Here is my list of the best 7 Cape Cod wedding venues to make your beach wedding dreams come to life. Cape Cod is such a magical place to get married with its pristine beaches, nautical lighthouses, grassy dunes, and stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. I used to go to the Cape every summer growing up so it’s no surprise I’m a huge fan of photographing in all its beautiful spots! Whether you are looking for a seaside celebration in classic Cape style or a luxurious waterfront venue with a private beach, the venues below cover them all. This guide provides an overview of each venue so you can start planning your Cape Cod wedding today!
BOOK ME AS YOUR CAPE COD WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Chatham Bars Inn
Chatham Bars Inn is your number one option for a luxury Cape Cod wedding on their private beach. Out of all the waterfront wedding venues, this year round venue only hosts one wedding per day and offers fun reception ideas from private clambakes to having a beach bonfire.
Can you do a beach ceremony at Chatham Bars Inn? Yes, you can do a toes in the sand ceremony for your Chatham Bars Inn wedding.
Reception options: Tent on the South Lawn (300+ guests), Beach House Grill (250 guests), The Boathouse (90 guests), The Harbor View Room (75 guests), The Captain’s Table (14 guests)
If you opt for a tented wedding on the South Lawn I recommend a sailcloth Sperry tent.
Ceremony location options: Their Wedding Lawn for a waterfront ceremony or Private Beach for a toes in the sand ceremony
Best option for an indoor first look location: The Harbor View Room
Best dates for peak hydrangea portraits: July 5-July 20
Is the Chatham Bars Inn a year round wedding venue? Yes.
Example Reception Events: Private Clambake, Beach Bonfire, Croquet & Mimosa Brunch, Excursion to Nantucket, Winter Whiskey Bar, Pig Roast
My wedding photography top tip for Chatham Bars Inn weddings: Since the sun sets on the opposite side of the Cape, I suggest (if you love the glowy backlit look) first do any family, wedding party, or couples portraits with the Chatham Bars Inn building behind you and then once the sun sets behind the venue do portraits on the beach by the ocean. That way you aren’t staring into the sun for portraits! If it’s a cloudy day then you can 100% take photos in all locations at whatever time.
Address: 297 Shore Road Chatham, MA 02633
Phone: 1.800.527.4884
The Popponesset Inn Tent Wedding
Cape Cod Life Magazine has hailed the Popponesset Inn Tent as “Cape Cod’s Best Wedding Location” for many years. This comes as no surprise with its direct access to the sandy beach of the Popponesset Peninsula and expansive deck that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean.
Can you do a beach ceremony at The Popponesset Inn? No, but you can do your ceremony in their beautiful bright tent which has waterfront views and direct beach access outside the doors.
My wedding photography top tip for Popponesset Inn weddings: Keep in mind this is a public beach, so if you’d like a more private first look on the beach then I suggest booking a wedding in an off season month like May, September, or October. If you don’t mind crowds on the beach, then you can totally book a wedding there during the summer months.
The image shown above was from an August 3rd wedding so lucky for my couples I retouched everyone out of the background so they could get the beach portraits they’d been dreaming of when they envisioned their wedding at The Popponesset Inn. Since the sun sets on the opposite side of the Cape, I suggest taking any portraits where your back is 100% to the ocean just after the sun sets behind the trees. This way you won’t be staring into the sun creating deep shadows under your eyes and get that beautiful even light on the two of you as the skies turn pink & purple.
