OBXWEDDINGBLOG.COM

Forget the Horse and Carriage! What About a Helicopter Ride?

2010-03-05T15:27:00Z

My aunt Mary was swept off her feet by her new husband - literally! After the wedding and the country club reception, he arranged for a helicopter to whisk them off to their honeymoon. It landed right there on the golf course. Pretty cool huh?

This ancient memory percolated to the surface yesterday when we met with Larry from Coastal Helicopters. It turns out he offers the only helicopter rides on the Outer Banks. In addition to being whisked away, he says the helicopter-eye-view is great for photos of your beach wedding. Or how about a mini-mancation before the wedding including a helicopter tour for the groomsmen?

Larry flies a Robinson R-44 Raven II helicopter. It is air conditioned and seats three passengers. You can arrange a charter for as little as 20-minutes for $175. For three people, that's less than $60 each!

Okay, so here's a little extra for all you romantics out there: helicopter video of the Great Serendipity Move of 2010. Yes, that's the house from Nights in Rodanthe. The ocean was getting a little too close close for comfort, so it had to be moved to a safer location. Always on the ball, Larry took to the skies to bring us this awesome video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4aNjCxd_TM

If you want to find out more about chartering a helicopter on the Outer Banks, check out http://www.obxhelicopters.com/

Colleen's Wedding on the Beach

2010-02-19T16:11:00Z

This week's guest blogger is Colleen Almoney of HomeTour Magazine here on the beach.

If you are reading this, you are either thinking about having a beach wedding, already planning a beach wedding, or wishing you had your wedding at the beach and are simply beating yourself up because you didn’t do it.

Let me be frank. Weddings make you crazy. Some women go full-out bridezilla, and some slowly watch themselves turn into someone that they no longer recognize. The pressure to try and please everyone is daunting. Add to the mix a healthy dose of unrealistic expectations, and your future Mother-in-law telling you that you “just haaaave to invite so-and-so, and her husband, and their four children” who you have never met, not to mention MONEY, and it’s no wonder that so many brides spend too many nights crying in the closet so no one will hear.

Beach weddings elicit warm, comfortable feelings that are captured in the heat of the sand beneath your feet, and the sweet, salty breeze off of the ocean. It’s no wonder that people are drawn to the idea of a destination wedding! First of all, the pictures are to DIE FOR, and the less people know, the less they can try to influence you!

I have to be honest, my first wedding (I call it my “practice wedding”) was typical in that we did the church/flower/big family/wedding party/buffet reception with a band thing. It was good fun for everyone, and it put my parents so far into debt that I, to this day, want to kick myself.

My second time around, I vowed to make this the wedding that WE wanted… and it was perfect. No, I don’t mean the bride-y, “Oh! My wedding was PERFECT” perfect. It was simply perfect.

Having a wedding on the Outer Banks meant that our family and friends would converge on the beach in a swarm. We had rented from a super company, Village Realty, in the past, so they were our first call. We rented an amazing oceanfront home for the event, and our “people” managed to band together and snatch-up a few rental homes next door and across the street from the event location. NO DRIVING REQUIRED!

Friday night, we had a very casual, un-rehearsal BBQ to welcome everyone into town. Our guests showed-up and left when they wanted. They ate, drank, and were very merry. Music was provided by local friends, The Little Kings. We had THE best burgers, and chicken, and salads, and dessert, and, oh, the feeding frenzy was gross display. I loved every second of it. I don’t remember when the night ended.

Saturday morning, I picked-up my best friend and my mother, and we went to get our hair done at Hair Designers in Kill Devil Hills. We had a lovely, relaxing morning with no fuss. A few hours later, I met my father at his rental home. We had a shot (or two?) of Captain Morgan and we just walked across the street to the wedding. Everything was just as I had hoped.

Our “important flowers” (bouquet, corsages and boutonnières) were provided by Holiday House in Manteo. I am in love with their work and they didn’t let me down. The rest of the décor was casual, with shells, starfish and candles.

