Outer Banks Wedding Association
HomeReal WeddingsWhy Choose OBXMagazineVendorsBlogExpo Weekend Event


Koru Village & Spa

Posted: January 20, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Spotlight | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

 

 

 

The joy of visiting the Outer Banks is escaping from the everyday stress and enjoying the beautiful landscape, relaxing and simplifying. Can a wedding be simple? Relaxing? With the help of their full-time Wedding Concierge, the staff at Koru Village & Spa provide all the relaxation the bride, groom, family and friends could need by simplifying the planning process for them..

Owner, Joe Thompson, a native of Winston-Salem, has lived on Hatteras Island for 25 years and has operated Koru Village for the last six years. As one of America’s top beaches, Hatteras Island’s unspoiled beauty offered the opportunity to create a business that caters to guests seeking to enjoy one of the East Coast’s top wedding destinations. With on-site Villas for the wedding party, multiple venue locations, a full-time wedding concierge, an organic spa and salon and even a Tiki Lounge to celebrate with friends, Koru Village & Spa meets all of the bridal party’s needs – in one stop.

Koru Village and Spa offers a variety of choices to meet everything on the wedding party wish list. Their soundfront, oceanfront, and garden ceremony and reception venues provide a selection to fit any budget or party size. The Love Boat event home provides large wedding parties the ultimate soundfront wedding experience, while The Beach Klub fits every bride’s dream of having a beach wedding and then an oceanfront venue for the reception.  All of the bride’s beauty needs will be met in the organic Spa and up-scale Salon, which offer an array of services ranging from make-up application to massage. Koru Village partners with many of the Hatteras Island Wedding Vendors to provide assistance for every step of the bride’s journey.

 

 

 

 

 

Sound Advice: Having participated in over 800 weddings in the past six years, Koru Village has the experience to offer sound advice to new brides. Since so many brides select the Outer Banks as a destination wedding location, they suggest that the bride schedule time to visit the Outer Banks and to take time to personally meet your wedding vendors. These meetings will provide improved communication and ensure that your vision is correctly expressed. Plus, the bride will come away with a strong visual of what the vendors can create for her event.

 

Photos provided by Daniel Pullen Photography.


OBX Ceremonies of Marriage

Posted: November 21, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Spotlight | Tags: , , , , , , ,

 

 

 

 

 

 

After owning a vacation home on the Outer Banks for 23 years, Gwen Taylor of OBX Ceremonies of Marriage made OBX her permanent home in 2010.  As a wedding officiant, the beauty and natural spirituality of the area inspire Gwen and she truly enjoys the special role she plays in every couples’ ceremony.

The ability to work with so many different couples, from different backgrounds and experiences brings a richness to her profession.  Her experience with individualizing the marriage ceremony for couples has allowed her to compile a catalog and workbook that walks the couple through the process of selecting the elements that will be perfect for their exchange of vows and love.  From standard ceremonies to an individualized ceremony that incorporates alternative elements, Gwen is available to help the couple express their love in a variety of styles; the best one to express the spirit of their moment.

Sound Advice: Gwen believes that during the planning stage of the wedding, the couple should plan a conversation with the officiant, either in person or by phone.  Gwen enjoys meeting the couple and discussing their wishes for the ceremony, which allows her to script the words and actions that truly reflects the spirit and love of each couple.  During this conversation the couple will be able to determine their own comfort level, allowing them to focus on one another during the ceremony.

With a front row seat during the ceremony, Gwen stresses that the beauty of the day for the couple is being in the moment and enjoying their friends, family and most of all each other.  After spending months dealing with all of the choices and decisions surrounding the day, once it arrives, Gwen advises that they relax and stay present in the moment, the beautiful spirit of their wedding day.

Wedding photos by Kristi Midgette Photography


Shooters Photography

Posted: November 2, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Spotlight | Tags: , , , , , ,

 

 

What if you had only two weeks out of the year to enjoy the Outer Banks?  Many OBX followers are faced with this dilemma, but 25 years ago, Biff Jennings, owner of Shooters at the Beach, decided two weeks was not enough.  After deciding that living in the Outer Banks was the dream he would pursue, Biff opened his photography business in Nags Head and has made a career of capturing the Outer Banks dream through photography.

Shooters at the Beach specializes in creating unique wedding photography, almost exclusively on location throughout the Outer Banks.  With years of photography experience on the Outer Banks, Biff and his staff know how and where to capture the unique features of the area.  Understanding how to capture the perfect sunset, or how to utilize the elements to the photographer’s advantage, has allowed Shooters at the Beach to create wedding photography that captures the beautiful emotions experienced during a wedding.  Biff’s role, as he defines it, is to record the event as it happens, to capture the moments that unfold.

