Why 'Little' Washington is the perfect place to say 'I do'

Your wedding album tells the story of the day you proclaimed your love for your significant other and celebrated with all of your family and friends. Flipping through the photo album (or scrolling through Instagram), you may reminisce about the inside of the church where you exchanged vows, the wedding party, the outside gardens, and decadent desserts that guests enjoyed.

Wedding albums from nuptials in Washington, North Carolina, often depict waterfront walkways and gazebos adjacent to the pier. The historic inns, gardens and quaint homes give this charming town a storybook feel that's the perfect backdrop for a wedding.

Washington, a welcoming community that loves to host weddings, is located on the Pamlico River on the Inner Banks of North Carolina. And just 15 miles east in Beaufort County is Bath, the home of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the oldest surviving church building in the state

Need pastries for a wedding breakfast? Glisson noted that local bakeries proudly prepare "bridal boxes of yummy pastries and croissants."

Additionally, Washington's upscale wine shops, local eateries serving blue crab specials and excellent dining spots like the Bank Bistro, where the liquor is held in a bank vault, or The Hackney, that has its own gin distillery next door, make for festive celebration locations.

Glisson recalled a memorable wedding in which a couple went all out with vibrant colors that adorned the local Civic Center, a venue that can accommodate small to large weddings. Glisson contrasted that to a wedding with another couple who decorated a historic inn with gorgeous white flowers, brass candles and beautiful crystal that resulted in a simple, elegant wedding.

A new addition to Washington, the Mulberry House is part-brewery, part-restaurant and part-hotel — and the perfect addition to the city's many wedding venues. While the boutique hotel isn't completely finished, it's slated to be done by late spring or early summer of 2022.

"It's close to RTP, easy to travel in and out of and offers water access to the ocean. We saw the potential of growth. The vision of Mayor Mac Hodges at the time was to make it a wedding destination, revive downtown and make it alive. I've tried to fulfill his vision," said Mohamed Darar. "It has a history, it's on the waterfront, it's full of artists from all over — it has the potential to be similar to be the Inner Banks version of Asheville."

Darar sees The Mulberry House as a crucial component in Washington's future.

"I'm not envisioning the Washington of today — I'm envisioning the Washington of 2050. I heard plenty of people say that a small town will not sustain growth, but I put my money where my mouth is," said Darar. "I've recruited professionals from Michelin restaurants in Manhattan, branding managers, a world-renowned chef and a sous chef from L.A. We're really creating a destination restaurant and brewery and unique event venue."

The Mulberry House is decorated with art from local artists, which Darar offers for sale with zero commission. For him, everything he does is about increasing Washington's visibility, success and energy — and the view from The Mullberry House's rooftop bar is the perfect illustration of just how much the town has to offer.

Aside from The Mulberry House, Washington Civic Center venue manager ReAnne Mayo emphasized that Washington has a whole host of additional wedding venues, whatever your taste may be.

The Washington Civic Center, for example, is a short walk from the Pamlico River and can host 500 guests in its grand ballroom. If you're looking for a countryside setting, Fox Hollow Farm, located on a 70-acre farm, accommodates 300 people. For wedding backdrops, Mayo suggested the gazebos on the beautiful grounds of Festival Park overlooking the Pamlico River or the sunset vistas on Stewart Parkway, a 150-foot walkway along the river.

Additionally, Washington has many historic venues, including the Elmwood 1820 Bed and Breakfast Inn. The inn has a 200-year history and was previously a hospital during the Civil War, a stop on the Underground Railroad and headquarters of the Army. After purchasing the private home in 2015, owners Richard Smoot and John Butler opened it as an inn a year later with a guiding principle that they "want guests to live and relax in their home away from home."

As a hub of hospitality in Washington, Elmwood has been the selection for many weddings.

Smoot and Butler recalled one wedding where the bride arrived by horse-drawn carriage to the inn's stately entrance. The long, curved grand staircase was the perfect place for the bride to make her debut.

The innkeepers are redesigning a space that will soon become a bridal suite.

Smoot and Butler also recalled some of their favorite cakes from years past – a pickup truck with golf clubs in the back, finance ticker-tape wrapping a cake for a couple who worked in the financial district and a cake designed to look like a bushel of oysters.

When it comes to the main course, Southern cuisine, fresh seafood and cathead cheese biscuits are among Washington's special dishes. Mayo said that the locals recommend stopping at Bill's Hot Dog Stand for another Washington "delicacy."

"Our Southern charm definitely shows through," Mayo said of local staff who go out of their way to make wedding parties feel welcome.

During their stay, family and friends can also enjoy activities like kayaking on the sound, biking downtown, antique shopping, wine tasting, stopping for ice cream or just walking along the waterfront.

With everything to offer, Washington is solidifying its reputation as much more than just a scenic river town.

"Washington has so much diversity and so much potential for growth to be an even greater town than what it already is. We've started to attract people from California, San Diego, New York, Chicago — they're all realizing the beauty and charm of a small town like this," said Darar. "There's no traffic, great year-round weather, scenic views — it's a great location, and we're excited to put a spotlight on Washington."