Your guide to an awesome Montauk Wedding.
The low-down on my top 5 Hamptons and Montauk Wedding Venues
Where to eat, what to do, where to shop, in the Hamptons.
This Hamptons girl is gonna make sure you eat the best lobster roll AND pick the best venue for your Montauk wedding. So read on my friend....
An escape for abstract expressionist artists in the 60s (think Jackson Pollak, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning . . .), and set on verdant farmland once roamed by the Shinnecock and Montauk Algonquian peoples, one visit will have you concluding that all NYC roads lead (or should lead) to its breezy shores.
Ah, the Hamptons—that gilded Fabergé treasure trove of lobster shacks, frosé, weekend traffic, mega mansions, horse farms, and the most elite of summer dreamers. The Hamptons has a long and rich history, stylishly seated front and center in the cultural milieu of NY State.
WHO WANTS A HAMPTONS WEDDING? RAISE YOUR HAND!
NAVY BEACH IN MONTAUK
Located on a pebbly bay in Montauk, Navy Beach has everything you need for a low-key, yet elegant, wedding. Owned by Husband and wife team Franklin Ferguson, and Leyla Marchetto, the vibe is chill—you will often see Frank kicking around the grounds in sandals and shorts.
Leyla’s dad is renowned NYC restauranteur Silvano Marchetto, whose famed da Silvano was a landmark Greenwich Village Italian restaurant with a huge celebrity following (Rhianna, Giselle . . .) for 41 years (1975–2019)
Needless to say, Navy Beach is owned and run by people with hospitality in their bones who know how to throw one hell of a party and make every wedding memorable.
THE SURF LODGE IN MONTAUK
At my core, I am a huge interior design nerd—so this venue stole my heart at first glance. A beacon of 60s surf deco, complete with whitewashed walls and balcony hammocks. The surf lodge has an elegant yet understated cool factor that will immediately put you in the mood for a playful stay.
What I love:
• open-air restaurant
• especially curated zero-proof cocktails (as well as the usual proof)
• complimentary beauty mini-bar and wellness programs on weekends
• live music so you can dance the night away
• free bike rentals
The only drawback for this infamous destination location is it might be too cool (kidding!), but if you are looking for real R&R (a place to let your hair down and really let go), the Surf Lodge fits the bill!
CROWS NEST IN MONTAUK
Located on serene Lake Montauk, the Crow’s Nest is the perfect setting for a gorgeous waterfront wedding on the lawn that affords the space to spread out and chilllllll! (Don’t you just love getting out of the city and having wide-open space?)
Dining in the restaurant is cozy and eclectic with an open-air feel—AND the addition of a giant tent with spillover table seating will have you and your crew effortlessly maneuvering between the dance area and organic mingling zones all night
Withs its serene location, accomidations on site and amazing food The Crow’s Nest really is the trifecta of perfection, in my opinion, for your dream wedding in Montauk.
Breathtaking. Jaw dropping. Unforgettable. Easily three of the most sought-after descriptors for any wedding venue, and this one checks them all off the list. As real estate agents love to proclaim—location, location, LOCATION! Your guests will never stop talking about your wedding. Truth be told, the structures themselves are quite simple, but who needs more? With panoramic views, a ceremony spot that overlooks Lake Montauk, and the famed Montauk Point Lighthouse right on the grounds, you’ll have nuptials, reception, and to-die-for photo ops ready and waiting to make your first memories as a married couple.
360 EAST AT MONTAUK DOWNS
Wölffer Estate is a sustainable winery and vineyard in the heart of the Hamptons. They know their weddings, as they have been hosting ceremonies for years and can execute a 200-person affair with precision and grace. As a photographer, I love me a vineyard! Space, elegance, and nature come together to make your couples photos, wedding party and family portraits, and event candids come to life. If you have always imagined wedding guests on beach chairs and walking down a grassy aisle to say “I do” then look no further.
Wölffer Estate
A WEEKEND OUT EAST
Let’s be real, a Hamptons wedding is a weekend affair. It’s just what “comes with” your invite. So, here are my tips for planning an awesome Hamptons weekend to go with your wedding (whether you are the bride, groom, or a guest).
My first stop upon Hamptons arrival is typically The Lobster Roll, a.k.a. LUNCH. Lobster rolls just taste better when you are surrounded by fresh ocean air. LUNCH has two locations on Montauk highway. You will know it when you see the iconic “LUNCH/Lobster Roll” sign. There may be a massive amount of cars parked outside, but don’t worry, there is usually not much of a wait.
My next stop is often Amagansett Square, home to three of my favs: Love Adorned, Ulla Johnson, and Pink Chicken. Love Adorned is a fine jewelry and lifestyle store from veteran retailer Lori Leven, whose curated inventory is brilliantly informed by years of traveling and collecting. Love Adorned is a “shift away from ‘throw away culture’” and seeks to steep visitors in values utility, aesthetics, and craftsmanship. Lori truly is highly regarded as one of NYC’s most respected style makers. She is also the founder of the Lower East Side tattoo parlor, New York Adorned, where I got many of my tattoos.
Next up has got to be a visit to Hampton Chutney Co. They recently shuttered their SOHO and UWS locations, so now you have to travel out east to enjoy their famous dosas and homemade chutneys. I always buy a tub of their cilantro chutney to take home! It goes great with wine and cheese, and when I run out I know it’s time to go back to the Hamptons.
For beer lovers, a trip out east is not complete without stopping by the Montauk Brewing Company to sample their famous watermelon session ale straight from the source. I had the absolute pleasure of photographing founder Vaughn Cutillo’s wedding at the Crow’s Nest a few years back. As an MBC fan girl, it was a history making for me, and of course all their best brews were served!
LET’S TALK POST-WEDDING ACTIVITIES, FOR A SEC . . .
At the end of a Montauk wedding weekend I love to connect with nature via horseback riding or hiking my favorite trails at any one of the area’s numerous nature preserves. Eat End Stables will have you enjoying sea air from a saddle. Cedar Point Lighthouse Loop Trail is my go-to for a scenic hiking experience.
And finally, before you even think of returning to the city, be sure to visit a local farm stand. It’s important to always come home with armfuls of fresh flowers and vegetables. Another way to make the most of the magical Hamptons farmland, the community of farmers out east are such a vital thread, and their wares are not to be missed.
I am such a Hamptons girl, and it makes me truly happy to share my love of this special little beach enclave with you. I have been visiting and exploring every nook and cranny since I was a teenager, and it has such a special place in my heart.