Just what you have been waiting for - more Advice from OBX Brides! This week's guest blogger is Dawn from Raleigh, NC.  Enjoy... 

1. What venue choices did you make for your ceremony and reception?  Did they work out well?

We choose to get married on the beach at a very large 8 bedroom, 6000 sq ft house that we rented in Corolla. It was large enough to accommodate a reception and to house our guests as well. It was a perfect choice for us!

2. What time of year was your event?  Did you honeymoon on the Outer Banks as well? 

We got married on Columbus Day weekend, on October 12th.  That gave us a 3 day weekend, the weather was still gorgeous, the water still warm and the beaches weren't crowded at all. 

We rented a house on the beach at Corolla.  After the guests went home the day after the wedding, my husband and I stay for the remainder of the week.  It was perfect, we were still in paradise and we didn't have to travel the same day we got married!

3.  What type of accommodations did your wedding party and out of town guests use? 

We rented a gorgeous 8 bedroom house right on the water (they rent so much cheaper off season!).  Our wedding was small with only our immediate family - but with our family that added up to 26 people!  We all stayed at the house. There was plenty of room, everyone was comfortable, we had fun the whole weekend together, everyone shared in the cooking and cleaning and no one had to pay hotel expenses.  It was perfect for us!

4. Did you plan the event yourself or use a wedding planner or event day coordinator? 

I planned it myself - in 30 days.  We got engaged in September and didn't want to wait a year for a beach wedding so we decided to get married before it got cold.  It was a HECTIC 30 days!  I did it all myself - research, contacting everyone, the flowers, licenses, etc.  My mother-in-law was a life saver helping too.  But I do not recommend such a short planning period, even for a small wedding.  Anything formal or over 50 guests - hire a planner!

5. Favorite and/or funniest moment? 

Waking up at 6:30 to hear all 15 kids out of bed and running to the beach, laughing and squealing, to go play.  Never at any other time, except maybe Christmas, can you get kids that excited to wake up!

And my two new step-sons walking me across the dunes to go down the aisle... walking up a dune and seeing my husband waiting for me under the arbor and our family sitting on towels ready for the ceremony.  It was exactly how I had pictured it... I just couldn't believe it came true exactly how I had pictured it. Also, as we were taking photographs after the ceremony, wild horses roamed behind us on the beach.   I felt like a fairy tale princess at that moment to have my dream wedding and my amazing new husband and sons.

6. Best budget splurge?

We really didn't splurge on anything.  I would say the 1 thing you should never, ever, ever skimp on is photography!!!!  Everything else (except maybe air conditioning!) can be toned down.

7. Best budget savings/value?

Having the wedding off season!  EVERYTHING is at least 75% off during off season.  And we bartered for the house, the photographers, did our own cake and flowers.  The only things we paid for were the preacher, food and clothes.  And there were 1000's of people on the beaches.

We also rented a house so we had the wedding there - on the beach.  We used beach towels instead of chairs so we didn't have to get a permit.  We didn't have to pay the extra expense of paying for a venue.  It saved us $1000's.

9. Any aspect of planning or the big day you wish you’d done differently?  Anything you forgot to consider?

I wish we had had a different preacher.  We live in Raleigh so we had to hire an OBX preacher for the ceremony. 

He told me he had a 4x4 and could drive the house (beach driving, no roads) but the morning of the wedding he called and said someone would have to come get him - that was an inconvenience!  I am Christian and wanted all the religious parts of the ceremony to be included - he was running late so he cut out a ton, including the religious stuff (and it was the standard ceremony - we didn't add anything at all).  Lesson learned - use your OWN preacher!

We also didn't consider that it might be windy - and it was!  VERY windy!  A little hard to hear the ceremony and some of the decorations had to be adjusted.

10. Your #1 piece of advice for brides-to-be planning their upcoming Outer Banks Weddings? 

You can't have a more beautiful location that the Outer Banks.  It truly is spectacular.  Have a back up plan for bad weather, especially during hurricane season.  Hire a great photographer!  The best time of day is to have the ceremony 2 hours before sunset - you get the best lighting for photos.  But most importantly - don't let the pomp and circumstance take away from the marriage.  Enjoy the day and what it means and don't let the plans and the party override your relationship.