Say 'I Do' to the Outer Banks
251 to 300 guests
Holds ceremonies and receptions
AWARD WINNER (5X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Upon the windswept shores nestled in the Outer Banks awaits a haven for love's grandest chapter: The Sanderling. Not merely a wedding destination, but a tapestry woven with the timeless elegance of the South and the untamed charm of the coast. Located amidst the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound, we offer a spectrum of captivating venues to accommodate your every desire. Begin your happily ever after at The Sanderling.
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
$3,750
Ceremony:
$1,000
Bar services:
$14 per person
Catering:
Contact for price
Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is Mar and Nov.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Hotel
Restaurant
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Other Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.088 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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Arienne D
5.0
7/20/2024
We knew we wanted to get married in the Outer Banks, but wanted to find the right venue to host our intimate guest size. Living almost 8 hours away, we did a virtual tour and instantly knew The Sanderling was the place! We visited in-person for our tasting about 6 months prior to our wedding and it was exactly how we remembered after booking 1.5 years earlier. There was so much food at the tasting, no one left hungry, and it was amazing!
Our wedding day (June, 4, 2024) was an absolute dream, from the amazing food, drinks, the hotel rooms to get ready in, and the staff (special shout-out to Cassidy, she was extremely reliable during the planning process and there to help for every minute of our wedding day!). Our ceremony was on the Observation Deck and our reception was in the Keeper’s Loft, both perfect for our intimate group of 30. We had an awesome time at the fire pit after dinner. For someone who works in the wedding industry myself, I hold high standards, but the Sanderling went above and beyond out expectations!! We can’t wait to go back and visit for our anniversary.
Kate D
5.0
9/08/2022
My husband and I got married on 8/5 at the Sanderling and it was perfect! The view is amazing and so was the food. The staff is all super helpful too! Danielle was AWESOME and so helpful with everything! I live in Massachusetts , but she made it so easy and perfect for us. Would highly recommend getting married at the sanderling!
Any questions?
Elizabeth O
5.0
3/12/2020
We got married 2/15/20 at the Sanderling (their first Feb wedding ever). Neither my husband nor I had ever been to the Sanderling or to OBX for that matter. We wanted a destination wedding and fell in love with an off-season wedding with amazing sunsets overlooking the water and the wild horses.
I found the Sanderling online and was hooked. I called Kristen their wedding coordinator, grabbed our date (only 5 months prior), and start to finish it was more than either of us could have ever expected. Kristen and her team are amazing. She has everything you will need covered from on-site Sanderling options to working with the dream team of vendors. We had only 2 phone calls with her before the wedding weekend and she was able to take in all our wishes and execute.
The wedding was perfect- "pure magic" is what our friends and families have said. Our guests stayed onsite, we booked one of the vacation homes on property for some of the bridal party, the bridesmaids and I got ready at the spa, we had the ceremony in Keeper's Loft and reception at the Pavilion. Having everything and everyone in one space made it more fun and relaxing. The entire entire Sanderling staff and the OBX community made us feel incredibly welcomed and loved. Thank you! I highly recommend the Sanderling!
Leah Z
5.0
11/04/2019
Having our wedding at the Sanderling was an absolute dream. If you're looking for a venue that is professional and fun and is a 'one-stop-shop' for all of your wedding needs, this is it.
We are from Baltimore, MD but knew we wanted to get married in the OBX, NC as it holds a lot of amazing memories for us and our families. When we were searching and comparing venues - the Sanderling Resort struck us as being very equipped for out of town planners like ourselves. It had all the amenities we would need for hosting our guests for the long weekend and the vibe of the resort is unmatched. It was very clear from start to finish that they knew what they were doing and that everything would be taken care of. And it absolutely was!
Our coordinators, Davis and Kristen, were very enthusiastic, timely and professional with all of their responses from the beginning stages of planning, all the way through the day of and beyond. It was a perfect fit for my husband and I whose only real request was that we be told where to stand and that everyone have fun! The day flowed so effortlessly - thanks to Kristen and the amazing staff - which is what I believe all couples are in search of!
On top of the amazing service, the beautiful venue and the amazing staff, the food was absolutely PHENOMENAL! Our guests are still raving about it.
One of my favorite things about planning our wedding at the Sanderling was the friends and family feel of it all. All of the preferred vendors know each other pretty well and work together all of the time, which makes the experience that much easier and more magical. We feel as if we were welcomed into this exclusive family and it's a one-of-a-kind experience we would not have gotten anywhere else!
We cannot thank Kristen and the amazing Sanderling team enough for putting together a wedding that far exceeded our expectations.
Arianna M
5.0
10/18/2019
I have always wanted a beach wedding and when my now-husband recommended the Outer Banks, I found the Sanderling Resort. We visited the resort and felt so welcomed by the wedding team. We went with the Event House elopement package, which included a beer canoe and s'mores by the firepit! Over the course of planning, our original Sanderling wedding planner left and Kristen Allen took over. Kristen was able to take over seamlessly and made sure that we had everything we wanted for the big day. We never had to worry because she made sure every detail was perfect! Even when we had to make some last minute changes to the reception due to the unusual amount of bugs outside, she kept us informed and relaxed for our special day. Surprisingly, the bugs stayed away that night and we could enjoy the outdoors and firepit! I couldn't imagine having our wedding anywhere else or with any other planner!
Amanda D
5.0
8/28/2019
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience with the Sanderling. Debbie was our wedding coordinator and made everything about our special day perfect. One of the best parts about using them as your venue is that it is a one-stop shop, so you never have to worry about running out of anything. Not to mention being able to get married on the beach and have a reception on the sound makes everything so beautiful and photogenic. Amazing food and wonderful staff made our special day perfect. Highly recommend.
