Hatteras Island or Duck

Buttercup0320

Hi everyone! This is my first post. We are getting married September 22, 2011 and FI and I have finally decided on Hatteras Island. I'm not really familar with OBX and from what I've read Hatteras is just now opening back up after Irene. So I was looking at Absolute Ambience in Duck. I really want a beach wedding and reception at an event house.. Any Suggestions or recommendations? I'm just now starting. We are invitiing just under 50 people. 

cherylpigott

Do you mean next 2012? If so, you'll want to attend the Outer Banks Wedding Expo. Lots of vendors. Check out this website:
http://www.outerbanksweddingassoc.org/expo-weekend-event.htm

It's the biggest expo in the Outer Banks!

Buttercup0320

lol.. Thanks Cheryl! yes 2012! I am planning on attending.. they seem to have a ton of things going on for the expo. 

ksj10032782

Hi Buttercup, FI and I absolutely loved that house! But it came in over our budget, by a lot. We've ended up booking a September 2012 wedding at the Sanderling with their elopement package. We've been going down for 7 years and have always stayed in the Duck area, mainly for the dogs on the beach rule (they allow dogs unleashed on the beach), but that's just my two cents!

OBX2011

Hi and welcome to the board!

Even though Hatteras just opened back up, you should definitely be good to go by next Sept., just in case that is where you truly had your heart set on

Absolute Ambiance is a gorgeous home!  What a great choice  

Have you picked out colors, theme, etc? 

jendem8

It depends what you're looking for, honestly.  My family, fiance, and I always stay on Hatteras Island (in Avon), but we decided to do our wedding in South Nags Head and Manteo.  HI is a much more laidback atmosphere, which I personally like.  However there were two main reasons that we decided to do everything up north: 1) there are more hotels/houses for guests - our wedding will probably be around 120 guests and 2) vendors are more abundant up north and most of the ones we wanted charged extra to travel to HI.  Duck is laidback too, but it a different way (it feels more affluent, while HI feels more "local" if that makes sense).  Granted that no other hurricanes come through *knock on wood* you will definitely be fine to travel down to HI soon.

I don't know if this helps at all.  Good luck!

Buttercup0320

Thanks ladies! I'm kinda torn.. I thought I read somewhere that HI doesn't allow arbors or chairs on the beach. I'm trying to find more information on it because that could be a huge factor in my decision. I have a few houses on HI that I like as well but honestly I fell in love with Absolute Ambiance as soon as I saw it. So far theme wise, I think I'm sticking with a beachy theme. We really want everything laid back and comfortable for everyone. I think I'm going to stick with turquoise and aqua with some black and white accents. I've been looking all day and am getting a little overwhelmed but it seems like it's goign to be here before we know it. I'm open to all suggestions about caterers and photogs  

jendem8

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (which is the entire HI and southern part of Bodie Island) does not allow chairs except a few for elderly/disabled.  It's easier to deal with the towns up north (Duck, Nags Head, etc.) as far as beach ceremonies go (most have "restrictions, but as long as your ceremony is quick and you leave a path for emergency vehicles, you can have chairs/benches).  You also have to pay $100 to use the Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches, which you don't have to do with the northern towns.  I saw pics of Absolute Ambiance, and it is truly stunning.  I'm not doing an event home (we're using 108 Budleigh), so I'm not help there.  But I have to recommendations for photogs: Chris Bickford (who I'm using - his work is amazing and he photographs full time, doing work for NY Times and other magazines) and Carolyn Scott (a high school friend based out of Raleigh who does beautiful work, but I didn't realize she traveled until after I booked Chris).  And I'm going to meet with more caterers next weekend!

ChrissieK5

We are in Duck, and loooove it here!!!!

sangriaMaria

We did Duck, and have always stayed up north.  We were in Four Seasons so it's real close to Scarborough Faire and shopping.  Being able to walk into town, shop, eat, etc. was really nice for all of the guests.  We didn't have a lot of choices on properties ourselves because we planned everything in 4-5 months and needed to do it during the summer.  We needed to consider a big size, good location and budget friendly.  I've never been to Hatteras.  I hear the sand is softer like sugar further south.

Buttercup0320

Thanks ladies for all the input. I'm looking into Carolla and Duck as well. I just like the laid back atmosphere HI has.. The lack of arbors and chairs is really a downer though.. Sigh.. back to the drawing board lol.

jendem8

Have you looked at South Nags Head?  It's a little more separated from the business of Nags Head/Kitty Hawk/etc.  It's probably a little more reasonably priced than Duck and Corolla as well.  Just like I was saying earlier, my family loves HI.  I personally think South Nags Head is more similar to that feel than Duck and Corolla (we'll only visit there, but I'm not a fan).

hibiscus118

I got married on HI and while you aren't allowed to have arbors and chairs, we did with no problems.  I've always vacationed in Hatteras and that was where I wanted to get married.  We decided to chance it and all turned out fine.    I chose vendors that were local to HI and didn't pay travel fees at all for anyone either.