Fairy Tale Wedding Weekend
We just celebrated our wedding weekend 5/8/25-5/10/25 at the Inn on Pamlico Sound and catered by Cafe Pamlico. To say it was the best weekend of our lives would be an understatement. Everything was perfect from the minute we arrived until the minute we left (which was a day later than planned since we couldn't pull ourselves away from the beautiful views). We have received SO many compliments stating that this was the best wedding our guests have ever been to and everyone had an amazing time. We were so happy to share this incredibly special place with all of our friends and family.
The venue: IOPS as a wedding venue is pure magic. The views from the point where our ceremony was held and walking down the "aisle" on a dock, led to some of the most stunning photos. The tented deck (absolutely recommend the clear top tent, it was beautiful) as a dance floor was picturesque and so unique. We were lucky to have fantastic weather, and sunsets on the sound are unmatched. We could not have asked for a more beautiful backdrop for our wedding. When a bit of inclement weather and wind gusts did roll in later that night, everyone sprung into action and got things out of the way but without stopping the party. I cannot say enough about the beauty of this place, you just have to see it for yourself.
The rooms: Gorgeous, charming, and comfortable. We took over the entire Inn for the wedding and it was SO fun popping between rooms to see all of our friends and family. 100% recommend doing the wedding weekend package so you can have the place to yourself! We stayed in the Jasmine room that also served as the bridal suite where we all got ready. It is painted a beautiful blue-green that looked absolutely gorgeous in the "getting ready" photos. The bed was so comfy and we were so well rested for all of the festivities because of it! Everyone loved their rooms, and the views from the windows and balconies are stunning. A huge perk was use of the common refrigerator in the lobby of the building. We were able to store all of our leftovers in there to enjoy with our guests the next day, and none of the food was wasted. This is a courtesy you won't find at many places.
The food: This was hands down THE BEST food I have ever had at a wedding. I thought for sure with my adrenaline pumping from all the excitement that I would not want to eat much. But when my filet was put in front of me and I had one bite, I couldn't help but eat it all. We had offered filet, crab cakes, and caprese chicken and our guests RAVED about the food. We also had several complicated allergies that could have absolutely ruined someones evening, but the kitchen staff handled everything perfectly. The dinner service moved quickly for the size wedding we had and for the caliber of food they were receiving. It was well paced and everyone left the dinner full and happy. Not to mention the beautiful views everyone got to enjoy while finishing their dinner. The cocktail hour was also fantastic and everyone enjoyed the appetizers. Our hosted rehearsal dinner was equally as amazing and the shrimp and grits bar had everyone talking. We also did cocktail appetizers for our guests at a welcome party, and they put out the most beautiful charcutterie board I've ever seen. Most of our guests also had breakfast at the Inn daily and it's some of the best breakfast food I've ever had. I 100% recommend the extra brine bloody mary as well as the mimosa flight!
The staff: If nothing else in this review convinced you to have your wedding here, or even to just vacation at IOPS, let this be the thing that does it. The staff here were all some of the kindest and most hard working people I've ever met. We worked closely with Meredith, our wedding planner for the venue as well as day-of-coordinator, and I was blown away by her professionalism and responsiveness. She made planning this entire wedding all the way from Florida absolutely seamless. People always talk about the chaos of your wedding day and how things can sometimes get missed an overlooked, but that was not our experience in any way. Meredith was on it the entire time, and everything went flawlessly. She was just one of many highlights from our experience with IOPS. The wait staff and bar staff was excellent, efficient, and really seemed to enjoy what they do. They worked tirelessly the day of the rehearsal dinner and the wedding to set everything up with very little instruction, and it turned out better than I could have even imagined. They somehow arranged things in a way that looked better than what I had even envisioned on my own. The bar line moved quickly and no one was spending half the night waiting for drinks. They are absolute pros. I think the best part was interacting with the same faces all weekend. The staff really enjoyed our event with us and we were so honored to have them be a part of our day. They are genuinely wonderful people and a true testament to the charm and hospitality of the outer banks. Lastly, Steve Nelson, the owner, was incredible. He was seemingly always there when we needed anything and helped make the whole weekend go perfectly. He has created pure magic in this little Inn and we just could not be happier with how everything went. A huge thank you to all of the incredible staff.
If you're having an OBX wedding or need a break from the hustle and bustle of day to day life, then look no further than the Inn on Pamlico Sound and Cafe Pamlico. You will not be disappointed! We can't wait for our next trip back!