Courtney J
5.0
8/26/2019
My husband and I got married at the Sanderling Resort in the Outer Banks in May, and we could not be happier with our venue. From the moment that we met Debbie, she was nothing short of amazing. She was there every step of the wedding planning journey to help us with all of our questions, and was wonderful to work with. The Sanderling is a stunning venue, and their entire staff was phenomenal throughout our wedding day and our entire stay. Our wedding day was seamless; Debbie made sure that everyone was where they needed to be, when they needed to be there, so that I could focus on our day and enjoy every moment! The Sanderling will always hold a special place in our hearts; without Debbie and her team, our dream wedding would not have been possible! Our family and friends still talk about how beautiful our ceremony and reception was, and how incredible all of the food was during the cocktail hour and dinner. Needless to say, we would highly recommend the Sanderling for your wedding day, or special event!
Rebecca G
5.0
8/26/2019
The Sanderling Resort was the BEST and dreamiest place to get married! We absolutely loved the staff and especially loved working with Debbie Norris as our wedding coordinator!! Debbie was always easy to reach, confident and organized in our planning, and focused on bringing the vision we had for our wedding day come to life. We could tell that Debbie and the Sanderling Resort have much experience serving couples and our experience with them could not have been better. We highly recommend Sanderling Resort for your East Coast wedding!
Mel K
5.0
8/18/2019
I can't thanks enough the Sanderling Resort staff to make our most important day a great one. But most of all, Kristen Allen, our wedding planner. Kristen you were an absolutely amazing wedding planner! You were professional, poised and gracious at all times. Thank you so much for being there for me from start to finish, being so patient with me, and putting up with my worries phone calls, questions and last-minute changes. Our wedding was beautiful and perfect. It was the day we had always dreamed of. The flowers, decorations, the cake, and the reception were stunningly gorgeous. Thanks to you, Kris and I were able to fully enjoy our wedding day without a worry in the world! Please do not hesitate to use us as a reference for other brides and grooms looking for a wonderful wedding planner for their special day
Cathy S
5.0
7/23/2019
We met in Nags Head back in 1974 and knew we wanted to get married there, but did not know where to begin to find the perfect place for our wedding. We decided to pick an elopement package at the Sanderling Resort in Duck NC and what a beautiful wedding we had! I would do it all over again if I could! Our guests are still talking about it. The Sanderling did not miss a beat! Our event planner Kristin Allen was so amazing and so professional. She helped us with every step of the planning, the vendor selections, the food, the beverages, the music, even down to bustling my dress before the reception. As the bride, she was my right hand and everything went as planned that day...on time...she did not miss a beat! We could not have been more pleased. The meal was absolutely delicious and every detail was in place. The staff was so professional and made all our guests feel welcomed. From the time all our guests checked in to the time they left it was a great experience. We cannot say enough wonderful things about the Sanderling. If you are wondering if this would be a good venue for your wedding then look no further. The Sanderling made our day one we will never forget!
Joseph A
5.0
7/23/2019
While we weren't able to have our sons wedding at the Sanderling we did have our Rehearsal Dinner and Post Wedding Brunch there. Kimball's Kitchen was the spot we chose and what an outstanding spot it was. Although the weather wasn't what we would have liked for the Rehearsal Dinner (Mega storms) the atmosphere inside surely made up for the lack of a perfect sunset. The staff were incredible, moving around last minute changes for us. The service and food were outstanding to say the least. I have so many to thank but Kristen and the team really left a great impression on us all. We also had a Sunday brunch which was equally outstanding and all the invitee's loved it! If I have the opportunity to have my other son's wedding there I certainly wouldn't think twice about it! Joe Anzalone
Amanda A
5.0
5/28/2019
The Sanderling Resort was the perfect place. We planned our wedding from out of town and it was basically site unseen. Debbie was so helpful throughout the process that the event was absolutely seamless. We could not have picked a better place or had a better time! All of our guests fell in love with it too! Thank you for making our day so special!
Jessica C
5.0
1/21/2019
The Sanderling Resort was a beautiful venue for our Keeper's Loft Ceremony and Pavilion Reception. Davis is wonderful! The view was beautiful, and we couldn't have asked for a better night. It was a dream come true!
Blaire B
5.0
10/29/2018
As an event planner myself, I wanted to escape all of the craziness that can (sometimes) go along with a big wedding. Instead, we opted for an elopement at the Sanderling Resort. It was simply perfect!
The Sanderling had been on our radar for years, but since we lived out of state, we hadn't had the opportunity to visit the resort in person. In late June, we were in the area for another wedding and jumped on the opportunity to visit. As soon as we stepped on the property, we knew this was where we wanted to get married. Debbie took a last minute meeting request from us, squeezing us into her busy Sunday, but you would have never known. From the every beginning, Debbie made us feel special. She took all the time necessary to show us around the property and outline the available options. When we got home we started the virtual planning process with Debbie, which was a breeze thanks to her knowledge, responsiveness and attention to detail.
In the end, we have Debbie to thank for helping us pull off our special day. We wanted our day to be low key and the focus to be about spending this precious time with one another and our immediate families. Debbie totally got it! She made our dream wedding attainable, and we were able to get everything planned in less than two months. The Sanderling staff and accommodations were fabulous. All of our guests loved their mini vacation in the Outer Banks. We could not have asked for anything more!
Vanessa S
5.0
10/09/2018
Our wedding day was perfect, thanks to Debbie Norris, she absolutely know what she was doing, she knows exactly how to make a wedding perfect, she is a perfectinist and still make everything fun, from the rehearsal to the day of our wedding she was on top of things and she was very attentive.Sanderling Resort is a great place to have a wedding, our guest really love the venue and the accomodation. As for my wedding planning, Sanderling made everything so convenient by having a list of great vendors, from our photographer Ryan and Rachel, flowers amd decoration Shirly from Sugar Snaps, Cake/cupcake Carolina Cupcakery, dj Matt music masters, and Rev. Jay Bowman. I was able to plan ahead of time because of their vendor list, and everyone was easy to work with, they all made us feel comfortable and free of worries. The staff at sanderling was amazing, they were very professinal and made our guest feel welcome and comfortable with their stay and on our wedding day. If i have to do it again i would choose Sanderling Resort without a doubt. Thank you Sanderling Resort and staff
Nicole P
5.0
7/03/2018
There are not enough words to describe how perfect our wedding day was thanks to Davis Walker (our coordinator) and the team at Sanderling! We started our planning process over a year prior to our wedding day and Davis was so patient, honest and professional throughout. Once we were finally able to meet in person, we knew that we were able to trust her with everything! She infused so much fun into our planning process and made it stress-free. On our actual day, we didn't worry about a thing; she seamlessly worked with each of our vendors to ensure our day flowed well and our guests (and the two of us) were taken care of! We could not have chosen better. Thank you so much to Davis and the Sanderling! We will be back for our anniversaries!
