Event Homes vs Wedding Venues:
A Guide for Outer Banks Brides

By: Deborah Sawyer

Big Decision

The Outer Banks of North Carolina has been one of the top wedding destination locations for decades. Couples from all over the world come to exchange their vows on the pristine beaches, stay in the beautiful rental homes, tour historic locations, and experience nature at its finest.

Outer Banks destination weddings aren’t about just spending a few hours with guests, it is experiencing days with new friends and forever uniting two families with amazing memories. These OBX weddings can take place at a venue, or at one of the many wedding event homes with lodging for all or part of your guests.

Choosing the perfect location for your Outer Banks Wedding is a crucial decision that can significantly impact the overall atmosphere and experience of your special day. Event Homes and a variety of soundfront, oceanfront, or nearby waterfront venues, offer unique advantages and disadvantages, and understanding the key differences can help you make an informed choice.

We would love to discuss your wedding vision with you. Please call day or evening or email for a free scheduled consultation. 252-305-7444

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Location

When deciding between an Event Home and a Wedding Venue, consider the following factors:

Guest List: If you have a large guest list, a wedding venue may be more suitable. Most event homes may have limitations on the number of guests they can accommodate. But, there are a handful that can hold 100 to 200 people.
Budget: If the majority of your guests plan to make your wedding their week long vacation, Event homes can be a more cost-effective option, for small or larger weddings. The per night cost of an event home is less than a motel or hotel. And, a few event homes don’t require an entire week stay. However, you may need to factor in additional costs for services like catering and event setup.
Desired Experience: If you are looking for a personalized and intimate experience, an event home may be the ideal choice. If you prefer professional service and convenient amenities, a wedding venue may be a better fit. If an event home is your preference, consider hiring a local certified and insured Wedding Planner that specializes in event home weddings.
Location: If you choose a venue that is not a resort, consider the location in relation to your guests’ accommodations and the overall logistics of your wedding day. This is very important if you are serving alcohol at your reception. Consider hiring a local trolley or bus company to transport your wedding party and guests from their nightly stay to the ceremony and reception and back. If you choose an event home, most or all of your guests may already be staying onsite.
Style and Preferences: Think about the overall style and atmosphere you envision for your wedding. Does an event home or a venue better align with your preferences? If you came to the Outer Banks for the ocean, most event homes are oceanfront but only two Outer Banks venues are oceanfront.

Event Homes: A Personalized and Intimate Experience

Event homes, also known as private residences, offer a more personalized and intimate setting for your Outer Banks wedding. These properties can often feature stunning oceanfront views, spacious grounds, and unique architectural styles. By choosing an event home, you can create a truly customized experience tailored to your vision and preferences.

If you feel all of your guests, or most, want to make your wedding their extended vacation, an event home is the perfect option. Event homes may offer a partial week stay but most require an entire week rental. Most of these three to four night options only take place during the shoulder months and not Memorial Day through Labor Day, when the homeowners know vacationers will fill the entire week.

Event homes offer a location for your ceremony and reception plus a private bedroom and bath for some or all of your guests to stay, in lieu of a hotel. Most couples or parents, can’t afford to take on the cost of the entire home and their family and friends pay for their own bedroom and bath, just as they would a hotel. In most cases splitting the cost of an event home is less expensive than a hotel or motel. One rental management company has a program in place that allows guests to pay for their own bedroom and bath in the home, directly to the management company. This way the bride and groom don’t have the duty of collecting money from family members or friends, especially if they prefer to use a credit card. This cuts down on the stress of the event. Most event homes do not offer this program.

Some other advantages of event homes are the people staying on site do not have to worry about transportation at the end of the evening. Some event homes are all within walking distance of an oceanfront motel for your guests not staying in the event home. Also, the bride and groom can provide their own alcohol and only have the expense of bartender staff. Since most receptions are set up around the pool, plastic cups are suggested and save on renting glassware.

Although smaller events have the option of dining inside and using the tables in place, the majority of couples want to rent tables and chairs with decor and/or floral in the backyard pool area. Most homes have room to dance on cement or tiled areas without having to rent a dance floor.

Very few beach rental homes are event homes. If you are planning on having guests not staying at the home attend your event, a sanctioned “Event Home” is a must. Management companies and homeowners that do not allow weddings to take place on their property, have the right to shut down your wedding even while it is in progress. No one wants that embarrassment. This can lead to pricey penalties as well. The majority of rental homes on the Outer Banks do not allow receptions.

