What's a good outdoor wedding location outside NYC?

September 21, 2004 3:57 PM

Creative outdoorsy wedding location idea outside NYC? [more inside]

We're just starting to plan a wedding. We're considering the idea of doing it somewhere in upstate NY (or, maybe, NJ or Eastern PA). I'd been told there were lots of tiny hotels/BnBs/mansions/etc that you could basically get for a weekend, have the wedding party stay there, and have the ceremony and reception all there too. My searching has turned up a little (e.g.), but nothing too exciting. We'll, it's turned up some amusing relics from the era when the catskills were hopping, but I'm not sure I want an ironic wedding. We'd like somewhere with a bit of nature too (mountains, woods, you know the stuff), and not too over-the-top ostentatious.

We're planning on doing an extended road trip this weekend to visit a few places, but the list is pretty short right now.

Anyone go to any nice weddings in that kind of setting? Are we maybe looking for something that doesn't exist? Vegas?

posted by malphigian to grab bag (17 comments total)

(apologies for the 3rd NYC related post in one day, didn't notice that until too late).
posted by malphigian at 3:58 PM on September 21, 2004

The Queen's Botanical Garden, part of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park is pretty.
posted by riffola at 4:24 PM on September 21, 2004

Guh, you said outside NYC, sorry.
posted by riffola at 4:24 PM on September 21, 2004

How many people? Generally, the smaller your guest list, the more great off-the-track places are available to you. We looked in NJ as well - PrincessValium's family is from there - and there was nothing too exciting beyond the country-club scene. You didn't mention a budget, but the mansion-type places in Jersey are ridiculously expensive.

There are a few nice places in Bucks County, and along the Jersey side of the Delaware River, that might accomodate you - again, depending on the size of your party.

We ended up getting out of the NYC scene entirely and choosing a mansion on the bay in Rhode Island, a decision which we couldn't be happier with.
posted by PrinceValium at 4:26 PM on September 21, 2004

Not really sure about the size, it's somewhat flexible, but it'd probably be hard to get it under 80 people (still pretty big, I know). Thanks for the pointers so far.
posted by malphigian at 4:31 PM on September 21, 2004

I went to a fantastic wedding in Maine - held in one of those B&B type places, with a huge lawn overlooking the sea. Not an overly fancy place either, but the view was a knockout. I have no idea where it was, but I guess my point is, don't overlook New England.
Another thing to think about, depending on the guest list and schedule: I went to another B&B style wedding in Virginia's hunt country, which was gorgeous, but the reception officially ended fairly early and there was absolutely nothing open anywhere nearby for those of us who wanted to keep imbibing. At one point, we even tried to drive to West Virginia which was, as you might guess, a lousy idea.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:40 PM on September 21, 2004

What about Wave Hill? or Storm King?
posted by amberglow at 5:44 PM on September 21, 2004

Two words: Fire Island. The place is magic.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:50 PM on September 21, 2004

There are lots of places up in Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. If this is close enough to consider let me know and I'll come up with some specific suggestions.
posted by Songdog at 7:21 PM on September 21, 2004

I don't know how far you are willing to drive, but New York is one of the most beautiful and under-rated states. I love the Adirondacks and the fingerlakes. There are a lot of graceful old hotels and cabins, and the lakes and mountains are great.

If you want to stay close to the city, the Hudson river valley is beautiful. Just stay on the otherside of Newburgh. It's a terrible, terrible place.
posted by gesamtkunstwerk at 7:41 PM on September 21, 2004

there might be nice places in/around Nyack too.
posted by amberglow at 7:53 PM on September 21, 2004

Thanks for the advice all, it's much appreciated. Ideally, hudson valley area would be nice, but we're pretty open minded at this point.
posted by malphigian at 6:03 AM on September 22, 2004

I'd like to second Storm King Art Center. It's one of my favorite places in the Hudson Valley. You might also check out Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. Good luck!
posted by willpie at 7:28 AM on September 22, 2004

A guy at work just got married at a location that sounds like exactly what you're looking for. I believe their wedding was about the same size, and they loved it. The location was somewhere upstate NY with mountains etc in the background - the pictures were gorgeous. He's on his honeymoon right now, but if you're interested, email me and I'll ask him when he gets back.

On another note, if CT is an option, we just got married at an inn on the water just outside of Mystic. There are lots of gorgeous places up this way. Again, email me if you're interested in more info.
posted by widdershins at 9:14 AM on September 22, 2004

The Finger Lakes are lovely -- and Ithaca is great. Views of lakes, wineries on the hillsides, gorges, waterfalls...
posted by Vidiot at 11:27 AM on September 22, 2004

You might consider The Cloisters, or if you can time it for the Cherry Blosson festival in Newark. Newark? Yes. Newark is home to one of the few parks with decorative cherry trees that rivals the ones in DC. Or you might consider the Jersey Shore. There are some very nice B&B's in Morris county. Jockey Hollow would be a gorgeous location for a bucolic wedding.
posted by plinth at 6:37 PM on September 22, 2004

It's a bit of a hike from NYC, but Cape May is lovely, and chock full of B&Bs.
Sussex County, NJ is beautiful, but there's not a whole lot of lodging there. There's a place called the Blue Mountain Inn (I used to live very nearby) where they film the Days of Our Lives formal party/wedding/etc. sequences; that's kinda fun. The lakes and hills and flora (and fauna) up there are just lovely.
Milford, PA meets the same description, has a little more funk, and probably has an ample B&B supply, as well.
posted by willpie at 6:54 PM on September 22, 2004