Sarah S
5.0
6/28/2018
Very expensive, but if you can afford it well worth it! The food is AMAZING and Debbie, our wedding coordinator, was so helpful! She gave advice along the way such as what vendors to pick and made sure everything ran smoothly the day of. We knew we wanted a beach wedding, and having it at the Sanderling made planning so easy.
Kelsey F
5.0
6/04/2018
Davis Walker at the Sanderling Resort made our fairytale wedding into a reality. We had a 140-person wedding reception in the Pavilion and even with last-minute guest list changes, vendor adjustments, and skirting a thunderstorm, our day went off without a hitch. Throughout our planning year, Davis was available for any and all questions we had, helped us choose vendors, and guided us through all the many traditions and norms wedding planning entails. She really got to know us and our families and we felt special even though the Sanderling handles many weddings every single week. I couldn't have picked a better venue or coordinator if I had a billion-dollar budget!
Kayleigh S
5.0
6/04/2018
As soon as my husband and I visited the Sanderling Resort and met with Davis Walker, the catering sales manager and wedding coordinator, we knew it would be perfect for our small wedding. We chose the elopement package at the Event House deck and had our ceremony on the beach. With this package, Davis made everything very easy and contracted out our officiant, florist, and baker. Despite only having less than two months to plan everything, the day was absolutely flawless and this was all thanks to Davis and all of the amazing staff at the Sanderling Resort. We wanted an easy and low stress planning process at a beautiful location and I don't believe we would have gotten this anywhere else.
Peter L
5.0
3/03/2018
My wife and I are from Boston and booked the Sanderling site unseen. It was a huge roll of the dice for sure. We again rolled the dice when we decided to get married in September smack dab in the middle of hurricane season. Luckily we hit JACKPOT on both!
Debbie, our amazing wedding planner, put both my wife and me at immediate ease when we met her. She was/is amazing. Deb was there for us to answer any questions, give advice, and to calm the two of us down. I cannot thank her enough. Deb made sure our special day was WAY more than the two of us could have ever dreamed. Deb's only downside was that she was not a Patriots fan ;).
Sanderling is the most amazing place to get married and the food and service are second to none. If you are thinking about getting married on the Outer Banks Sanderling is the only way to go! And if you are lucky enough to have Deb as your wedding planner, trust you're in the best hands on the island.
katie m
5.0
12/19/2017
Our wedding day was amazing. My wedding planner, Debbie, allowed for a stress free day and is a true professional. She was a pleasure to work with and knows the venue inside out. The venue is stunning, especially the sunset on the pavillion deck. Food was delicious and there were so many options. If you want a stress free, beautiful, laid-back beach wedding, The Sanderling is your venue!
Jennifer S
5.0
12/13/2017
We had our small wedding at the Sanderling Resort on a Thursday evening booking their elopement package for the event house. We worked with Debbie as our wedding coordinator and can not say enough good things about her! We were planning from far away for this destination wedding and she made everything so easy on us. We had our perfect wedding because she was there to help us make it happen. She made sure to keep any stress should could off of us, which I really appreciated.
Our ceremony was on the upper deck over looking the ocean, which was perfect for our 37 guests to all fit on top of together. The cocktail hour and reception were outside of the event house. I loved this space because we had so many different areas for our guests to enjoy themselves. We had a dance floor, fire pit with s'mores, cornhole, large jenga, and a bar with beer canoe.
Having a destination wedding has its challenges, but the Sanderling Resort made it very easy for us. Our guests had the most amazing time and we had the wedding we dreamed of. We can't wait to spend anniversaries at the Sanderling!
Betty B
5.0
10/31/2017
The Sanderling was the perfect venue for our daughter's wedding. Davis Walker (our wedding coordinator) and the entire staff were thorough, professional and a pleasure to work with. Davis' listened to all of our thoughts and provided wonderful advice. All of our guests had an amazing time and have not stopped raving about the food. We cannot recommend the Sanderling enough
Casey P
5.0
10/22/2017
The Sanderling was the perfect setting for our destination wedding in September. Davis pulled together every detail and the day was above and beyond every expectation!! Our guests are still talking about how wonderful the food and desserts were.
Jamey J
5.0
10/18/2017
Sanderling was absolutely beautiful. Everyone is so nice and friendly there. My wedding was everything and more. Debbie was amazing. She got us through the day stress free. I can’t wait to go back!
Jocalyn L
5.0
3/08/2017
This was not my dream wedding. IT WAS BETTER. The Sanderling Resort, but mainly their wedding planner TAYLOR CERWIN, gave me a wonderful stress free wedding THAT HAPPENED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HURRICANE. That's right folks A HURRICANE (or tropical storm but whatever) and I would not have changed a thing! It was the most perfect and thrilling life experience I could ever ask for. If it is within your means, DO NOT WAIT, book the Sanderling for your wedding. Rain or Shine, they know how to throw one hell of a party.
Kellie L
5.0
2/02/2017
The Sanderling Resort goes above and beyond on everything. From the moment we toured the venue, we knew this was the place to get married. Everyone is incredibly friendly, courteous, and knowledgable. With its views of the Sound and the Ocean, you cannot get a better location. Before our wedding, I would have written a 5-star review about the Sanderling and gush about its impressive qualities. However, it's what happened during our wedding that has made me a life-long loyal guest. We got married during Hurricane Matthew. The week leading up to the wedding was tortuous as we awaited what would happen to the wedding we had planned for two-and-a-half years. It was excruciating. Yet, Taylor and the Sanderling staff never wavered in their positivity. We knew we were in extremely capable hands. The wedding was beautiful and everything went smoothly, even if the plans abruptly changed. The Sanderling knows what it's doing. You can trust them and let them take the lead--even during a Hurricane.
