Our Favorite East End Wedding Venues: A Love Letter to the Hamptons and the North Fork
Our Favorite East End Wedding Venues: A Love Letter to the Hamptons and the North Fork
If you’ve followed our work for any length of time, you know how often our photography takes us across Long Island—into places like the bohemian Crow’s Nest in Montauk and the modern, creative RGNY vineyard on the North Fork, along with estates, gardens, and waterfront venues that seem tailor-made for love stories. What you might not know is that the East End isn’t just a destination for us; it’s personal. Before Apollo Fields was ever a business, Heather lived out there, teaching photography and building friendships that remain some of our strongest ties today. Going back always feels like a homecoming—a chance to reconnect with those roots while documenting celebrations that remind us why we started this journey in the first place.
The East End is a place where contradictions coexist in the best way: old-world charm alongside new-age cool, rustic vineyard rows beside sleek modern barns, barefoot beach bonfires after champagne-topped dinners. We like to call it “refined ease”—that balance between luxury and laid-back that feels as effortless as it looks. These weddings remind us that the best celebrations don’t need to shout their extravagance; they breathe it in quietly, letting the natural beauty of the Hamptons and the North Fork set the tone.
Below, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite East End venues where we’ve photographed weddings. Each one has its own character, but they all share that spirit of refined ease.
Crow’s Nest, Montauk
The Crow’s Nest is where Montauk’s free-spirited vibe meets stylish, understated luxury. With its cozy waterfront restaurant, lantern-lit paths, and bohemian details, it’s become one of our favorite venues for couples who want that “elevated beach wedding” energy.
Cocktail hour here often means mezze spreads and rosé on the dock, while receptions spill into the evening with live music and dancing under the stars. It’s effortlessly chic without ever feeling overdone.
RGNY (formerly Martha Clara Vineyards), Riverhead
On the North Fork, RGNY brings a modern energy to the vineyard scene. The barn is sleek and architectural, the grounds stretch out in all directions, and there’s a certain creative spirit here that draws couples who want something a little different.
We love photographing here because it gives us range: sweeping vineyard shots, graphic lines of the barn, and dance floors that always turn into all-night parties. It’s also one of those venues where the staff clearly loves what they do, and that energy ripples through the whole day.
Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Sagaponack
Few places embody East End elegance like Wölffer Estate. Rows of vines stretch into the horizon, glowing gold at sunset, and the architecture feels like a little slice of Tuscany transplanted into the Hamptons. We’ve photographed couples who leaned into that vineyard romance—ceremonies between the vines, followed by candlelit dinners under twinkle-lit pergolas.
What we love most about Wölffer is the pacing: it’s luxurious, yes, but never rushed. Guests sip rosé with the ocean breeze in the air, conversations drift lazily across long tables, and the night always seems to settle into that golden-hour glow that makes our cameras sing.
Montauk Lighthouse
The Montauk Lighthouse is one of the most iconic wedding backdrops in New York. Standing at the easternmost point of Long Island, it carries a sense of history and drama that’s impossible to replicate.
We’ve photographed couples who exchanged vows overlooking the crashing waves, then wandered the rocky coastline for portraits that feel cinematic and timeless. It’s wild, windswept, and breathtaking—perfect for couples who want their wedding day to feel as expansive as the horizon itself.
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa
Gurney’s is the definition of oceanside luxury. Perched right on the beach, it’s one of the rare venues where couples can literally say their vows with their feet in the sand before heading up to a reception that feels both glamorous and grounded.
We’ve captured weddings here where guests sipped cocktails on the deck as the sun slipped below the horizon, followed by dinners that blended fine dining with that unmistakable Montauk salt air. It’s the kind of place that makes a wedding feel like a weekend-long celebration—equal parts elevated and relaxed.
Canoe Place Inn & Cottages, Hampton Bays
Newly revitalized, Canoe Place has quickly become one of the most exciting East End wedding venues. It’s historic, but reimagined with a contemporary eye—marrying centuries-old character with modern elegance.
We’ve loved photographing here because the property offers so much variety: garden ceremonies, grand ballrooms, cozy courtyards, and charming cottages for getting ready. It’s a venue that feels both timeless and new, which makes every wedding here uniquely its own.
