Welcome to Virginia Beach! Come for a wedding, stay for a weekend you won’t forget! I am your tour guide, your girl, your hands in the air like we just don’t care vibe giver. Follow this guide for the ultimate wedding weekend in Virginia Beach.
Aside from the gorgeous venues, Virginia Beach has activities for wedding guests alllll weekend long. They can relax, get spicy, or take advantage of one of the MANY outdoor activities, particularly on the water.
The weather stays comfortable all year round. Bring a comfy sweater in the winter months, your favorite brimmed hat in the warmer months, and a bathing suit all damn year. Of course, you can also pick up any of these things at Virginia Beach as a memento of your trip. Soleless Sandals points out that “generally speaking, April, May, June, September, October, and November are the best months for a beach wedding.”
How to Get to a Wedding Weekend in Virginia Beach
For guests traveling to Virginia Beach from a long distance, they will fly into Norfolk International Airport (ORF). Next, they’ll take Interstate 64-264 or via Shore Drive from the airport and arrive at Virginia Beach Oceanfront in 20 minutes. This means you DON’T have to rent a car. The town is very walkable and there are rideshare options all day long.
Wedding Weekend in Virginia Beach – Where to Stay
We are going to be realllll honest with you here. The Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort is gorgeous. It features HUGE windows with a ton of natural light. We photographed Lauren and Sam’s Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Wedding and fell in love with it. They were married on the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront side lawn between the palms, with the ocean waves providing the perfect background music. They laughed, ripped off a veil, added a few jokes, and committed to forever in front of their 125 guests. My favorite part? They’re nearly identical answers to the questionnaire their savage officiant asked. ‘What happens next after you’re married’ The answer: ‘Whatever it is, I have her/him, and that’s all that matters’ My heart these two are meant for each other!
Have your own love story at the Marriott. Book a modern luxury room with ocean view balconies and enjoy some deeeeelicious food. The hotel has a badass roof top bar, TWO grilles, and We Scream Ice Cream and Coffee. You don’t even have to leave the hotel to have a good time! Come for the beach and pool, stay for a wedding party. Honestly, take a stroll by resort row and we promise you’ll find a good time.
Bougie and Worth It
Next to the Marriott and part of the same resort is The Cavalier Resort. This hotel is a little bougier but totally worth it. Since opening its doors in 1927, The Cavalier Hotel has welcomed 10 presidents and luminaries from Frank Sinatra to Elizabeth Taylor. Today, the hotel has been restored, blending the timeless luxury with the comfort, amenities and technology. IE – the onsite spa includes a steam room, sauna, whirlpool, and massage options. Hey, even if you’re not coming for your own wedding, we guarantee you can use some relaxation during the weekend.
Explicitly, what really sells it is The Cavalier Beach Club. The club features semi-private beach access, a seaside infinity pool, and a poolside bar and grill serving craft cocktails, refreshing drinks and a full beach grill menu.
We loooooove a good Air BnB.
This Oceanfront Condo is on the 3rd floor and offers beautiful, expansive views at both sunrise and sunset. Just off the boardwalk with a community pool, this unit sleeps three. Additionally, beach chairs and towels are provided. Right on the oceanfront, you won’t find a better place to listen to the ocean in the evening, or indulge in my favorite pastime – people watching.
EAT – Our Recs for Your Wedding Weekend in Virginia Beach
Breakfast
While it’s open all day, ThePinkDinghy is so damn good for breakfast. We’re talking blueberry old-fashioned doughnuts topped with maple glaze, chocolate, vanilla, raspberry hibiscus, chai spice sugar, pistachio & passion fruit coconut. So. MANY. OPTIONS! It’s about 4 blocks from the beach, so pick one up and soak in the Virginia Beach sun as you make your way down to the water.
Lunch
Our lunch recommendation is Chix on the Beach. While a bit more touristy, we love the beach front patio and live music on the weekends. The bar food is great to soak up last night’s endeavors – mozzarella sticks, pretzel bites, fried calamari. If you’re visiting with kids it’s VERY kid friendly. Meaning, they actually have more than four options on the kids menu! If you choose to come in the evening, sit by the fire pit and get alllll cozied up. To top it off they boast about serving the local, woman-owned liquor brand, Waterman Spirits. Say it loud and say it proud; fist bump to Chix.
Afternoon Pick Me Up
MAAAYYBEEEE it’s because we spent a number of years in Hawaii and we travel back annually to photograph some pretty sick weddings, but our afternoon pick me up is Bad Ass Coffee – Premium Hawaiian Coffee. The Beach Bliss Iced Latte with White Chocolate & Macadamia Nut will be calling your name.
