Setting Your Sites: Planning a fun and free-spirited family reunion? Reading all about storybook weddings? On the Outer Banks and in Eastern North Carolina’s other waterfront locales, weddings, celebrations, parties and receptions take on every style and flavor, from beach casual to classical elegance.

Whether it’s an event of historic proportions in New Bern or Beaufort-by-the-Sea or a fun-filled celebration on a Crystal Coast beach, in an area civic center or at a well-known hotel or big beach house, many locations offer all-inclusive packages for big events. From accommodations to receptions, you may be able to arrange everything through one hotel or resort and even enjoy a monetary discount for doing so.

Sites on the North Carolina coast come in all sizes, so it all depends on you. If you prefer an intimate event with only the closest of family and friends, a coastal bed and breakfast, a beautiful waterfront vacation home, a private garden or a spot on the beach with the ocean in the background may be the perfect place. If the event you’re planning is grander in scale as are the number of invitations, you may prefer the spaciousness of a resort hotel, convention center, or a local attraction site where people can mingle with plenty of elbow room.  

If you’re getting ready for a wedding, there are three major events that will require site planning. First, there’s the rehearsal dinner. Area restaurants are very helpful with accommodating your party at their site and arranging a menu of your choice. If you plan to have the dinner at an outdoor location, private home or other venue, restaurants and caterers can offer their expertise.
           
Choosing a wedding site is probably among the most difficult of decisions when planning a wedding. It really comes down to the number of people you’re inviting, the formality or informality you wish to maintain for the event and of course, the weather. If you’re planning an outdoor event, don’t forget to have an indoor backup location just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Beach weddings or waterfront weddings are very popular in North Carolina because of the unique backdrop an ocean, sound or river provides. Have questions about how to arrange a wedding at a waterfront location or how to contact a minister or other individual to conduct the ceremony? The best place to start with your planning is at area visitor centers. Contact the Crystal Coast Tourism Authority at 1.800.SUNNY.NC or visit crystalcoast.org. Contact the Craven County Convention and Visitor Center at 1.800.437.5767 or visitnewbern.com.
 
The final location to consider is the reception. It may take place at the same site as the wedding or at a different location altogether. Things to take into account here are the ease of driving from the wedding site to the reception and also the formality of the event or lack thereof.
           
The Must-Haves: Whether it’s a backyard, back porch, reception hall or white outdoor tent, every site begins as a blank palette waiting for inspiration and decoration. No matter how bare a site is in the beginning, supplies and rentals allow you to transform a space into a spare-no-details delight. From teaspoons to tiki torches, candelabras to carriages, your perfect setting is usually just a phone call or email away.
           
Tents for Rent: Outdoor tent rentals offer decorating options for any taste. If ever there was a blank canvas, this is it. Inside the walls, you can choose parquet dance floors, stages for entertainers, heating units and air conditioning, custom-fabric liners, even ceiling fans. Lighting choices are unlimited and of course, any color scheme imaginable will look elegant against a wonderful white background.            

Dazzling Details: For a wedding, take into account rental items such as candelabras, candles, archways, flower stands, beautiful tablecloths and table accessories, and comfortable yet affordable chairs. For receptions, dinners and other events, vital rental items are dishes and silverware, tables and chairs, linens, lights, extension cords, favors and perhaps a bar.
           
It’s important to make a list of all the supplies you’ll need for each event and make sure it is frequently updated so none of the purchases overlap. Another good idea is to let several people look over your list of must-haves. You’ll be surprised and thankful in regard to what other people think of that you might not. Read more about local sites, supplies and rental information in the print version of the Coastal Event Planner.

Select Event Site Providers:

Country Club of the Crystal Coast
152 Oakleaf Drive, Pine Knoll Shores, NC
252.726.1034
www.cccrystalcoast.com

Crystal Coast Civic Center
3505 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC
252.247.3883 or 888.899.6088
www.crystalcoastcivicctr.com

Elks Lodge #1710
400 Miller Farm Road, Morehead City, NC
252.726.4472
moreheadbeaufortelks1710@yahoo.com

The Flame Banquet Centre & Catering Service
Historic New Bern, NC
252.633.0262

Havelock Tourist & Event Center
201 Tourist Center Drive, Havelock, NC
252.444.4348
www.havelocknc.us

The History Place
Downtown Morehead City, NC
252.247.7533, ext. 101
historyplace@starfishnet.com

Morehead City Country Club
2900 Country Club Road, Morehead City, NC
252.726.2089

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
Pine Knoll Shores, NC
866.294.3477, ext. 291
www.ncaquariums.com

North Carolina Maritime Museum
315 East Front Street, Beaufort, NC
252.728.7317
www.ncmaritimemuseum.org

Swansboro Rotary Civic Center
1104 Main Street Extension, Swansboro, NC
910.326.6175
rotaryciviccenter@ec.rr.com

Woodmen of the World Lodge
Highway 24, Newport, NC
252.622.0042 or 252.223.5772 

Select Supplies & Rental Providers:

Bogue Banks Beach Gear
With Offices in Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle, NC
866.933.4404 or 866.593.4327
www.boguebanksbeachgear.com

Carolina Party
686 W. Corbett Avenue, Suite 7, Swansboro, NC
910.326.6250

Chair & Equipment Rentals
121 Industrial Drive, Morehead City, NC
www.chairandequipmentrentals.com

Country Aire Rental
Locations in New Bern, Morehead City, Swansboro & Beaufort, NC
252.638.6000, 910.326.8588, 252.638.6000, 252.728.2955

GiGi’s Stationery
Serving All of Eastern NC
252.675.5014
http://gigis.mystore.com

Party Place
4667 A. Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC
252-222-0320