Welcome to the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Not to be confused with the Netflix show Outer Banks which was actually filmed in Charleston, South Carolina! Use this wedding guide to the real Outer Banks for the good food, beautiful beaches, and beachen’ wedding venues.
So, what does an Outer Banks destination wedding look like?
For one, you’ll find a ton of multi-bedroom homes and event centers to host your one of a kind wedding. If you prefer not to create from scratch, we gotchu, there are a plethora of hotels as well. For a destination wedding, plan to spend 3 days with friends and family having the fricken time of your life. If you want your wedding to feel like an intimate, fancy house party, you’ll want to check our venue roundup on this wedding guide to the real Outer Banks.
Can you get married on the Outer Banks?
You absolutely can! Some of our top venue picks are The Black Stallion, Pine Island Lodge, Vista Creek, or renting your own house! Weddings in the Outer Banks is also a great resource for the admin side of things like how to get your marriage license in the OBX or to figure out how do you elope in the Outer Banks if that’s more your style!
The Black Stallion
The Black Stallion is a 24-bedroom home, located in the heart of gated The Currituck Club and designed for families and friends to build lasting memories together! Enjoy the 20,000 square feet of living space, along with beautifully landscaped grounds, spacious decks, and spectacular pool facilities. Tell the fam to bring their swimsuits and be ready to have a weekend long affair! This venue combines luxury, privacy, location, comfort and amenities. You and your guests can spend time together at the home or gather for a round of golf at The Currituck Club golf course. If your soul is set on exploring OBX during your wedding weekend, The Black Stallion is perfectly situated around many local activities.
Pine Island Lodge
Pine Island Lodge is luxury without the stuffiness that can come along with a hotel wedding. Built in 2015, the 28 bedroom is one of the largest event homes in the Outer Banks, located in Corolla, NC. It is large enough to accommodate as many as 250 guests. Get ready for an ultimate reception party on our wedding guide to the real Outer Banks.
It has EVERYTHING you want for an Outer Banks destination wedding – a reception hall, expansive wrap-around decks (16,000 square feet), catering kitchen, private pool, hot tub, theater room (perfect for slideshows of the couple growing up!), elevator, and a pool house that is equipped with restrooms and an upper-level bridal suite. In the bridal suite you’ll have a walk-in closet, wet bar, private balcony and a pedestal tub. Hell yeah!
For Megan and Ryan’s Pine Island Lodge wedding, they opted to get married on the expansive lodge balcony and then take beach photos after. It is the best of both worlds!
Vista Creek
Whether you’re hosting your ceremony at the beach or at a private ceremony site overlooking the Roanoke sound, Vista Creek is a great option! Share your special day among family and friends with the best beaches and views. Our favorite part about the Vista Creek ceremony site is the quaint bridge to walk across before saying “I Do.” It’s magical.
After couples commit their fun filled life to each other in a beautiful ceremony, guests can enjoy refreshments in their luxurious ballroom lined with crystal chandeliers. The elegant veranda is perfect to watch the incredible sunset views of the Roanoke Sound. Which is why we included Vista Creek in your wedding guide to the real Outer Banks. Let us tell you from first hand experience, the sunsets in OBX are TOP NOTCH!
Wedding Guide to the real Outer Banks – rent your own house!
If you are looking for something more unique, check out a vacation rental for your wedding! Pat and Rachel had a Wild Horse Estate Wedding on 4×4 Beach OBX, NC. For many of the OBX beachfront rentals, rent an SUV! Get ready to bomb through dunes and listen to the waves crash as you cruise down the sand highway! The Wild Horse Estate boasted views of the dunes for miles, wild horses (hence the name), and the mostly vacant beach! There are tons of rental options and you will find one best suited for your unique day.
Can you get married on the beach in Nags Head?
You sure can! Our venue recommendation for Nags Head is the Village Beach Club. You’ll find it among the sand dunes of Nags head and steps from the ocean. Exchange vows on the sand and then choose between an outdoor reception by the pool or a gorgeous indoor reception. Amenities include a large pool with food and drink service, a snack bar and café serving lunch and full-service bar. You and your guests won’t want to leave!
Another option on our wedding guide to the real Outer Banks is White Doe Inn. The White Doe Inn is best for small weddings! It is centrally located and has all the vibes of an authentic B&B with the luxuries of a resort. Locals rave about their soothing Outer Banks spa treatments. If you’re not planning on a big wedding, you should check out the White Doe Inn for your elopement or micro wedding. You can enjoy a beautiful ceremony in either the Inn’s lush gardens or one of our nearby beaches. Only catch is the guest count is up to 18 for the garden and 28 for the coastal package.
