Top 10 Reasons Why Outer Banks Elopements are so Popular
There are pros and cons to just about everything in life, but the purpose of this blog is not to debate whether eloping is good or bad. Rather, it’s only highlighting the top 10 reasons that elopements on the Outer Banks are so appealing to so many. All of the photos in this blog are some of the elopements I performed this year (2021), and each one had their own wonderful story. Eloping is most often just the two of you, but it’s not uncommon to elope with a few family members present, or maybe just a couple of friends. Either way, the elopement wedding day is a VERY intimate setting.
Kim and Ian’s Story…….. On a beautiful Tuesday morning in July, Kim and Ian (pictured below) gathered up their forever promise and brought it to the beach as the sun came up over the Atlantic. They had come a long way, just the two of them, and they embraced the moment for all it was worth. Daniel Pullen (the photographer; his pics were far better the ones I took below) and I met them at the Hatteras Island beach access about 15 minutes before the sun came up. We all synched our thoughts together, and then took off down the wooden boardwalk toward the sand. It was such an amazing sunrise. Kim and Ian stood there before the world and shared a moment they’ll always treasure. Is their story and journey a good fit for everyone? Of course not, but it was right for them. Wait, not just ‘right’, but ‘perfect’!
The following ‘Top Ten’ are not in any specific order. One or more of them might just help you decide on a new path for your future destination wedding plans.
One: SO ACCESSIBLE. Hawaii, Jamaca, and Las Vegas are all beautiful and cool in their own way, but they are not nearly as accessible as the Outer Banks. We have couples come from all over the United States (and abroad!) but most of them basically travel from the northeast quadrant of the country. The barrier islands of North Carolina can be reached within a few hours, or maybe a long day.
Two: SO RELAXED. The Outer Banks is the opposite of ‘bling’, which makes it a perfect place to elope ‘away from it all’. No 20 story condos. No casinos. No bling. Just wide open spaces with a big ocean and lots of sand. Lots of couples come to elope here because of that quiet, remote, laid back feel.
Three: SO BLUE. Did I mention there is a stunning big blue ocean drawing couples to the Outer Banks to get married? You can stand out there next to the Atlantic a million times and never get tired of it’s beauty and music. And you know what? There is no permit or fee needed to use the beach for your elopement with your toes in the sand. Wow, what a backdrop for the biggest promise of your lives.
Four: SO EASY. The State of North Carolina has made it extremely easy to have a destination wedding on the Outer Banks; especially an elopement. The NC marriage license is easy to acquire and there’s no waiting period which means you could literally get married the same day you get the license. The State requires two witnesses to sign the marriage license but that’s even easy because a fisherman, photographer, shell seeker, or passerby can qualify to sign it for you (I’ve never had anyone say ‘no’).
Five: SO INEXPENSIVE. When there’s no venue to secure, and tent or tables to rent, the budget starts taking on a whole new look. Sure, you can still have a cake or whatever you want, but the list of things you’ve gotta have can get really short. The only two things you must have is a NC marriage license and a legal officiant who can perform the ceremony. Nice! That leaves a lot of money left over for an epic dinner for two with some amazing wine to top it off.
Six: SO DRAMA FREE. Ok, maybe it’s time to just be real here and acknowledge that there are a lot of couples who are just not that close to their families. Everyone doesn’t have that close-knit relationship with their clan, and the drama can almost kill the wedding day. I’ve seen it happen. Eloping to the barrier islands of the Outer Banks has been a breath of fresh air for many who love their family, but don’t need or want their baggage on the big day. That might sound cold hearted to some, but here’s a fact: You never get that day back. Protect it like the treasure that it is, and choose the best option that fits the two of you.
Seven: SO STRESS FREE. First of all, the Outer Banks is the epitome of ‘stress free’, so eloping to these beaches is like coming home to a calm and peaceful place. It’s so sad that amid the tedious details and pressures of wedding planning, many couples are resigned to the feeling that they can’t wait till the wedding is over. Ugh! Is there any wonder that elopements are on the rise?! Eloping to the Outer Banks takes most, if not all, of that stress off the table.
Eight: SO FOCUSED. It can be very hard for many couples to really be focused on the moment at a big wedding while being the center of attention. The pressure can be overwhelming for some, so the only eyeballs watching you on the Outer Banks ceremony might be a few seagulls. An elopement on the beach can be a wonderful alternative to the couple who feels the traditional big wedding is just not a fit for them.
Nine: SO ADVENTUROUS. The Outer Banks draws a lot of elopement couples who are tired of the status quo and excited to accept the risk of stepping outside the box of what was expected. With over a hundred miles of beach, the OBX islands are full of adventure including areas where horses roam free, shipwrecks, Jockey’s Ridge Park with huge sand dunes, the Wright Brother’s Memorial where man took flight, small remote beach townships, and so much more.
Ten: SO MANY INTIMATE OPTIONS. It’s so cool how many options there are for couples to use for lodging while on their elopement adventure. The Outer Banks offers hotels (old school, as well as new), beach houses, and first class bed & breakfasts, none better than the Roanoke Bungalow in Manteo. Kristen and Ryan (couple shown below) eloped at the Roanoke Bungalow with their two daughters and two golden retrievers by their side in September. I was honored to be on their vendor team along with Debbie (Event Savvy Wedding Planner), Matt (Matt Lusk Photography), and Benny (Reel Love Weddings Videography). That’s the beauty of the elopement. It can totally just be you and the officiant, or you can treat yourself (which I highly recommend) to a vendor team like Kristen and Ryan did.
Rev. Jay Bowman, Outer Banks Wedding Officiant
