8 September 2022 | Published By: Hotels OBX
By Christine Flanagan, Office Manager
You’re engaged! (Congratulations, we are so excited for you!!) You and your fiancé have decided that the Outer Banks is the perfect location. That’s a significant decision checked off your wedding planning to-do list. Now it’s time to look at options for Outer Banks wedding venues. Narrowing down a location still leaves a lot of options for venues; it can make your head spin. We have five expert tips to help you select the best wedding reception venue.
1. Your Estimated Guest List VS. Venue Max Capacity
By now, you’ve started thinking about who is going to be on the guest list. While you may not know the specifics, you have an idea if the ceremony will be intimate with 30 of your closest friends and family or a huge party with 200 people. Keep this in mind when researching Outer Banks wedding venues. You’ll want a venue that fits your ideal wedding size. If you are unsure about the wedding size, we recommend looking at venues that have multiple options. For example, our Comfort Inn South Oceanfront has several ballrooms that accommodate anywhere from 20 – 200 people. Our Comfort Inn On The Ocean has a ballroom that can accommodate up to 100 people reception style.2. Do You Need Multiple Locations Or Not?
While considering the guest list, we also recommend keeping your vision for the wedding ceremony and reception in mind. Do you dream about having your ceremony on the beach? Do you love the Outer Banks but hate the idea of sand all over your wedding dress? (We aren’t here to judge, either way!) When looking at venues, you’ll want to ensure enough space for your wedding ceremony and reception. Key points to think about:
- • If you want an indoor ceremony, are there two different ballrooms?
- • If you want an outdoor ceremony, is there an indoor rain backup option?
- • Some venues only have one ballroom and may flip (transition) a room between the ceremony and reception. We advise finding out what that looks like and how long it takes because vendors need to know that information.
At the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront, we have multiple ballrooms that can accommodate a variety of options, like the ceremony in one room and reception in another. Both of our hotels have beach access allowing for that dreamy ocean backdrop for your ceremony (if you want it).
3. Create and Stick To A Realistic Budget
Let’s talk about the budget. There’s nothing worse than looking at something, deciding that’s what you really want, and then realizing it is way out of your price point. For a lot of newly engaged couples, this is the first large event they are probably ever planning, and they have no idea what venues cost or include. A quick google search for “beach wedding venues NC” will show various options at various price points. Take note of the possibilities. Decide on a realistic budget with your fiancé and/or family who are helping to pay for the event. Once you have a wedding budget start narrowing down venues that are just too high.4. Availability
If you are set on a specific date, we advise booking as far in advance as the venue will allow guaranteeing they have availability. However, if you are flexible on the wedding date, this gives you the opportunity to see if there are special offers available, perhaps during the off-season. The Outer Banks, NC, is a destination location with a peak season that will be in much higher demand during the summer.5. Accommodations & The Surrounding Area
Most likely, your guests will travel and need accommodations for your wedding. Nothing beats having your ceremony, reception, and guests staying within the same venue. Having your wedding at a hotel means your guests don’t have to worry about being late because of traffic or finding parking. Also, the surrounding area in Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills has so much to offer guests if they stay for more than one day. Our savvy sales team can assist with guiding you to a suitable event space. They can also provide additional information about guestrooms at the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront or Comfort Inn on the Ocean.
Your wedding will be a day you and your fiancé will treasure for years. We cherish the opportunity to be a part of your love story. Contact us for information on reserving your date at the best wedding reception venues in the Outer Banks.
