Wedding Venues on the Outer Cape

Photograph Courtesy of Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum

Driving east on Route 6 toward the tip of Cape Cod’s long arm, the road gets narrower, the vegetation scrubbier, and the vibe decidedly more mellow. Gone are the mini-golf courses and luxury resorts, replaced by miles and miles of rolling dunes, crashing waves, and, of course, that inspiring light that Edward Hopper so famously painted. It’s the kind of light that makes for showstopping wedding photos, whether you prefer the tranquility of Wellfleet or the party-ready atmosphere of Provincetown, always a popular destination for same-sex weddings. “It’s just a more casual, laid-back feel,” says Jamie Bohlin, owner of the planning firm Cape Cod Celebrations. “It’s where these couples have grown up or summered. They have a connection to the area.” Tie the knot with your toes in the sand at Chequessett Yacht & Country Club, which offers ceremonies on its members-only beach and cocktails and dinner in a string-lit, rustic boathouse or a clubhouse overlooking the golf course. Just a short drive away is the funky Wellfleet Preservation Hall, a former Catholic church turned community center with stained-glass windows, handcarved folk-art doors by artist Jonathan Kendall, and a backyard garden ideal for tented receptions. If stunning views are what you’re after, invite your nearest and dearest up to P-town’s Pilgrim Monument, with 360-degree views of the town and the harbor. Recite your vows on the plaza underneath the 252-foot granite tribute before celebrating on the manicured grounds. It’s the perfect perch from which to toast your love—and nature’s glory.

Chequessett Yacht & Country Club
680 Chequessett Neck Rd., Wellfleet, 508-349-3704, cycc.net.
HEAD COUNT: Up to 175
PRICE: Starting at $4,000

Wellfleet Preservation Hall
335 Main St., Wellfleet, 508-349-1800, wellfleetpreservationhall.org.
HEAD COUNT: Up to 150
PRICE: Starting at $2,500

Pilgrim Monument
One High Pole Hill Rd., Provincetown, 508-487-1310, pilgrim-monument.org.
HEAD COUNT: Up to 175
PRICE: Starting at $3,700

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“Most of the venues in this area require having a wedding in a tent or outside, which makes it easy to transform the setting into a casual clambake or an elegant reception based on the couple’s budget and style.”

Jamie Bohlin, Cape Cod Celebrations

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Photograph by Patrick Clarke

Prewedding Adventure

Hop in one of the Art’s Dune Tours SUVs and take your bridal party on a true adventure, beginning with a sunset tour through Provincetown’s sweeping dunes and ending with a clambake and bonfire on Race Point Beach.

Photograph Courtesy of Eben House

Guest Digs

History and hipsters unite at the recently opened Eben House, a 1776 captain’s residence in the heart of Provincetown that, along with two adjacent buildings, now house 14 white, bright guest rooms (bonus points for the complimentary breakfast of fresh-baked pastries, house-made granola, and yogurt parfaits).

Rehearsal Dinner

Built in 1805 and renovated in 2011, the Red Inn’s restaurant and grounds in Provincetown blend cozy seaside charm (original wide-plank wood floors, beadboard walls) with modern touches (colorful local art dotting the walls). Dine on Wellfleet oysters and local cod with lemon-garlic confit while savoring water vistas from the fireplace-equipped Captain’s Room.

Unique Vendor

Stuffy seated dinners and ocean breezes don’t mix. Instead, gather ’round the campfire and let local caterer/planner Ptown Parties prepare a pot-style clambake—littleneck clams, steamed lobster, and, of course, s’mores—right before your eyes.

Local Favor

Treat guests to edible scallop shells or peppermint patties in mini Weck jars from North Truro–based Chequessett Chocolate.

Photograph Courtesy of Land’s End Inn

Consider the Mini-Moon

Retreat to Provincetown’s Land’s End Inn (pictured), a quirky-luxe estate on a hill with sweeping views of the sea and enough art nouveau collectibles to make it feel like “Disneyland for Antiques Roadshow” fans, according to one of the staffers. Spend the afternoon exploring the dunes and the long, wide beaches of the Cape Cod National Seashore (Coast Guard in Eastham; Race Point in Provincetown); come evening, settle in for a seven-course Italian feast at Wellfleet hot spot Ceraldi before catching a movie under the stars at the Wellfleet Drive-In.

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