We had a few chairs on the beach for the folks who needed them. Everyone else stood close by us so they could hear and to bear witness to the exchange of our vows… indeed there were a few people who didn’t believe it was actually happening J We did the “I Do’s” and took some amazing photos. Carrie Roen, of Brooke Mayo Photography, did the unthinkable! She actually got my husband to do some fairly goofy things and SMILE the whole time! That alone was worth the cost of admission.

We had a giant buffet that was provided by a company that is no longer in business, which is a crying shame because I would tell you all to use them in a second. We had prime rib, Maryland crab cakes, a mashed potato bar, oysters, pasta, kabobs, fried turkey, veggies… again, it was a hideous display of gluttony. The drinks were cold and, if pressed, I believe that’s what caused me to jump in the pool with my gown on. Speaking of which, I bought the first and only gown that I tried on at Black Tie Affair in Kill Devil Hills. I saw it in a major bridal magazine, checked online, and there it was, just waiting for me.

Our DJ, John Harper, put up with my list of “Don’ts” (you know, Achy Breaky Heart, We Are Family, etc) and managed to keep us dancing well into the morning.

I had a strategy going into this event: marry my husband. That’s really all I wanted. In my humble opinion, too many brides get tied-up in the WEDDING. The truth is, I really can’t remember too much about my “practice wedding” activities. I don’t remember what flowers we choose, or who said what.

We used the bulk of our budget on what was most important to us: location, food, drinks, entertainment. We made memories that are cherished by the two of us. We’ve been told by many that ours was the most “laid back, fun, authentic” wedding they had ever attended. The question is this…

What do YOU want? When you decide, go get it, and don’t take “no” for an answer.

PS, your future Mother-in-law will eventually forgive you for not inviting her best friend’s daughter that married that guy from around the block back in the day. But not right away.

Thanks Colleen for sharing your awesome beach wedding with us!

Colleen Almoney works for HomeTour of the Outer Banks. You can email her at htourcolleen@earthlink.net or visit them online at http://www.hometour-obx.com/skins/hometourobx/

The “Official” Part of Getting Married on the Outer Banks

2010-02-02T14:26:00Z

Our guest blogger today is Janice Lane of Seaside Healing. Janice is an officiant for non-denominational weddings on the Outer Banks.

There are some very basic things to consider when planning a wedding on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in addition to the catering, flowers, location, etc. And that is planning for the marriage itself.

Often couples get caught up so much in the planning for the event, that they forget this is about bringing together two people who love each other and want to spend their lives together. There are many fine officiants locally that can assist you with planning for the marriage. Here are some things to consider as you are planning for this part.....

Work on your vows; they should be very personal for the two of you. These vows will express the feelings you have for each other, and those that you feel comfortable to share publicly before family and friends. Most officiants have suggested services and readings, or there are plenty on the internet and in books. But make sure they come from your heart and express what you want to express. This is not the time for anyone else to have input except for the two of you.

Make sure you have the necessary paperwork. To be married on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, you can obtain a marriage license at any Register of Deeds office in the State of North Carolina. They cost $50.00 and are good for 60 days from the date of issue. You must be at least 18 years old and present the following items:

A picture ID
Social security card or another certificate with your social security number listed, such as a W2 form or old pay stub.
Birth certificate if under 21
Divorce papers (with Judge's signature)

Outer Banks locations are:

Dare County Register of Deeds Office located in the Dare County Justice Center at 962 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo (252) 475-5970;
Currituck County offices on the Currituck mainland (252)232-3297 (Mon-Fri, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm);
Hyde County Register of Deeds office in Swan Quarter (for Ocracoke weddings) at (252)926-3011.

Allow someone besides the two of you to be in charge of the papers on your wedding day. On my own wedding day, we realized a couple of hours before the service that the marriage license had been packed and was somewhere in a box in the U-Haul! With so many other things on your mind, let a trusted friend or family member take care of this for you. The officiant will need to have the marriage license before the ceremony begins, and it is a good idea to have the witnesses be briefed by the officiant about the signing of the license by them before the marriage can be legal. This is also a good time for the officiant to receive their payment. After the ceremony, people feel like celebrating, not like doing paperwork. The officiant will mail the completed license into the proper office within a week after the ceremony.