We would love to discuss your wedding vision with you. Please call day or evening or email for a free scheduled consultation. 252-305-7444

Pros of Event Homes:

Personalized Experience: Event homes allow you to create a wedding that reflects your unique style and personality. You have full control over the decor, layout, and overall ambiance.
Intimate Atmosphere: A private residence offers a more intimate and exclusive setting, and depending upon the size of the event space, it can be ideal for any size wedding up to 200 and still have a cozy feel. Event homes are perfect for those seeking a more relaxed atmosphere and the two families truly getting to know each other.
Flexibility: Event homes often provide flexibility in terms of scheduling, allowing you to customize your wedding day to fit your specific needs and preferences.
Cost-Effective: Renting an event home can be a cost-effective option, especially for larger weddings. You can save money on Venue rental fees and potentially bundle other services like catering and accommodations.
Unique Setting: Many Event Homes offer unique features and amenities, such as private pools, hot tubs, or stunning oceanfront views, creating a memorable backdrop for your wedding.

Cons of Event Homes:

Limited Capacity: Event Homes may have restrictions on the number of guests they can accommodate, making them less suitable for large weddings.
Additional Responsibilities: Renting an Event Home often requires more planning and coordination on your part. You will need to hire a Certified Planner and additional staff for tasks like catering, cleaning, and event setup.
Lack of On-Site Amenities: While some Event Homes offer basic amenities, you may need to rent additional equipment or hire vendors for services like tables, chairs, and linens.

Wedding Venues: Professional Service and Convenient Amenities

Wedding Venues in hotels, resorts, golf courses and unique indoor and outdoor spaces, may offer professional services and some convenient amenities, making them a popular choice for the Outer Banks since most weddings are destinations. These Venues often offer in house catering with alcohol and can range from $2,000 to $10,000 not counting alcohol and food cost.

Venues usually work out best for couples who the majority, or all of their guests, plan on coming for just the weekend. Or, couples who want to relax in a rental home and not have to worry about keeping it clean for the event. These couples like showing up at the Event Venue, exchanging vows, enjoying their party, and leaving the “mess” for others to deal with.

Most Venues have space to hold your ceremony as well. The locations that are walking distance to the beach are great for couples wanting to exchange their vows beside the crashing waves. The two pier locations allow you to get married over top of the waves! Other area Venues offer ponds, the sound, gardens, giant oaks, interior staircases, golf courses, historic grounds, and lighthouses, for ceremony backdrops. Most of the Venue ceremony options require you to rent an arch and chairs from an outside source. By hiring a planning company that has vendors like officiants, musicians, DJs, floral, and photographers, as well as rental equipment and decor, your event experience will be stress free. Most Venues have reception tables and chairs in place but not all.

Pros of Wedding Venues:

Professional Service: Wedding Venues typically have experienced staff who can handle all aspects of your wedding, providing peace of mind and reducing stress. But most still require a Certified Wedding Planner to be hired as their own staff only offers Day of Hostessing and limited Directing.
Convenient Amenities: Most Venues offer a variety of amenities, including catering, and on-site accommodations, making it easier to plan and execute your wedding.
Larger Capacity: Wedding Venues may accommodate larger guest lists, making them suitable for larger weddings or events.
Established Reputation: Many Venues have a well-established reputation and can provide references from previous clients.
Flexibility: While Venues may have set packages and policies, they may offer flexibility in terms of customizing your wedding to fit your specific needs and budget.

Cons of Wedding Venues:

Higher Cost: Wedding Venues typically have higher rental fees compared to Event Homes, especially for popular Venues or peak wedding seasons.
Less Personalized: While Venues can be customized, they may not offer the same level of personalization as an Event Home.
Limited Flexibility: Venues may have restrictions on decor, vendors, or event times, limiting your options for customization.

We would love to discuss your wedding vision with you. Please call day or evening or email for a free scheduled consultation. 252-305-7444

Thoughts on the Outer Banks

Most couples begin researching Outer Banks Weddings with little knowledge of what direction to go in. Most grew up visiting the Outer Banks during their summer vacations and want to extend those wonderful childhood memories to their upcoming union. Others have heard of the Outer Banks and know it is a great destination option within the United States. But, they don’t know if their wedding should be a week-long vacation or a weekend getaway for their family and guests.

It is wise to find a planning company that offers free event consultations and will spend time with you first by phone, Zoom, or in person. They can offer counsel and can present options while taking in consideration your budget, needs and vision. An experienced event planner can provide information on their favorite Event Homes and Venues, that will be the best fit for you. If you first call a Venue or Event Home Management Company, they are only going to push their own location which may not be right for you.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the best choice for your Outer Banks wedding will depend on your unique needs, preferences, and budget. By carefully considering the pros and cons of event homes and wedding venues, you can select a venue that will provide a memorable and unforgettable experience for you and your guests.

11th Hour Weddings and Events

Whether you choose a venue or event home for your Outer Banks wedding, 11th Hour Weddings and Events can handle your planning/directing, rentals with setup and takedown, vendors, baker and caterers, and tie it all together with the Timeline. 11th Hour does it all for you so you can enjoy your day!

Contact us to take your vision from a dream and make it an event that you and your guests will look back on with awesome memories forever!