Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, is Rhode Island’s only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond property, one of only fourteen such resorts in the entire world, and the number one destination wedding venue in the United States according to Brides magazine. Perched on the bluffs above the Atlantic Ocean, with a private beach, Victorian yellow facade, panoramic ocean views, and farm-to-table cuisine from one of the finest culinary teams in New England. I have photographed here. More at oceanhouseri.com.
About the Venue
Located at 1 Bluff Avenue in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, Ocean House was originally built in 1868 and rebuilt in 2004 with meticulous historical accuracy to replicate the original Victorian structure. A Relais and Chateaux member. 49 guest rooms, 20 Signature Suites, over 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, Rhode Island’s only Forbes Five-Star spa, and a COAST fine dining restaurant also rated Forbes Five-Star. Watch Hill is approximately three hours from New York City, two hours from Greenwich, and 45 minutes from Newport.
The Event Spaces
The South Lawn is the primary outdoor ceremony and reception space, with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and capacity for up to 250 seated guests under a sailcloth tent. The East Lawn offers a tented option for up to 200 guests with views of the hotel and ocean.
The Herb Garden is one of the most distinctive and underappreciated ceremony spaces at the property: intimate, peaceful, nestled off the beach path among the flowers with the ocean in the background. Capacity up to 20 guests. For small ceremonies, it is extraordinary.
The Beach is the private stretch of Atlantic coastline below the hotel, available for ceremonies and receptions with the ocean as the immediate backdrop. Capacity up to 350 for a beach event.
The Seaside Terrace overlooks the ocean and accommodates up to 150 guests for dinner and dancing. The Dune Cottage is a beachside venue with Atlantic views for up to 75 guests. The Drawing Room is an intimate indoor space for up to 60 guests with original light fixtures from the 1868 Ocean House. The Harbor Room overlooks Watch Hill Bay and handles gatherings up to 20.
Photography at Ocean House
The veranda overlooking the Atlantic at golden hour. The South Lawn with the hotel’s yellow facade and the ocean behind the couple. The private beach at sunset. The Herb Garden for intimate ceremony coverage with the ocean in the background. The Victorian architectural details of the exterior. The Signature Suites for getting-ready coverage with exceptional natural light and ocean views. Napatree Point just a short distance away for additional coastal portraits with completely open sky and water.
Frequently Asked Questions: Ocean House Weddings
Where is Ocean House located?
1 Bluff Avenue in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Approximately three hours from New York City by car, two and a half hours by train. 45 minutes from Newport. More at oceanhouseri.com.
What is Ocean House?
Rhode Island’s only Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond hotel, and one of only fourteen such resorts worldwide. A Victorian seaside resort on the bluffs of Watch Hill above the Atlantic Ocean, rebuilt in 2004 with historical accuracy. Named the number one destination wedding venue in the US by Brides magazine. Relais and Chateaux member. Farm-to-table cuisine, a Forbes Five-Star spa, 49 guest rooms, and 20 Signature Suites.
What makes Ocean House distinctive as a wedding venue?
The combination of the Five-Star service level, the private beach, the Victorian architecture, and the Atlantic Ocean views is genuinely unmatched in New England. Every ceremony space looks out over the water in some way. The farm-to-table cuisine from the Atlantic Northeast is exceptional. The spa makes a wedding weekend genuinely immersive. And the fact that it is named the number one destination wedding venue in the US reflects consistent delivery at the highest level.
What ceremony spaces are available at Ocean House?
The South Lawn (up to 250 tented), East Lawn (up to 200 tented), the private Beach (up to 350), the Seaside Terrace (up to 150), the Dune Cottage (up to 75), the Herb Garden (intimate, up to 20), the Drawing Room (up to 60 indoors), and the Harbor Room (up to 20). The range from ultra-intimate to grand is genuinely comprehensive.
How far is Ocean House from New York City?
Approximately three hours by car or two and a half hours by train. Watch Hill is in Westerly, Rhode Island, at the southwestern corner of the state. Easy to reach from Connecticut and Massachusetts as well.
Do you photograph destination weddings at Ocean House?
Yes. If your wedding is at Ocean House, I would love to hear about it.
