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Hamptons Parks, Beaches, & Churches on the South Fork
South Fork Beaches
Vows on the Beach
Maybe your idea of a perfect South Fork wedding is being able to incorporate the natural beauty of the area right into your ceremony. Venues to form a natural backdrop range from smooth oceanfront beaches, to rolling dunes dotted with scrubby beach plum and sea grasses...from secluded bay beaches where the coastline forms a gentle circle around you, like Nature's embrace, to rocky Montauk Point, where the views out to sea can suggest a future of seemingly endless possibilities...
 If nature is the dream setting for your vows, do take into consideration the tone of your reception, and the capabilities of your guests. I once handled a wedding on the beach in September when the weather had turned unseasonably chilly. Guests were instructed to park at the end of the beach road and walk about 300 feet across sand to where a chuppah was erected. This produced some consternation among the primarily elder members of the family - Aunt Edna couldn't walk across sand in her heels, yet if she took them off, sand would get in her stockings... Not a comfortable thought!
But our beaches are renowned for their beauty, and many couples do choose to utter their vows with only seagulls to form a roof overhead, only the soft crash of the surf as their orchestra.
Here are some of the specifics: You can be married on a beach with approximately 150 of your nearest and dearest as witnesses (depending on the town in which your dream beach is located) with only a permit, easily accessible from the town clerk. For larger guest lists, you need the permission of the town board.
Some things to take into consideration: You may marry in front of the waves, but you can't party there. NO alcohol is permitted, and in some places in Southampton town, permits are issued for the ceremony only - approximately an hour in duration only, and you're required to provide your own Porta-potty. (Don't think of your Girl Scout days - nowadays porta-johns can be downright luxurious! Check out one of our service providers: www.norsic.com.
And finally, marrying on the beach is probably not something you want to do at the height of the summer season, unless you plan to bus all your guests in. Parking is VERY limited, and of course, you're subject to the crowds, who have the same run of the beach you do. Furthermore, an in-season oceanfront wedding is subject to the approval of the Supervisor of Parks. For these reasons, most beach weddings happen before Memorial Day or after Labor Day, when generally the weather is quite nice, but the crowds aren't as heavy.
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WHERE THE BEACHES ARE
Southampton Town Beaches - West to East
Cupsogue Beach County Park (Ocean)
Dune Road
Westhampton, NY
(631) 852-8211
As well as swimming, this 296 acre beach offers camping, outer beach access, scuba diving, special events, food concession, and restrooms.
Tiana Beach (Ocean)
Dune Road
East Quogue, NY
Bathing pavilion, restrooms.
Ponquogue Beach (Ocean)
Dune Road
Hampton Bays, NY
Lifeguard protected, food concession, restrooms, showers, picnic tables, volleyball courts.
Meschutt Beach County Park (Bay)
East side of Shinnecock Canal
Hampton Bays, NY
(631) 728-0804, off-season (631) 283-6011
Lifeguard protected (6/20 - 9/7), food concession, restrooms, picnic area, rentals.
Flying Point Beach (Ocean)
End of Flying Point Road
Water Mill, NY
Lifeguards, restrooms.
Mecox Beach (Ocean)
End of Job's Lane, off Mecox Road
Bridgehampton, NY
Lifeguards, restrooms.
Sagg Main Beach (Ocean)
End of Sagaponack Main Street
Sagaponack, NY
Lifeguards, restrooms.
Smaller beaches with limited parking require full seasonal permits and have no restroom or concession facilities. Popular sites include Dolphin, Triton, and Mermaid Lanes in East Quogue, Gibson Lane in Bridgehampton, and Peter's Pond in Sagaponack.
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Southampton Village Beaches
Most of the beaches in the village are oceanfront, located at the ends of the south-running streets that bisect Gin and Meadow Lanes, which run parallel to the coastline. In summer, the majority of these smaller beaches require full season parking permits, and the parking is very limited (perhaps 50 spaces). Except where indicated, there are no lifeguard or restroom facilities.
In Southampton village, there are two "free" ocean beaches - no permits required:
- Fowlers Lane (Ocean)
End of Fowler's Lane, at the bend in Wickapogue Road
- Road D (Ocean)
Meadow Lane at Road D
Day permits are available during the season at:
- Cooper's Beach (Ocean)
Main beach with concession stand, chair and umbrella rentals, bathrooms, and fresh water showers, daily permits available.
- Meadow Lane, at Cooper's Neck Lane, Southampton Village
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East Hampton Town and Village Beaches, West to East
Quite frankly, unless you have access to a beachfront home in which to stage your wedding, you'd be well advised to consult one of our very savvy local caterers for venues for waterview weddings in East Hampton town. Unless otherwise indicated, East Hampton town's wide variety of both ocean and bay beaches all require full season permits. There are only two beaches west of Montauk that a non-resident can purchase a day pass - both for weekdays ONLY.
East Hampton Main Beach (Ocean)
End of Ocean Avenue off Montauk Highway
East Hampton, NY
Main beach with concession stand, chair and umbrella rentals, bathrooms, and fresh water showers.
