Should I Get Married at the Huntington Harbor Club at Prime?
One of the most stressful decisions a bride and groom make is choosing a wedding venue. As a Huntington, New York based photographer, couples often ask me if they should get married at the newly remodeled Huntington Harbor Club at Prime. Having photographed many Harbor Club at Prime weddings, I definitely recommend shorting listing this venue. You can even arrive by boat and dock at the Harbor Club. How cool is that? It certainly makes for a smashing entrance and fantastic photos! By the way, this part of Huntington is also known as Halesite—so don’t let the address confuse your guests! As a Halesite/Huntington resident, I’m familiar with this issue.
Of course when couples ask me if they can get married at the Harbor Club, they’re also asking is if it’s a good spot for their cocktail hour and reception. Weather permitting, you can have a beautiful outdoor waterfront ceremony there. In case of inclement weather, ceremonies are held inside. Some couples have their ceremonies at the Church of St. Patrick, or other places of worship before heading to the Harbor Club for their cocktail hour.
As a side note, I find it very helpful to view Google satellite maps of wedding venues, and all the stops I have to make during a typical day as a wedding photographer. In the case of venues and places of worship, I can easily see how these locations are laid out—good photo spots, where to park, and above all, I make sure that the addresses are GPS compatible. This is especially important in the case of newly constructed hotels. The last thing you want is to have trouble navigating. It only has to happen once to make you a believer!
Anyway, the Google satellite image at the top of this page is linked underneath for your convenience. I especially appreciate being able to see the Prime Restaurant and Bar on the left, the dock areas at the rear, the upper levels of the Huntington Harbor Club at Prime, the ceremony area, and the parking areas. I once navigated from Rome’s Fiumicino - Leonardo da Vinci Airport to the front door of where I was staying with Google satellite and street views—amazing!
Happy Huntington Harbor Club at Prime bride. © Dan Wagner 2023
Pros and Cons of Getting Married at the Huntington Harbor Club at Prime
First, the Pros:
Your friendly Long Island wedding photographer—me—lives nearby!
Only one wedding at a time
Two floors with a patio and deck for 50-225 wedding guests
Parties under 50 held next door at the Prime Restaurant and Bar
Reputation for excellent food and service
Beautiful waterfront location with easy access by way of NY Ave. that feeds from Main St- 25A, Route 110, Jericho Turnpike. 25, Northern State Parkway, and the L.I.E.
Recently remodeled—so everything is nice and fresh
Reasonably priced with customizable packages and popular add-ons
Two permanent bar locations
Lots of parking spaces and valet parking
Handicap accessible with external ramps and an internal elevator
Sunset Deck with retractable awnings for sheltering guests from the sun
Included décor and accessories consist of luxury chairs, linen covers, dais décor, and cocktail hour flowers
Dedicated coat check
Available dock-master for waterfront arrival and departure
Nice Instagram page
Bathroom attendant avaiablity
Next, the Cons (excuse me if I get too picky—it’s very hard to find many cons):
The possibility of bad weather—although it’s considered lucky for the couple
Gets a bit tight as you reach their maximum capacity
Their website features hard to read light gray type
The big LOVE sign for photo ops in the back—I love it because it’s graphic and couples love it, and hate it because everyone who gets married there has the same photo—please don’t call me a phony when I suggest shooting there :)
For the sake of comparison, or if the Harbor Club at Prime doesn’t have your date available you may want to consider the Water’s Edge, located a short drive away in Centerport, Long Island. As the name implies, the Water’s Edge (formerly the Thatched Cottage—and since beautifully remodeled), also offers outdoor waterfront ceremonies. The water view here is at the end of Centerport Harbor. During weekends, there are tidal gates next to the Centerport Harbor Bridge to prevent the water from receding. The North Shore of Long Island has tidal swings of eight-feet or more. So, without these gates the view and odor would be less than optimal. Definitely check with the Water’s Edge in advance to make sure your wedding will be at high tide all day long.
If the Harbor Club at Prime and the Water’s Edge are booked, you may want to look at other nearby waterfront venues such as the Centerport Yacht Club, Crescent Beach Club, and the Seawanhaka Yacht Club. I hope this information has been helpful!
“Dan Wagner came highly recommended by a very good friend who is also in the photography business. To be recommended by a competitor, I think, is one of the greatest compliments…and Dan most certainly lived up to his reputation. Dan’s work and professionalism are exquisite! Our wedding pictures are beautiful, romantic, creative, tasteful, spontaneous, some traditional & some modern.”
—Elaina and Scott
Please feel free to share your thoughts and concerns in the comment box below. And thanks for visiting my Long Island wedding photographer blog!