Old Westbury Gardens · 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568
Old Westbury Gardens — a Charles II-style mansion set in 200 acres of formal English gardens — is arguably the most photogenic property on Long Island. It’s a public garden, so weddings and portrait sessions run on permits and set hours; plan around that and it delivers like nowhere else.
What the venue gives you
The mansion’s columned West Porch overlooking a lake, the tree-lined Grand Allée, the Walled Garden with its pergola and pool, the Boxwood Garden, the Rose Garden, ponds, temples and statuary. Every direction is a composition. The trade-off is structure: permitted times, defined ceremony areas, and no moving of plantings.
Where the portraits happen
- The Grand Allée — the iconic wide frame; best with raking light.
- The West Porch and lake — columns, reflections, the mansion behind you.
- The Walled Garden — pergola, pool and dense borders.
- The Boxwood and Rose Gardens — tighter, structured portraits.
Timeline notes
Confirm your permitted hours early and build the couple’s portraits around golden hour in the Allée. The property is large, so allow walking time between the mansion, the Allée and the Walled Garden — 40–45 minutes for a proper set. A first look before the ceremony is the best way to use the space calmly.
The rain plan
This one needs thought — it’s an outdoor property. The mansion’s covered porch and interior rooms (where permitted) are the backup, and the pergola in the Walled Garden offers partial cover. Clear umbrellas in the gardens can turn a wet day into standout frames.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a photo permit?
Can we photograph anywhere in the gardens?
Getting married at Old Westbury Gardens? Tell us your permitted hours and we’ll plan golden hour in the Allée.