Saturday’s dress code is cocktail attire. Think suits for men, and cocktail dresses, midi or maxi dresses, or dressy jumpsuits for women - we mostly want you to feel festive and fun! Please keep in mind that we will be on grass for most of the evening, so we recommend planning your footwear accordingly. The planet is dying so we will not be providing plastic flip flops at the reception, but feel free to pack your own if that's what you need to be able to dance all night!
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate children at the evening events. If you are in need of a babysitter, the Figure Eight Realty office should be able to provide you with their list of local sitters.
Yes! Transportation will be provided both Friday and Saturday night. Shuttles will transport guests between the F8I Yacht Club, on-island house rentals, and the Holiday Inn. Take a look at our "Schedule" page for detailed logistics. (Note: exact pickup times for on-island guests will be shared in the week of the wedding)
The short answer is no! Ubers, Lyfts, and cabs are available to/from ILM airport. It's a 20-minute ride to the hotel and a 30-minute ride to F8I. Throughout the weekend, Ubers and Lyfts should be available for commuting on and off-island if you need a ride outside of the event shuttle times. Ride shares in the area can be limited or expensive depending on the time of day, so we recommend that you plan accordingly if in need of a late night or early morning ride. If you are staying in the Holiday Inn, there are many restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores within walking distance. If you plan on exploring downtown Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, or other stops beyond the Figure 8 and Porter's Neck area, it could be helpful to have a car (but definitely not necessary). Check out our "Things to Do" page for more!
Please note that there are no grocery stores or restaurants on the island. If you are flying in and renting a house, we recommend grabbing groceries beforehand, either through Instacart or at the Porter's Neck Harris Teeter located across from the Holiday Inn and just before the F8I bridge. There are several great restaurant options surrounding the Porter's Neck Holiday Inn and Harris Teeter shopping center, which is a 5-10 minute drive off-island.
Figure Eight is gated and requires guest passes for renters & non-residents driving onto the island. The security gate located before the F8I bridge will have all Jenkins-Valentine wedding guest names for passes throughout the weekend. Parking at on-island residences & along the beachfront can be limited. For anyone driving to the Jenkins' beach day kickoff on Friday, please make sure that your guest pass is visible on your windshield and that all four tire wheels are parked on the grass along the road to avoid a ticket. If you choose to drive yourself to the evening events, you are welcome to leave your car in the Yacht Club parking lot overnight and utilize shuttle transportation home.
The ceremony will take place on the Yacht Club's far East Lawn near the tennis courts. The reception will take place on the West Lawn, on the opposite side of the Yacht Club, under an open air tent. We will be on grass the entire evening, so we recommend planning your footwear accordingly!
We kindly ask that all guests turn off their phones and avoid using any cameras during the ceremony. You are welcome to take pictures during the reception, but we invite you to be fully present during our wedding.