Guest Capacity: 200
Address: 252 Shore Dr, Mashpee, MA 02649
Phone: 508.539.8200
Highlights from a Popponesset Inn Wedding
Wequassett Resort
This year round Cape Cod wedding venue is one of the best of the best options for a luxury wedding on the Cape and has been consistently recognized by Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler since 2015. Hosting a wedding at Wequassett you can choose between having your ceremony on the Grand Lawn as shown above or in the Garden Terrace. Then for a reception venue like no other you can select the Grand Pavilion (if you plan to have a larger celebration), the Garden Terrace, the Outer Bar & Grille, or one of their private waterfront dining rooms overlooking Pleasant Bay. You can also reserve one of Wequassett’s premier restaurants for a private dinner or luxury reception option. Twenty-eight Atlantic offers fine dining and is the highest rated restaurant on Cape Cod. Other options perfect for cocktail hour are The Verandahs, Thoreau’s, LiBAYtion, and the Pleasant Bay Terrace.
The Grand Lawn (Ceremonies, Gatherings, Reception): 1,200 guests. Perfect for waterfront ceremonies on a manicured lawn overlooking Pleasant Bay
The Pavilion (Dinner, Gatherings, Reception) Up to 300 guests. A wrap around farmer’s porch connected to the reception room.
The Garden Terrace (Ceremonies, Dinner, Reception): Up to 200 guests. Perfect for hosting your cocktail hour.
The Outer Bar & Grill (Dinner, Reception): Up to 150 guests (available in the spring and fall). Best for Cape Cod elopements, intimate weddings, or hosting a rehearsal dinner.
Private Dining Room (Dinner, Gatherings) Up to 60 guests. This setting can be used in conjunction with pre-dinner cocktails on the Verandahs.
Twenty Eight Atlantic: Occasionally Twenty Eight Atlantic (the only Forbes Five Star dining on the Cape) can be booked for a wedding reception of up to 85 wedding guests.
How much is it to have an onsite ceremony at Wequassett Resort & Golf Club? Wequassett wedding ceremonies can only be booked in conjunction with a wedding reception at the venue. The ceremony fee as of 2024 cost $3000 which includes the waterfront ceremony location, white garden chairs, ceremony rehearsal, and one dressing room.
Address: 2173 MA-28, Harwich, MA 02645
Phone: 508.432.5400
Top tips from a Cape Cod wedding photographer for a Wequassett wedding: If you’d like peak hydrangea blooms for your portraits then book a wedding sometime July 5-July 20 for the best chance of the prettiest flower portraits. Head to the beach and dock after the sun dips behind the venue for the most flattering and even light. The Pavilion reception space makes for beautiful photos given their large windows producing natural light and white walls.
Wychmere Beach Club
The Wychmere Beach Club is by far one of the most popular venues on Cape Cod and for a good reason. This extraordinary coastal wedding venue offers various breathtaking spots to celebrate your wedding from the Harbor Room to their private beach overlooking Nantucket Sound. Although Wychmere can have multiple weddings going on the same day, their venue team ensures wedding parties don’t cross by communicating via headsets. Unlike other Cape wedding venues, at Wychmere not only do you have a venue coordinator but you also have a bridal attendant with you to make sure you have a 10/10 day. For example, at cocktail hour the bridal attendant will specifically have food trays for the couple only so they can enjoy chatting with their guests rather than walking around the venue to grab their favorite horderves.
Dune – Up to 240 guests for dinner & dancing on the two floors. Wychmere’s newest venue! So many things to love about their newest addition: beach/ dune access for stunning portraits, a gorgeous rooftop ceremony location/cocktail hour on the terrace, and a reception space with white walls perfect for photos! Dune’s bridal room is also an incredible spot for getting ready portraits. If time doesn’t allow, I suggest having your hair and makeup done prior to arriving, but then put on your dress and jewelry in the bridal room. If you’d like to do a secluded first look, I suggest Hydrangea alley.
Harbor Room- Up to 300 for dinner & dancing. Perfect for seaside celebrations overlooking Wychmere Harbor. Cocktail hour takes place in the Hydrangea Room/Hydrangea Veranda Patio leading you into the Harbor Room for your reception. This venue also features white walls and tons of natural light making it a photographer’s dream. This venue option provides easy access for portraits along the wooden dock.