Wedding Guide to the real Outer Banks on resorts – have a wedding or stay the night!
Sea Sand Resort
Kick off your flops, breathe in that ocean air, and enjoy the prime oceanfront location in Kill Devil Hills. The Sea Ranch Resort has on site amenities and close proximity to popular OBX attractions. Check out their Beachside Bistro with a menu focusing on American Coastal Cuisine. Check out their seared catch of the day! The oceanfront deck provides guests with all of the ambiance of oceanfront dining, including beach views and the relaxing sound of the surf. Their team of professionals will help organize your wedding, customize menus, offer recommendations for local vendors, and overall, help take the stress out of the planning process.
Sanderling Resort
At Sanderling Resort you can truly “Escape to the OBX.” The resort offers the perfect setting for both adventure and relaxation. At Sanderling Resort, you have your option of two pools, private beach access, full-service spa, fitness center, and award-winning dining options. You also have three dining venues. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at Lifesaving Station, visit the Sandbar for casual eats, cocktails, and beverages overlooking the beach, or savor more refined cuisine at Kimball’s Kitchen. For a full resort experience, you’ll want to check out Sanderling.
Sanderling’s venues and packages allow for weddings of all sizes. Whether it be more intimate on the Observation Deck, or on the spacious and beautiful EVent Lawn, Sanderling Resort can host any wedding small or large to share your big day with friends and family!
Wedding guide to the real Outer Banks: where to eat
Top of our wedding guide to the real Outer Banks is going to be a combo experience + food. While in OBX, you’ll want to rent a boat for the day, SUNSCREEN UP, and then dock at Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant & Sunset Bar and Grill. Enjoy fresh traditional seafood downstairs at Miller’s Waterfront Restaurant or casual small plates and drinks at The Waterfront Sunset Bar & Grill.
Whalehead Brewery is an old restaurant turned into an industrial, unique brewery and taproom. It includes a 5-barrel brewhouse with a self pour tap wall(!!), manufacturing creative full flavored beer styles on site using the best ingredients possible. Their whale logo represents the connection to the Outer Banks beach community. The whale’s name is Marella, which in Latin means sea, and she reflects the women’s ownership of Whalehead Brewery. Fuck yes.
Ocean Boulevard Bistro has been the premiere Martini Bar on the Outer Banks since 1995. Like their food, the specialty martinis change seasonally. There is always a new form of inspiration when ingredients and moods change! Martinis on their list have won awards at OBX events for both taste and presentation and offer something creative and delicious for diners and bar patrons. Come hungry, you’re going to want to enjoy every bite here!
Stop by Duck’s Cottage & Downtown Books to browse and sip. Their Mucky Duck caramel and hazelnut mocha with HOUSE MADE whipped cream and CHOCOLATE SHAVINGS is our beverage pick. As far as books we support shopping at small businesses!
What to do during an Outer Banks destination wedding
For one, HORSES! Enjoy a close encounter with Corolla’s wild horses with Corolla Outback Adventures. Access the remote sand dunes via 4-wheel drive vehicle, equipped with a pop top for unobstructed views of the conservation area, and benefit from the insider knowledge of your guide to optimize your chances of seeing foals, stallions, and more freely roaming in the wild.
See a goddam alligator! With an Alligator River Kayak Tour, you’ll trudge through the most robust gator population. Don’t worry, gators are shy and elusive creatures and are not aggressive. You’ll also enjoy kayaking in Milltail Creek, home to an old logging and whiskey distilling community during Prohibition. If you’re an animal enthusiast, you’ll love seeing water fowl of snowy egrets, great blue herons, and the once endangered red wolf.
If you’ve always wanted to hang glide, now is your chance! You can learn to fly with Kitty Hawk Kites’ Hang Gliding in the Outer Banks. This is the largest hang gliding school in the WORLD!! You’ll take flight on the soft sand dunes of Jockeys Ridge State Park in Nags Head, NC. This is one of the top hang gliding destinations in the world. Because of the soft sands and great winds coming off of the sound, this is a safe activity for everyone in the family (Ages 4+).
What are you waiting for? If our wedding guide to the real Outer Banks has you thinking that a beach in the sand, beer in the hand, fun filled Outer Banks wedding is for YOU, contact me. Can’t wait to capture your favorite day EVER!