There are two witnesses needed at a marriage ceremony. Consider carefully who you would like to sign your certificates as your witnesses, since their signatures are there forever. Often the best man and maid/matron of honor are the witnesses, but if a couple wishes to come on their own without family or friends, often an officiant can find willing friends of their own to come and witness the marriage. There is a retired couple I often call when witnesses are needed – they think it’s so much fun. After all, who doesn't’t love a wedding?

It is a good idea to meet privately with your officiant before the wedding, and also before the rehearsal, if there is to be one. At this meeting, you can discuss how you would like things to take place during the ceremony and most officiants will be able to offer good suggestions about things that may not be readily apparent to a couple making plans. This is our home, and we know many of the ins and outs of doing things that may make things much easier. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want - this is your wedding. It is also nice on your wedding day to say your vows in front of someone you have met and talked to, and who has an idea of who you are individually, and as a couple.

If there is to be a blending of families, such as children from previous relationships, consider making those children a special part of your ceremony. Something simple can be done, some sort of acknowledgment, that will allow them to feel more secure about their place in the new relationship. One of my favorite weddings included the giving of rings to two young girls who were getting a new step-parent. The couple offered a vow to the children that they would make this a happy family and be the best parents they could be. It was beautiful and so very meaningful to all of them.

If you are having your ceremony on the beach, or on an outdoor deck, please-please-please keep your rings in their ring box. There is little worse than looking for a dropped wedding ring in the sand, or seeing it drop through the space between the boards on a deck.

Have fun. This may be the most important piece of advice of all!

Thanks Janice! I had a mishap with my marriage license too - not something you want to deal with on your wedding day

Janice Lane performs non-denominational marriage and commitment ceremonies on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She has been providing this service for several years and loves bringing people together in our beautiful natural area. You may reach her at 252.202.6842 or seasidehealing@gmail.com.

A Wedding from Ocracoke to Nags Head

2010-01-25T15:43:00Z

Our guest blogger Mary Haggerty of Ocracoke Photo writes about David and Hillary:

I knew from the start that David and Hillary were a perfect match. My first contact with the couple was the day David called me to schedule their engagement portrait session on Ocracoke Island. I found out during our conversation that David had not proposed to Hillary... well, not yet. He was waiting till they arrived on Ocracoke Island, their favorite spot.

I photographed their engagement portrait at Springer's Point at sunset. This was the place where only a day before David proposed, and Hillary said “yes!” It is a very beautiful natural place where the sun sets over the sound at Teach's Hole.

It was my good fortune to get another call from the couple. They were planning their wedding in Nags Head at the First Colony Inn. It was my joy to be the photographer for this fun and elegant wedding. The ocean, the beautiful beach and the Inn were a perfect backdrop for a day filled with family, friends, laughter and smiles! 100 guests came from all over to share in this wonderful couple's wedding day.

Hillary wore a strapless gown wrapped in white lace and walked barefoot on the beach to join David for the ceremony by the ocean. She wore a pale blue beach glass necklace with tiny white pearls. She had beach glass pieces in her blue flower bouquet. She wore a blue starfish in her hair.

The bridesmaids were dressed in beach glass colors: dresses in the shades of blues, green, and brown. Each bridesmaid had coordinating beach glass earrings. David and the groomsmen wore starfish boutonnieres. The flower girl carried a pretty starfish wand.

There was lots of love, friendship, and laughter at this special wedding. I am glad I was there to capture all the smiles and memories.

Thanks for the sweet story and great photos Mary!

See more of Mary Haggerty's work www.OcracokePhoto.com. She also offers complete wedding packages at NCIslandWedding.com . Or call her at 252-928-7000

What to throw??

2010-01-22T15:36:00Z

For years we've been told throwing rice over the bride and groom as they leave the church is a big no-no. It does bad things to birds, right?

