THE OHEKA CASTLE WEDDING GUIDE
What To Know When Planning a Wedding at Oheka Castle
Planning an Oheka Castle wedding is a dream for many couples looking for a luxurious Long Island wedding venue with timeless architecture and stunning gardens. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about having your event at the castle.
Cost & Investment
Oheka Castle is considered one of the most luxurious wedding venues in New York, so couples should expect a higher-end investment.
Venue pricing typically starts around $80,000–$115,000 depending on season and guest count.
Catering and food service are handled in-house, with per-person dining packages that can range from around $200+ per guest or more depending on menu selections and upgrades.
Luxury additions like premium open bar service, specialty food stations, and extended events can increase the overall investment.
Guest Capacity
The venue can comfortably accommodate up to around 400 seated guests, making it ideal for both large luxury weddings and elegant mid-size celebrations.
For many weekend weddings, venues typically require minimum guest counts of roughly 150–200 guests depending on the day of the week.
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Grand Ballroom
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The Formal Garden
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The Terrace Room
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The Addie Kahn Room & Library
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The Grand Staircase
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![bride and groom portrait at entrance of oheka castle]()
The West Gate Drive Entrance
Ceremony & Reception Spaces
One of the most beautiful parts about Oheka is that couples have multiple locations on the estate to design a full wedding experience:
Formal Gardens: A stunning outdoor ceremony space with symmetrical European-style landscaping and reflecting pools.
Grand Ballroom: Elegant hardwood floors and dramatic architecture perfect for formal receptions.
Terrace Room: The largest event space, where up to 350 guests can dine and celebrate with room for dancing.
Historic Staircase & Foyer: Often used for dramatic entrances or portraits.
The layout makes it easy for couples to create a natural flow from ceremony → cocktail hour → reception.
One Wedding Per Day
One of the things couples love most is that Oheka hosts only one wedding per day, meaning the entire estate is dedicated to your event.
That exclusivity gives the day a much more private, estate-like feel.
The Property & Setting
The castle sits on over 20 acres of manicured grounds on Long Island’s historic Gold Coast.
The estate was originally built between 1914 and 1919 and remains the largest private residence in New York State.
Its French château-style architecture and formal gardens make it one of the most iconic luxury wedding venues in New York.
Rooms & Overnight Accommodations
The estate functions as a luxury hotel with about 30+ guest rooms and suites, allowing couples and close family to stay on site.
The bridal suite is included for the couple on their wedding night, which is such a special way to end the celebration.
There is also a separate getting-ready room available during the day for preparation before the ceremony.
Catering & Dining Experience
All catering is handled in-house by the Oheka culinary team, known for elevated multi-course dining and luxury cocktail hours. Packages typically include:
• Cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres
• A formal dinner reception
• Dessert and wedding cake service
• Premium bar service options
The food experience here is a big part of the celebration and feels very much like a luxury European estate dinner party.
Oheka Castle Wedding Photographer
As a New York wedding photographer, photographing weddings at Oheka Castle is always an incredible experience. From portraits on the iconic staircase to romantic golden hour moments in the gardens, Oheka Castle offers some of the most breathtaking backdrops of any wedding venue in New York.
If you’re planning an Oheka Castle wedding and looking for a photographer who focuses on candid storytelling and timeless imagery, I would love to connect and hear about your plans.
Inquire here to check availability for your wedding date.
One of the things that makes Oheka Castle such an iconic wedding venue is the variety of breathtaking backdrops across the estate and the fact that the entire estate is available for your event. As a photographer, there are several locations throughout the property that you should be sure to capture.
Best Photo Locations at the Castle
Some of the most beautiful photo spots at Oheka Castle include:
The Grand Staircase – One of the most recognizable features of the castle and perfect for dramatic portraits or elegant wedding party photos.
The Formal Gardens – Symmetrical landscaping, fountains, and long pathways give portraits a classic European feel.
The Front Lawn & Castle Facade – The wide view of the castle itself creates stunning editorial-style portraits.
The Tree-Lined Driveway – Perfect for romantic walking shots and cinematic newlywed portraits.
The Terrace Overlooking the Gardens – A beautiful location for sunset portraits with soft light across the property.
Because the estate is so expansive, couples can capture a wide range of editorial, candid, and romantic images without ever leaving the property.
Best Time of Year for an Oheka Castle Wedding
Each season brings a different atmosphere to Oheka Castle, which is part of what makes it such a sought-after Long Island wedding venue.
Spring weddings feature blooming gardens and soft pastel colors throughout the estate.
Summer weddings highlight the full beauty of the grounds and allow for outdoor ceremonies and sunset portraits in the gardens.
Fall weddings are incredibly romantic, with warm foliage colors surrounding the castle and dramatic golden-hour light.
Winter weddings create a cozy, elegant atmosphere inside the mansion, and snowfall around the castle can make for incredibly magical portraits.
No matter the season, the historic architecture and formal gardens ensure the venue always feels timeless and luxurious.
Why Couples Choose Oheka for Their Wedding
For couples dreaming of a luxury castle wedding in New York, Oheka Castle offers something truly unique. Built in the early 1900s on Long Island’s historic Gold Coast, the estate combines old-world European architecture with modern luxury hospitality.
Many couples choose Oheka because it offers:
A private estate experience with only one wedding hosted per day
Multiple ceremony and reception spaces throughout the property
Luxurious accommodations for overnight guests
Iconic architecture and gardens that feel like a destination wedding without leaving New York
The result is a wedding experience that feels both grand and intimate—a celebration that blends historic elegance with personal moments shared among family and friends.
Timeline Tips For Weddings At Oheka
As a photographer, Oheka is truly one of the most visually dynamic venues in New York. Between the formal gardens, the long tree-lined driveway, the grand staircase, and the castle architecture itself, there are endless opportunities for elegant, editorial portraits throughout the entire day. Because it is such an expansive estate, building a thoughtful timeline is one of the best ways to fully enjoy the property and capture the most beautiful moments throughout the day.
Here are a few tips I often recommend to couples getting married at this stunning venue.
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The property spans over 20 acres of gardens, staircases, terraces, and tree-lined paths. Because there are so many stunning locations, I always suggest setting aside at least 30–45 minutes for portraits around the estate. This allows us to explore multiple areas without feeling rushed and capture those elegant, editorial-style images Oheka is known for.
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One of the most magical times at the castle is just before sunset, when the light falls across the gardens and the front steps of the mansion. If possible, I recommend stepping away from the reception for 10–15 minutes of golden hour portraits. These often become some of the most cinematic images of the entire day.
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With such a large venue, a first look can help couples maximize their time and allow us to photograph portraits, wedding party photos, and family photos before the ceremony. This means you can spend more time enjoying cocktail hour and celebrating with guests.
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One of the things that makes weddings at Oheka so special is that it truly feels like a private European estate for the day. I always encourage couples to build in small pauses—whether it’s a quiet walk in the gardens, sunset portraits, or a moment together on the terrace—to really take in the experience.
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Oheka Castle is an incredibly dynamic property with countless photo locations—from the formal gardens and grand staircase to the long tree-lined driveway and terraces.
Working with a photo and video team who understands the flow of the estate can make a huge difference in your timeline. An experienced team will know how to move efficiently between locations, anticipate lighting throughout the day, and capture the most iconic views of the castle without pulling you away from your celebration for too long. Inquire with us about your wedding date here.