Hatteras Island Vacations

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of strolling down an aisle of sand, reciting your nuptials with the ocean in the background, the waves as your music, and letting the sunrise or sunset provide the lighting for your wedding photos.

The beach is understandably the most popular site for Hatteras Island weddings, but before you kick off your sandals to take the plunge, remember that all Hatteras Island beaches are part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and some restrictions apply. Be sure you familiarize yourself with the wedding guidelines provided by the National Park Service. Those guidelines can be found here at the NPS website.

You will also need a special use permit to have your wedding at the beach or at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, the most recognizable lighthouse in the world. Relax, a special use permit can cost as little as $100, and all information and guidelines can be found here at the NPS web site. You can also call 252-473-2111 for more information.

The annual Outer Banks Wedding Weekend and Expo will be held January 6-8, 2012. Hosted by the Outer Banks Wedding Association (OBWA), this has become one of the largest annual events in the Outer Banks and Surf or Sound Realty will participate again this year to showcase our wedding event homes on Hatteras Island. From touring event homes and reception sites, to meeting the top wedding professionals in our area, this is a one of a kind experience for brides looking to have a fun, relaxed and affordable destination wedding on the Outer Banks!

This year OBWA welcomes David Tutera of WE TV’s My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. During an exclusive cocktail reception on Saturday, January 7th, David Tutera will mingle with guests, take photos and answer questions with the audience. Don’t miss your chance to meet this Hollywood celebrity!

Tour Hatteras Island Event Homes
Island festivities start Saturday, January 7th. Our Avon office will be an Open House stop on the Wedding Tour with a selection of our premier Hatteras Island event homes featured on the Outer Banks Wedding Tour. Visit us at Bramasole, Hatteras Paradise and others and see how an Event Home can be the perfect setting for a destination wedding. Surf or Sound Realty representatives will be on hand to happily answer any questions about these or any of our premier vacation homes.
The tour is from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Feel free to stop by either our Avon office to request a map and wedding information, or simply look for the “Wedding Tour” signs along Highway 12.

Outer Banks Wedding Expo
On Sunday, January 8th, Surf or Sound Realty will join over 200 wedding vendors at the First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills for the grand Outer Banks Wedding Expo. Doors open at 11:00 a.m., and brides can stroll through the booths to browse and sample all that the Outer Banks Wedding Association members have to offer. Surf or Sound Realty invites all Outer Banks brides to come by our booth, #44, to learn more about our event homes and premier island accommodations, as well as enter for a chance to win a Surf or Sound beach gift basket.

We welcome all Outer Banks brides who are joining us for the 2012 expo, and look forward to making your Hatteras Island wedding a truly special and wonderful event. For the Outer Banks Wedding Expo schedule of events, or to order tickets online, visit the Outer Banks Wedding Association.

For more information about renting an event home for your wedding, family reunion or special celebration, contact the Surf or Sound Realty Event Coordinator today!
800-237-1138 x 122 | rent@surforsound.com

Dreaming of a Hatteras Island wedding but not sure where to start? A common misconception is that an island ceremony and reception can be tricky, as there are limited vendors available. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, there are a variety of vendors specializing in event planning, equipment rentals, wedding cakes, photography, flowers, catering, and all the professionals you’ll need to make your special day on the beach picture perfect. Keep reading »

Enjoying a day at the beach!
Now is a great time to plan your vacation on Hatteras Island for next summer! It will help the cold and dark winter days pass so much faster.

Photo submitted on Facebook by Lisa Weber Jackson.

After Hurricane Irene, many Hatteras Island residents relied on donations from the two local food pantries and, as a result, the shelves were quickly depleted. Lifeboat Community Church Food Pantry in Salvo and Hatteras Island Food Pantry in Buxton are in need of supplies and donations to help residents get through the winter months. Surf or Sound Realty, located on Hatteras Island, recently donated checks to each of these local food pantries.

“There are still a lot of people on the island in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and we want to do what we can to help our community,” says Melvin Stone, President of Surf or Sound Realty. In addition, Surf or Sound Realty’s Avon and Salvo offices serve as year round drop-off locations for both food pantries. Weekly rental guests are encouraged to donate any unopened non-perishable food at the end of their stay, and many are more than happy to help.

Lifeboat Community Church Food Pantry (LCCFP) currently feeds over four hundred families. Reverend Steven M. Simmons says, “We’ll feed everybody. We don’t turn anybody away.” LCCFP goes through about two thousand dollars a week in food and relies on monetary donations as well as donations from local grocery stores.

“Our food pantry is having a hard time keeping up with the high demand right now. We sustained a significant amount of damage in the hurricane but still have had our doors open since days after the hurricane,” said Melinda Baker, Associate Pastor for Lifeboat Community Church.

The Hatteras Island Food Pantry is run by the Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men. Walton Fulcher, Hatteras Island Food Pantry Coordinator, asks for continued support and emphasizes that, “one hundred percent of donations, both food and financial, goes to help the islanders.”

Monetary donations for the Hatteras Island Food Pantry can be made payable by check to United Methodist Men and mailed to Hatteras Island Food Pantry, PO Box 1591, Buxton, NC 27920. Monetary donations for Lifeboat Community Church can be dropped off at 27563 Highway 12 in Salvo, or by mailing checks to Lifeboat Community Church, P.O. Box 84 Salvo, NC 27972.

The annual Hatteras Village Christmas Parade is always filled with holiday spirit and cheer, but this year, in spite of the very chilly weather, that spirit and cheer was more abundant than ever and felt by all that attended the event, which was the biggest to date!

When Hurricane Irene ripped through the island three-and-a-half months ago, many residents’ lives were interrupted and displaced. You couldn’t tell by looking at the happy and cheery faces of those that attended and participated in this year’s parade. The people of Hatteras Island are resilient, and the tight knit community became even closer after the events of the natural disaster.

The parade began at Teach’s Lair Marina at 2 p.m. The parade route continued through the village and ended at the Hatterasman Drive-In. There were fun floats, horses, bikes, fire trucks, marching bands, and, of course, Santa! After the parade, everyone was invited to the Civic Center for home-baked cookies and hot chocolate and to hear the announcement of the winning floats.

This year’s winners were:

Brownie Troop 1660 - Most Comical. ($250)
Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation - Most Creative ($250)
Creative Ballance (Dune Billy’s)- Most Comical ($250) The “Dune Billy’s” donated their winning to the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation.
CHS Senior Class ($50)- Kids 1
CHS Sophomore Class ($50) Kids 2

From all of us at Surf or Sound Realty, we wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

(The Hatteras Village Civic Association sponsors the annual Hatteras Village Christmas Parade, held this year on Sunday, Dec. 11, in Hatteras village.)