When asked how they wanted their wedding to feel, Melissa and Matt told me, “whimsical, romantic, meaningful.” And their day was just that. After a winter of cold, rainy, dark days, it was a gorgeous, unusually cool summer day the day they got married. Under the brightest of blue skies, Melissa and Matt said their vows surrounded by family, friends, and the sweet memories of those who were no longer with them.
It’s really impossible to convey the magic of Melissa and Matt without sounding like I’m exaggerating. They’re kind. They’re wildly funny. They are exquisitely gentle with each other and honestly delight in simply being together. They’re warm. They’re witty. They’re gorgeous inside and out. To be a part of their day is to be one step closer to the sun: wrapped up in all that makes them the wonderful, true people they are. It was an honor to document their day and to know them both.
Whitby Castle Wedding Photographer
Whitby Castle at 330 Boston Post Road in Rye, New York, is a Gothic Revival castle built in 1852 by William Chapman, designed after England’s historic Whitby Abbey and incorporating some of the original Abbey stones. 126 acres in Westchester County overlooking the Long Island Sound. Part of the Lessing’s Hospitality Group. Up to 250 guests. Outdoor ceremonies beneath the castle archway, a grand ballroom, two private reception rooms with water views, and a signature willow tree that serves as both a portrait location and a surprise entrance point that genuinely stuns guests every time. I have photographed here. It photographs exactly as beautifully as it looks.
About the Venue
330 Boston Post Road in Rye, NY, Westchester County. Built in 1852, designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis in the Gothic Revival style. Part of Lessing’s Hospitality Group, which operates multiple Westchester and Long Island venues, including Bourne Mansion, Chateau at Coindre Hall, and others. In-house catering. Five-hour event window. Ceremony fee $1,500. As of this writing, reception pricing starts at around $112 per person. No overnight accommodations on site. Nearby hotel options in Rye and the surrounding Westchester.
The Spaces
Outdoor ceremonies take place beneath the castle’s stone archway on the manicured lawn with the castle facade as the backdrop. The outdoor patio faces Milton Harbour and the Long Island Sound for cocktail hour.
The grand ballroom accommodates up to 250 guests. The Whitby Room and the Garden Room are two additional private reception rooms, both with large windows overlooking the Long Island Sound and the manicured gardens.
The signature willow tree on the opposite side of the lawn is used both for a surprise entrance — the couple crosses the lawn from the willow toward the ceremony archway while guests watch — and for first look coverage and couple portraits. This is one of the most distinctive ceremony entrance moments of any venue in Westchester.
Photography at Whitby Castle
The ceremony beneath the stone archway with the castle facade overhead. The willow tree for first look portraits and the surprise entrance moment. The outdoor patio during cocktail hour with the Long Island Sound in the background. The grand ballroom interior. The castle exterior from the manicured lawn. And the grounds at golden hour when the light comes across the water and catches the stone.
Frequently Asked Questions: Whitby Castle Weddings
Where is Whitby Castle located?
330 Boston Post Road in Rye, New York, in Westchester County. Part of Lessing’s Hospitality Group.
What is Whitby Castle?
A Gothic Revival castle built in 1852 on 126 acres in Rye, NY, overlooking the Long Island Sound. Up to 250 guests. Grand ballroom and two private reception rooms. Outdoor ceremonies beneath the castle archway. Signature willow tree for surprise entrance and portraits. In-house catering. Five-hour event window.
What makes Whitby Castle distinctive?
The castle is genuinely a castle, not a venue designed to look like one. It was built in 1852, based on England’s Whitby Abbey, and incorporates original Abbey stones. The surprise entrance from the willow tree across the lawn is one of the most visually dramatic moments in a ceremony I have photographed in Westchester. And the Long Island Sound views from the outdoor patio during cocktail hour are extraordinary.
Is there a surprise entrance at Whitby Castle?
Yes. The venue stages the couple’s arrival from the willow tree on the opposite side of the lawn from the ceremony archway, so guests are seated facing the castle, and then the couple walks toward them across the manicured lawn. Every guest I have spoken to says it was the moment they will never forget.
Are there overnight accommodations at Whitby Castle?
No overnight accommodations on site. Nearby options in Rye and the surrounding Westchester. The venue is happy to provide recommendations.
Do you photograph weddings at Whitby Castle?
Yes. If your wedding is here, I would love to hear about it.
