Hotel
We have a small block-off of rooms at Hotel Ballast, using code SCB, available for booking until February 5, 2020. Hotel Ballast is on the river, and is a 10-minute walk, or a 3-minute drive, from our wedding venue. The hotel is convenient to plenty of bars, restaurants, and shops, but if you really don't want to walk anywhere, you can go to Board and Barrel, an indoor/outdoor riverfront whiskey bar and restaurant connected to the hotel.
Discount Code - SCB
Hotel
We also have a small block-off of rooms at the Embassy Suites using code 607, available for booking until February 17, 2020. The Embassy Suites is only a couple blocks from Hotel Ballast, and is a 15-minute walk, or 7-minute drive, from our wedding venue. On the roof top is Cloud 9, a relatively new bar and restaurant, which closes for most of the winter but is supposed to reopen on March 1. If it's cold, try to score one of the fire pits!
Discount Code - 607
Flight
This is by far the most convenient airport option when visiting Wilmington. However, if you are having trouble finding a flight that fits your schedule, you do have the option to fly into Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU), then rent a car and drive to Wilmington. Please note that this is a two-hour drive (and not the most exciting, either), so we recommend this only as a last resort... or if you just really, really enjoy driving rental cars. AIRPORT SHUTTLE: Hotel Ballast offers a free, daily shuttle to and from the airport between the hours of 5:00am and 11:00pm. To arrange a lift from the shuttle, please call the hotel at (910)763-5900. Unfortunately, Embassy Suites does not offer a shuttle at this time.
Travel Note
If you plan on flying into Raleigh, then obviously you will need a car to get to Wilmington! However, if you choose to fly into Wilmington, you can likely get away with skipping the rental car. The airport is only about 10 minutes from the hotels we've recommended, and 10-15 minutes from many downtown Airbnb options. If venturing to the beaches, a car may be in your best interest. If visiting the beaches in winter isn't your cup of tea, downtown should have everything you need for your stay all within a short walk, or an even shorter Uber/Lyft ride. PARKING: Most downtown street parking is free on weekends and after 6:30pm on weekdays, however many of the decks are not, so be careful! Keep this in mind if you park downtown for the wedding, which is at 4:00pm on Friday. Airbnb parking varies by host. Hotel Ballast Nightly Parking: $12 self, $16 valet Embassy Suites Nightly Parking: $16 self, $22 valet