My girlfriend and I are looking for possible venues to have our wedding, and we're strongly leaning to the beach.

Any NC beach would do well. Out of the venues you all have been to for friends or perhaps your own what have you seen that you liked? Any feedback that would have us narrow our search would be GREAT.

If we choose your spot then maybe you'll even get an invite.


Thanks!

6/13/2010 9:25:31 PM

IBTL since it will get locked

We're having our wedding at the Surfside Center on Topsail. Oceanfront and very reasonably priced. You can find info on it on Surf City's website.

http://surfcity.govoffice.com/

Click on Tourism and Welcome Center on the left menu.

6/13/2010 9:31:01 PM

The only place I've specifically heard about for weddings was Duck Island.

6/13/2010 9:37:48 PM

Some friends did it on Wrightsville Beach at

http://www.shellisland.com/weddings.php

They were extremely pleased and as I guest I enjoyed myself.

6/13/2010 9:45:08 PM

If you're thinking of doing a beach house wedding, I looked into this place and it's pretty much the perfect set-up for a wedding: http://www.vrbo.com/293730

6/13/2010 9:52:41 PM

the North Carolina aquarium at Fort Fisher seems like a really cool place

http://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher/rent-the-aquarium

6/13/2010 10:12:02 PM

^ I really wanted to do it at the aquarium, but my party size just wasn't the right fit compared to the options. I had to rent the whole thing out at like 3000 dollars =/ If you have a smaller party, there is an awesome fish room which wasn't so bad.

6/13/2010 10:21:39 PM

^^ my bf, tschudi just djed a wedding there. he said it was way awesome. the only thing with an aquarium though is that pics don't always come out as well. its pretty dark in there and there's lots of glass. just gotta make sure your photog knows whats up.

6/13/2010 10:36:53 PM

That's one thing I've noticed about the aquarium weddings as well. I have yet to see photos from one that looked great.

6/13/2010 11:11:26 PM

^^^^We are doing this!

^^^ We decided to do the Cape Fear Shoals and Mezzanine and it was expensive...but we decided on a Sunday wedding and that saved us 10%.

^^Once you book with the aquarium, they will give you a list of approved photographers who have shot weddings there successfully. They also allow any photographer a chance to come in and practice so they will know what they are getting in to.

^There's a lovely set of photos I was shown but it does seem to be the exception.


I am excited about it. PM me any questions. Also look into the Southport Community Center...They have a BEAUTIFUL overlook where you can get married outside on the sound.

6/13/2010 11:51:50 PM

The Aquarium on Roanoke Island also has a great outdoor soundside courtyard, which is where we had our wedding two years ago. The nice thing about the aquarium is that your guests get a free tour, which gives them something to do while you're taking your wedding party photos. The staff is amazing as well. We finished up a little early, and since we had the place for almost another hour, the event director took us on a "behind the scenes" tour where we got to go up above the big tank and see where they do the feedings and dive shows.

6/14/2010 12:10:46 AM

The Seabrook Island Clubhouse was nice for the one beachside one I went to.

6/14/2010 8:38:22 AM

use this thread message_topic.aspx?topic=509314

6/14/2010 9:46:43 AM

I've been to a fantastic wedding at one of the clubs at Bald Head Island but I'm sure it was $$$$$. Really nice though--the clubhouse was across the street from the beachfront and they have a front patio with a pergola that the actual ceremony was held under, with the ocean as a backdrop.

To whoever said Wrightsville, if you're going to do that, try to arrange it somewhere that your guests will have places to park. I happened to go there for the day in August a couple of years ago and someone was having a wedding on the beach, but were trying to use the public access lot down near Shell Island as their guest parking. It was a mess--the lot was full, people were circling, the wedding party was running around trying to stand in spaces to hold them for guests, one groomsman got into a verbal altercation with a guy who wasn't affiliated with the wedding but was trying to park. Plus a bunch of guys in suits/shirts and ties and ladies in fancy dresses and heels looked distinctly uncomfortable being outside on a sunny, 90+ degree August day.

