Marrying in The Hamptons
The East End of Long Island, within reach of Manhattan, hosts the summer wedding market of New York. East Hampton, Southampton, Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton and Montauk each have their own character, but the draw is the same: oceanfront estate access, proximity to the Atlantic and a guest list drawn from New York's financial and creative communities.
Most Hamptons weddings run on private estate rental. The area's real estate includes some of the most valuable summer homes in the country, and many become wedding venues for the right budget.
Boutique hotels and vineyard venues form a smaller tier with easier entry points. A boutique hotel in Bridgehampton and a large beachfront resort in Montauk handle the bulk of the hotel-based market.
The season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. July and August are the peak, and June and September have more availability. Outside this window most businesses and many properties close.
The seasons
- Best
- Shoulder
- Peak
- Quieter
5 Star view Our reading of the wedding year, from the months below.
- Best months
- June and September
- Shoulder season
- Late May and early October
- Peak season
- July and August
From October to May the area is effectively closed. Peak weekends are booked far ahead. June and September offer fuller venue availability with fewer crowds and similar weather.
Daylight and sunset
The bar runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month. A ceremony is usually timed an hour or two before the sunset shown.
Calculated From the coordinates of The Hamptons, local time, for 2027.
Ramadan and Eid
For couples and guests who observe them, the dates to plan a wedding around.
| Year | Ramadan | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 8 Feb to 8 Mar | 9 Mar | 16 May |
| 2028 | 28 Jan to 25 Feb | 26 Feb | 5 May |
Calculated From the Umm al-Qura calendar. The observed dates follow the sighting of the moon and can fall a day either side.
The areas of The Hamptons
East Hampton
A formal, calm village with a green and private oceanfront estates.
Southampton
Longer-established wealth and a more residential feel, a little more relaxed than East Hampton.
Sag Harbor
A nautical village with a yacht club on the water, pleasant and less formal.
Bridgehampton
Lies between the two main towns, with a boutique hotel and a vineyard estate.
Montauk
The far end of the island, with a wilder landscape and a large beach resort, relaxed and increasingly drawing a younger, upmarket crowd.
What venues are like
Vineyard Ceremony
A vineyard estate and a few North Fork wineries offer outdoor settings, with evening light through the vines.
Yacht Club and Waterfront
Yacht clubs at Sag Harbor and Montauk give a nautical backdrop on the bay.
Airports and transfers
- New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) Direct transatlantic service from London on several carriers.
- Newark Liberty (EWR) An alternative for UK guests who arrange onward car hire or a car service.
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Orange County John Wayne (SNA)
- San Diego (SAN)
- Santa Barbara (SBA)
- Palm Springs (PSP)
- Boston Logan (BOS)
- Miami (MIA)
Kennedy Airport is reached by car, and the drive depends on traffic, with Friday afternoons far slower. Coach services run from Manhattan, and a seaplane flies from Manhattan to East Hampton Airport or Montauk seasonally. MacArthur Airport (ISP) in Islip lies to the west with limited direct service.
Marrying legally in the United States
Applies to: Marriage law is set by each state
The United States has no single national marriage law. A couple obtains a marriage licence in the state where they will marry, through that state's vital records office or its county offices, and the licence expires between 30 days and a year after issue, depending on the state. Age, waiting periods, identification, witnesses and who may officiate differ by state, so the couple should check the state they choose.
- 1Before travelling
Check the state's rules
Contact the vital records office in the state where you will marry for its requirements, including the identification it accepts from non-residents and any waiting period.
- 2Shortly before the wedding
Obtain the licence
Apply for the marriage licence in the state of the ceremony. A licence expires within 30 days to a year depending on the state, so time it close to the date; if it lapses before the wedding, a new one is needed.
- 3The day
The ceremony
The wedding takes place in that state, and the licence is completed and returned for the certificate to be issued, as the state directs.
- Governing law
- each state
- Licence
- from the state of the ceremony
- Licence validity
- 30 days to a year, by state
- Travelling couple
- ESTA or visa needed to enter
Already married at home?5 Star view
Because the licence and law belong to the state, many couples marry legally at home or at a courthouse and hold the celebration here with a ceremony of their own choosing. A ceremony with no legal effect needs none of the steps above: the venue and the planner arrange it.
Who needs a visa
Travelling from the United States
American citizens travelling within their own country need no visa, ESTA or entry formalities: the usual identification for domestic travel applies, and the couple apply for a licence in the state where they will marry.
Travelling from the United Kingdom
British citizens need an ESTA or a visa to enter or transit the United States. ESTA is for travellers under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business, and needs an e-passport; the passport must be valid for the length of the stay. You may not be eligible if you have been arrested, have a criminal record, have been refused entry or deported, have overstayed before, or were in certain countries (including Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen since March 2011, or Cuba since 12 January 2021); in that case apply for a visa. An ESTA does not guarantee entry.
Other nationalities
Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries travel with an approved ESTA and an e-passport, for up to 90 days. All other nationalities need a US visa applied for through the US embassy or consulate in their country.
The state decides who may marry and how. The marriage law of the state of the ceremony applies, and the couple should confirm it with that state's vital records office.
Reference USA.gov: marriage licence guidance (usa.gov/marriage-certificate). U.S. Customs and Border Protection: ESTA and Visa Waiver Program pages. U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Visa Waiver Program requirements. gov.uk: USA entry requirements. All read 2026-10-21. Checked 21 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the authority that will marry you before you book.
Accommodation
East Hampton has limited hotel inventory, and most groups stay across rented houses clustered around the main estate. Boutique hotels fill fast.
At the table
The summer food scene is among the strongest in the country, because top New York City restaurants open seasonal outposts.
Milanese restaurant with local outposts
A Milanese institution with branches in East Hampton and Southampton, and a preferred rehearsal dinner spot.
Seasonal outpost
A seasonal outpost in East Hampton of a New York City restaurant, taking group bookings before a ceremony.
Long-running wood-fired restaurant
The original Hamptons institution, running for decades, known for wood-fired cooking and a celebrity regular clientele.
Hotel farm-to-table restaurant
The farm-to-table restaurant at the Bridgehampton boutique hotel has private dining rooms for wedding parties.
What planners tell couples
Traffic
The Long Island Expressway is severe on Friday afternoons in peak summer. Friday arrivals from Kennedy Airport or Manhattan need generous extra time, while early Saturday morning arrivals are much faster.
Noise ordinances
East Hampton and Southampton enforce strict noise ordinances. Amplified music typically must end by 11pm, and some areas are stricter. The venue should confirm the rule, and it belongs in vendor briefings.
Estate rental agreements
Private estate rentals for weddings need specific event riders, since standard vacation rental terms do not cover wedding use. A licensed Hamptons events coordinator with established estate relationships should handle the arrangement.
Seaplane option
Seaplane operators run service from Manhattan to East Hampton Airport seasonally, from late May to September. For guests travelling light, it is a memorable arrival.