As it turns out, birds eat rice all the time. According to snopes.com, the exploding bird epidemic is nothing but an urban legend. So why do so many churches ban rice? To keep everyone upright! On a hard surface, rice acts like tiny ball bearings. Can you imagine slipping and falling on the church steps due to a rice hazard? Not a good way to set out on your new life together!

Confetti is another controversial topic in the world of wedding tosses. Have you ever thrown confetti at New Years? I did this once, inside my house, and I was vaccuuming confetti for years afterward. Seriously, years. Many churches and venues don't allow confetti for this very reason - it never goes away!

So what is there left to toss? Birdseed was the grain of choice for a time. However, it has the same slip and fall problems that rice does. That might not be a problem if you are on the beach, but some brides say it's hard to get out of your hair!

Luckily, we live in a world of options, so there is no need to go without! Bubbles have become very popular in the past few years. You can buy them in little souvenir bottles shaped like wedding cakes, champagne glasses or cowboy boots. Or you can pick up a few packs at the dollar store. Bubbles can make hard surfaces slippery, so be sure to check with your venue to see if they are allowed.

Of course, everyone wants to go green where it's possible. Rose petals are a popular option, and they look beautiful in pictures. You can mix in lavender buds to make them go further and create a wonderful scent. Or consider freeze dried rose petals. You can order them ahead of time since they maintain their color for weeks.

Finally, I came across Ecofetti and something called "Designer Wedding Rice". Ecofetti is made of cornstarch and is completely biodegradable. It comes in all sorts of colors and is specifically allowed by some venues that don't allow other types of confetti because it can just be hosed off or it will dissolve with the next rain. Designer Wedding Rice is actual rice that has somehow been formed into the shape of a tiny heart so as to avoid the slip and fall hazard. They also say it's safe for birds, but we already knew that!

If you really want to wed outside the box, why not dispense with tossing altogether? Some people release balloons, but I would not recommend that here at the beach. They could way too easily end up in the water, looking like a tasty meal for an unsuspecting sea turtle. However, releasing butterflies would be a beautiful way to celebrate your new life together. And monarchs are supposed to be quite friendly and willing to pose for photos.

Or imagine this: walking down the aisle in an evening weddding on the beach with everyone waving sparklers. What a great photo that would make!

On the more kid-friendly side, ribbon wands are the latest craze to sweep the wedding world. The idea is that everyone waves them as you leave the church and they look great in the pictures. You can buy them by the dozen or make your own if you're on a budget. They could even be made with a bell that guests can "ring for a kiss" at the reception.

Well that is everything I can think of on the subject of wedding tosses. Have you been at a wedding that did something different? Leave your ideas in the comments!

Advice from OBX Brides - Part V

2010-01-18T14:11:00Z

Just what you have been waiting for - more Advice from OBX Brides! This week's guest blogger is Dawn from Raleigh, NC. Enjoy...

1. What venue choices did you make for your ceremony and reception? Did they work out well?

We choose to get married on the beach at a very large 8 bedroom, 6000 sq ft house that we rented in Corolla. It was large enough to accommodate a reception and to house our guests as well. It was a perfect choice for us!

2. What time of year was your event? Did you honeymoon on the Outer Banks as well?

We got married on Columbus Day weekend, on October 12th. That gave us a 3 day weekend, the weather was still gorgeous, the water still warm and the beaches weren't crowded at all.

We rented a house on the beach at Corolla. After the guests went home the day after the wedding, my husband and I stay for the remainder of the week. It was perfect, we were still in paradise and we didn't have to travel the same day we got married!

3. What type of accommodations did your wedding party and out of town guests use?

We rented a gorgeous 8 bedroom house right on the water (they rent so much cheaper off season!). Our wedding was small with only our immediate family - but with our family that added up to 26 people! We all stayed at the house. There was plenty of room, everyone was comfortable, we had fun the whole weekend together, everyone shared in the cooking and cleaning and no one had to pay hotel expenses. It was perfect for us!

