Whether you've lived here your whole life or are flying hundreds of miles for a destination wedding, you know the beach setting is a big reason you're getting married here. So let your locale inform your details. Choose one of these ideas for a touch of the Outer Banks or multiple elements to push a theme.
Beachy Goodie Bags
Treat your bridal party or your out-of-town guests to a beach bag packed with North Carolina favorites. Choose colorful canvas totes full of gourmet regional items, like jams, jellies, chips and sauces. Toss in some local wine or beer and you're set. Bags range from $25-$50, or you can set a price and they will fill it with local items for you. The Culinary Duck, Duck, (252) 261-0455
Charitable Favors
If you're animal lovers and plan to give donations in lieu of favors, why not support a local cause? Give to a non-profit that physically cares for and protects the wild Colonial Spanish Mustangs that have been roaming the Outer Banks for nearly 500 years. The Corolla Wild Horse Fund, Inc., Corolla, (252) 458-8002, CorollaWildHorses.org
Food Concierge
You're bound to get hungry while taking in the gorgeous sites of the Outer Banks. Why not treat your family or wedding party to a special beach picnic while you're here? Call the Lunch Lady for a meal delivered straight to your dock! Everything from sweet potato biscuits with country ham for breakfast to overstuffed subs and fried chicken is available. Lunch Lady, Nags Head, (252) 216-8200, LunchLadyOBX.com
Beach-Inspired Embellishments
If you're dreaming of the perfect beachside wedding, Brenda Korbach and Gail Lawrenson are the ladies to make your vision a reality. They specialize in beach-style floral and décor. Let them hook you up with a unique seaside-inspired bamboo display in your wedding colors -- a technique they use in lieu of the traditional arbor to complement the ocean, not block it. The Embellishers, (252) 216-9226, TheEmbellishers.com
Quirky Accessories
Send your female guests home with a fun reminder of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and your special day. A local, independent artist collects these shiny bottle caps from a local brewery and makes them into cute earrings. Just $5 a pair on Etsy! LorenAllen.Etsy.com
Specialty Services
Do your out-of-town guests need a little break from the kids? Do you need someone to pick up a few things at the market, while you're stressing about the big day? How about a mind-clearing session with a private yoga instructor? These and other services are just a phone call away with this personal concierge service. At Your Service, Kitty Hawk, (252) 261-5286, AtYourServiceOBX.com
Outdoor Lounge Furniture
Treat guests to a laid-back evening by creating an outdoor lounge area with rope hammocks, swings, or chairs. The hammocks are made from sturdy, weather-resistant material. Take them home as a reminder of your destination celebration. Nags Head Hammocks, Outer Banks, (800) 344-6433
Gifts from the Sea
Looking for nautical trinkets like driftwood, sand art and seashells for your DIY decor? How about coastal gifts or jewelry for your bridal party? There are lots of family-owned businesses on the Outer Banks that sell regional knick-knacks and crafts. Shipwreck Museum, Inc, Nags Head, (252) 441-5739
Sea Glass Jewelry
Let North Carolina's Outer Banks inspire your wedding jewelry or gifts. Artist Margaret Miller collects treasures from the sea to make her one-of-a-kind, genuine beach glass earrings, tiaras, necklaces and bracelets. Each piece is custom made, so they are priced accordingly. Margaret Miller, Low Tide Jewels, (252) 441-2644, LowTideJewels.com
Something Blue
Pale blue takes on a whole new meaning in the state of North Carolina. If you're a fan or alumni of UNC, consider using Tar Heel-colored or themed ribbons in your garter or even your décor. Is your groom a die-hard basketball fan? Consider a groom's cake shaped like the Tar-Heels' logo, complete with blue icing.
-- Carrie Chambers