Ocean Room- Up to 160 for dinner & dancing. The Ocean Room is Wychmere’s indoor and outdoor rooftop venue featuring views of Wychmere Harbor and Nantucket Sound.
Address: 23 Snow Inn Rd, Harwich Port, MA 02646
Phone: 508.432.1000
Highlights from a Wychmere Dune Wedding
Pelham House Resort
A wedding at the Pelham House Resort boasts ocean views, a rooftop bar, and a private beach. You have 9 different options to celebrate your wedding- The Lawn, Beach, and their brand new 14 Sea Street Ballroom to name a few!
One of my favorite perks of weddings at the Pelham House Resort is that unlike a lot of other Cape venues you can do a buyout of their guest rooms to have exclusive access to the property. This allows you to have such an incredible full wedding weekend with all your loved ones onsite taking advantage of their prvate beach, outdoor pool, and restaurant.
My wedding photography top tips for Pelham House Resort weddings: When it’s especially windy outside I recommend taking portraits on the patio by the doors. One of my favorite things to do at the Pelham House Resort is to get a shot of the ceremony from the second floor of the venue. I especially love taking photos of couples on the private beach and jetty! You’ll be in wonderful hands with the venue coordinator Tara.
Guest Capacity: Up to 250 guests
Address: 14 Sea Street, Dennis Port, MA 02639
Phone: 508.398.6076
Highlights from a Pelham House Wedding
CHATHAM BEACH AND TENNIS CLUB WEDDING
To have a seaside wedding at the Chatham Beach & Tennis Club: Members are permitted to host private events throughout the summer season in addition to the shoulder seasons. Non members are permitted to use the Club for private events in the spring and fall provided they are sponsored by an active member.
Top tips from a Cape Cod wedding photographer for a Chatham Beach & Tennis Club wedding: The Chatham Beach & Tennis Club wedding venue is another venue where your guests can walk the stairs of the porch and then be directly on the sand. Chatham Lighthouse Beach is one of my all time favorite beaches to photograph on (I’ve photographed there most than any other beach) due to his wide beach, small dunes, and lighthouse across the street. Although Chatham Lighthouse Beach is a public beach, its never extremely crowded since it’s not a swimming beach.
Guest Capacity: 150
Address: 14 Main Street Chatham, MA 02633
Phone: (508) 945-0464
Highlights from a Chatham Beach & Tennis Club Wedding
White Cliffs Country Club- Cape Cod Bay Wedding Venue
The Cape Cod Bay provides a gorgeous waterfront backdrop for a wedding at White Cliffs Country Club in Plymouth, MA. This South Shore Massachusetts venue only does one wedding on their property per day so you are sure to get the VIP treatment. Ceremonies take place by the gazebo, dinner takes place under their tent, and dancing takes place in their ballroom. Couples can choose to have dinner & dancing under the tent only if they have 140 guests or less. In cases where it’s really raining hard, ceremonies will take place underneath the tent.
This venue exudes casual beach elegance and can be made up to be as formal as you want. Guests can be entertained with yard games or cozy up by their fire pits. All catering is done in house and receptions are scheduled to end at 10PM. If you’d like to do a first look, there is an additional fee, but you are allowed to be on the property an hour and a half before to get all your couples, family, and wedding party photos done. The bride, groom, and photographer will even get to skip the stairs and take the tram down to the sand for those breathtaking sunset photos by the ocean. No other venue in Massachusetts has access to large dunes like these onsite!
Top tips from a Massachusetts wedding photographer for a White Cliffs Country Club wedding: If timing doesn’t allow you to do a first look, family portraits, or wedding party portraits on the White Cliffs Country Club property, I recommend stopping at Brewster Gardens in Plymouth. For this venue, it’s best to book for a summer month to show off their beautiful gardens in full bloom.
Guest Capacity: Up to 200 seated guests
Address: 1 Eastcliff Dr, Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: 508.888.8700
Cape Cod Wedding FAQS
What is the best month for a Cape Cod wedding if I want portraits by hydrangeas in bloom?
