The Ultimate Oheka Castle Wedding Experience
The grand gates swing open. The tree-lined drive extends before you. And then—there it is. Rising from the highest point on Long Island like a vision from another era, Oheka Castle stands ready to transform your wedding day from memorable to mythical.
Welcome to the definitive Oheka Castle wedding guide—your first step into a world where historic opulence meets modern romance, where century-old grandeur provides the backdrop for your love story, and where every detail has been preserved and perfected to create a celebration beyond imagination.
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The Castle's Tale: A Phoenix Risen
Some venues have history. Oheka Castle has a saga.
When financier Otto Hermann Kahn commissioned this French-style château in 1919, he created what remains America's second-largest private residence—a 109,000-square-foot, 127-room monument to Gilded Age splendor. For a decade, the estate's 443 acres buzzed with the energy of royalty, heads of state, and Hollywood luminaries attending Kahn's legendary soirées.
But Oheka's story isn't merely about creation—it's about resurrection. After Kahn's death in 1934, the Castle embarked on a tumultuous journey:
- 1934-1948: Transformed into a retreat for New York sanitation workers
- Mid-1940s: Repurposed as a government training school for Merchant Marine radio operators
- 1948-1979: Purchased by Eastern Military Academy, who bulldozed the gardens and subdivided rooms
- 1979-1984: Abandoned for years, suffering vandalism and multiple fires
- 1984-Present: Rescued by developer Gary Melius, who launched a $40 million restoration
This resurrection—the largest restoration project in American history—wasn't merely renovation. It was archaeological dedication.
The Oheka Castle New York Wedding Experience: Beyond Imagination
Saying "I do" at Oheka isn't simply hosting an event—it's crafting a multi-sensory experience that engages every emotion. From the moment your guests receive their invitations bearing the castle's iconic silhouette to the final farewell beneath starlit skies, wedding at Oheka Castle transcends the ordinary and enters the realm of the extraordinary. This is where imagination meets execution, where dreams find their physical form in meticulously designed spaces that have witnessed a century of celebrations.
Exclusive Reign Over America's Castle
Oheka doesn't host weddings—it celebrates matrimonial artistry. Since 1919, when Kahn's daughter Maud became the château's first bride, Oheka has understood that true luxury requires exclusivity. That's why only one wedding graces these halls each day.
The entire estate becomes yours—from the moment your guests gasp at their first sight of the château to the final dance beneath crystal chandeliers. This isn't just a venue; it's a castle to call your own.
A Symphony of Spaces
Your Oheka celebration unfolds as a carefully orchestrated journey:
- Exchange vows in the meticulously restored Formal Gardens, where reflecting pools mirror your promises.
- Welcome guests to cocktail hour on terraces overlooking manicured lawns that stretch toward the horizon.
- Make your grand entrance down the iconic staircase where celebrities once descended during the Roaring Twenties.
- Dine and dance in the Terrace Room, where up to 350 guests can celebrate surrounded by architectural splendor.
For truly grand affairs, the famous "Gatsby Style" events can accommodate up to 1,000 guests for an experience that would impress Fitzgerald himself.
Culinary Masterpieces Worthy of the Setting
At Oheka, gastronomy rises to the level of the architecture. The world-class in-house culinary team, led by Executive Chef Chris Cappello, crafts menus that transform dining into an experience:
- Grand Arrival Experience - Welcome champagne and butler-passed hors d'oeuvres on the terrace overlooking formal gardens
- Cocktail Hour Extravaganza - Artisanal stations featuring everything from raw bars to carved specialties, attended by white-gloved servers
- Seated Dining Masterpiece - Multi-course dinner service featuring seasonally-inspired gourmet creations
- Sweet Symphony Finale - Custom wedding cake from Executive Pastry Chef Daniel Andreotti's collection alongside a decadent dessert café
- Midnight Revelry - Late-night bites and specialty coffee service to keep the celebration going
- Morning-After Memories - Gourmet breakfast for overnight guests in the elegant dining room
Special dietary needs—kosher, vegetarian, allergen-free—are accommodated with the same attention to detail given to every aspect of your day.
From Cinematic Charm to Luxurious Stays
An Oheka wedding extends far beyond the ceremony and reception—it envelops couples and their guests in a complete experience that begins the moment they arrive and continues long after the last dance. The castle doesn't merely host your wedding; it embraces your entire celebration with thoughtful touches, luxurious accommodations, and picture-perfect settings that create memories extending well beyond your wedding day itself.
Silver Screen Grandeur for Your Memories
There’s a reason OHEKA has been the backdrop for productions from Citizen Kane to Succession. The castle possesses a cinematic quality that elevates every photograph and video. Oheka Castle wedding photos don’t just capture moments—they tell a visual story worthy of Hollywood’s golden age.
A Night in Castle Luxury
As your celebration winds down, retreat to one of 34 luxurious guestrooms and suites situated on the estate's upper floors. Your included bridal suite offers the perfect sanctuary for your first night as newlyweds, while selected guests can continue the experience overnight, gathering for breakfast the next morning from 7:30 to 10:30 am.
Modern amenities—including handicap accessibility, an elevator, and even pet-friendly accommodations—ensure every guest experiences the castle's grandeur comfortably.
Your Legacy Begins Here
What makes Oheka truly extraordinary isn't just its storied past or architectural magnificence—it's how seamlessly your love story becomes intertwined with the castle's continuing narrative. As you celebrate among these historic walls, you're not merely renting a venue—you're joining a lineage of memorable celebrations that stretches back more than a century. Your wedding becomes part of Oheka's living history, and Oheka becomes forever part of yours.
For couples who understand that a wedding should be more than an event—that it should be an experience written in the language of legacy—Oheka Castle offers not just a setting, but a beginning. Here, amid century-old splendor meticulously preserved for future generations, your love story doesn't just unfold—it becomes legend.