Erika P
5.0
1/17/2017
Debbie Norris and the Sanderling were fantastic. They were incredibly helpful and professional from start to finish. Everything we envisioned and requested came to reality on the big day with no issues. The food provided was so delicious...all of our guests raved over it. Many of our guests stayed at the resort over the weekend and could not get over how nice it was. I would definitely recommend The Sanderling as a wedding venue and we plan to go back to stay for a few nights again as soon as possible.
Mallory M
5.0
12/08/2016
The Sanderling Resort and Debbie (wedding/event planner at the resort) did a wonderful job with my wedding. I wanted my experience to be stress free and thats exactly what it was!! The resort is very beautiful and perfect for an Outer Banks beach wedding. The elopement package that I chose was perfect for the small, intimate wedding I was wanting. The vendors for my cake, flowers, and decor that I was set up did a wonderful job and were able to match my vision. The food provided for my wedding by the resort was also very good. Overall I had a great experience and highly recommend choosing the Sanderling!
Alyssa C
5.0
12/07/2016
The Sanderling Resort: the PERFECT spot to get married. Period. As if the beauty of the OBX isn't already enough, you get the best of both worlds as the property encompasses both the beach AND sound sides of the island. We had two events hosted at the Sanderling: our rehearsal dinner and wedding (including ceremony & reception). The venue alone is a lovely backdrop with gorgeous facilities and well equipped to handle anything you could possibly dream of- but you also get INCREDIBLE people. Our wedding planner, Taylor, was absolutely fabulous. She made wedding planning a breeze and during crunch time the week before the wedding with many unplanned obstacles she kept her cool- or rather the cool of everybody-and solved every little issue that came up- with a calming smile on her face. Taylor not only excelled at the more expected wedding planner roles, but she went way above and beyond with her thoughtfulness and attention to detail. Her thoughtfulness helped create a very touching moment between me and my godfather at the rehearsal dinner. The day of the wedding we had a delay with the transportation and she quickly addressed the issue and the ceremony still started almost exactly on time and the rest of the evening went off without a hitch. At a meeting with Taylor a couple months before the wedding she assured me I would be able to eat, drink and dance at my own wedding. Admittedly, I was a little doubtful as I had so many warnings from other brides that you just don't have time between visiting with guests and performing all the wedding "duties" i.e. cake cutting etc. Well, I did ALL of those things to my heart's desire as Taylor as created a seamless timeline that allowed my husband and I to literally have the night of our lives. There isn't near enough space here to describe all the wonderful things about the Sanderling- but everything: the place, the STAFF (best bartenders, waiters & support staff ever!!), the food (THANKS CHEF!!)... all top notch!
Siobhan M
5.0
11/16/2016
The Sanderling is gorgeous and hands-down the best place on the Outer Banks to have your wedding reception - Debbie is a powerhouse who just gets things DONE and she does an expert job of taking care of the bride the entire time - even when we experienced a major family crisis the day before the wedding, Debbie was there to make sure I was doing alright, and everything still went off without a hitch! You can't beat the food, and the sunsets are absolutely breathtaking. Would give it 6 stars if I could!!
Molly E
5.0
11/10/2016
I cannot even begin to describe our AMAZING experience with the Sanderling Resort. My husband and I were married there in late September of 2016 (beautiful time of year down there by the way!) and the entire process could not have been more special, more well-organized, or more thoughtful. From the beginning, our wedding coordinator Taylor (and her assistant Kristin) was so incredibly helpful and accessible. She was SUPER responsive to every phone call, email, or general question and always had time to chat and offer creative input with a positive attitude.
The facility itself is GORGEOUS! We were married on the North Beach (toes in the sand and everything) and then had our cocktail hour and reception in the Event House/Deck. It was the perfect amount of space for us-we had about 70 people and we comfortably filled the Event House dining space. The banquet staff and bartender were lovely and the food was phenomenal!! I've never heard so many compliments at a wedding about the food!
One of the best things we did was offer our guests a signature cocktail as they came down to the ceremony and the resort was completely accommodating with helping us do that. I recommend planning a sort of "after-party" for your wedding guests since everything at the resort pretty much shuts down around 10pm (due to a sound ordinance). We reserved space at the No. 5 Bar & Lounge above the Lifesaving Station right on the property and it stayed open till about 2am.....definitely a great post-game spot for the true night owls!
I really can't say enough about the Sanderling. My family and I have gone there throughout the years and have always loved it but now it holds an even more special place in our hearts! Please seriously consider the resort as a wedding venue location in the Outer Banks. And if you have the pleasure of working with Taylor, then your experience will be that much more wonderful. :)
Allie Y
5.0
11/05/2016
Working with the Sanderling made planning a destination wedding a breeze. I work in the industry and knew this venue would live up to my high expectations while taking great care of me and my guests. My mother and my bridesmaids raved about how stress free the weekend was for them and I owe a lot of that to Taylor and her awesome team. She was open to any of my suggestions and made the planning process and weekend of so smooth. If you're looking at the Outer Banks, you already know the location is gorgeous. You choose Sanderling because of the excellent service, great food, and fabulous sunsets.
5.0
10/28/2016
We hosted our rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the Sanderling Resort and we could not be more satisfied with the quality of service we received. The Sanderling is a beautiful resort and their staff is nothing short of phenomenal. We had the pleasure of working with their event coordinator, Taylor, who made every aspect of our event flow seamlessly. There is no one else who we would rather have collaborated with in planning our special day. The entire Sanderling staff goes so far beyond to ensure that your entire party has the best experience in every aspect of their stay. If we started listing examples, this review would never end. Our guests loved that the resort had everything that they needed in one convenient location, rooms, pool, beach, spa, gym, and several restaurants. Many of our guests were first time visitors to the Outer Banks and due to their experience at the Sanderling we have been told by many, that it will not be their last.