Atlantic Beach (Ocean)
End of Atlantic Avenue, off Bluff Road
Amagansett, NY
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Other Popular Beaches, West to East
Like Southampton, there are many smaller beaches with very limited parking (perhaps 50 spaces) that require full season parking permits. Unless otherwise indicated, there are no lifeguard or restroom facilities.
Town Line Road (Ocean)
End of Town Line Road
Wainscott, NY
Beach Lane (Ocean)
End of Beach Lane
Wainscott, NY
Georgica Beach (Ocean)
End of Apaquogue Road and Lily Pond Lane
East Hampton Village, NY
Two Mile Hollow Beach (Ocean)
End of Two Mile Hollow Road
East Hampton Village, NY
Albert's Landing Beach (Ocean)
End of Albert's Landing Road, off Old Stone Highway
Amagansett, NY
Louis Point (Bay)
Louse Point Road
Springs (East Hampton), NY
Maidstone Park (Bay)
End of Flaggy Hole Road and Three Mile Harbor Roads
Springs (East Hampton), NY
Bluff Road Beaches (Ocean)
Off Bluff Road
Amagansett, NY
Gin Beach (Bay/Sound)
End of East Lake Drive
Montauk, NY
On Block Island Sound. Sandy beach, gentle water, with views of the boats coming in and out of Montauk Harbor.
Ditch Point Plains (Ocean)
Two miles east of the Montauk village
Off Ditch Plains Road
Montauk, NY
This lovely ocean beach has spectacular cliffs rising at its western end at Rinestein Park. Popular with surfers.
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Sag Harbor
Like Southampton, there are many smaller beaches with very limited parking (perhaps 50 spaces) that require full season parking permits. Unless otherwise indicated, there are no lifeguard or restroom facilities.
Haven'S Beach (Bay)
Off Bay Street
Sag Harbor, NY
Long Beach/Foster'S Memorial Beach (Bay)
Long Beach Road
Noyac, NY
Daily permits available at the beach. Long, curving pebble beach overlooking gorgeous Noyac Bay. Restrooms available.
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Where to go for additional information on town beaches
EAST HAMPTON
Town Clerk
159 Pantiago Road
East Hampton, NY
(631) 324-4142
VillageClerk
86 Main Street
East Hampton, NY
(631) 324-4150
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Making your wedding a walk in the park
Visitors to the East End generally call it "the country." While the proliferation of sophisticated shops and restaurants would make many locals raise an eyebrow over the designation, there's no doubt the open vistas, verdant trees, and protected agricultural preserves add to the beauty of the area. While pocket parks and greenbelts can be found tucked into every Hamplet and village, these parks are most suitable for larger gatherings.
Sears Bellows County Park (Ponds)
Bellows Pond Road, off Rte. 24 (exit 65 N off Sunrise Highway)
Hampton Bays, NY
(631) 852-8290
Lifeguard protected swimming, fishing, rowboating, horseback riding, picnic facilities, pavilion, bridle paths.
Cedar Point County Park (Bay)
Old Northwest Road and Alewive Brook Road
East Hampton, NY
(631) 852-7620 or (631) 324-4143
607 acre Cedar Point, with commanding views of Gardiner's Bay, offers individual and organized group camping areas. Picnic areas, boat rentals, nature trails, vehicular access to the outer beach (with permit only).
Hither Hills State Park (Ocean)
Four miles west of Montauk on Old Montauk Highway
Montauk, NY
(631) 668-2461
Lifeguards, restrooms, outdoor showers, general sore, playground, picnic tables, camping.
Montauk County Park (Theodore Roosevelt County Park)
Three miles east of Montauk village on Montauk Highway
Montauk, NY
Over 1,000 acres, including nature trails, bridle paths, Third House Museum, a picnic area, fresh-water fishing, and surfcasting. Camping is permitted for up to three days on the outer beach for 4 wheel drive vehicles that are self-contained.
Montauk Downs State Park
Fairview Drive
Montauk, NY
(631) 668-5000
On 160 acres, Montauk Downs includes an 18-hole public golf course, a driving range and a putting green, six tennis courts, a pool and wading pool with spray for children.
Shadmoor State Park (Ocean)
Montauk Highway at Seaside Ave, 2-1/2 miles east of Montauk village.
(631) 668-3781
A pristine 99-acre tract of land with a half mile of ocean frontage. Tall clay cliffs plunge down to a pebble-strewn beach. From the bluffs the rugged Atlantic Ocean stretches as far as the horizon, with lines of waves unfolding and rolling to the shore.
Montauk Lighthouse (Ocean)
Literally, the end (or beginning, depending on your point of view!) of Long Island - next stop, in a straight line, would be Portugal! Standing 100 feet tall, the lighthouse is the oldest in New York State, commissioned by George Washington in 1792 and finished in 1797. Its beauty and history make it a frequent site for weddings, possibly because it is seems a symbol of the endless possibilities on the horizon.
http://www.montauklighthouse.com/weddings.htm
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