A friend is looking for a great spot no more than 2 hours from NYC to host a destination wedding next spring. Anyone have great recommendations for a beautiful (but not too pretentious) spot? They're thinking beach, farm, winery, any place where guests can all stay together, have a tented affair, overlook something scenic, etc. I think the guest list will be rather large - 200+. Thanks!

Here's a website that lists lots of venues mixing both IN and outside Manhattan. It includes the Long Island vineyards, mansions in Westchester etc.

http://www.mynewyorkwedding.com/cate...lls/index.html

I just worry when I hear this kind of idea that the host remember that means 200 people may need to be housed at least overnight. That would be very difficult from a capacity standpoint on say the North Fork of Long Island where many of the vineyards are and very pricey (and possibly not available) on the South Fork where Wolffer Estate vineyards (beautiful !) and Channing Daughters both do weddings. Also remember "spring" (vs summer) weather can be a bit cool at the beach.

thx, mclaurie. Yeah, I know it's going to be a bit of a challenge for them but I'll definitely pass this info along.

The Mansion where I went to college in Madison NJ hosts weddings. It is at Fairleigh Dickinson and the mansion is gorgeous. There were weddings there at least every other Sunday. Part of A Beautiful Mind was taped there as well (the part when Jennifer Connely and Russel Crowe are looking at the stars). They'd have to bring in their own caterers.

Forgot to say that it is about 40 minutes outside of Manhattan.

Mohonk House in New Paltz, NY is a big resort that does weddings. It's 90 minutes north of the city. I've never been there, but a friend of mine has and she loved it. They might be able to accommodate 200 people.
http://www.mohonk.com/weddings.cfm

Re. the North Fork, you might be able to pull it off if people were willing to spread out. For my wedding, I put a lot of people up at a motel/cottage area called the Silver Sands that might be too rustic for your friend's guests. A more upscale choice would be the Greenporter in Greenpoint.
http://www.thegreenporter.com/

A nice choice on the South Fork (Hamptons) is the Montauk Lighthouse. We looked into getting married there but we didn't feel like dealing w/the logistics. But it is a gorgeous, dramatic spot (although I bet it's cold in the springtime). We had also looked at the Montauk Yacht Club, which I believe has lodging. That place was very nice; your friends could get married outside by the boats if they wanted, and just come inside for the reception. Montauk is probably 2 1/2 hrs from NYC.

another thought re spring...make sure the date is before memorial day otherwise most of the lodging will have a two night (or more) minimum which is a bit much to ask of people, i think.

that said, the vineyard caterers in aquebogue is a nice choice, it's a traditional catering hall on the border of a vineyard, so you get the convenience of a catering hall wiht the scenery of a vineyard.

beautiful but pricey is The Harrison House in Glen Cove, less than an hour from NYC

I've just reread your original request syd1. On the one hand not pretentious and on the other, a place where 200+ can all stay together? Hmmm.

The Rams Head Inn on Shelter Island is a charming looking place and sounds like the sort of thing they want. I don't know if they can accomodate that many people and every time I've eaten there the food has been just passable. Here's the website

http://www.shelterislandinns.com/ramshead/

thx, everyone. will forward all of these unique suggestions along.

Try Tappan Hill, overlooking the Hudson.