Outer Banks event vendors and
businesses have done an extraordinary job of transforming First Flight High
School and First Flight Middle School into a series of mini venues and
storefronts. Some, of course, much more complex and striking than others; couples
and families are about to embark on one of the most joyous moments in their
lives so almost everyone is in a good mood; and just about every restaurant and
caterer on the Outer Banks is there and most of them are pulling out all of the
stops.
As a side note to the catering and
food—it is entirely possible to gain three or four pounds over the course of
the two day event, and still not sample everything. Although there is an
extraordinary range of food choices, two things are clear—shrimp and grits
comes in a wide variety of styles and flavors and all of them are good, and
every Outer Banks restaurant and caterer knows how to do pulled pork and do it
right.
The bottom line, though, is the
bottom line. Weddings and events have become a huge part of the Outer Banks
economic picture and the industry continues to grow. Last year’s attendance at
the Wedding Expo was a record setting 1200 visitors; the final count is not in
yet, but it appears as though this year was slightly better.
Weddings alone would seem to account
for $240-250 million of the local economy and that doesn’t include
events—family gatherings, business meetings—a growing segment of that industry.
The need to accommodate all those
guests and provide a site for the event is why so many of the biggest names in
Outer Banks property management were there as well as almost every bed and
breakfast, hotel and motel on the Outer Banks.
In walking around the event, the
remarkable diversity of the businesses involved becomes apparent. Event
planners and event homes are well-represented; caterers, photographers,
videographers, hair and make-up—it’s all there, and all necessary.
The draw to the Outer Banks is that
it is a beautiful destination, but because it is a destination, staging a
wedding becomes a little more complex and requires some extra layers compared
to a ceremony at home.
That, however, is the why, the where
and the business of staging a wedding on the Outer Banks—and none of that
touches on how special the location or the people involved are.
People come to the Outer Banks
because of its beauty, but they get married here because of the professional
level and range of services available. Walking around the expo—and there is a
lot of walking to do—that becomes apparent as couples and their families huddle
with vendors to discuss details. The discussions certainly seem professional,
yet there is a lot of laughter involved as well.
That’s how it should be. Getting
married, for all the stress the ceremony holds, is ultimately an amazing
experience—a way to celebrate with family and friends a lifetime commitment,
and the hope and joy that promises. To do so at a place of wondrous natural
beauty seems to be the icing on the wedding cake.
Read more at the North
Beach Sun and OBX Wedding Association
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