Jodi S
5.0
10/25/2016
Debbie Norris (wedding coordinator) and the staff of The Sanderling Resort were incredible during planning as well as the actual events associated with my daughter's dream wedding. They worked diligently throughout, were an absolute pleasure to deal with, and, quite honestly, worked miracles making her beach wedding happen in spite of Hurricane Matthew! It was an amazing experience. Family and friends are still talking about how wonderful The Sanderling Resort is, and how this wedding was the best one ever attended. I wouldn't change a thing. Best memories ever...
Abigail S
5.0
10/24/2016
From the beginning, Debbie Norris and the Sanderling were exceptional. I attended the Sanderling Wedding Showcase and first met Debbie and other vendors there, and even though she was one of the busiest people present, she took out time to sit with me and talk about my wedding vision and how we would achieve it. I hadn't visited any other venues, and I no longer wanted to. I was completely sold! Professional, detail-oritented, kind, caring, organized...they were the whole package and more. She consistently remained in contact with me, and I still felt comfortable being 8 hours away from our venue. She and others were extremely patient with my indecisiveness and weekly questions, which she answered quickly. Her ability to talk me through each stage of the wedding process and especially all of words of encouragement on the day of my wedding and before I walked down the aisle will always be remembered. Initially my parents felt some sticker-shock, but on the day-of and once everything was complete, they were over the moon with happiness of how everything (every single thing imaginable) was taken care of with such grace, knowledge, and preciseness, and we wouldn't have changed a thing. My mother continues to comment on what a blessing it was to have her as a wedding coordinator, and that the level they work at is unmatched. It truly is amazing what she and her Sanderling team accomplishes, and I highly recommend them as a venue for any celebration or wedding. THE absolute best!!
Rebecca E
5.0
10/24/2016
We had an amazing wedding at The Sanderling Resort. Our wedding planned Debbie and her team did such a good job of taking care of all of the details and making the day run so smoothly, while letting us create a unique wedding that really felt personal to us that reflected our personalities. The resort and location are beautiful and elegant, but still relaxed. Working with a venue that had an on-site caterer made the planning process simple, and the food was outstanding. We did a Mexican themed rehearsal dinner and a modern Southern-themed wedding dinner, both menus were delicious (and we're picky about opinionated about food) and personalized for us. All of the recommended vendors we worked with were fantastic from Renee Landry Events, to Great Cakes and Club Violin. We loved having all of our guests and all of the wedding events (rehearsal dinner, wedding, brunch) at the same place. It made everything easy and maximized our time with our friends and family. I can't recommend The Sanderling highly enough.
Stacey P
5.0
10/20/2016
It's not very often that something exceeds expectations like the Sanderling did. My new husband and I live in Oregon, but were looking to have our wedding on the East Coast closer to family. He had lived in the Outer Banks years ago and suggested the location. We booked the venue before I had a chance to visit. Months later at their annual wedding showcase, I was blown away by the beauty of the resort, friendly staff, and delicious food! Once we got to planning, Debbie Norris was the best! She was so patient and responsive to all of our e-mails, even responding once when she was boarding a plane. I'm convinced she doesn't take time off and is always working hard for her couples! The planning process couldn’t have gone more smoothly, especially from across the country. On our wedding day, everything was beyond perfect. We had dropped some things off at the venue with the intent to set up, but Debbie took care of it all! Everything looked better than we could have imagined. If we could plan the wedding over (and I wish we could), we wouldn't do one thing differently. We are so thankful for Debbie and the Sanderling team! We can't wait to make more memories there in the future!
5.0
10/20/2016
We were looking for a destination wedding venue for family located all over the US. We found Sanderling Resort, read the reviews and then had a call with Debbie Norris who is the Special Event Manager. From that first call, Debbie was straightforward, honest and was willing to work with my daughter to make this the special day she dreamed about. We booked the date and venue and this became the most wonderful, least stressful wedding on the planet. Debbie worked with Tracy to select colors, menu, etc. Once the details were finalized, there was little else to plan for other than selecting home rentals at Duck for the various families attending the wedding. Wedding Day dawned with rain blowing sideways and a chill in the air even though it was June. Debbie called first thing in the morning and walked us through 3 different game plans, depending on what the weather continued to do. Luckily, Tracy and Chris were able to be married on the beach, with blue sky and sunlight in the late afternoon. On to the reception, which was outstanding on every level. The hors d'oerves were excellent as was every aspect of the meal. The wedding cake was perfect for a beach wedding and Debbie added a lot of wonderful touches to the decorations, flowers, etc. We enjoyed sitting outside listening to the ocean and later enjoyed a bon fire with after dinner drinks. It was a magical evening for everyone who came to celebrate with us. And, while our wedding group was on the smaller side, Debbie and all the Sanderling staff made us feel like we were the most important wedding they'd ever done. I can't recommend Debbie Norris, the Sanderling staff and the venue enough if you are looking for a top notch wedding location and experience that is still on the more reasonable side.
Emily O
5.0
10/18/2016
My husband and I had our dream wedding at The Sanderling. Throughout the planning process the Sanderling was a dream to work with.
We started planning about a year in advance, and I was warned by just about everyone I talked to that plenty of things would go wrong on my wedding day and I'd just have to take that in stride. As a bit of a perfectionist, that was a hard pill to swallow and I kept preparing myself for things to go wrong but the magic of working with the Sanderling is that they never did.
I worked with an amazing planner on staff there. Debbie was an absolute dream. Whenever I had a question, she had a quick response with an answer. She's worked with so many vendors on the island, so she's established relationships with every single one of them. This helps a ton in the final days when everything is coming together. The staff at the Sanderling is truly professional, and they will take care of your friends and family as if they are your own. Debbie's enthusiasm for my wedding was genuine and helped me feel even more enthusiastic about my big day (even when I was a ball of nerves!)