6/14/2010 9:51:26 AM

There's a reason the Outer Banks is in the top 3 for destination weddings in the US...


http://www.obxwa.com

6/14/2010 10:27:23 AM

I've been to a wedding+reception at the Dunes Club at Atlantic Beach, and just a reception. I don't know how much it costs or if it's private or whatever, but it was nice.

http://www.memberstatements.com/Clubs/DunesClubInc/ch/

6/14/2010 10:43:47 AM

Our wedding was at Bald Head Island. It was awesome. I have been to some nice weddings, and I honestly think ours was the best so far.

A nice experience for guests who have never been since the island has a unique feel to it, beautiful big beaches, and you can only get around via golf carts. The chapel is one of the prettiest I have ever been too. My wife was insistant we get married there, and I didnt get it until I went there (for the first time, 2 days before the wedding).

We opted not to do the Shoal's Club, and instead used the large outdoor tent near the marina. The tent was awesome. You take a risk with the weather (have to worry more about the heat than rain, because the sides of the tent do come down).

Problem is that everything wedding related on the island is tightly controlled and monopolized, and very expensive.

If you want to know more, or see some pics of our wedding, let me know.

Some photos from our photographer:
http://www.chrislangweddings.com/signaturesgallery1.html
(our signature photo is the first one)


Photos of a random wedding on bald head, but the chapel is NOT on bald head (bald head chapel can only hold 113 people, so larger services have to hold it off the island).
http://www.chrislangweddings.com/idogallery2.html

Chris Lang was the photographer, and we highly recommend him. You will either love his style, or hate it. he does a tremendous amount of post processing. he is truly a professional.

[Edited on June 14, 2010 at 11:28 AM. Reason : .]

6/14/2010 11:12:53 AM

Close but not quite the beach--Southport Community Building.

We had our reception there, but you can get married there too. They are very accomodating and have chairs and tables. We had to rent a few extra tables for the buffet set up and bar, but they have a lot already.

[Edited on June 14, 2010 at 11:40 AM. Reason : ]

6/14/2010 11:37:37 AM

The aquarium here in Pine Knoll Shores is awesome cause you can have the ceremony next to the living shipwreck, or just have the reception there.

When I ever get married I for sure what to have my reception there.

6/14/2010 12:16:11 PM

We had our wedding reception last year at "The Country Club of the Crystal Coast," old Bogue Banks CC, brand new building and right on the water in Pine Knoll Shores.

We were planning on the Dunes Club until they tolds us the place wouldnt be closed off to the members, and we didnt want random people walking around our reception.

The aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores is nice but you have to be done by 9pm I think.

6/14/2010 12:21:59 PM

We got married at the whalehead club at corolla nc. Was really cool, on the sound so beach but no sand to feel icky etc.

http://www.whaleheadclub.org/

6/14/2010 7:13:47 PM

Quote :

"There's a reason the Outer Banks is in the top 3 for destination weddings in the US..."

huh, I had no idea but I guess it doesn't surprise me either. I wonder what the other two are. Hawaii and somewhere in Florida?

6/14/2010 7:43:21 PM

thanks all.

I would have checked the wedding thread but 30 some pages is too much for very specific information.

big thanks to stowaway and CarZin

6/14/2010 8:22:31 PM

That's why you post your question in the wedding thread and have people answer it in there.

I'm actually surprised this didn't get locked. Usually the wedding ones get locked with a swiftness.

6/14/2010 8:30:41 PM

^that'd be the approach with the least impact since people wouldn't click on the thread unless they were inclined to do so anyways. A separate topic gains the attention of multiple people.

6/15/2010 6:06:21 PM

I didn't know you were engaged -- congrats!!!

6/15/2010 6:38:33 PM

After having attended a few keep the following in mind:

1) Outdoor wedding
2) Summer
3) North Carolina
4) Formal attire

5) Hot and miserable

6/15/2010 7:27:16 PM

^ heh truth That's why we're doing casual attire for our wedding.

6/15/2010 8:12:21 PM

http://www.outerbanks.org/visitor_services/wedding_information/

Actually a pretty comprehensive look at places, accommodations, vendors, etc.

If you're looking for beach houses for your guests, pm me.

6/16/2010 8:41:16 AM