Planning a Wedding at the Mansion at Oyster Bay

When Clara + Lukas started their search for a wedding venue, they had a vision of what they were looking for: a venue with old world charm and elegance, captivating architecture, and acres of green. Once they saw The Mansion at Oyster Bay, they knew without a doubt that this was the place where they wanted to start the next chapter of their life together. 

Built in 1918, the Mansion at Oyster Bay is a stunning Gold Coast estate with a colorful history. Though the estate went through many owners, the most prominent of them all was art collector and socialite, Ailsa Mellon Bruce. She filled the mansion with the art and design elements that are still on display now, giving the venue its distinct character. Mellon Bruce hosted lavish parties throughout the 1920s and 30s that would have rivaled Gatsby himself. Even today, you can feel the aura of that refined, old-world atmosphere the moment you step through the mansion’s front gates. 

As a luxury wedding and event venue, the estate has been updated with every modern convenience you can think of to make your event run smoothly. From a state-of-the-art, in-house kitchen to lavish suites and guest accommodations and both indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception options, the Mansion at Oyster Bay checks off every box for a wedding filled with elegance and sophistication. Because they only host one wedding at a time, you can be certain you and your partner will have the staff’s full attention to make sure every part of your wedding vision comes to light. You’ll even be assigned a dedicated party planner to help you make sure of it. 

Whether you’re planning a grand or intimate wedding, the Mansion at Oyster Bay will add over a century’s worth of charm and gold-star service that you and your guests are not soon to forget. 

A Wedding Morning at the Mansion

On the morning of their wedding, Clara and her bridesmaids gathered bright and early in the bridal suite of the Mansion at Oyster Bay. Sun poured through the windows as the ladies lounged on cozy couches sipping mimosas and getting their hair and makeup done by the team from Bar Wedding. When she was ready, Clara and her mom slipped into the adjoining powder room so Clara could slip on her wedding gown. Her mom helped her with the final touches to make sure her daughter was completely ready for her big day. Then, the moment Clara emerged, every single bridesmaid stopped what they were doing, completely in awe and excitement at seeing the beautiful bride. Afterward, Clara and her mom slipped outside where her father was waiting for her. Clara and her dad shared a joyous father-daughter first look before the day’s festivities began. 

At the other end of the mansion, Lukas and his groomsmen kept things a little more laidback. They had the cocktail lounge all to themselves and enjoyed cold beers while adding the final touches for the day. Once we got the signal that Clara was ready, Lukas headed out to the back gardens where he waited by an ivy-covered garden wall for their bride and groom’s first look. 

When Clara gently tapped him on the shoulder, Lukas did all he could to hold back tears at the beauty that was Clara before him. Through watery smiles the two kissed and embraced before we wandered the venue taking their bride and groom portraits. Once portraits were done, the two headed outside to the mansion’s front entrance to take portraits with their full wedding party and family. The lineup even got a scene-stealing guest appearance from Clara and Lukas’s corgi, dressed for the occasion in her own little white dress.

Wedding Ceremony in the Mansion at Oyster Bay Terrace

As guests began to arrive, they were met by white-gloved valet service at the main entrance’s roundabout and were immediately led through to the back terrace. This stone-paved space lined with manicured bushes and bright bursts of flowers could not have been a lovelier choice for Clara + Lukas’s ceremony. White chairs were set up facing away from the mansion and overlooking the back garden. The seating left a main aisle lined with sprays of red and white roses heading to a backdrop of lush green trees with a flowing stone fountain and gazebo in the distance. The day itself cooperated wonderfully, with clear blue skies and not a single cloud in sight. 

As guests found their seats, a live string quartet played soft music to set the mood. Finally, when everyone was settled, the music shifted and Lukas, arm-in-arm with his parents, led the procession down the aisle. Clara + Lukas’s ceremony was simple and sweet with one memorable moment as a rogue wind nearly sent Clara’s veil flying. However, quick thinking from her maid of honor kept it in place before removing it entirely for safekeeping. 

With rings exchanged and their first kiss as newlyweds behind them, Clara + Lukas made their way back down the aisle in style. Lukas dipped Clara in a dramatic kiss before the two disappeared back into the mansion as husband and wife at last. 

A Grand Reception in the Mansion at Oyster Bay

After the ceremony, guests made their way inside for cocktail hour in the lounge – a moody, elegant space lined with dark wood walls and accented by the warm glow of tall candles and red and white florals. Servers circulated with trays of drinks and small bites as guests mingled and enjoyed full bar-service and hot food stations to whet their appetite. Meanwhile, Clara + Lukas slipped through the bridal suite and out to the garden to catch the last rays of daylight for sunset newlywed photos. 

Once their sunset shoot wrapped, the couple got a private sneak peek into the reception hall before any guests stepped inside. The room was absolutely stunning. White tables were lined with white taper candles and more red and white roses in elegant vases. Each place setting was finished with white plates, ivory-handled cutlery, and napkins in a soft floral watercolor design that tied in beautifully with the wedding’s pale sage green accent colors. A table of small silver trays, each printed with a guest’s name, doubled as an enchanting guest favor and a unique way for everyone to find their seat. Once they fully took in the beauty of the reception hall, Clara + Lukas ducked back to the bridal suite just before their guests filed in and settled at their tables.

The newlyweds made their grand entrance to a room full of applause, sharing their first dance as husband and wife with the mother-son and father-daughter dances following directly after. Heartfelt speeches from the maid of honor and best man had everyone both laughing and shedding a few tears of joy as each recounted their favorite parts of Clara + Lukas’s love story. A speech from Clara’s parents came next to honor the beautiful couple before Clara + Lukas themselves took the mic to offer a toast of their own, thanking everyone for being there to celebrate with them.

After dinner, Clara snuck away for a moment before reemerging in an adorable mini wedding dress and ready to cut the cake with Lukas. With the cake cut and dessert served, the dance floor officially opened. Clara, Lukas, and all of their friends and family kept the dance floor alive and moving well into the night. Finally, as the evening wore down, the newlyweds and a handful of their closest loved ones slipped behind a hidden bookshelf to the mansion’s on-site speakeasy for one final toast before the Gatsby-esque magic of the evening came to a close for good. 

Thinking of adding some Gatsby-era elegance to your wedding? You definitely cannot go wrong with choosing the Mansion at Oyster Bay!

Hey there! I’m Rachael Crowe of OkCrowe Photography based in the heart of New York City. I’ve shot hundreds of weddings across the New York area, across the country, and around the world. Just say the word and I’ll be there with my cameras in hand to capture every moment of your big day. I fell in love with the Mansion at Oyster Bay the moment I arrived for Clara + Lukas’s wedding. If you’ve been thinking of holding your wedding here as well, I promise you won’t regret it! And I’d be honored to capture your big day there too! Just reach out through my contact form for quotes and availability.