Month: December 2018

Corporate Retreats On The Outer Banks

Corporate Retreats On The Outer Banks

All houses are rented by the week.

OBX Corporate Retreat Venues

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is uniquely situated to host a corporate retreat as unique as your company. The OBX offers a wide variety of world-class restaurants and time permitting, activities to appeal to everyone on your team. But the reason you’re coming, the team and business building, that’s where Carolina Designs steps in.
At Carolina Designs we offer a selection of rentals suitable to hosting almost any company’s retreat.

From 5 bedroom houses for smaller teams or as a separate unit for the executive, to 23 bedroom oceanfront rentals with game rooms, media room and more we have a perfect fit. But more importantly, we have a dedication to serving our guests and concerning ourselves with the smallest details that from the welcome package you receive on check-in to knowledgeable staff to assist you during your retreat, we’ll help ensure you leave with a team that’s motivated, educated and ready to hit the ground running.

More about our event homes

Outer Banks Family Reunion Rentals

Outer Banks Family Reunion Rentals

All houses are rented by the week.

Outer Banks Family Reunion Rentals

Getting everyone together for a family reunion is one of the most special occasions you can host. A time to make new memories, share old ones and enjoy the laughter and love that only your family can provide.Organizing a family reunion, however, can be a bit more difficult. Arranging where everyone will stay, researching things to do in an area and hoping to find something everyone can enjoy can feel like an uphill battle.
Because we’re a family run business, at Carolina Designs we understand the importance of the event and will do everything we can to ensure your stay with us meets not just your needs, but the things you didn’t even know you wanted.

We’re blessed to be location on the Outer Banks, an area rich in things to do. From world-class restaurants to world-famous beaches, there is literally something for everyone.

We invite you to start your journey below where you’ll find some of the vacation rentals we’ve found popular for family reunions. Or use the search box on the right and fine tune the listings to meet your unique wants and needs.

More about our event homes

Printable Checklists For Your Destination Wedding

Printable Destination Wedding Checklists

Your guides to the perfect destination wedding.

Our Destination Wedding Checklist can be a very useful tool to help you plan your perfect day in your perfect location. To help keep you on track we’ve also created printable versions that cover important date ranges to help ensure you don’t miss any of the important details.

Click any of the images below to download them individually or download them all in this handy PDF.

Destination Wedding Checklist


Destination Wedding Checklist & Planning Guide

Your guide to planning the perfect destination wedding.

Congratulations! There are few events in life that can compare with the excitement and joy that comes from getting engaged and few tasks more rewarding than planning your wedding, especially when you’ve decided to make it a destination wedding. And by now you’ve also discovered that it can also be a lot of work, especially if you don’t know where to start.

Because the Outer Banks is known as a premier location for destination weddings we’ve heard all the questions and watched how the most successful are organized. It all begins with a checklist to help ensure you take care of everything you need to. Below you’ll find a checklist of the entire process.  We’ve also created smaller printable destination wedding checklists for your convenience. The graphic below is clickable and will take you to a larger copy of the image for saving.

12 to 18 months

  • Determine your budget
  • Decide on a location
  • Choose a theme and colors for your wedding
  • Choose your wedding party
  • Estimate the size of your wedding and begin on your guest list, including addresses
  • If possible, take an engagement trip to view possible venues in person, ideally at the same time of year you are planning to get married
  • Reserve your venue
  • Book your officiant
  • Speak with locals and your venue host about vendors they would recommend and schedule appointments to choose wedding planner, florist, caterer, DJ or band, photographer, and videographer
  • Set up appointments for wedding dress fittings
  • Send save-the-dates. This is critical if guests are traveling to your wedding, giving them ample time to secure tickets and accommodations at lower rates.

