A Timeline for Getting Married on the Outer Banks
From barefoot and beachfront to satin-heeled and sophisticated, pulling off the perfect Outer Banks wedding takes planning, preparation and patience. The following timeline gives tips on how to plan your big day. These suggestions are mainly for weddings held during the most popular months of April through October. You may be able to get by with less planning time if you choose a date from November through March.
12 months or more before the wedding:
- Finalize the date. Send out Save the date cards to your friends and family.
- Hire a local wedding planner.
- Book the locations for the ceremony and the reception.
- Secure a photographer.
8 to 12 months before the wedding:
- Choose a caterer.
- Hire an ordained minister, a priest or an officiant. This should be done far enough ahead of time so that the minister can get to know the couple and provide pre-marital counseling, if that’s required.
- Secure a wedding videographer.
- Hire a florist.
- Select a cake maker. Book early if you want a very ornate, multi-tiered, expensive cake. For simpler and smaller cakes, you can book a few months closer to the wedding.
- Meet with and hire the musicians or DJ for the ceremony and the reception.
- Book accommodations for the wedding party and reserve block accommodations for guests.
- Book a house or a hotel room for your wedding night.
6 to 8 months before the wedding:
- Reserve rental equipment such as tents, chairs, tables, linens and glassware.
- If you’re having a beach wedding, select a location and secure a permit from the National Park Service if you’re getting married on park lands. If you’re getting married within town limits, contact the town for information on restrictions, rules and advice.
- Hire a limousine service or other transportation.
- Buy your wedding dress.
4 to 6 months before the wedding:
- Book a restaurant or location for the rehearsal dinner.
- Buy wedding rings and have them engraved.
- Make all beauty appointments for the wedding party.
2 to 4 months before the wedding:
- Make arrangements for men's formal wear.
- Mail invitations. Be sure to include a map that shows the ceremony, the reception and the location of the cottages or hotels that have been reserved.
1 to 2 months before the wedding:
- Purchase a North Carolina marriage license from the Register of Deeds (see Making It Official).
- Order wedding favors, printed materials (such as napkins or matchbooks) and thank you cards.
- Check in with all vendors via email.
1 week before the wedding:
- Give the final reception guest count to the caterer.
- Check in with all vendors via telephone or in person.
1 day before the wedding:
- Spend a day at the spa with your bridesmaids.
- Have the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
- Get a goo night's sleep.
Your Wedding Day:
- Eat a good breakfast - you might not get to eat all day.
- Get your hair and nails done.
- Get married!
- Have fun!
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