Sound Advice: A benefit to hiring a professional photographer, especially one with extensive experience in an unique area such as the Outer Banks, is the foresight to assess the wedding environment to optimize the photo opportunities.  For example, the simple of act of determining where the bride will stand during the ceremony, in relation to how the wind is blowing that day, might lead the photographer to speak with the officiant and possibly adjust the couples position to avoid the bride battling a veil that wants to blow across her face throughout the ceremony.

Biff recommends that brides, coming to the Outer Banks, embrace the “island experience.”  Although, timelines and programs allow the ceremony to proceed in an orderly fashion, Biff reminds wedding couples to relax, enjoy their family and friends, and to go with the flow of the island.  This advice is especially vital for the couple that wants to capture a particular photo for their day.  When the sun breaks through the clouds, be prepared to listen to your experienced photographer and head to the perfect location for the perfect photo.  Allow the emotion of the day and the joy of being with your friends and family in an exquisite location, to set the tone of your perfect destination wedding.


Coastal Events, Wedding Coordinator

Posted: October 21, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Spotlight | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

 

 

 

Knowing the Outer Banks.  Being soundly rooted on the island, practically having the salty ocean waters coursing through her veins, that is what  defines Coastal Events owner, Karen Kelly.   A true local, Karen’s family has been entrenched in the Outer Banks for generations, providing Karen with a lifetime of Outer Banks relationships and experience that enhances her ability to provide the best service for Outer Banks Weddings.

With experience as an event planner, including work with Wilmington’s Azalea Festival, Karen began Coastal Events in 2003.  Her local connections and experience allow her to provide expert advice on all of the topics relevant in creating a successful wedding.  For the bride planning a destination wedding in the Outer Banks, Karen’s experience allows the wedding couple to successfully plan their event from a distance, with the knowledge that she knows the best options available in the Outer Banks to meet their needs.  She is available to coordinate with the florist, entertainment, activities, photographers and caterers.  After defining the wish list of the wedding couple, Karen considers the outlined budget and presents a plan that best allows the bride and groom to have the wedding of their dreams, and in the process they are able to relax and to enjoy the day with friends and family.

Sound Advice:   Karen has planned many successful Outer Banks weddings and with that experience comes lessons learned.  Karen advices wedding couples to trust the vendors they hire, remember they are the experts in that field.  A successful florist will be able to advise the couple on how to achieve the look they want, just as a successful caterer knows the best items for your event based on the style, location and timeline.  Whether you hire these vendors directly, or depend on the advice of your expert coordinator, remember you are working with experts and they know how to create a successful event in the Outer Banks.

When coordinating your colors throughout the event, allow your bridesmaids to look beautiful.  Be careful that you don’t match the table cloths to the bridesmaids dresses.  And remember, check your tide charts!

Planning a wedding can be stressful, especially planning a destination wedding.  Hiring an expert coordinator not only allows you to create a beautiful event, it allows you to do so with less stress.  Coastal Events provides the link to finding the best in the Outer Banks.

All photos submitted by Beach Productions

 


I Do Florals

Posted: October 4, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Spotlight | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,


Spotlight on I Do Florals in Manteo.
Owner Holly Hall is excited to work with the brides that come to be married in the Outer Banks and she strives to bring their floral vision to life for their ultimate wedding experience. Holly provides floral arrangements for all of the bridal party, as well as ceremony décor, reception décor and centerpieces.

A floral expert for the Outer Banks since 2008, Holly began I Do Florals in 2011. Raised in California, Holly fell in love with the Outer Banks as she fell in love with her husband, a native of Manteo, and together they spent 10 years regularly returning to the area to help the family business. Now that they are settled in Manteo, Holly relates what she loves about living and working in the Outer Banks. “I love the beach community, the autonomy, the unconventional and flexible job schedule and the outdoor activities.”

Sound Advice
As you plan your budget-conscious wedding, Holly reminds brides to reflect and to target the part of their day that is most important to them. By realizing your priorities as you plan, you will be able to spend more where it is most important and economize in other areas.

As a floral expert, Holly would like brides to understand that in today’s floral market there is no “seasonal deal” on flowers. With the accessible world economy, she is able to obtain most flowers at any time (of course, there are exceptions to this) and therefore, although some flowers may be in “season” locally, they are not less expensive because of it. Further, she reminds brides to not be afraid to spend money on their bouquet. Remember, your bouquet will be in almost every photograph taken on your day.

As you investigate your options for flowers at your wedding, remember by hiring a floral expert, you have provided insurance for the “what-if” on the day. This allows you and your family to remove some worry and stress. Holly will make sure the flowers are fresh, arranged beautifully and arrive on time, all while you enjoy your family, guests and wedding day.

All photography submitted by 11th Hour Events.