The Hamptons are a string of small towns along one long road, and each one throws a different kind of wedding. East Hampton dresses up. Montauk kicks its shoes off. These are the venues out east we’ve photographed and would go back to tomorrow, listed west to east.
The Maidstone Club, East Hampton
A private club on the dunes, with old shingled buildings and a golf course that runs out toward the ocean. Charlotte and Sutton married here in the fall. Late afternoon at the Maidstone is the kind of light that makes us glad we still carry a film camera.
Who it suits: couples with a family connection to the club who want a classic East Hampton wedding. See Charlotte and Sutton’s Maidstone wedding.
Longhouse Reserve, East Hampton
A sculpture garden and arboretum founded by the textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen. Sunny and Evan married here in October 2021. Their morning started at a house nearby, where her friends lost it by the pool the second she walked out. Leslie Mastin Events planned the day, Rosandich Studios did the flowers and Luminous Designs lit it.
Who it suits: couples who care about art and gardens and want a wedding that feels more like a party at a collector’s house than a ballroom. See Sunny and Evan at Longhouse.
Gurney’s Montauk
Right on the ocean, with rooms for most of your guest list and a long stretch of private beach. It’s open all year, which matters more than people think. Marni and Michael married here in December 2016, black tie at the beach during the holidays, with Mimi Brown’s flowers on the chuppah and a dance floor full of glow sticks by the end of the night.
Who it suits: couples who want everyone in one place for the whole weekend, in any season.
The Crow’s Nest, Montauk
A restaurant and inn on Lake Montauk, on the quiet harbor side of town. Danielle and Michael married here in June 2023 under a flower arch, with fishing boats moving on the water behind them and dinner in a Sperry tent.
Who it suits: couples who want a relaxed summer wedding where the food matters. Our full notes are here: Crow’s Nest Montauk wedding.
Choosing a Hamptons Venue
Start with the weekend. If you want a getaway, Montauk makes that easy, since Gurney’s can house most of your guests and everything in town is close together. East Hampton works well for a Saturday that starts and ends in the same day.
Then think about the season. Summer weekends book early and the drive out is long. Fall is quieter and the light sits lower. Winter is wide open, as Marni and Michael found out.
A few questions we’d ask any Hamptons venue before signing: where does the ceremony move if it rains, what time does the music have to end, can guests stay on site, and where can we take portraits without a permit.
For more on the end of the island, see our Montauk wedding guide and our beach wedding photography tips.
About Us
We’re Trent and Dara, a husband and wife team based in New York. We’ve been coming out east since 2010, and we photograph every wedding on 35mm and medium format film alongside digital. BRIDES named us one of the 50 best wedding photographers in the world.
If you’re getting married in the Hamptons, we’d love to hear about it. Tell us about your plans at trentbailey.com/inquire or call 212-243-2000.
