Reverend Jay Bowman

1. Name of Business? "@ YOUR OBX WEDDING" : Rev. Jay Bowman

2. WHAT SERVICES DOES YOUR BUSINESS PROVIDE BRIDES? Basically helping you through the journey of planning and creating a wedding ceremony that is taylor made for You. Keeping it stress free as much as possible, and making it fun. And of course, taking care of the legal aspects of the marriage license with the state of North Carolina.

3. Business Philosophy ?  Hmmmm.....philosophy. I didn't score very well with that subject in undergrad, but it pretty much falls to this for me...... I serve and care for couples like I would want to be served and cared for. Listening closely to what couples really want in their wedding ceremony is key, and then of course pulling it off in a very comfortable, natural, and special way that totally reflects the promise of your Big Day. I believe a wedding should be performed in a professional way with a lot of honor, but here on the beach it should also be Fun and lighthearted with a lot of smiles and probably some laughter.

4. WHAT THINGS HELP SET YOU APART AND MAKE YOU UNIQUE ON THE OUTER BANKS? This one is sort of hard for me to answer because I never get to see any of the other officiant's work. A photographer can see the images of other photographers, etc. I do know this, that I'm one of the only "career" ministers out here in the Outer Banks Wedding Association, now in my 30th year. That brings a lot of experience when it comes to reading a couple, a crowd, and a moment, to make it very "real" and not canned. Anyone can just read words out of a book, but I believe it is more of an artistic gift to take the wishes of a couple and make it come alive in a treasured moment with their toes in the sand. That's what I love to do, and I believe that is some of what makes me unique our here on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

5. How long have you been in business AND WHERE? Well, as I mentioned above, this is my 30th year as an ordained minister, but we have lived out here in Kitty Hawk for the past 6 years, performing weddings from Hatteras Village to Carova. I served three different churches before that in Michigan, Florida, and then Colorado. But I gotta tell ya, as great as those other places were, this big sandbar is the best spot of all. Gotta love it!

6. WHAT IS SOME OF YOUR BEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE A FRIEND WHO WAS GOING TO BE MARRIED ON THE OUTER BANKS? I would say (1) Make your bookings as early as your key vendors will allow you to so that you are able to get the team you want. (2) Get reliable references for your vendors and do your homework. It's easy to have a fancy website, but not deliver. (3) Lean on your vendors for help. That's why we are here. We live here and can help the whole "destination" thing be less stressful. (4) Get the professionals you want, and then let them fly and do what they do best. (5) Keep it FUN!

7. What is your favorite part of your job? I enjoy so many parts of my job, but my very most favorite is performing the ceremony itself. Once we get to that moment I know I am tracking with everything the bride and groom wants and away we go. It's like getting up to bat and knowing you are going to hit a triple or a home run every time! I know that may sound cocky, but it's really not. I'm just confident that it's going to turn out awesome and that the couple, their family, and the guests, will all be thrilled.

8.Where is your favorite place on the OBX? I gotta go with anything south on the Hatteras National Seashore, but it's all beautiful. Gotta love it.

9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES OR PASSIONS BEYOND YOUR WORK? Hanging with family and our dog Kahuna, running and working out, wood art, fishing in the fall, and just plain being on the beach.

10.JUST FOR FUN, WHAT WOULD YOUR ALL TIME FAVORITE MEAL BE? This one is easy for me. Steak, Baked Potato, Broccoli, Salad, and Hot Buttered Bread!!

Magical, fun, affordable and unforgettable

Five years ago I thought we were moving to the Outer Banks to semi-retire, but little did I know. I had served as a pastor in three different churches around the country over a span of 24 years and was ready to take a break. What better place to take a good break than the Outer Banks of North Carolina! It wasn't even on my radar that a few years later I would have the great honor and fun of tying the Outer Banks knot for hundreds of couples getting their toes in the sand to say "I do".

Who wants to be retired when you can hang out with tons of happy people on an island beach, and on top of that to to work barefoot each day. I mean come on, does it get any better than that? So my wife Kim, our daughter Summer, and our two dogs Cooper and Kahuna, are having a big 'ole time living here in Kitty Hawk on the  infamous Outer Banks. We truly feel that in many ways we are "living the dream".

Destination Weddings are becoming more popular all the time and for good reasons. The Outer Banks has made it's mark as one of the  (if not "The”) premiere destination locations on the whole eastern seaboard. It's magical, fun, affordable, and unforgettable. I never dreamed five years ago my story would have unfolded on the beach like this, but I am so thankful and happy it did.