There are so many beautiful places in Hampton Roads that make great locations for weddings, so for today’s blog post I figured I would gather up some of the least known wedding venues in our area. Choosing the right wedding venue can be stressful. Trying to make sure the venue fits in your budget, can accommodate your guest list, is available on your date, and most of all fits your style, can be a daunting task itself not to mention trying to stand out and be different from other weddings you’ve been to in the area. I hope this list I have compiled will help make your decision a little easier by offering some places you might not have thought of before as a place to tie the knot.

 

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#1

Paradise Ocean Club

located at Fort Monroe in Hampton ,VA

 

Not only does this little piece of heaven make it seem like you’ve left the mainland, but it is also surrounded by historic buildings and motes. They offer several different options for weddings. Beach weddings are available as well as a ballroom, for indoor receptions, that holds up to 200 guests. Catering and full service bar are available on site, so there’s no need to hunt for another company to cover your food and drinks! Head on over to check out the Paradise Ocean Club, open to the public seasonally from May-September and available for private events year round. Tell them Catherine sent you 😉

 

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#2

Back Bay Farms

in the Pungo area of Virginia Beach, VA

 

For anyone wanting a country setting and a beautiful barn as the backdrop for their ceremony and/or reception, this is the place! Located in Pungo and just a hop, skip and a jump from the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and Sandbridge beaches, the location is hard to beat. Beautiful white fences enclose green pastures and the long, tree-lined driveway is to die for! You will need an outside caterer for this venue, as well as event rentals such as chairs, tables, linens, tent etc.

You can check out a featured wedding at Back Bay Farms over at Fancy Pants Weddings here.

 

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#3

Next up is not in Hampton Roads, but I had to include it on my list.

The Whalehead 

in historic Corolla, NC.

 

Located just under 13 miles south (as the crow flies) of the Virginia/North Carolina border, this historic property, in one of my all time favorite places, is a gorgeous location to have a wedding! It is also full of history dating back to the 1920s! This venue, with its perfectly groomed landscaping, views of the currituck sound and secluded location, make it a no brainer for my list!

 

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#4

Sandbridge Beach Special Event Home

 

 

There are so many beautiful houses in the coastal village of Sandbridge, why not rent one of them and have your wedding there? Ceremonies can be held on the beach, and the reception just a few steps away at one of the gorgeous houses. There are great resources to help you find the perfect house and other vendors to make your wedding day amazing at Destination Sandbridge. There is also a list of special event rentals here. Why not combine your ceremony and reception with a vacation for your guests on an uncrowded romantic beach?!

 

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#5

My final venue is probably something you wouldn’t expect to make this list at all:

The Back (or front) Yard!

My husband and I were married at my aunt and uncle’s house. We had the ceremony on the front porch, the cocktail hour around the pool, and the reception in a tent in the backyard. It was perfect! It did require a little more planning than usual, but we didn’t have to follow anyone’s rules but our own and we had total creative control over everything! Having our wedding there made everything so much more personal. I was very lucky to have such a gorgeous place available to me, but a backyard wedding doesn’t have to take place at a huge house with a huge yard and a pool. I do highly recommend hiring an event planner if you decide to go this route. We used Premier Events and could not have done it without them!

 

That concludes my list of best kept secret wedding venues in Hampton Roads! I hope I was able to offer you some inspiration. Check back for future posts on wedding planning tips and DIY wedding tutorials, or browse the blog.