Romantic Tales: Weddings on the East End

East End weddings are special because many times they combine the magic splendor of the outdoor natural spaces of the Hamptons with a ceremony that is forged in the history of humans. Years back, a priest from Saint Therese of Lisieux, the magnificent Catholic church in Montauk stood on the grass field alongside the Montauk Lighthouse and started a wedding ceremony by looking around at the bluffs, the ocean, and the historic lighthouse and saying, “What a place to hold this glorious event. All you have to do is look around.” Then, with the gentle Montauk cooling ocean breeze blowing in, began the ceremony. Looking out, you could see the fishing boats heading out and returning to sea. Some blew their fog horns to salute the local couple.

Occasionally, weddings are staged on Saturdays at the east end ocean beaches during the summer. Barefooted brides in their wedding dresses and grooms, along with the wedding parties, navigate through the sand to a spot set up, sometimes with folding chairs around, to have a wedding. The couples take their vows as ocean waves roll in and seagulls soar overhead. Often, the couple dreamed of marrying at “their” beach. After all, everyone on the east end has their favorite beach.

Another time, there was a wedding at Navy Beach on the north side of Montauk. The setting sun filtering light over Gardiner’s Island was the backdrop. The families and friends stood with cocktails and watched the magic that every wedding always has. Although the Maidstone Club, Gurney’s, and other posh locations host unique weddings, not everyone can afford such luxury. For those who are not members, walking around the interior of the Maidstone Club for the first time with a cocktail and gazing out at the ocean is a special moment.

Back in the twentieth century, a wedding was held in Southampton. It was labeled the “Wedding of the Century” by national and east-end publications. It was on July 13^th, 1940 (pre-Pearl Harbor), and Henry Ford II and Southampton local  Anne McDonnell were brought together in marriage. Henry Ford arrived in his personal “Railroad Car”  parked at the Southampton Railroad Station. The guest lists were as blue-blooded and high society as such events could be. A Southampton local, Herbie Edwards, was just a boy who often caddied at National Golf Course and was a waiter that day. He recalled that the reception at the McDonnell home was so overcrowded it backed up the estate’s septic system and caused an unbelievable stink. Herbie Edwards said, “That detail never made it into the society pages.”

Seeing weddings at the many magnificent churches in the Hamptons are attention grabbers. Many times, folks drive on Route 27 for weddings. They witness wedding parties that are either entering the churches or leaving. Sometimes, being in the church for the ceremony on a hot summer day can be tricky. If you can witness a wedding at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons by all means attend. It is a powerful and memorable ceremony in an inspiring venue.

On the topic of weddings, I witnessed the story of a destination bachelorette party held by a dozen young Japanese women who flew in from Japan. The party culminated at the Blue Parrot in East Hampton on Karaoke night. Then bartender Ben Dollinger, now an East Hampton Trustee, mixed the girls the famous margaritas that Blue Parrot is still famous for. Then, all of a sudden, they stood and went up to “Angela,” who was the Karaoke Queen of the Hamptons at that time, and requested a song. Everyone watched these beautiful girls in white gowns stand up in a circle and attempt to sing in English, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin!” They were cute, funny and when they finished as if scripted, bodyguards arrived, led them to a stretch limousine, and whisked them away with everyone still applauding.

At last, there has to be a mention of a wedding crasher. I went to a wedding at Gurney’s of folks I did not know well. After cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, someone came up and ask who I was etc. I was in the wrong wedding room.