Early to mid July is the best times for the hydrangeas to be in bloom. If you want these flowers to be in bloom for your wedding portraits at locations like the Chatham Bars Inn and Wequassett Resort then I’d aim for a wedding date sometime July 5-July 20th.
If I want to avoid traffic and crowds for my Cape Cod wedding, what weekends should I avoid?
The busiest weekends to avoid are Memorial Day, before the Fourth of July, & Labor Day Weekend. The busiest months are July & August (typically because the swimming temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean are the most comfortable).
Which Cape Cod wedding planners & coordinators do you recommend?
If you are looking to have a stress free wedding day, then I highly recommend checking out these incredible Cape Cod wedding planners.
Cape Cod Celebrations (Full Scale Planning, Partial Planning, Day of Coordination)
Elegant Engagements Cape Cod (Full Scale Planning, Partial Planning, Day of Coordination)
Breanna Rose Weddings & Events (Partial Planning, Day of Coordination)
Deering Events (Partial Planning, Day of Coordination)
I want to have a tented wedding on Cape Cod, which tent companies do you recommend?
Full scale wedding planner recommendations for a Cape tented wedding
Best transportation companies for a Cape Cod wedding
Ride in style during your Cape wedding, with one of these transportation companies.
Cape Destinations – Cape Cod Trolley is a popular choice!
What is the best months for a Cape Cod wedding?
Cape Cod is seriously gorgeous year round but as a wedding photographer, if I had to pick only two months to recommend for a Cape wedding then my suggestion would be September and October. After Labor Day weekend the crowds die down, there really isn’t much Cape traffic, and the weather is still gorgeous (minus the chance of hurricanes). Second summer on the Cape is by far my top pick for hosting a Cape Cod wedding celebration.
BOOK MEGHAN LYNCH PHOTOGRAPHY AS YOUR CAPE COD WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
I’m sure you’ve realized by now but I’m a Cape Cod wedding & engagement photographer. Growing up in Massachusetts, I loved having the best of both worlds being a T stop away from historic Boston as well as a short drive to the sandy beaches of Cape Cod. Now I split my time equally between Boston and the Cape during the summer months and love that I get to travel to a place I love so much.
I love days spent marveling at the colorful hydrangea bushes and catching bright sunsets on various secret beaches. I love getting coffee at the various local shops like Three Fins Coffee Roaster and having a dairy free ice-cream sundae at Sweet Izzys. With some of the most stunning beaches in all of New England, I can see why you picked this area to celebrate your big day and I can’t wait to hear your vision.
If you’re interested in booking me for your Cape Cod wedding, send me a message in my contact form!
WHAT IS YOUR EDITING STYLE?
To give your images that timeless look, my editing style is vibrant & true to color. By not following a trend, your images will have that classic look with a mix of some black & white photos in your gallery.
Complimentary photoshopping of distractions will give you gorgeous magazine worthy images. Goodbye blemishes, accidental spills, and ugly exit signs! I like my couples to know I’ve 100% got their back and they can take the pressure off themselves on wedding day.
HOW MANY PHOTOS DO YOU DELIVER AND WHEN WILL I RECEIVE THEM?
Since every wedding is unique and lots of factors come into play I typically deliver roughly 50 images per hour at minimum. I’m a huge believer in quality over quantity, so trust me when I say you are getting the best of the best!
Your images will be ready in an online gallery within 8-10 weeks of your wedding, but I’ll be sending you a couple sneak peek photos within 2 days of your celebration.
DO YOU OFFER ALBUMS?
Yes, I offer a variety of heirloom albums starting in the size 8×8 and up. You can choose between leather, vegan leather, and linen albums. My amazing album designer Meg takes you through the whole process step by step ensuring a beautiful album you’ll love for many years to come.
+ COMMENTS
add a comment