I would highly recommend attending their wedding showcase, which they put on for all couples getting married at the Sanderling. Not only will it give you a sense of the quality of service and food (which was MINDBLOWINGLY DELICIOUS) but it gives you a sense of how that would work for a wedding of 100+ people. I think we were all sold when we realized that the food didn't taste like bland wedding food, it was restaurant quality and a nice restaurant at that!
For our wedding, we opted for stations - which gave our guests the choice of mixing and matching their own selections. The food at our wedding received rave reviews (and yes, even as the bride and groom we got to eat - our coordinator made sure of that).
The venue itself is one of a kind. The pavilion is the perfect space to transform into your dream venue, it's a big open room with a beautiful view of the Currituck sound. You can be married on the beach, showcasing the beautiful Atlantic ocean, and have your guests see the sunset during dinner over on the sound side in the pavilion. I think every single one of our guests marveled at the sunset the night of our wedding. Plus, the Sanderling has so many touches they are willing to add to make your big day that much more special. I think my husband had some reservations about essentially having our wedding and reception at a hotel, but the Sanderling never felt like a hotel. It felt more like a home for our closest friends and family. I would highly, highly recommend the Sanderling to anyone who is considering having a wedding on the Outer Banks - or just getting married period. You won't regret it!
My only regret is that our wedding is over!
Shelley H
5.0
10/11/2016
The Sanderling did an amazing job with our wedding! Debbie was a dream to work with and knew exactly what we wanted. I felt like I just had to walk into that day without a worry or concern and I was able to enjoy myself Everything was flawlessly taken care of. My husband and I can't stop talking about how perfect everything was. We also loved our bartender from the Rehearsal Dinner at Keeper's Loft to the reception at the Event Deck/House. Thanks again to the Sanderling and most importantly to Debbie!!
Kimberly S
5.0
7/17/2016
Debbie @ Sanderling made the day absolutely perfect. She was keenly aware of the weather and flawlessly executed a day-of change in ceremony & reception locations. She pushed to get our ceremony outdoors and the weather was perfect and the views were stunning. More importantly, even, the entire resort staff was super friendly and accomodating. Miguel helped us with our bags at check-in and check-out, and he even remembered we'd been married th day prior and congratulated us! The little things were all there and the entire weekend was spectacular. 10/10 would recommend to any bride whose heart is set on getting married at the beach.
Shelby B
5.0
5/24/2016
This was the best venue for a beach wedding! It's beautiful and the staff is so incredibly helpful and sweet! They worked so hard to make my wedding truly magical and I could not thank them enough!
sarah b
5.0
5/19/2016
I had such an amazing experience using the Sanderling as my wedding venue. I never write reviews but felt compelled to after the extraordinary service we had. Taylor, our planner through the Sanderling, handled everything flawlessly from start to finish. With only 2 months to plan, she helped us navigate the wedding planning and made it stress-free. I never realized the importance behind having someone help the day run smoothly until Taylor did just that. The Sanderling was also like no other; peaceful and serene. Our suite had ocean to sound views and they went above and beyond to fulfill every request. I couldn't have imagined a better wedding/resort experience and can't wait to come back for our one-year anniversary. Thank you Taylor & The Sanderling! -Sarah & Max
Liam K
5.0
2/23/2016
The Sanderling Resort gave us a dream wedding and was enjoyed by our out-of-town guests. It's a perfect location and delivers exceptional service. Upon checking in we were immediately greeted by name and given the VIP treatment. The ceremony was perfect and picturesque, and the reception was first class. The food and service was outstanding and our guests went wild for the Bacon Bar. If you are looking to plan an OBX wedding, get in touch with Debbie Norris. She made life easy on us and was with us from planning through the ceremony and until the last guest left the reception. Her recommendations for vendors were exceptional. Being out-of-towners we could not have pulled off our incredible wedding day without Debbie.
5.0
10/25/2015
Debbie Norris and her staff provided an exceptional experience from start to finish! Weather your from out of state like us or local, the Sanderling Resort provides the support and professionalism for a perfect wedding. We strongly encourage everyone to expirence the wonderful staff and beautiful accommodation of the Sandling Resort!!!!
Allison C
5.0
10/11/2015
The Sanderling is the most beautiful place to get married!, The staff is very professional and inviting from the second you get out of your car to the front, desk, restaurants, house cleaning Etc. Debbie Norris was our coordinator and Taylor her assistant. They both went over and beyond to make sure we had the perfect wedding. Debbie is very experienced in her profession and we felt very comfortable with her making any decisions, changes that were in our best interest. Debbie works very well with other vendors, keeping them updated with changes, itineraries etc. We love that she is a risk taker and allowed us to get married outside when weather was in question, and most all made it possible for our two dogs to be a part of our wedding! I am one with a type A personality and likes to be in control, and for one of the first times in my life had no reservation with her taking the lead. For any future brides looking for a magical place...this is a sure thing and any bride would be lucky to have Debbie make it all so to the best of her ability!
Jennifer G
5.0
10/02/2015
Our wedding was less than two weeks ago and we cannot help but dream of being back at the Sanderling. The Outer Banks is a gorgeous backdrop, but the Sanderling elevated our wedding, creating an incredible weekend that we will always cherish and remember fondly. Without a doubt, the Sanderling is the premier wedding venue on the Outer Banks. There are many stunning ceremony and reception locations within the resort, highlighting both the ocean and the sound. For our events, we utilized the Event House, the Event Lawn, and the Pavilion. With each unique setting, we were able to experience a distinctive ambiance.
We became engaged at the Sanderling and we have stayed at the resort a number of times, so it was exciting to see friendly and familiar faces as we checked in for our wedding week. When Staci, our beloved bartender greeted us with warm hugs, it felt like we were being welcomed home! The Sanderling staff is exceptional. From the front desk and valet staff to the housekeepers, everyone we encountered warmly welcomed and congratulated us.
We were so excited to share our love of the Sanderling with our family and friends. The resort exceeded their expectations and many guests have reached out to us to say that it was the best wedding they have ever attended. Many guests have expressed that the food was outstanding, some of the best dishes they have ever tasted! The Sanderling's facilities and dining options are top-notch and the beach speaks for itself. Our family and friends fell in love with the resort’s casual, yet elegant ambiance and many plan to return for vacation!
We feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with Alicia, our event coordinator; she is absolutely phenomenal. Alicia was incredibly patient throughout the year, answering our questions, directly answering the questions of family members, securing the most accessible guest room for my handicapped grandmother, the list goes on, but most importantly she calmed our nerves. With our hectic and unpredictable work schedules, it was easy for us to overlook dozens of details, which Alicia was consistently on top of. With Alicia at the helm, we were able to relax and enjoy the days leading up to our wedding, fully confident that she would pull off a spectacular event. We both appreciate and we will never forget the composure Alicia and Taylor brought to us on our wedding day! Our day was truly magical thanks to Alicia, Taylor, and Staci, along with the rest of the Sanderling staff.
It was difficult to leave the Sanderling after an amazing week, but we know we will be back many times to create memories as a married couple!
Sara B
4.0
8/18/2015
Best venue in the northern outerbanks!
5.0
8/06/2015
We loved Alicia and her team! She made our special day stress free. The resort was a perfect location for our wedding. We highly recommend having your wedding at the Sanderling!
Megan C
5.0
6/05/2015
I cannot say enough about The Sanderling and Alicia Tonione making our wedding perfect. Alicia is incredible, she thinks of everything, and is a thoughtful and kind person. The Sanderling is beautiful, easy to work with, and does most of the work for you. I spent my wedding day getting ready, spending time with family, and getting married! - not worrying about a thing when it came to the details of the day. The staff really took care of us, our wedding party, and all of our guests. We got really lucky with amazing weather - had the ceremony on the beach, the cocktail hour on the event lawn, then the reception in the pavillon soundside. The food was incredible and we are still getting comments about it from guests. It was a perfect day and we could not have asked for more!
Katie M
5.0
5/31/2015
Before my now-husband and I were engaged, I shared with him that my dream was to be married at the Sanderling - my family has been vacationing in the Outer Banks for 25 years, and I could imagine nothing better than sharing my (and now, his) favorite place in the world with the people who mean the most to us. When we looked for wedding locations in OBX, there was absolutely no contest - the Sanderling is the best spot there is. What makes the resort the best option is not just its convenience (all of our guests in one amazing resort), its beautiful event locations (the pavilion and the event lawn are breathtaking), or its superior quality. The best part about getting married at the Sanderling was our amazing wedding planner, Debbie Norris. From our very first meeting, we knew that we needed to work with Debbie - she has a great sense of humor, she is incredibly organized, she knows the vendors and easily matches them to her couples, and (most importantly) she genuinely cares about the couples she works with. We spent many emails, phone calls, and in-person meetings planning our wedding with Debbie, and not only did she make us her priority, but she made it seem like we were her main priority (even when we knew she had many other couples she was working with).
On the day of our wedding, we were blessed with perfect weather (70 and sunny) and the day was absolutely flawless, thanks to Debbie, her assistant Taylor, and the awesome staff at the Sanderling. Debbie calmly kept us on schedule but also made sure that we were having a great time! The food was phenomenal (our guests are still raving about it!), the bartenders were great, and everyone is still telling us what a wonderful time they had.
If you are considering a wedding at the Outer Banks, the Sanderling is your place! We cannot recommend it highly enough.
Michael H
5.0
12/04/2014
Perhaps the reason it has taken so long to post this well-deserved review is that it's difficult to find words to express how happy we are to have had our wedding at The Sanderling Resort.
From the first phone call to check dates to follow-up emails with our Sanderling wedding coordinator, Wendy and The Sanderling team exceeded every expectation in every possible way. They delivered. The entire team was professional, responsible, responsive, detail oriented, and provided exceptional customer-service at every point of contact.
While it would be easy to write on and on about how impressed we were with The Sanderling, I'll share a few highlights that capture how they made our special day so special.
1) Wendy Murray. This woman is incredible. We feel incredibly lucky to have had her work with us as our Sanderling point-of-contact. Her attention to detail, masterful problem solving skills (though these truly were few and far between - things like the wine distributor having a last minute issue procuring the special wine we had wanted), and effective communication skills made it a joy to work with Wendy. Our family worked with her to plan a farewell brunch at the hotel and had a similarly wonderful experience.
2) It felt like everyone at the Sanderling cared deeply and personally about the success of our wedding. This was evident in interactions with everyone from front desk staff to the catering/serving team. A particularly memorable interaction happened the day after the wedding, when, on our way back to our room, met two members of the housekeeping staff in the hallway. They stopped us, congratulated, and even commented on how they had heard it was such a wonderful event and were sad that their shifts didn’t include time to see the actual event.
3) The food was delicious. Every course, from the passed appetizers at the cocktail hour to the chicken 'n waffles at the after party, was perfect. One guest commented 'It was not only the best catered meal i've ever had, it was one of the best meals of my life!' I couldn't agree more. Chef Jeff and his team are pros. I can't conceive a future trip to the Outer Banks that won't include a meal at The Sanderling.
4) Our guests continue to rave about the magical place known as The Sanderling. We are a couple from California - most of our guests had never been to the Outer Banks, let alone to the Sanderling. “I felt instantly relaxed,” “It was painfully sad that I had check-out,” and “Do you think I can live at The Sanderling?,” are among the many rave comments our guests have shared with us.
In wrapping up, I think it's important to note that while at first we were surprised by the cost a Sanderling wedding, both my husband and I agree that it was worth every penny... quite simply, we feel like they delivered the dream wedding.
On the day after our wedding we learned that our wedding was The Sanderling's first same sex wedding ever. They were so wonderful and treated us so well... they deserve many, many more.
Kirsten M
5.0
11/04/2014
My husband and I visited practically every location on the Outer Banks to get married, and after each one I said "this one is nice, but the Sanderling was my dream wedding location." This was my mantra through the whole wedding process.
Debbie (our coordinator) was fabulous. Everything you need to think about, she has already thought about it and figured it out for you. Planning a wedding is stressful, planning a destination wedding is even more so, but with Debbie at the helm you have nothing to fear.