Dinner
Our evening recommendation is Esoteric Craft Beer and Restaurant. This Virginia Beach lovin’ husband and wife entrepreneurial team share a passion for good craft beer and eclectic, curated foods brought Esoteric to life. As a classically trained chef (Tim) and an experienced restaurateur (Kristina) they were drawn to a VB Historical Registry 1940’s era building. Undeniably, using this space in the Arts and Culture District to develop a space dedicated to the art of food, beverage and conversation was an A++ idea.
We love the vibe here. This is the place to take your out of town friends to share charcuterie plates, sample duck tacos, and cheers to the night with the “I’m Joining a Cult” cocktail. Hell yes you are.
Les and Tyler had their wedding at Esoteric and ate like KINGS at a delicious sit-down dinner. They spent the night on the patio at Esoteric VB with their guests. The DJ fired things up, major break dancing skills came out and the dancing never stopped! Anytime you go you can count on great food, great ambiance, great times.
Activities During a Wedding Weekend in Virginia Beach
The most obvious thing to do is to visit the beaches. Take a morning stroll with your coffee in hand, set up a game of paddle ball with a friend, lay out, boogie board, take a late night skinny dip. JK on the one. According to VB Ocean Safety, “Bathing suits should be kept on always. Changing in public, public nudity (including skinny dipping), obscene displays and indecent exposure are all off-limits.” You wouldn’t want to do anything off limits…
Also, if you get the chance to stay off the main strip and down at Sandbridge Beach, The 2024 Official Visitors Guide shares their “5 most Instagrammable spots” which include:
· Little Island Pier
· Surf and Adventure Co. Kayaks
· False Cape State Park
· Black Bay National Wildlife Refuge
· Sandbridge Beach
Sandbridge is great for getting away from the hustle of the main strip and enjoying a wedding weekend in Virginia Beach that is truly relaxing.
Activities for Adventurers
Let’s get EPIC on the wedding weekend in Virginia Beach. Such as joining a Kayaking Dolphin Tour! Go Kayak launches kayaks into the beautiful Lynnhaven Bay via Crab Creek. You’ll paddle in mostly calm water and are immediately immersed into the natural surroundings of the tidal salt marsh, the maritime forest and the Chesapeake Bay. At any moment, peep the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins! Those aren’t the only things you may see. Bald eagles, osprey, whales, sea turtles, sting rays, pelicans, foxes, herons, egrets have also made an appearance. Well shittt, can’t say no to those sweet faces!
We say ‘SUP to stand up paddle boarding. Rudee Inlet Stand Up Paddle offers options both in flat water and the Ocean. Randy Harris, owner of RI’SUP, is a highly experienced waterman whose love of Rudee Inlet is abundantly clear when you paddle with him. He knows every nook and cranny of the Inlet and oceanfront, and loves to share that knowledge with his Lesson/Adventure groups. While it sounds VERY up close and personal, you’re in Virginia Beach for a wedding. Let’s not be so bashful about the nooks and crannies of VB.
The best way to get around Virginia Beach is by beach cruiser. Rent a bike from Beach Cruiser Bike Rental and quickly glide from your lunch spot down to the Sandbridge for their must see photo spots. Because beach cruisers are lightweight, there’s nothing better than navigating VB with the wind in your hair. BONUS – The Virginia Beach Boardwalk is built with cyclists in mind. With separate biking and walking paths, cyclists can ride their beach cruisers along the coast without having to dodge pedestrians or cars. Fantastic for adventurers who were never good at Frogger.
Attractions for a Wedding Weekend in Virginia Beach
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is home to thousands of animals, and hundreds of species. Their 2024 newly-renovated South Building offers new animals and galleries, interactive exhibits and play areas, observation windows into staff work spaces. Hey, if the mammals can be on display, so can their incredible trainers!
The Cape Henry Lighthouse, Located at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, Cape Henry Lighthouse is a historic landmark dating back to the late 18th century. Visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of the coastline. It’s truly special at the top.
Let us know what you did on your wedding weekend in Virginia Beach! If you’re looking into plan your own Virginia Beach wedding, let’s connect! We know no two weddings are identical. Everyone’s vibe and vision are unique, just like your love story. We help guide you on how your photography should fit your day, not the other way around. Also, this is a celebration of your love not a photoshoot. We want you to soak in all the amazing love coming your way while also having kickass photos! Tell us all the good stuff!