Si Si Restaurant at East Hampton Marina
Si Si Restaurant at East Hampton Marina is all about water views and Mediterranean-inspired flair. Think sunset ceremonies overlooking the harbor, crisp design details, and dinners that celebrate food as much as the occasion.
It’s perfect for couples who want their wedding to feel like a destination celebration—without ever leaving the Hamptons. We’ve captured intimate receptions here where the harbor lights twinkle in the background, reminding everyone why East End weddings are like no other.
Madoo Conservancy, Sagaponack
For couples drawn to gardens and artful landscapes, the Madoo Conservancy is a dream. This whimsical, historic property is filled with winding paths, bursts of color, and an undeniable sense of romance.
We love photographing here because every corner offers something new—whether it’s a tucked-away bench for portraits, a hidden garden for cocktails, or a vibrant backdrop for dancing late into the night. It’s intimate and artistic, perfect for couples who want something beyond the traditional.
Southampton Yacht Club
Waterfront weddings have a special energy, and the Southampton Yacht Club delivers it in spades. With boats bobbing in the background and the sun sinking low across the harbor, ceremonies here are nothing short of cinematic.
Receptions at the club feel refined yet relaxed—guests mingling on the deck, clinking glasses against the sound of the water, and ending the night with dancing that spills out toward the docks. It’s East End tradition wrapped in understated elegance.
Montauk Yacht Club
The Montauk Yacht Club is another staple of the East End, offering a mix of nautical charm and resort-style luxury. We’ve captured weddings here where couples leaned into the maritime aesthetic—navy-and-white palettes, boat rides at golden hour, and receptions that feel like the perfect blend of coastal ease and Hamptons glamour.
The property is expansive, which means endless options for photos. From sweeping marina views to hidden gardens, it’s a venue that gives us the creative freedom we love.
Vineyards at Aquebogue
Finally, Vineyard Caterers at Aquebogue is a North Fork classic. With its lush rows of vines, elegant ballroom, and timeless appeal, it’s a venue that delivers on every front.
We’ve photographed weddings here that felt both grand and personal—couples exchanging vows in the vineyard before moving inside for lively receptions that kept guests on the dance floor all night. It’s reliable, beautiful, and distinctly North Fork.
Why the East End Will Always Be Special to Us
For us, photographing on the East End is about more than the venues. It’s about the rhythm of life out there—the mix of refinement and ease, the way even the grandest weddings still leave space for moments of quiet, unfiltered joy. It’s about Heather returning to a place where she once taught photography, only now with Terrence by her side, building a business rooted in storytelling and connection.
We’ve spent evenings running barefoot across lawns to catch sunset shots, mornings photographing couples sipping coffee on porches before the whirlwind began, and nights ending with our cameras in hand as the band played one last encore. Each wedding adds a new layer to our personal map of the East End, connecting past and present in a way that feels deeply personal.
When couples choose us for their Hamptons or North Fork wedding, we don’t just see it as another event on our calendar. We see it as a chance to fold another story into the fabric of a place we love—a chance to bring our perspective, our cameras, and our roots back to a coast that shaped us.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning a wedding on the East End—whether it’s a laid-back luxe celebration at Crow’s Nest, a vineyard soirée at RGNY, or an oceanside party at Gurney’s—we can’t recommend these venues highly enough. But more than that, we encourage you to lean into what makes this part of Long Island so magnetic: the balance of sophistication and simplicity, of luxury that doesn’t need to flaunt itself. It’s weddings that feel as good as they look.
And for us? Those are the stories we love to tell.
Featured East End Venues Where We’ve Photographed Weddings
Crow’s Nest — Montauk, NY
RGNY (formerly Martha Clara Vineyards) — Riverhead, NY
Wölffer Estate Vineyard — Sagaponack, NY
Montauk Lighthouse — Montauk, NY
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa — Montauk, NY
Canoe Place Inn & Cottages — Hampton Bays, NY
Si Si Restaurant at East Hampton Marina — East Hampton, NY
Madoo Conservancy — Sagaponack, NY
Southampton Yacht Club — Southampton, NY
Montauk Yacht Club — Montauk, NY
Vineyard Caterers (Aquebogue Vineyards) — Aquebogue, NY