The Sanderling transformed our day into something that could have been out of a magazine. Our guests left saying our wedding was the best they had ever been to (including their own).
We were lucky enough to have the most perfect weather you could possibly have for a wedding. We got married on the observation deck overlooking the ocean (all the same sounds without the sand), but even if the weather was crappy, we had an awesome back-up plan (the Event House or the Pavilion).
Keep in mind, you get what you pay for. Although the Sanderling is on the pricier side of things, it is the only place in the Outer Banks where you get the best of both worlds, ceremony on the ocean and reception overlooking the sound. The back-up plan is worth the extra money in itself. Compared to some of the "nice" hotels in the DC area we looked into, the Sanderling was less expensive and much, much nicer. Also, the food was to die for.
If you are looking for the best place to get married, look no further than the Sanderling.
Becky P
5.0
10/10/2014
Our wedding at the Sanderling was wonderful. Despite the fact that it poured rain prior to the ceremony, we were able to get married out on the beach and the view was awesome! The pavilion was also perfect for the reception.
Nelly M
5.0
10/10/2014
The Sanderling is a wonderful venue in an absolutely stunning location - the Northern Outer Banks! Our wedding day was everything we could have hoped for and more. Debbie, our co-ordinator, managed to organise everything we wished for, from the ceremony on the beach, to dinner and drinks by the bay and a party in the charming Life-saving Station! All of our requests were taken into account and met with a can-do attitude. Debbie even helped fix one of our speakers' picture slide show format during cocktail hour!
And even without rehearsing, everything went exactly as we wanted! All the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful and was always smiling. We love this place and will definitely be back!
Kristin B
5.0
10/07/2014
Alicia and the staff at The Sanderling did an amazing job for our wedding. Alica was great to work with through the entire process and was a great help with everything! We were planning our wedding from another state so without her I don't know how we would have planned anything at all!
The ceremony on the beach was beautiful and our reception was great and all the food was amazing!
It was a really beautiful day and I feel 100% confident recommending this resort to other brides who are looking to get married on a beautiful beach in the Outer Banks!
5.0
9/23/2014
I was asked to step in and help with my sons beach wedding plans at the Sanderling with six weeks left to the big day and deadlines looming. From my first phone call to Alicia Tonione our Event Coordinator at the Sanderling I knew I was in good hands. Every time I called her panicked with another question (which was usually more than once a day) she immediately put me at ease. She led me through the process with patience and professionalism. From the moment we arrived at the Sanderling the day before the wedding till the last guest left the wedding reception Alicia and her assistant were right there doing everything necessary to ensure that everything went off without a hitch. The vendors we used through the Sanderling were also incredible. Marsha at Great Cakes provided an incredible wedding cake and didn't bat an eye when we needed a cake topper at the last minute. And especially Shirley Cook of Sugar Snap Events who did the flowers and wedding decorations for us and who also patiently endured endless phone calls from me. The end result was a beautiful wedding with a happy bride and groom.
5.0
8/20/2014
I can't say enough how wonderful our Sanderling wedding was! My now husband and I decided to go for an elopement package and expedite our plans when we learned he would soon be deploying with the Army National Guard. Alicia and her team were amazing and so helpful since I had no idea what I was doing and not a lot of time to figure it out.
All of the vendors we booked through Sanderling -- Sugar Snap Events, Rev. Jay Bowman -- were fantastic as well! Everyone in attendance had a wonderful time and continuously said so! There is not one thing I would have changed.
The thing I wouldn't recommend is the spa. I got a gel main, a pedi and an updo and my husband got a massage. None of the services were great (the woman who did my hair was so nice and did a great job considering I have very thin hair and told her "just do whatever!") but you can get better results for less money elsewhere.
The resort, staff and amenities are bar none. I highly, highly recommend Sanderling. We will definitely be back to celebrate our anniversary and hope to make it a tradition!
Brenna M
1.0
8/11/2014
My sister had a wedding there recently in which Debbie, the wedding coordinator was in charge of. We decided not to go with the $2000 cake that the Sanderling wanted us to spend, so my sister went to a baker elsewhere that was more affordable. The night of the wedding, I had noticed the cake was not served. I asked many servers who told me it was coming. Twenty minutes before the night was over the cake was not served and I heard through another guest that when they asked the kitchen, a server had told them that "the cake could not be served because it was not up to the Sanderling's Standards". Debbie and the kitchen staff made the decision not to serve the cake without speaking to anyone in the family. Right before the wedding ended, I was told the same comment by a server and demanded to speak to Debbie, who for the whole night was nowhere to be found . Instead I spoke to her assistant who told us the cake was "chemical tasting" and they did not want to serve it. At this point in the night it was too late anyways. Either way, the next day we found out that the bride/groom and twenty other people had the cake and loved it. The bakers baked four other cakes that day to which everyone loved at those weddings. The Sanderling never asked anyone who paid for the cake to pull it. It was not their decision. My family is now out $800. The Sanderling is refusing to budge. Debbie also dropped the ball on many other things that night. She hid a flip flop basket under the guest table the whole night that the guests were going to use for dancing and also told us she would have the bridal suite cleaned by the time they came up, which never happened. The Sanderling is not worth the money to have a wedding there and Debbie does not do her job the way she should for a bride on a special day.
response 08/13/2014
The Sanderling has a preferred vendor list based on experience with vendors. We do not req...
uire a couple to contract with one of these vendors. In this particular case, there were multiple people including the banquet manager, executive chef and banquet chef who also felt the cake was not suitable to be served from a liability standpoint. The banquet manager and Debbie both spoke to a family member the night of the event regarding this. (Debbie did go to her office to try to contact the baker which was the reason for her absence) The other items were timeline items - flip flops to be brought out when dancing begun and bridal suite tidying when gifts and other items brought up at the end of the evening prior to the afterparty- and were not forgotten. The Sanderling loved working with this couple and regrets that the cake experience happened. The Sanderling stands behind the decision not to serve the cake and has worked directly with with the FOB to come to a solution.
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