Most of the beach weddings we photograph happen somewhere between Montauk and Nantucket, with a few further south. Danielle and Michael at the Crow’s Nest. Marni and Michael at Gurney’s in December. Couples on Martha’s Vineyard, on Nantucket and in the Bahamas. Here’s what all of them taught us.
Let the Wind Win
You can’t plan around Atlantic wind, but you can plan for it. Pin the veil if you want it to stay put. Or let it go, the way Danielle did at the Crow’s Nest, and spend half your portraits laughing through tulle. Those ended up being some of our favorite frames of her whole day.
Hair and paper goods are the other two things the wind goes after. Talk to your stylist about it early, and weigh down anything that sits on a table outside.
Overcast Is Good News
Couples hope for sun. We don’t. A grey sky over the water gives you soft light, even skin and color that holds. Danielle and Michael’s day stayed overcast from start to finish, and the photographs are some of the softest we’ve made out east.
Time the Portraits to the Sun
Midday sun on sand is hard light. It comes from above and bounces back up from below, and everyone squints. If you can, save the beach portraits for the last hour before sunset. At Gurney’s, the sky over the ocean did something at that hour we couldn’t have planned, and Marni and Michael just stood in it.
If your ceremony is at midday, that’s fine. We’ll find shade or put the sun behind you, and keep the walk on the beach for later.
Plan for Rain Anyway
Have a covered backup and decide on it a few days out, not the morning of. Then let the weather be part of the day. Danielle and Michael ran straight toward a storm for portraits like it was their idea all along. It was one of the best parts of the day.
Sand, Stairs and Shoes
Most beaches have stairs or a boardwalk between the venue and the water. Bring flat shoes for that walk. Long trains pick up sand, so plan on a quick shake out before you head back inside.
Ask About the Rules Early
Plenty of beaches on the East End need a permit for an event, and some limit where you can set up or how loud the music can be. Your venue or planner will know the details. Ask before you fall in love with a spot.
For more on the beaches out east, see our Montauk wedding guide and our notes on the Crow’s Nest.
About Us
We’re Trent and Dara, a husband and wife team based in New York. We photograph every wedding on 35mm and medium format film alongside digital, and we’ve been doing it for almost twenty years. BRIDES named us one of the 50 best wedding photographers in the world.
If you’re planning a wedding by the water, we’d love to hear about it. Tell us about your plans at trentbailey.com/inquire or call 212-243-2000.
