Weddings are a lot of fun, especially for those that don’t have to plan them.   My three sons got married within a four year period, and their weddings were planned by themselves and their future wives.  The weddings took place in Cleveland, Ohio, Amherst, New York, and Erie, Pennsylvania.  If you want to know about   their weddings, give me a return blog. 

After doing   some research, I found a few interesting spots on the east coast for weddings and receptions.  Anything near the ocean is fun!

(1) Fort Fisher, NC -Fort Historical Site

Fort Fisher, located south of Kure Beach, North Carolina, has two gazebos overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Both are great for smaller weddings, less than 50 people. The most romantic times for ceremonies are dawn and dusk. The sunrise and sunsets there among the historic hills and trees is beautiful. There are no buildings to get out of the rain, just an open area under the trees to have your reception. There are grills and picnic tables already set up, but you will probably want to bring more. For your application to use one of the gazebos, please visit the Historical Site’s office.

(2) Wilmington, NC -Airlie Gardens Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, North Carolina has 67 acres of the most picturesque flowers, plants, trees, and lakes. Although there is a church at Airlie, it is not available for weddings. Springtime is the best time for a wedding in the Gardens because the flowers are in bloom and it’s also not too hot and sticky. There are no reception areas at Airlie Gardens, but this site is within 2 miles of some of the best seafood restaurants inWrightsville Beach that host wedding receptions.  Airlie Gardens books ceremonies 18 months in advance. (3) Charleston, SC – Battery Park

You can have a gazebo wedding in White Point Gardens in Battle Park, a magnificent and historical
Charleston park right on the water. The park is full of live oaks draped with Spanish moss. Its surroundings are old historic Charleston dwellings and businesses. For weddings in the park, you are limited to 25 people including you and the groom, and you have to get a permit from the City of
Charleston.

(4) Savannah, GA – Forsyth Park Inn

The Forsyth Park Inn is a bed and breakfast overlooking Savannah’s Forsyth Park.Forsyth Park is said to be the most beautiful park in Georgia! The Inn features elegant and extravagant decor indoors and outdoors. Your garden wedding will definitely feel intimate and relaxed as you are surrounded by beautiful landscape and fountains. The Queen Anne – style Inn has 11 rooms for housing your wedding guests. The Forsyth Park Inn would make a great location for small weddings.

(5) Outer Banks, NC – Mallards Marsh

Mallards Marsh is a plain building on the outside, but a large open area on the inside. At the Mallards Marsh, your wedding guests will enjoy views of the 22-acres of sound and wildlife adjoining the building. For your reception, Mallards Marsh’s floor plan allows for the dining room to open to the dance floor. There is a wooden walkway going from the main building to a unique glass chapel – perfect for having your wedding outdoors but still be sheltered from the elements.

(6) East Coast Yacht Cruises

Have the wedding of your dreams on one of the East Coast Yacht Cruises boats. They offer all-inclusive packages on certain yachts. A 4.5 hour cruise aboard a Manhattan East Coast Yacht for 75 guests is $13,000 but includes a wedding coordinator, DJ, invitations, ice sculpture, wine and champagne, open bar, and wedding cake just to name a few 

(7) Orlando, FL – Disney World

Get married at Disney World! Disney allows you to choose from one of four types of weddings: wishes collection which is the most elaborate, couture collection, escape collection for less than 18 guests, and a cruise collection which is obviously a ceremony on a Disney cruise ship. From the elegant decorations to friendly atmosphere, Disney World can give you and your groom a truly magical ceremony! 

(8) Coconut Grove, FL – The Grove Isle Hotel & Spa

The Grove Isle Hotel provides the perfect background for your wedding. It is on its own private island which overlooks the Biscayne Bay. At the Grove Isle Hotel, you can choose which indoor facility you want for your ceremony, or you can have it outdoors. Outdoors would be pretty at sunset! There are several ballrooms and banquet rooms to choose from for your reception too. The views of Miami from this hotel are amazing.

Enjoy the day!  All the preparation is worth it, and your family and friends will have a good time no matter what.  Remember, something bizarre is sure to happen.  My husband forgot to bring his tuxedo pants to the church, so his brother had to madly dash home and get them.  In the meantime, the photographer’s brakes on his parked car released and the car rolled down the street. We laugh, now.

Go here for Air Flight Savings 

This entry was posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm and is filed under Blogroll, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.