Planning a Raleigh wedding? You might be wondering how to fill the weekend’s itinerary to show your out-of-town guests all that the City of Oaks has to offer. Fortunately, the North Carolina Triangle has a number of activities to keep guests busy outside of the wedding! From a vibrant food scene to scenic nature settings, your wedding guests will love being treated to the full Raleigh experience. Raleigh wedding activities will keep guests entertained during their visit or will be reminded where to return.
5 Raleigh Wedding Activities – Things to Do and See
Explore Local Museums
Raleigh is home to a number of free museums that will interest wedding guests of all ages. Recommend your friends and family to visit one of these museums:
- North Carolina Museum of Art
- North Carolina Museum of History
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
- Marbles Kids Museum
- CAM Raleigh
- Gregg Museum of Art & Design
Get Outdoors
If your guests are inclined to step out of the city, there are a number of parks and trails to keep them occupied throughout your wedding weekend. Lake Johnson Park is a local favorite for hikers, fishers, and boaters. The William B. Umstead State Park is another go-to choice, with three lakes and over 20 miles of hiking trails.
If your Raleigh wedding guests will have access to transportation, you may consider adding the Juniper Level Botanic Garden to the list. Nearby Cary, NC also has the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve, which boasts over 140 acres of land to explore.
Drink & Dine
Raleigh is well known for its foodie culture, with options to satisfy any preference and style. From casual barbecue dives to chic lounges for date night, your Raleigh wedding guests will have a vast selection of restaurants to choose from! A few downtown spots we recommend:
- For the BBQ heads: The Pit and SmokeStacks Cafe
- For the seafood lovers: Cortez Seafood & Cocktail and 42nd Street Oyster House
- For the trendy folks: Brewery Bhavana and Transfer Co. Food Hall
- For the whiskey lovers: Whiskey Kitchen (where else!?)
- For the cocktail enthusiasts: Watts & Ward and Gallo Pelón Mezcaleria
- For the wine aficionados: Vita Vite Downtown and Barcelona Wine Bar
- For the vegetarian + vegan crowd: Element Gastropub and The Fiction Kitchen
This list is only a glimpse of what downtown Raleigh has to offer — head outside of the city center to find even more wonderful options!
Hit the Fairways
There’s nothing quite like an early morning tee time before heading off to a Raleigh wedding! If there are golfers on your list, they’ll love knowing about the many courses in the greater Raleigh area. Wildwood Green Golf Club, Lonnie Poole Golf Course, and Pine Hollow Golf Course are just a few of the local options. For the amateurs in the group, head over to Drive Shack for an indoor golf experience (or just enjoy the onsite bar and restaurant!).
Go Beer Tasting
For the craft beer heads in your group, the Raleigh Beer Trail awaits! Stay close to the area and check out local faves like Big Boss Brewing Company and Raleigh Brewing Company. Or, visit a brewery in a nearby city like Apex’s Southern Peak Brewery, Wake Forest’s White Street Brewing Company, or Cary’s Cotton House Craft Brewers. There is no shortage of beer to taste in the North Carolina Triangle!
Rest assured your guests will have no trouble filling up their weekend when visiting for your Raleigh wedding. If anything, they’ll have a tough time trying to decide what they want to do most. Creating an itinerary for out-of-town guests helps to build excitement for their Raleigh experience and, once they’re in the city, they’ll be grateful to have your thoughtful list of recommendations! You’ll rest easy knowing that they’re taking in all Raleigh has to offer while you’re busy with the wedding rehearsal and other last-minute errands before your big day.
Looking for a Raleigh wedding DJ that knows the area and can help you plan your wedding? Contact us today!