4. Did you plan the event yourself or use a wedding planner or event day coordinator?

I planned it myself - in 30 days. We got engaged in September and didn't want to wait a year for a beach wedding so we decided to get married before it got cold. It was a HECTIC 30 days! I did it all myself - research, contacting everyone, the flowers, licenses, etc. My mother-in-law was a life saver helping too. But I do not recommend such a short planning period, even for a small wedding. Anything formal or over 50 guests - hire a planner!

5. Favorite and/or funniest moment?

Waking up at 6:30 to hear all 15 kids out of bed and running to the beach, laughing and squealing, to go play. Never at any other time, except maybe Christmas, can you get kids that excited to wake up!

And my two new step-sons walking me across the dunes to go down the aisle... walking up a dune and seeing my husband waiting for me under the arbor and our family sitting on towels ready for the ceremony. It was exactly how I had pictured it... I just couldn't believe it came true exactly how I had pictured it. Also, as we were taking photographs after the ceremony, wild horses roamed behind us on the beach. I felt like a fairy tale princess at that moment to have my dream wedding and my amazing new husband and sons.

6. Best budget splurge?

We really didn't splurge on anything. I would say the 1 thing you should never, ever, ever skimp on is photography!!!! Everything else (except maybe air conditioning!) can be toned down.

7. Best budget savings/value?

Having the wedding off season! EVERYTHING is at least 75% off during off season. And we bartered for the house, the photographers, did our own cake and flowers. The only things we paid for were the preacher, food and clothes. And there were 1000's of people on the beaches.

We also rented a house so we had the wedding there - on the beach. We used beach towels instead of chairs so we didn't have to get a permit. We didn't have to pay the extra expense of paying for a venue. It saved us $1000's.

9. Any aspect of planning or the big day you wish you’d done differently? Anything you forgot to consider?

I wish we had had a different preacher. We live in Raleigh so we had to hire an OBX preacher for the ceremony.

He told me he had a 4x4 and could drive the house (beach driving, no roads) but the morning of the wedding he called and said someone would have to come get him - that was an inconvenience! I am Christian and wanted all the religious parts of the ceremony to be included - he was running late so he cut out a ton, including the religious stuff (and it was the standard ceremony - we didn't add anything at all). Lesson learned - use your OWN preacher!

We also didn't consider that it might be windy - and it was! VERY windy! A little hard to hear the ceremony and some of the decorations had to be adjusted.

10. Your #1 piece of advice for brides-to-be planning their upcoming Outer Banks Weddings?

You can't have a more beautiful location that the Outer Banks. It truly is spectacular. Have a back up plan for bad weather, especially during hurricane season. Hire a great photographer! The best time of day is to have the ceremony 2 hours before sunset - you get the best lighting for photos. But most importantly - don't let the pomp and circumstance take away from the marriage. Enjoy the day and what it means and don't let the plans and the party override your relationship.

Thanks so much to our latest OBX bride guest blogger! Keep an eye out for our next 'Advice from OBX Brides' installment!

2010 Outer Banks Wedding Expo

2010-01-14T16:41:00Z

There were lots of fun ideas at the 2010 Wedding Expo. In case you missed it, check out this video of some of the booths - there's everything from elegant to off the wall!

Were you at the expo? Did you see anything that sparked your interest? Leave a comment and let us know!

Good Indications of a Busy Wedding Season in 2010

2010-01-05T13:38:00Z

Here's a promising little indicator for a busy upcoming wedding season on the Outer Banks ...

A local wedding photographer friend told me over the weekend that he's already booked nearly as many events for 2010 as he'd done overall in 2009! Now, I'm not at all surprised that his business is booming - check out his great work at www.neilgt.com. What I am surprised by, though, is how many couples seem to be ahead of the planning game securing contracts with vendors so early! A 'pretty work' shout out to all the super-organized and decisive type couples out there! And for all the rest who may be feeling overwhelmed and behind the 8-ball ... not to worry - you can jump start your wedding planning by heading down to the Outer Banks this weekend for the Annual Wedding Expo happening over the 9th and 10th.

