The best Long Island wedding venues give you more than a pretty room. They give you the beach at sunset, gardens that look like a painting, or a ballroom big enough for every cousin. I'm Dane, a Long Island wedding photographer and videographer, and these are the venues I'd point you to, with what each one is like on the day and how it looks on camera.
Book a free consultation and let's talk about your venue and your date.
Looking for Long Island City in Queens? This guide covers Long Island itself: Nassau and Suffolk.
The Best Wedding Venues on Long Island
1. Gatsby on the Ocean, Wantagh (Jones Beach)
A historic stone Beaux Arts bathhouse right on Jones Beach, with the Atlantic in front of you. You can have your ceremony at the water's edge or on the lawn, then celebrate in a ballroom with beamed ceilings and big windows on three sides, or in a tent on the lawn. It hosts up to about 270 guests inside and 500 outside.
Why I love it on camera: beach sunsets. I take couples down to the sand and the pier nearby at golden hour, and because it's Long Island, we can add drone shots of the coastline, which isn't possible in NYC.
[Photo: couple on the beach or pier at sunset]
2. Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury
A large, polished country club with Art Deco ballrooms, landscaped grounds, fountains, a waterfall and a pool deck with palm trees and a white sand beach. It can host very large weddings, up to about 1,200 guests. Its kitchens cover Caribbean, Indian, Latin, Persian, Halal and glatt kosher menus, which makes it a strong pick for cultural and multicultural weddings.
Why I love it on camera: [one detail from your shoot, like your favorite portrait spot on the grounds, the ballroom lighting, or the pool deck at night]
3. Sand Castle, Franklin Square
A European chateau-inspired venue in Nassau County with gardens, fountains and a covered outdoor space. It hosts one wedding at a time, so the whole property feels like yours for the day, with room for 300+ guests.
Why I love it on camera: [one detail from your shoot, like the fountains, the grand entrance, or how the one-wedding-at-a-time setup keeps the day calm]
[Photo: couple portrait by the fountains or the entrance]
4. Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury
A Gold Coast mansion surrounded by formal gardens. Large weddings are held as tented celebrations on select dates through the Gardens' event partner, and micro ceremonies of 50 guests or fewer book directly with the Gardens. I've photographed here, and the mansion, the iron gate and the floral garden are my favorite spots on the property. My Old Westbury Gardens photo guide covers permits, timing and cost.
[Photo: couple at the gate or in front of the mansion]
5. Flowerfield, St. James
A garden estate on 12 private acres on the North Shore. Guests cross a bridge over a pond to the Gazebo Island ceremony, and a 12,000 square foot atrium full of tropical trees gives you a garden feel rain or shine. The 6,000 square foot ballroom has a mahogany dance floor.
Why I love it on camera: the gazebo island is one of the most romantic ceremony settings on Long Island, and the atrium is an indoor backup that doesn't feel like a compromise.
[Photo: Gazebo Island ceremony or the atrium]
Just Off Long Island: 3 More Favorites
Whitby Castle, Rye (Westchester): a castle-style venue on the Long Island Sound with stone details, English-style lawns and a terrace that glows at cocktail hour. Up to 250 guests.
Riviera Mansion, Howard Beach (Queens): a waterfront venue on Jamaica Bay with warm, Mediterranean-style spaces and beautiful golden hour light over the water.
World's Fair Marina, Flushing Meadows (Queens): open water on Meadow Lake and the Unisphere a short walk away, perfect for couples who want an only-in-New-York backdrop.
How to Choose Your Long Island Wedding Venue
Want the beach? Gatsby on the Ocean.
Want gardens? Old Westbury Gardens or Flowerfield.
Big guest list or a cultural menu? Crest Hollow.
Want the whole place to yourselves? Sand Castle.
Want a castle? Whitby, just over the Sound in Rye.
Then think about light: what time the sun sets on your date, where you'll take portraits, and what the rain plan is. Those three things shape your photos more than the decor does.
Long Island Wedding Venue FAQ
What are the best wedding venues on Long Island? Gatsby on the Ocean for the beach, Crest Hollow for large and cultural weddings, Sand Castle for an exclusive chateau feel, and Old Westbury Gardens and Flowerfield for gardens.
How much do Long Island wedding venues cost? Full-service venues commonly run about $100 to $215 per person depending on the day, season and package, and some add a ceremony fee. Ask each venue for a current quote.
Can I have my ceremony on the beach on Long Island? Yes. Gatsby on the Ocean offers ceremonies at the water's edge on Jones Beach.
Do Long Island venues include a photographer? Most don't. They handle the food, space and coordination, so you book your photographer and videographer separately. My wedding coverage starts at $5,500 for photo or video and $9,500 for both, with no travel fee on Long Island.
Planning a Long Island Wedding? Let's Talk
Whichever venue you choose, your photos and film are what you keep long after the flowers fade. I know how these venues look in every light, and I'll plan your portraits, timeline and rain backup around yours.
Send me your date and your venue, and we'll set up your free consultation.
