NORTH JERSEY · NEW YORK CITY · LONG ISLAND · HUDSON VALLEY
What's to love about Long Island? Lots, actually. Long Island is a vibrant and diverse destination that offers a mix of stunning natural beauty, captivating coastal areas, and exciting urban centers. This means that regardless of the kind of wedding vibe you're going for, Long Island likely has you covered. That's because when it comes to Long Island wedding venues, they've got everything.
As far as wedding prices go, Long Island weddings will typically be higher than the national average of $29,000. As of 2023, the average cost to host a Long Island wedding is approximately $49,500 (source: WeddingWire, TheKnot). Factors that determine your total will come down to your final guest count, plus any food/beverage upgrades you'll choose with your caterer. But if you want our honest opinion? Don't skimp on the food; that's the best part about Long Island weddings!t here
If you're looking for a mansion with sprawling grounds with fountains and gardens, then you would probably feel right at home at NYIT DeSeversky Mansion, Westbury Gardens or the Planting Field Arboretum. Perhaps stately manors and country clubs are more of your vibe? If that sounds like you, there are a billion of them on the gold coast (okay, maybe not a billion, but you get my point). And if you've ever dreamt of getting married at a castle, Long Island's got one too!
But let's say you're planning for something with more of a bed-and-breakfast type of vibe, or maybe even something along the beach, you can find many of those options in North Fork and the Hamptons.
Long Island climate is typical for the Northeast/New England area, which experiences all four seasons. This means you'll have your fall colors between October and November, and you'll see the colors return in late March. Winters can get cold, especially if you're hosting your wedding at any one of the venues that dot the coastline. As typical for summers in the region, it does quite humid between July and August. If you/your friends/family/guests are sensitive to the humidity or cold, you'll definitely want to plan your photo locations accordingly. In the event of inclement/disagreeable weather, the simplest solution is to shoot indoors. Fortunately for most Long Island brides & grooms, the interiors of your venue are probably gorgeous.
Ask any Long Island wedding professional and they'll tell you: beware of the weekend traffic! Yes, traffic on the island can be a little unpredictable. But the good news? You can plan around it by adding a little bit of buffer time into your schedule. Just be proactive. See if there are any races, parades, or sporting events taking place near your venue on your wedding day. And if there are any major events nearby, then plan accordingly. (however, it's good practice to add buffer time into schedule, regardless!)
The other thing you'll want to consider is your back-up shooting location in the event of inclement weather. While some photographers might balk at the prospect of playing in the rain with you, other photographers might not. (For the record, we're more than happy to play in the rain with you - maybe for just a little bit. However, our gear probably can't take much more than that!)
That being said, it's important to choose a venue whose interiors you love (as a photo location for portraits). Otherwise, check with nearby museums, libraries and train stations as potential options in case of a rainy wedding day.
At the end of the day, it comes down to one word: variety. Every wedding venue on Long Island is unique in their own way. And for full-time wedding photographers like us, this variety of gorgeous backdrops is the spice in our creative lives. This is what we love. This is what we live and die for! We love the fact that we could be photographing a wedding on a North Shore estate on Saturday, then find ourselves chasing the wedding party around on the beach in the Hamptons that very next day. In the off-chance your venue doesn't feature any viable photo locations on-site, we know there's definitely an amazing alternative nearby.
With so many options to choose from, we know how hard it can be to find the perfect wedding venue in Long Island. That's why we've compiled a list of our favorite Long Island wedding venues, just for you! Our award-winning photographers at Pearl Paper Studio have been photographing weddings in Long Island since 2013, so we certainly know a thing or two, about a thing or two :). Please check out our comprehensive venue guide below to view some of our insights and planning tips, as well as many of the photos we've taken over the years. Check back often, as we are regularly adding venues & locations to this list!
We'd love to hear more about what you've got planned!
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