Location, location, location:   Unique Long Island Spots for Your Ceremony

If a traditional church or synagogue wedding isn’t your style, consider a different location for your ceremony.  Freelance writer Margaret Corvini has researched several spectacular spots here on Long Island, for your consideration — Take a look below.

Picking a special spot to exchange your vows can make the day all the more memorable, both for you and for your guests.  The location might reflect the place where you met, a shared interest, or just a love of the great outdoors.

Long Island boasts a wealth of options, from the charming (the gazebo at Argyle Park in Babylon Village) to the spectacular (the lighthouse at Montauk Point).  A couple with a shared love of the water might choose to marry on a beach, or even on the water – aboard a chartered yacht.  But be forewarned:  Experts say choosing a high-impact location requires some extra planning.

“The lawns on both sides of the Montauk Lighthouse are really gorgeous,” says East Hampton event planner Jill Gordon of jill gordon celebrate. The private Madoo Conservancy in Sagaponack is another beautiful location for “I do’s.”  If a rural setting fits you better, consider Quail Hill Farm in Amagansett, part of the Peconic Land Trust.  Or check out the trust’s newest acquisition, Bridge Gardens in Bridgehampton.

Old Westbury Gardens, until recently only available for wedding photos, now hosts ceremonies, as does Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay.  And Mets fans can even tie the knot at the new Citi Field. Ceremonies may be held on the warning track on non-game days, says a team spokeswoman.

When considering locations, first be sure whom to approach for permits or rental.  For example, the lawns at the base of the Montauk Point Lighthouse are controlled by the Montauk Historical Society, while much of the surrounding area is part of the State parks system.  The bluffs at Camp Hero State Park and the beach at Hither Hills State Park are both popular for ceremonies.

And don’t forget these nuts and bolts:

An outdoor ceremony means you’re at the whim of the weather.  Check to see if the location allows large tents; many do not. (Some do not even allow chairs.)  Have a solid Plan B in case of rain.

How much will it cost? Private locations can be pricey, with rentals running into the thousands.

Where will your guests park? Make sure there is ample space, and arrange to prepay the parking fees at beach or State park lots. If parking is a problem, consider providing shuttle buses to the reception.

Will the location be accessible for all of your guests?  Elderly grandparents may not be able to make a long trek from the parking lot to water’s edge.

If you’ll need to have chairs or other equipment delivered to an outdoor location, who will be there to accept the rentals and handle set-up and clean-up?

And if you can’t decide on just one location, consider this quintessential Long Island wedding from some years back: A couple exchanged vows aboard the Long Island Rail Road, en route from Mineola to Montauk.

The Montauk Lighthouse, Photo by Mark Roddenberry