This little pic by another great local wedding photographer is a hoot ... the last two items on the list pretty much sum up all the pain and joy of the whole planning/coordinating process: "write checks" and "get married!"

www.innatephoto.com

Winter's Cold Hits OBX But Off Season Deals are Hot!

2009-12-22T00:49:00Z

This Smart Money article is spot on explaining why choosing an off season date for your wedding is so - well - smart! ..."When temperatures drop, so do prices. And when business is slow for vendors and venues, you may be able to cut a deal." And who doesn't need to be budget-conscious in these economic times, right?!

While there may be some sense of trade-off in forsaking the warmest weather our area has to offer for a less traveled time of year, the Outer Banks has beauty to offer throughout all seasons. Winter sunrises and sunsets look different - think pale pinks, blues and purples ... there are less crowds to contend with ... rental rates for vacation homes and other venues and services will make you smile ... local wedding vendors have more time to attend to your every whim, and they'll be more thankful to have your business during the "lean" months ... and there's still plenty for your guests to enjoy on the Outer Banks in the off season from world-class fishing and golfing to fine cuisine, art events and historic sites.

One of my closest friends got married here in February at a charming little historic chapel in Corolla and celebrated with a soundfront evening reception in Nags Head. It was absolutely beautiful! Click here to read about it.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Until Next Time,
Your OBX Wedding Blogger

Lodging Deals for Upcoming Wedding Expo Weekend Jan 9-10th ... $100 OFF Your Stay -OR- 3 Nights for Price of 2!

2009-12-15T18:20:00Z

Coming down next month for the Outer Banks Wedding Association (OBWA) 12th Annual Wedding Weekend & Expo, Jan. 9th & 10th? Take advantage of these special offers for lodging through Village Realty and the First Colony Inn...

Get $100 off your Village Realty stay for the Wedding Weekend & Expo!
Click here to learn more or call Village Realty toll free 800-548-9688.

OR...

Stay 3 Nights for the Price of 2 at the First Colony Inn for the Wedding Weekend & Expo!
Click here to learn more or call the First Colony Inn toll free 800-368-9390.

For details on everything happening over the Wedding Weekend & Expo, an event of the Outer Banks Wedding Association, click here.

You can check-in on Friday afternoon, enjoy the Wedding Tour during the day Saturday and a reception Saturday night, then attend Sunday's main Expo event with booths and displays of more than 130 member vendors, a fashion show and a drawing for a 'Wedding of Your Dreams.'

To order tickets online for the full weekend of events or just for Sunday's Expo, click here.

Holiday Open House at a Kill Devil Hills Inn - Great Wedding Venue, Anniversary or Honeymoon Getaway

2009-12-14T14:26:00Z

What a wonderful open house yesterday at the Cypress House Inn in Kill Devil Hills! On the beach road at Milepost 8 and originally built in the 1940s as a duck hunting lodge, this historic landmark retains such charm with its wood walls, curved brick fireplace and wide covered porches.

The holiday decorations were beautiful with simple accents to an already warm and inviting space ... think natural evergreens on the mantle and a tall hurricane glass filled with pears ... baskets of pine cones with soft white lights adorning the original wood floors ... and on the tree just ornaments of white sea stars and teal and chartreuse mirrored balls.

Inkeepers Veda and Bill Peters told me they had five weddings last year and already have several booked for the coming year, but -interestingly enough - they say 10/10/10 is still open for anyone wanting a most unique date for exchanging vows!

Most couples choose to have the ceremony over on the beach, then everyone walks back over to the Inn's grassy area on the building's west side for the reception. The outside area can accommodate a tent large enough for up to 125 guests. To learn more about having your Outer Banks wedding or other event at the Cypress House Inn, click here.

The Inn has six guest rooms, all with private shower baths, and a hot breakfast is served every morning. Based on the yummy hot cider and desserts I sampled yesterday, I'm guessing their meals are always fabulous!

"Warm Hospitality", "Great Wedding Weekend" and "Great Stay, Great Hosts" are just a few of the review headlines posted on TripAdvisor.com by past guests about the Inn. Do we have any readers that have stayed at the Cypress House Inn? If so, please comment on this post ... we'd love to hear from you!

