In this series of articles that are aptly titled the “location” set, the intent is give you a list of fun activities that are suitable for every friend and family member in town for your big day! For decades the Outer Banks beaches have been a premier attraction for both native and tourist North Carolina vacationers, so it is not surprising that the Outer Banks host a variety of fun activities and unique restaurants to help make your wedding day or weekend even more special.

The Outer Banks is separated into three main parts: Northern Island, Hatteras Beach, and Roanoke Island. The island or beach you choose will depend largely on the size and budget of your wedding. For instance, if you have a smaller wedding Roanoke Island may be an ideal spot because it is more private and less cluttered with tourists. The privacy can make your wedding feel even more intimate and of course the beach provides a nice backdrop for scenic pictures.  If you have wedding guests that are self-proclaimed history buffs, (or at least enjoy historical landmarks) the Outer Banks boasts such activities as the Wrights Brother’s Memorial museum, and one of the largest coastal historical landmarks in North Carolina, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.

Either the museum or the lighthouse would serve as a nice distracter for the bride (a nice calm way to ease possible stress from the weekend) and a nice activity for the guests. Most brides strive to get all the guests to mingle and get along with one another and discussing some of the oldest historical landmarks in NC (the Wright’s museum and the Cape Hatteras lighthouse) is a wonderful way to make sure all the guests are talking and keeping busy. If you are inviting guests that are not as interested in history, there’s always the allure of shopping. The Outer Banks has many unique and quirky independent stores that specialize in location-specific clothing, but they also have a number of premier outlets that have great prices on items you may pay more for in a traditional mall setting.

If your guests aren’t interested in history or shopping, there’s always the most common denominator—food. The Outer Banks has a wonderful array of restaurants to fit most any budget and taste.  For a more formal dining experience there are restaurants like Kelly’s. Kelly’s gives its customers a wonderful view of the ocean, a nice intimate setting, and food created from the vision of chefs like Becky Miller. If formal is not exactly what you’re looking for, the Outer Banks is host to restaurants like the famous Dirty Dick’s Crab House. Dirty Dick’s mixes fun and food in this cheeky themed restaurant whose motto is:  “The only serious thing about us is the food.”  If you’re looking for a nice balance between the formal atmosphere of a place like Kelly’s and the informal atmosphere of a place like Dirty Dick’s Crab House, try Mama Kwan’s Grill and Tiki Bar. With a wonderful tropical atmosphere and reasonably priced cuisine, Mama Kwan’s is sure to be a hit with any group.

The Outer Banks are home to many restaurants, shopping centers, and of course, beautiful beaches, and if you decide to have a destination wedding in the Outer Banks—whether it be in Kill Devil Hills or Cape Hatteras—you and your guests are sure to have a memorable time.  If you or someone you know had an interesting, beautiful, or funny experience in the Outer Banks while planning or participating in a wedding, let us know in the forum section! We would love to hear from you!