Wedding DJ at Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, VA

The Space

The Historic Cavalier Hotel, completed in 1927, is a masterwork of Classical Revival architecture designed by architect Clarence Neff. The seven-story oceanfront building was constructed with over half a million bricks, a record for Virginia at the time. The structure is Y-shaped in plan, a design choice that maximizes views of the Atlantic Ocean from guest rooms and event spaces alike. When the hotel opened in 1927, guest rooms featured amenities extraordinary for the era: private bathrooms, running water, and an indoor swimming pool filled with fresh ocean water. Some rooms even had bathtubs with a handle to draw seawater from an ice-filled rooftop tank and sinks with an ice water spigot.

The hotel hosted big band performances in the Cavalier Beach Club, which opened on Memorial Day weekend in 1929. Benny Goodman, Cab Calloway, Glenn Miller, and Lawrence Welk all performed here during the Roaring Twenties and 1930s, making it a destination for those who wanted to hear the best music of the era. In October 1942, the U.S. Navy commandeered the property and used it as a radar training center during World War II.

The hotel closed in 1973, remained dark until 1976, then operated until 2012 when structural concerns forced another closure. A court-ordered sale in 2012 led to a $85 million, four-year restoration by developer Bruce Thompson, culminating in the hotel’s reopening in March 2018 as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The restoration honored the building’s historic character while bringing mechanical systems, fire safety, and guest amenities into the 21st century.

Capacity & Layout

Multiple event spaces accommodate different celebration sizes. The Crystal Ballroom is 2,500 square feet and seats up to 250 for a banquet. The Great Lawn outdoors accommodates up to 160 seated or 500 standing, depending on configuration. The Beach Club Pool Deck is 3,700 square feet and can seat 200 or accommodate 500 standing. Additional outdoor spaces include a Sunken Garden, the Raleigh Loggia, the Plunge Terrace, and garden patios, each offering distinct views and atmospheres for ceremony, cocktails, or photographs.

Eighty-five guest rooms and suites are available on site, allowing out-of-town guests to stay overnight without requiring separate hotel coordination. Guest rooms feature plush fabrics and refined touches that reflect the historic restoration.

Amenities

Three on-site restaurants serve the hotel and events: Becca Restaurant and Garden, the Hunt Room, and the Raleigh Room, offering multiple dining concepts and price points. A full bar operation supports beverage service with premium selections. The SeaHill Spa offers treatments including thermal therapies and facials, allowing wedding parties to have spa services on-site. An indoor plunge pool and outdoor pool with cabanas are available for guest use.

Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, housed on the lower level of the hotel, produces bourbon and rye whiskey in one of only a few working distilleries located inside a hotel building in the country. Guests can tour the facility or taste spirits before or after the reception. Semi-private beach access with complimentary loungers is exclusive to hotel guests, with upgradable daybeds and cabanas available. Valet parking is available (at additional cost). The hotel is ADA accessible with wheelchair-accessible rooms, elevators, and accessible entrances to pools, fitness center, spa, restaurants, and meeting spaces.

Location & Getting There

The hotel sits oceanfront on Virginia Beach Boulevard, with the Atlantic Ocean just beyond the property. Norfolk International Airport is about 20 miles away, making arrival convenient for out-of-town guests. The hotel retains 21 of its original 350 acres after land was sold for townhouse development decades ago. The oceanfront location is prestigious and visual, offering water views from most guest rooms and event spaces. The property has beaches, boardwalk access, and recreational opportunities nearby.

The Crystal Ballroom’s enclosed space with high ceilings and chandelier fixtures will require sound reinforcement but offers excellent structural points for mounting speakers and lighting without visual obstruction. The outdoor Great Lawn and Beach Club Pool Deck will need portable sound systems to project across open air and water; the hard surfaces of the existing terraces and patios help bounce sound but you’ll need sufficient amplifier power to reach standing guests effectively.