Unusual Wedding Venues: Get Married in a North Carolina Aquarium

If you're a nature-lover in search of a unique place to hold your wedding ceremony but you're not sure a museum or a cave is right for you, why not rent an aquarium? A trend in aquarium weddings is on the rise. Aquariums can bring nature "alive" for you and your guests and provide a spectacular background for the couple exchanging vows.

The North Carolina Aquariums organization has three locations, all of which are available for wedding rentals.
The Fort Fisher aquarium at Kure Beach is home to Luna, the famous albino alligator. Couples who want to rent Fort Fisher have several options. The entire aquarium is available for rental for very large wedding parties. A rental of the Upper Mezzanine and Lower Cape Fear Shoals Exhibit has a capacity of 300 guests and can accommodate a ceremony and a sit-down meal. Guests can mingle with wildlife with a rental of the Cape Fear Conservatory, an area nearly 3/4 of an acre large covered by a glass ceiling. The lobby of the Conservatory would make a nice area for a ceremony by the waterfall. At Fort Fisher, the Exotic Aquatics Gallery, Deck and Garden areas are also available. Here, guests will have a birds-eye view of beautiful sea life, such as lionfish, colorful tropical fish varieties, and a Pacific coral reef. For information about holding an event at the Fort Fisher location call (910) 458-8257, extension 218.

In Manteo, North Carolina on the Outer Banks, the Roanoke Island aquarium would make a lovely place to hold a wedding. Here there are six rental options, all of which include the courtyard area, soundside area, and a self-guided aquarium tour. These options consists of the various spaces and exhibits at Roanoke Island. In the The Graveyard of the Atlantic and Diamond Shoals exhibits there is a 285,000 tank which houses sharks and other fish. The Foyer boats great views of stingrays and aquatic life. Next to the Foyer is Neptune's Theater, a space perfect for a reception. Guests can get a hands-on experience at the Touch Tank. The Wetlands on the Edge conservatory is the home to freshwater animals such as alligators and sea otters. The waterfront area at this aquarium makes a beautiful location for a sunset wedding ceremony. For more information call 866-332-3475.

The Pine Knoll Shores location, in Pine Knolls, also has a number of spaces available to rent which would be ideal for a wedding. The Saltwater Gallery rental includes access to the main lobby, the Salt Marsh Boardwalk, and three of the exhibits (Coastal Plain, Tidal Waters, and Ocean Galleries). There is limited access to the Big Rock Theater with this evening rental. Guests will be amazed at the 306,000-gallon Living Shipwreck which is part of the Ocean exhibit. Another evening option at Pine Knolls is rental of the Soundside Hall and the Freshwater Galleries. The use of the catering kitchen and aquarium security is included with some packages. For additional information, call a special events coordinator at 866-294-3477.

A ceremony at an aquarium will be a beautiful event that both the couple and their guests will remember for years to come. Why not celebrate the start of a new life together by exchanging vows near the glowing tranquility of a giant aquarium? Because these aquariums are located either on or very near the coast, couples can take advantage of the beach on a lovely honeymoon.

As many of the packages and rules vary by location, make sure to contact someone in the special events department at your desired location and read each venue's "fine print."

Source:
North Carolina Aquariums