The Cape Fear region’s fabulous locations, boundless beauty and very affordable prices are sure to make any occasion special. No wonder so many couples choose to tie the knot here.
Experience genteel Southern afternoons at an antebellum mansion or a 67-acre garden ablaze with azaleas. Imagine exchanging vows on the deck of a ship slowly cruising down the historic Cape Fear River. Thinking something else far from ordinary? No problem. Get married on a golf tee or in the aqua glow of a massive saltwater aquarium full of enchanting underwater life. The Battleship North Carolina normally is seen guarding Wilmington’s downtown, but it is also an awesome, solemn place for a wedding ceremony. Traditionalists find plenty of majestic old churches and little chapels. And what’s more romantic than exchanging vows at sunset by the shore? Just say “I do” to private islands, oceanfront resorts and beach houses large enough to accommodate the entire family.
LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN A perfect wedding ceremony deserves a great toast. In the Cape Fear region, revelers may raise glasses everywhere from a down-home, backyard Carolina barbecue to an elegant, formal dinner at a luxurious beach house. Intimate affairs happen at charming, historic venues. No matter the spot, onsite services and caterers fill the bill. Plan a sensational party here for any reason: graduations, family reunions, holiday fun, or a birthday ice cream social. It’s also fine to have a party for no reason at all. Restaurants, hotels and event spaces, especially those with water views, suit anniversaries and birthdays as well as they do conferences, business meetings and charity events. Outdoor venues are also on the list. Beautiful wooded parks work for
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WilmingtonToday.com
PHOTO BY MATT MCGRAW PHOTOGRAPHY
WEDDINGS & CATERING
Weddings & Catering
weddings, picnics, children’s parties and church activities. Don’t forget the deck of the mighty Battleship North Carolina.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW Gatherings large and small are treated to spectacular waterfront views at two Wrightsville Beach locations. Bluewater Waterfront Grill restaurant stands on the Intracoastal Waterway and has private rooms large and small. The second-story banquet room’s picture windows broadcast breathtaking sunset views. Oceanic restaurant is an unforgettable beachfront setting on South Lumina Avenue. Dining rooms face Atlantic waves. Outdoor tables line a long wooden pier extending out over the ocean.
A SPECIAL BACKDROP: THE CAPE FEAR RIVER Riverwalk Landing is another complete banquet facility in historic downtown.
Various spaces overlooking the Cape Fear River accommodate groups of 25 to 200. Indoor rooms and outdoor spaces afford beautiful views, and the expansive deck at sunset is especially striking. Elijah’s and The Pilot House restaurants provide custom menus. They are happy to work with the planners to deliver exactly what the clients would like. The restaurants have a more than 30-year record of reliable service.
SPECIAL PLACES FOR WEDDINGS & RECEPTIONS Beloved blues define seaside weddings, but dreamy undersea worlds add special magic at Fort Fisher’s North Carolina Aquarium. Both ceremonies and receptions are possible — for up to 2,000 people — alongside the aquarium’s spectacular sea life, much of it in a 235,000-gallon aquarium. The complex offers spacious galleries, stunning views and an unforgettable atmosphere, all just steps from the Atlantic Ocean at Fort Fisher. Special-
