12 Stunning Beach Wedding Venues in New York State (2026 Guide)
Guest-capacity, setting, and feature details below were gathered from venue listings and couple reviews as of 2026 — always confirm current pricing and availability directly with each venue before booking.
New York State has more beachfront wedding options than most couples realize. You can say "I do" on an Atlantic Ocean dune in the Hamptons, a Finger Lakes shoreline gazebo, or a Niagara River beach two hours from Toronto — all without leaving the state. This guide rounds up 12 of the best beach and waterfront wedding venues in New York, organized from Long Island's coastline to the Great Lakes region upstate, so you can compare settings before you start touring.
What to Look for in a Beach Wedding Venue
Before you fall for the first sunset photo, check these details:
Weather backup plan. Every outdoor ceremony needs a covered or indoor alternative — ask what it looks like, not just whether one exists.
Guest capacity that matches your list. A venue that's romantic for 50 guests can feel cramped at 200.
Getting-ready space. Beachfront venues sometimes have limited indoor suites — confirm this before you assume it's included.
Sand versus lawn versus terrace. True sand ceremonies look stunning in photos but can be harder for guests to navigate; many couples choose a terrace or lawn within view of the water instead.
In-house catering versus outside vendors. This affects both cost and how much you'll need to coordinate yourself.
The Best Beach & Waterfront Wedding Venues in New York State
1. Crescent Beach Club — Bayville, NY On the Long Island Sound in Bayville, this venue gives couples a private white-sand beach without leaving New York. It's a strong pick for couples who want a true sand ceremony with a formal indoor reception right behind it.
2. Allegria Hotel — Long Beach, NY An oceanfront hotel on Long Island's south shore, Allegria pairs Atlantic Ocean views with full-service hotel amenities, making it convenient for out-of-town guests who want to stay where they celebrate.
3. Gurney's Montauk — Montauk, NY Gurney's oceanfront resort at the tip of Long Island combines sandy-shore ceremony space with a full-scale reception ballroom, and it's one of the most photographed beach wedding backdrops in the state.
4. Bridgehampton Tennis & Surf Club — Bridgehampton, NY Set near Mecox Bay and the Atlantic in the Hamptons, this club offers a coastal, understated setting for couples who want beach views without a resort-scale production.
5. The Vanderbilt at South Beach — Staten Island, NY Facing Coney Island across the water with the Verrazzano Bridge nearby, The Vanderbilt gives couples a beachfront wedding with a New York City skyline in the frame — a rare combination this close to Manhattan.
6. Pavilion at Sunken Meadow — Kings Park, NY On Long Island's north shore, this recently renovated boardwalk pavilion overlooks the Long Island Sound and works well for couples who want a more relaxed, moonlit-water reception feel.
7. Land's End — Sayville, NY Overlooking the Great South Bay, Land's End pairs waterfront views with manicured gardens, appealing to couples who want water as a backdrop rather than a full beach ceremony.
8. Geneva on the Lake — Geneva, NY This historic Finger Lakes estate sits directly on Seneca Lake, giving couples an Italian-villa-style setting with lakefront ceremony space — ideal for a wine-country wedding weekend.
9. Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel — Watkins Glen, NY Positioned on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes wine region, this hotel venue suits couples planning a multi-day wedding weekend with lake views as the constant backdrop.
10. SunCliff on the Lake — Silver Creek, NY With 550 feet of Lake Erie frontage and 15 acres of grounds, SunCliff can host 300-plus guests indoors and outside, making it one of the larger lakefront options in Western New York.
11. Chautauqua Harbor Hotel — Celoron, NY On the shores of Chautauqua Lake near Jamestown, this resort offers both a landscaped waterfront patio for an intimate outdoor ceremony and an indoor Pier Ballroom for larger receptions.
12. The Falconwood at Beaver Island — Grand Island, NY Located inside 980-acre Beaver Island State Park midway between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, The Falconwood at Beaver Island has hosted weddings on the Niagara River since 1935. Couples can exchange vows on a private beach ceremony site, then move to the Riverview Room's panoramic windows or the heated, covered Outdoor Terrace for a reception — all on one property. Sister spaces like The V'Randa waterfront restaurant and Bogey's Pub at the on-site golf course also make it one of the few beach wedding venues in New York where an entire wedding weekend, not just the reception, can happen without leaving the grounds.
Is a Beach Wedding Venue Right for Your Guest List?
Beach and waterfront venues work best for couples who want natural scenery to do the heavy lifting on decor and who don't mind a weather-dependent ceremony plan. They're a better fit for guest counts venues can comfortably seat both indoors and out — most on this list range from intimate gatherings up to 300 guests. Couples who need a strictly climate-controlled, downtown, walkable-to-everything venue may prefer a hotel ballroom instead; but for anyone who wants water in every photo, this list is a strong place to start touring.
Final Thoughts
New York's beach and waterfront wedding venues stretch from Atlantic Ocean dunes on Long Island to Great Lakes shorelines near the Canadian border, so "beach wedding" doesn't have to mean a destination trip. If a Niagara River setting with a private beach ceremony, golf course, and waterfront dining all on one property sounds like your wedding weekend, The Falconwood at Beaver Island is worth a tour — reach out to their event team to check date availability before you finalize your shortlist.
FAQ
Are there real beach wedding venues in New York State outside Long Island?
Yes. Western New York and the Finger Lakes both have lakefront venues on Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Seneca Lake, and the Niagara River, including The Falconwood at Beaver Island in Grand Island.
Can you have an actual sand ceremony in New York, not just a water view?
Several venues on this list, including Crescent Beach Club and The Falconwood at Beaver Island, offer a true private-beach ceremony site rather than just a waterfront lawn or terrace.
What happens if it rains on a beach wedding day?
Every venue on this list offers a covered or indoor backup space — ask each venue to walk you through exactly what that alternative looks like before you book.
Do beach wedding venues in New York cost more than inland venues?
Pricing varies widely by region and season; Long Island and Hamptons venues tend to run higher than Finger Lakes or Western New York options, but exact packages should always be confirmed directly with each venue.