Local Outer Banks Designer/Florist Runner-Up to Decorate for White House State Dinner

2009-12-08T18:46:58Z

How cool is this?!... Local designer/florist Renee Landry was the runner-up among the top three finalists competing to be selected to decorate the dining hall for the Obama Administration's first state dinner last month.

Click here to read the Outer Banks Sentinel article on Landry's exciting experiences throughout the selection process and what things First Lady Michele Obama had to say about her ideas.

Below are a few of my favorite looks from Blooms Design Studio's website ... I just love the simple loop of sea stars hanging on the reception venue main entrance door ...

Great 50th Wedding Anniversary Idea the Whole Family Can Enjoy

2009-12-03T16:25:00Z

It's wonderful how something as simple as a trip to the beach can bring families together in such a meaningful and memorable way.  And what an unforgettable anniversary gift the children of this lucky couple gave - not just to their parents - but to themselves, too! Jennifer Wiser of Holly, Michigan entered this picture in the 2009 Photo Contest held by Village Realty. The description Jennifer included with her submission is so heart-warming I wanted to share it:

"This is what our trip to the Outer Banks in May was all about -- celebrating the love and commitment that my parents have had for 50 years together. When we asked my parents what they wanted for their anniversary - they immediately responded that they wanted nothing else than all of their kids/grandkids/and great grandkids to be together for a week of fun, laughter, games, and late night talks. We experienced that and so much more as we spent the most fabulous week together in the Outer Banks. That is what the Outer Banks is all about creating memories and moments that will live in our hearts forever."

Here are a few more photos from Jennifer showing what a great week the family had ...

Jennifer's caption with the photo below:
"Me and my three nieces have been taking this 'famous four' pictures since they were little girls. We have wonderful pictures together at different family events, but this vacation together provided the most wonderful place we have been together. This photo shows us together one night hanging out on the bed talking and laughing and creating memories that will last forever. Our vacation home in the Outer Banks was the most spectacular home on the ocean that gave us a fantastic place that we could all be together and celebrate my parents' 50th wedding anniversary."

Jennifer's caption with the photo below:
"These three buds spent a lot of time together on our Outer Banks vacation. It was fun to see cousins together making memories that will last forever. The Outer Banks and Village Realty helped make our dream to take a vacation of a lifetime together a reality. This photo shows the 'three amigos' looking out at the ocean pondering their wonderful vacation together."

If you're looking for just the right anniversary getaway on the Outer Banks, Village Realty can help with over 500 vacation rentals, South Nags Head to Corolla, 1-bedroom condos to 12-bedroom homes, oceanfront to soundfront.

Or, if a Bed & Breakfast Inn style getaway is more what you're looking for, check out the First Colony Inn in Nags Head or The Castle at Silver Lake in Ocracoke.

A Post-Thanksgiving Feast ... Menu Ideas for Your OBX Wedding Reception

2009-11-30T15:18:00Z

As we're still burning off the calories from our Thanksgiving holiday over-eating-athons, here are some delectable food spreads to feast your eyes on without the guilt.

Talk about presentation!... Our local Outer Banks community of wedding caterers and restaurants definitely know how to bring it! Even the kids and vegetarians are covered in this dazzling display from apps to dessert and everything in between! ...


kirsten lewis photography


kirsten lewis photography

kirsten lewis photography

brooke mayo photography

brooke mayo photography

brooke mayo photography

brooke mayo photography

brooke mayo photography

kirsten lewis photography

kirsten lewis photography

kirsten lewis photography

kirsten lewis photography


kirsten lewis photography

kirsten lewis photography

kirsten lewis photography

brooke mayo photography

kirsten lewis photography

brooke mayo photography

kirsten lewis photography

Photo Inspirations from OBX Weddings ... Table Dressing & Centerpiece Ideas

2009-11-20T14:40:00Z

It's Photo Inspiration Time Again! For this installment ... table settings from real Outer Banks weddings.


