Historic sites offer storybook settings
Antebellum houses, plantations and gardens
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Wilmington and the Lower Cape Fear
region are blessed with a wealth of historic buildings and sites, many available for public use.
These include antebellum plantations and 19th-century city mansions, in addition
to downtown Wilmington’s many historic places of worship.
Photo by Dick Parrott |
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Hand craftsmanship and elegant architectural detailing makes such places
especially impressive settings for weddings and receptions. Historic buildings often have a dramatic
scale -- high ceilings, wide doors, tall windows -- hard to find in newer places. Many have beautiful
grounds, with ancient oaks or lavishly landscaped gardens, which can accommodate wedding receptions.
Because many such historic sites are open for public tours, there may be limits
on when they can be used for weddings. Inquire early about availability. A year or more isn’t too soon.
Don’t overlook the possibilities for outdoor weddings at some of the region’s
historic sites. Many of the grand old mansions, both in the city and on surrounding plantations, have
beautiful gardens that can make a gorgeous setting for your ceremony, reception or both.
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Photo by Gary Allen
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Some examples are:
- City Club at DeRossett
- Thalian Hall-City Hall
- Poplar Grove Plantation
- The Bellamy Mansion Museum
- Airlie Gardens
Some of the best-known historic sites have special facilities for weddings,
such as the Lebanon Chapel at Airlie Gardens or the Gazebo at Poplar Grove Plantation.
Even sites that don’t have preserved buildings can offer possibilities for
a creative wedding plan. For instance, some couples have held outdoor weddings at the Fort Fisher
State Historic Site, the Civil War battlefield overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Fear River.
Across the river, the Brunswick Town / Fort Anderson State Historic Site has the roofless walls of
an 18th-Century church available as a wedding ceremony site.
Keep in mind that, because of extremely tight budgets for state and local
governments in recent years, you may be asked to pay for use even of public facilities. New Hanover County’s
Airlie Gardens, for example, charges a substantial fee for weddings and bridal portraits.
Two other leading visitor attractions aren’t historic sites, but have a
unique ambience all their own, and offer their exhibit spaces for parties and wedding receptions.
- Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum
- North Carolina Aquarium
These institutions have been an important part of our community for more than 40 years, and both
have up-to-date, expanded facilities less than 10 years old.
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Historic sites
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A selection of vendors offering
Banquet & Reception Sites
Wedding Ceremony Sites
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City Club at de Rosset
Island Cakery
The Pilot House
Cameron Art Museum
Hugh MacRae Park
Wilmington Convention Center
See complete listings for
Banquet & Reception Sites
Wedding Ceremony Sites
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