You know how to make your Saturday infinitely more amazing? Spend the day daydreaming about Virginia Beach, the dazzling East Coast destination that offers a plethora of fabulous (+ oh-so-beautiful) venues for your Big Day. I’m talking everything from the traditional (here’s looking at you, Cavalier Hotel) to the contemporary (hello Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art) with 38 miles of waterfront property and 17 miles of pristine beaches, just in case you’ve always dreamt of that beautiful “toes in the sand” wedding. Even better? This magical destination is joining our SMP family, so you have an entire weekend to get to know them. And, really, is there a better way to spend a Saturday and Sunday?
From Virginia Beach… Virginia Beach offers brides and grooms a “Beach Wedding Permit” that creates a private setting by reserving a location along the sand, closed to the general public for up to three hours, for $200. Couples may also set up ceremony elements such as arches, temporary fencing or seating and may use amplified sound at a reasonable decibel level. The permit must be obtained by the City of Virginia Beach Special Events and Film Office. (Many other beach destinations do not offer this type of permit.)
Virginia Beach is the perfect destination for a wedding, receptions and honeymoon vacation. We are the only beach on the East Coast that allows you to pick the exact spot where you want to say vows, we offer reception venues that accommodate all types of brides and grooms… and for honeymooners we have beach activities designed for couples! From relaxing ocean-side to learning how to surf together, Virginia Beach is a well-rounded honeymoon destination.
For those brides who are more traditional, Virginia Beach offers many venues perfect for the traditional wedding ceremony and reception…
Virginia Beach Convention Center – Enjoy the elegance of the ballroom or amazing ocean view from the tower. The Virginia Beach Convention Center offers more than 500,000 gross square feet of space that can comfortably accommodate groups of any size.
Cavalier Hotel – The Cavalier was opened in 1927 and reined throughout the Big Band era. Today, couples can choose to have a ceremony or reception at the stunning grand foyer of the original Cavalier on the Hill or plan a large, oceanfront wedding in the Beach Club at the more contemporary Cavalier Oceanfront.
The Founders Inn – Exchange vows amid the elegance of grand Georgian architecture surrounded by the beautifully landscaped English Gardens. During the honeymoon, enjoy a variety of treatments including a couple’s massage at the Flowering Almond Spa, located on the property.
Virginia Beach also offers many non-traditional venues for those looking for a different type of wedding…
Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) – Houses several galleries, a 268-seat auditorium and a grand atrium perfect for nuptial events. Its modern style and art creates a dramatic backdrop for a wedding.
Military Aviation Museum – Enjoy a ceremony or reception with a little history at the home of one of the largest private collections of vintage military airplanes in the world.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center – Enjoy an intimate sit-down dinner for 20 or an elegant reception for 2,000. Choose a menu based off the Sensible Seafood program. A portion of each rental-fee is tax-deductible and helps support the aquarium’s animal care and conservation programs.
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts – Located at the Virginia Beach Town Center, the performing arts venue offers a Grand Lobby with two staircases and beautiful chandeliers in the center of the atrium as well as an outdoor plaza with amazing views of the city block.
Virginia Beach boasts 38 miles of waterfront property, with a total of 17 miles of beach that are free and open to the public.
The Virginia Beach resort area offers a 3-mile long boardwalk that stretches from 1st Street to 40th Street. Be sure to stop by one of Virginia Beach’s most popular photo op spots – the King Neptune statue located on the boardwalk at 31st Street overlooking Neptune’s Park.
If you’re seeking a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere, try Chicks Beach on Virginia Beach’s north end, or Sandbridge, located on Virginia Beach’s southern shore, boasting beautiful rental homes, cottages and a serene atmosphere. Both of these areas are popular for nuptial exchanges.
Virginia Beach offers more than 18,600 acres of state parks and wildlife refuges to give visitors a variety of landscapes for exploring the great outdoors.
For the military Bride & Groom, Virginia Beach has options for active, retired, Reservist, National Guard or Department of Defense civilians.
The Cape Henry Inn and Beach Club boasts spectacular beachfront property that creates the perfect backdrop for your wedding, with the dual Cape Henry Lighthouses nearby.
The Chapel by the Sea (Dam Neck Annex ) was built in 1989. This contemporary lakeside chapel is nestled among pines and joins lakeside trails, serving as a safe haven and scenic refuge for sailors and families alike.
Shifting Sands Beach Club & Seabreeze Beach Club are both located on Dam Neck Annex and have professional staff on hand to provide for your special catering needs, weddings, dinner parties, hail and farewells, dining in/dining outs and cookouts.
For more information please visit the Virginia Beach website.
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Welcome to the family, Virginia Beach! We are so happy to have you! xo
