Graham + Joey

We have always featured local weddings in our magazine, but never on their own. We decided to switch it up this year because these weddings truly deserve a section all to themselves. Just having a wedding on the Outer Banks is something truly special, but living here year-round grants these couples access to all of the hidden gems and local knowledge of creative ways to have an Outer Banks wedding. We hope that these weddings inspire you, so that you too can embrace some Local Love!

The Outer Banks stretches over 175 miles of shoreline. So for Graham and Joey who call Kill Devil Hills home, their wedding at The Berkley Manor in Ocracoke was a destination spot for them and their guests! Pure happiness surrounded these two all day long, and the photos definitely convey that well. Wedding day jitters were subdued with a zen yoga class for Graham and her bridesmaids, while Joey and the groomsmen started early with a surf session. The rusts and warm tones used throughout echoed off of the wooden walls of the manor, creating such a toasty and loving energy. 

See the video and photos captured during their wedding day below.

FEATURED VENDORS

Photographer | Antoinette Photography, LLC.

Ceremony + Reception Venue | The Berkley Manor

Accommodations | The Berkley Manor

Bar + Spirits | Camp Cocktail

Caterer + Restaurant | Red Sky Cafe

Coordinator | Southern Hospitality Weddings & Events

Equipment Rentals | Metro Rental OBX

Floral + Decor | Flower Girls OBX

Videographer | Swell Productions

From the Photographers 

Joey and Graham’s wedding was simple, yet charming. They said their vows in the gorgeous Berkley Manor barn, where the reception was also held. Camp Cocktail and Swellsa Brewing Company served delicious drinks all night while the Yacht Dogs put on an incredible show. What we loved most about this wedding was the amount of love and positive energy that surrounded Joey and Graham all night! When we snuck away for sunset photos, a very nice couple invited us onto their boat and let us snap a few quick photos! This was the wedding of the year!!

From the Couple

Tell us more about your wedding and what made it special to you.  

My husband Joey and I met when we were 14. It was puppy love from the start. 14 years later, we were surrounded by family and friends (old and new) on Ocracoke to share and experience the most magical day of our lives. Those folks have seen us grow in so many ways — high school heartache, college shenanigans, bouncing from place to place as we embraced the new chapters of life. 

I became a school teacher in Virginia Beach and Joey took a job with a wine and beer distribution company, Tryon Dist, which led us to buying a house in Kill Devil Hills. This was a dream come true as Joey and I spent many weekends driving down in our high school and college days. That led to me taking a job as a kindergarten teacher at a small local school, Wilbur Gardens. The love and support from our friends and family throughout our journey has meant everything, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

Ocracoke is raw; full of beauty and rich history. But it’s not always an easy trip down! The week leading to our event, a storm came through and South 12 was completely washed out (classic Outer Banks unpredictability! Also, a lesson that all who live down here get to learn: trust and go with the flow!) 

We didn’t know what would happen, but it didn’t matter because we had each other. The roads cleared, the sun appeared. But the ferries down to Ocracoke had some delays. I’ll never forget pulling up to the ferry line and seeing family and friends meeting for the first time. You would think waiting 4+ hours in line would be frustrating. Blankets were laid out, beverages were passed around, and laughs and love were shared with family, friends, and strangers alike. It set the tone for a weekend we would never forget.

Why did you choose Ocracoke for your wedding?

Who wouldn’t want to get married in Blackbeard’s backyard?! Besides the history — the pure beauty, isolation, and kind people on this island drew us in immediately. We knew from the second we got engaged, Ocracoke was our place. For our Honeymoon we ferried twice more to Cedar Island, then a quick drive to catch another ferry over to the beautiful Cape Lookout National Seashore.

Our wedding week started in Kitty Hawk with an incredible celebratory dinner at Ocean Boulevard, and ended on a quiet stretch of the beach with no one but fishermen passing by in their rigs.

In between, there was a yoga class at Ocracoke Island Yoga dedicated to our day by the wonderful owner, Savana. A surf session with the groomsmen and family and friends from all over. There were almost a dozen folks in the water! On the wedding day!

That’s what we love about the Outer Banks. The ability to experience the finer things with friends and family, while also being able to escape to the dunes, beaches, and water that surround us. To do what we love with the people we love.