5 Best Long Island & NYC Wedding Venues
Choosing your wedding venue is one of the biggest decisions you'll make during the entire planning process — and if you're getting married in New York, you're lucky to have some of the most beautiful options in the country right at your fingertips.
From castles overlooking the Long Island Sound to lush garden estates on the North Shore, these venues aren't just beautiful backdrops — they're full experiences that set the entire tone for your wedding day. As a Long Island wedding photographer and videographer, I've had the privilege of seeing how different venues photograph, how the light falls, how the spaces feel when they're filled with people who love each other.
Below are five of my favorite Long Island and NYC wedding venues — a mix of areas, styles, and vibes so you can find the one that feels most like you.
New York City Wedding Venues
1. Whitby Castle — Rye, NY
If you've ever dreamed of getting married in a castle, Whitby Castle makes that dream feel surprisingly achievable. Built to echo the architecture of the original Whitby Abbey in England — and incorporating some of the Abbey's original stones — this venue sits on 126 acres in Rye, New York, with sweeping views of the Long Island Sound that are hard to believe you're looking at in real life.
The venue is managed by Lessings, one of New York's most respected hospitality groups, and that experience shows in every detail. Whitby holds up to 250 guests for dinner and reception, features a grand ballroom, two private reception rooms, an outdoor cocktail terrace, and offers indoor and outdoor ceremony options. Pricing starts at approximately $120 per person.
Past couples consistently rave about the dedicated on-site team — particularly their wedding coordinator Niki and Maître D Ralph — who are known for making the entire planning process feel effortless. One bride described it simply: "it was a better day than I could have ever dreamed of."
Why I love it as a photographer: The architecture alone is extraordinary — gothic stone details, manicured English-style lawns, and those Long Island Sound views in the background. The terrace during cocktail hour in late afternoon light is something I genuinely look forward to every time.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Pricing: Starting at ~$120/person
Best for: Couples who want classic, regal elegance with a sense of history
Ceremony options: Indoor & outdoor
Location: 330 Boston Post Road, Rye, NY 10580
Contact: (914) 777-2053 | http://www.whitbycastle.com/
2. Riviera Mansion — Howard Beach, Queens, NY
Tucked away in Howard Beach, Queens, Riviera Mansion is a waterfront gem that surprises nearly everyone who sees it for the first time. Sitting along Jamaica Bay, the venue offers panoramic water views that create an incredible atmosphere — especially during summer and fall sunset ceremonies.
The venue has a warm, Mediterranean-inspired design aesthetic with a mix of intimate and larger reception spaces. Couples choosing Riviera Mansion often note how the team handles the day with real care, and the food and service are consistently praised. For couples who want an elegant waterfront wedding without leaving the NYC area, this venue is genuinely hard to beat.
Why I love it as a photographer: Jamaica Bay at golden hour creates some of the most cinematic portrait light I've ever worked with. The open water views give every couple a dramatic, story-worthy backdrop that feels elevated without being cold or formal.
Best for: Couples wanting waterfront luxury within New York City
Vibe: Warm, elegant, Mediterranean-inspired
Ceremony options: Indoor & outdoor waterfront
Location: Howard Beach, Queens, NY
3. World's Fair Marina — Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY
For couples who want a wedding venue with a story baked into the walls, World's Fair Marina in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is one of the most unique choices in all of New York. Sitting at the site of the iconic 1964 World's Fair — and within view of the famous Unisphere — this marina venue combines New York City history with stunning open water views over Meadow Lake.
The surrounding parkland offers extraordinary space for portraits, and the venue itself has a modern, airy feel that photographs beautifully in any season. It's an experience your guests will talk about long after the last dance.
Why I love it as a photographer: Two words: the Unisphere. And beyond that, the wide open skies, the water, and the parkland give us an incredible variety of portrait settings within walking distance of the reception. It's like having five venues in one location.
Best for: Couples who want an iconic New York experience with waterfront views and outdoor space
Vibe: Historic, vibrant, open-air
Location: Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, NY
Contact:https://1wfm.com/
Long Island Wedding Venues
4. Flowerfield — St. James, Long Island, NY
If you're searching for Long Island wedding venues and a garden ceremony is anywhere on your vision board, Flowerfield in St. James belongs at the very top of your list. Set on a lush private estate on Long Island's North Shore, Flowerfield is a full-service wedding venue that offers some of the most naturally beautiful ceremony and reception spaces on the entire island.