Kirsten Lewis Photography


Kirsten Lewis Photography


Kirsten Lewis Photography

neil GT photography

Kirsten Lewis Photography

Blue Peacock Photography - BH5S 'Easy Street South' Oceanfront Event Home, Village Realty

Recent Nor'easter Reminds Us - Have a "Plan B" for Your OBX Wedding!

2009-11-17T14:32:00Z

We're finally drying out from the remnants of "Ida" and a high pressure system that married up (pardon the pun) last week over our area creating a whopper of a nor'easter for the Outer Banks. Click here for some YouTube video of this so dubbed November Nor'easter ... and for some local perspective on it all check out this FB page.

Hopefully any couples with weddings scheduled last week purchased insurance. A state of emergency was declared for North Carolina which should help ease any complications with claims filing.

If anyone has a story to share about weather challenges or weather-related insurance claim experiences, please share your story here!

OBX Brides Can Live Chat Tonight with Local Officiant Jay Bowman

2009-11-11T14:35:00Z

OBXBrides.com is having a Live Chat tonight, Wednesday Nov 11th, at 7:30pm. Tonight's chat is with local Officiant Jay Bowman. This is a great opportunity for OBX brides-to-be to ask questions about wedding ceremonies on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Also, click here to check out Reverend Jay Bowman's website.

To join the live chat tonight at 7:30pm, simply log in on "Chat" and ask your questions. You can click through to their site from the image below...

Ocracoke Island Hosts Wedding of Governor Purdue's Son

2009-11-09T16:40:00Z

"Success is the sum of many small efforts" ... So appropriate a quote for the 5,000+ runners here this past weekend for the annual OBX Marathon! We had such beautiful weather for the event, too! And where's the quote from? ... Uh, well, y e a h ... the inside of the foil my Dove chocolate was wrapped in. But hey, the message certainly applies to the long road of planning and coordinating a wedding, right?! After viewing these photos of Governor Purdue's son's recent wedding on Ocracoke Island, I'd say the sum of many small efforts made for a big success! Looks like lots of fun was had by all and what beautiful photos by Millie Holloman Photography!

Below are a couple of shots from the recently posted blog about the day by Rachel & Rebecca of Millie Holloman Photography. Click here to read the full post. It's a fun read through and their evening shots of the happy couple down by the water on the docks are just gorgeous! Very cool idea/look for boutinieres, too!

OBX Wedding Photo Inspiration - Capture All the Emotions of the Day

2009-10-22T19:20:00Z

Make sure your Outer Banks wedding photographer captures all the emotions swirling around during your big event here at the beach ...

The touching moments, the funny bits and the beauty of the event itself are a given, of course. But you've got to capture those unscripted moments, too, like kids acting up or pets misbehaving ... unexpected speeches or wardrobe malfunctions ... the inevitable nervousness and sheer exhaustion of it all. Those imperfect moments are the most fun to reflect on when flipping through wedding albums later on. They're more like real life so ya gotta just smile and shake your head--just like we do in situations when that old saying about "best laid plans" applies.

Here are some of my favorite caught-on-film-feelings from some recent OBX weddings:

neil GT photography

kirsten lewis photography

brooke mayo photography

neil GT photography

kirsten lewis photography

brooke mayo photography

Get Married and Honeymoon Along the Now Nationally Recognized Outer Banks National Scenic Byway

2009-10-19T15:58:00Z

For wedding couples and guests alike out there trying to plan for things to do on the Outer Banks ... Just enjoy the ride!

The Outer BanksScenic Byway just last Friday received national status as one of America’s Byways® "...placing NC Highway 12 on the map, so to speak, for its fascinating coastal heritage and unique natural landscapes, making the leg of the historic two-lane highway from Nags Head, NC to Down East a perfect autumn drive for exploring the beauty of the barrier islands and connecting with the coastal communities that set the destination apart" (excerpt from OuterBanks.org, click here to read the full article)

Say your 'I Do's' in Nags Head then head south towards your perfect honeymoon spot further down the now nationally recognized Outer Banks Scenic Byway, letting let the natural beauty and unique local stops along the way become a part of your wedding memories.