9 to 12 months

  • Select what the bridal party will be wearing
  • Reserve your photographer (and videographer if you choose), florist, caterer, DJ/band, and hair and makeup stylists
  • Choose accommodations – research vacation homes or hotel room block options for your guests and wedding party. Booking larger vacation rentals for family and friends to share generally provides great value and experience.
  • Create your gift registry, making sure to include items across an array of budgets.
  • Select a location and determine a budget for your honeymoon
  • Build a wedding website with all the key information
  • Shop for rings

6 to 12 months

  • Get bridesmaids dresses sized and ordered. Order groomsmen attire.
  • Book your honeymoon.
  • Meet with the officiant, discussing details about the ceremony order.
  • Arrange day-of transportation if necessary
  • Start putting together a day-of timeline
  • Choose cake style and schedule tastings.
  • Reserve chairs, linens, tables, lighting, dance floor, etc. that you may need.
  • Obtain any permits determined by local ordinances (ie temporary liquor license)
  • Order invitations – ask guests to RSVP a minimum of one month prior to wedding day

3 to 6 months

  • Book secondary locations. If you’re planning any group dinners or activities outside of the wedding day, reserve those venues.
  • Finalize guest list
  • Choose your music, including first dances and “must play” and “do not play” lists
  • Select and order cake
  • Finalize and order flower arrangements and decor
  • If desired, you may want to assemble welcome baskets for out-of-town guests filled with items to help them fully enjoy your chosen destination.

2 to 3 months

  • Finalize menu and bar selections with caterer
  • Mail invitations (minimum 3 months before your wedding day)
  • Order wedding favors
  • Choose who will be making toasts
  • Schedule your dress fittings
  • Confirm all reservations and payments to vendors
  • Choose seating arrangement
  • Work on vows and ceremony order: readings, programs, music, etc

1 to 2 months

  • Communicate with photographer to discuss “must have” shots and locations
  • Check all RSVPs and contact those you are unsure of
  • Review details with officiant
  • Apply for marriage license (up to 60 days prior to wedding day)
  • Schedule final fittings for wedding party
  • Send wedding day timeline to vendors and confirm times and locations
  • Decide on your something old, new, borrowed and blue
  • Finalize printed material including menu cards, programs, signage, etc

1 to 4 weeks

  • Finalize seating arrangement
  • Pick up marriage license
  • Confirm honeymoon reservations
  • Purchase bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts
  • If you have new shoes, break them in before the big day
  • Assemble welcome baskets if applicable
  • Pick up your dress

1 week

  • Final confirmation of timeline with vendors
  • Choose who will be doing the small tasks on the wedding day and delegate
  • Get checks written for vendors (and have tips ready)
  • Send final guest list to the caterer
  • Pack for your honeymoon
  • Prepare an emergency kit with items you may need in a pinch. Hair product, a needle and thread matching the dress and tuxedos, Tylenol, Tide 2 Go, etc.
  • Deliver welcome baskets as guest arrive at the destination or have them waiting for them.
  • Travel to your destination and get settled in, preferably at least a few days before your wedding to tackle any last-minute issues.

The Day Before

  • Attend the rehearsal
  • Get a good night’s sleep before the big day

The Big Day

  • Try to get up early enough for a relaxed breakfast
  • Get wedding rings to the the ring bearer
  • The groom should have the officiant fee (what’s this one?)
  • Try not to end up on you YouTube fainting compilation.
    (this would not be in the graphic – just adding for fun here but we will end it with some nice “have fun” but I can’t think of the words right now)

After

  • Ensure tuxes and all rentals are returned
  • Get wedding dress to the cleaners and packaged for proper storage
  • Send out thank you cards
  • Update your website for the final time with a big thank you and some photos of the day.
  • Enjoy your honeymoon!

Explore Wedding Houses By Town

Whether you choose Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills or Nags Head, North Carolina, we’ve got the perfect place for you.

Or Download Or Print Our Destination Wedding Checklist

Destination Wedding Checklist

Destination Weddings On The Outer Banks, NC

Destination Weddings On The Outer Banks, NC

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is one of the most popular wedding destinations in the United States – and for good reason. There’s nothing like saying “I do” next to the majesty of the ocean, making it the perfect place to start your happily ever after.

Start Planning Your Outer Banks Wedding

Outer Banks Wedding Venues
Let Carolina Designs - Outer Banks destination wedding venues. The luxury vacation homes you deserve with all the details you ... MORE
Outer Banks Wedding Vendors
Outer Banks Wedding Vendors Companies to help make your day perfect. Picking the right vendors for your wedding day can ... MORE
Destination Wedding Checklist
Planning a destination wedding can be one of the most fantastic events of you life. Let the Carolina Designs Destination ... MORE