The venue features a 6,000 sq ft grand ballroom with dual cocktail bars, a cordial bar, high ceilings, and a mahogany dance floor. Their unique 12,000 sq ft atrium is home to tropical trees and plants, creating a lush indoor garden setting that's stunning year-round — rain or shine. The centerpiece of the outdoor ceremony experience is their famous Gazebo Island, where guests cross a charming bridge over a serene pond just before the ceremony begins. The grounds stretch over 12 private acres lined with tall cedar trees.
The on-site team is repeatedly praised — coordinators like Lauren and Maître D Johnny are specifically mentioned in nearly every review as going above and beyond. The food is a recurring highlight, with guests calling it some of the best wedding food they've ever had.
Why I love it as a photographer: Twelve acres of manicured private property means we never run out of beautiful locations. The gazebo island is genuinely one of the most romantic ceremony settings I've ever photographed, and the atrium gives us a gorgeous indoor option that doesn't feel like a compromise at all.
Capacity: Large-scale events
Best for: Couples who want a lush garden or nature-forward wedding with full-service elegance
Vibe: Romantic, natural, garden estate
Ceremony options: Outdoor gazebo island, indoor atrium, and garden spaces
Location: 199 Mills Pond Road, St. James, NY 11780
Contact: (631) 862-0100 | flowerfield.com
5. Arrow Park — Monroe, NY
Arrow Park is a hidden gem that I think deserves far more attention than it gets. Nestled on over 300 acres of breathtaking natural land in Monroe, NY, this venue is centered around a gorgeous lake that serves as the backdrop for some of the most serene and intimate wedding ceremonies you'll find in the greater New York area.
The sense of privacy here is unlike anything you'll find at a traditional banquet hall. You're surrounded by woodland, open sky, and calm water — it feels like a world away, yet it's completely accessible from both Long Island and the city. For couples who want their wedding to feel like an escape rather than an event, Arrow Park delivers that in every possible way.
Why I love it as a photographer: The lake light. The treelines. The way the sky reflects on the water during the ceremony. Arrow Park consistently gives me some of the most naturally stunning images of any venue I visit. It's the kind of venue where you don't need to manufacture any magic — it's already there.
Best for: Couples who want a nature-immersed, lakeside wedding with privacy and space
Vibe: Serene, wooded, intimate
Ceremony options: Outdoor lakeside
Location: Monroe, NY (accessible from Long Island & NYC)
Contact: arrowpark.org
How to Choose the Right Venue for You
With so many incredible options, narrowing it down can feel overwhelming. Here's a quick way to think about it:
If you love drama and grandeur, look at Whitby Castle. If waterfront and city-adjacent is your priority, Riviera Mansion or World's Fair Marina will speak to you. If a garden estate experience is your dream, Flowerfield is hard to surpass. And if you want intimacy, nature, and seclusion, Arrow Park is in a category of its own.
The most important thing? Choose the venue that feels like you as a couple — not just what photographs beautifully (though all five of these do!).
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Wedding Venues
What are the best wedding venues on Long Island? Some of the most sought-after Long Island wedding venues include Flowerfield in St. James, which offers stunning garden and atrium settings on a private estate on the North Shore, and Arrow Park in Monroe, which provides a lakeside, nature-immersed experience with extraordinary natural beauty.
What are the best wedding venues in New York City? For couples getting married in or near NYC, Whitby Castle in Rye offers castle-like grandeur with Long Island Sound views, Riviera Mansion in Queens delivers waterfront elegance, and World's Fair Marina in Flushing Meadows provides a uniquely iconic New York experience.
How much do Long Island wedding venues cost? Wedding venue costs in New York vary widely. Whitby Castle starts at approximately $120 per person. Most full-service Long Island venues range from $100–$300+ per person depending on the season, guest count, and package inclusions.
Do I need a separate wedding photographer for these venues? Yes — most venues provide catering and event coordination but not photography or videography. Hiring a dedicated wedding photographer and videographer is essential for capturing your day. I offer combined photo and video packages starting at $3,500, specifically designed for couples getting married across Long Island and New York City.
Ready to Book Your Wedding Photographer?
No matter which venue you fall in love with, your photos and film are the one thing you'll have forever after the flowers fade and the cake is gone. I'm Dane, a Long Island and New York City wedding photographer and videographer — and I specialize in capturing those real, in-between moments: the honest glances, the happy tears, the dancing-like-nobody's-watching moments that make your wedding yours.
I work at all five of these venues and across the entire New York area. My combined photo and video packages start at $3,500, and I intentionally keep my calendar limited so every couple gets my full attention.
2026 availability is extremely limited — don't wait to reach out.
Dane Nelson is a Long Island & NYC wedding photographer and videographer serving couples across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and the greater tri-state area.
