Paiz, re: Argle Park

You really might want to take a good long look at Argyle Park before making a concrete decision. Growing up, I always thought this was a pretty park too, but after dabbling in photography for a while in college, I like to think I have a better eye now. Besides the lake and the waterfall, the backdrop is really nothing. When you look around, look at what will be in your background (above ground level and behind your backs and heads) .. very few trees, many houses and in the far off distance, the LIRR. Your photographer will need to struggle to find a decent backdrop to go along with the lake and waterfall. Plus, if you`re also coming from St. Cyril`s, you will have to go west on Main Street to get to Argyle, then head back east. Main Street can get pretty congested sometimes .. there is only one lane. Believe me, I went through the same thought process .. wedding on Deer Park Ave., reception at John Anthony`s, not too much time between if we were to make cocktail hour. When I started to think of places, I was thinking Argyle might be the best option. Part of me was afraid to copy my brother and sister-in-law, who used Belmont for their wedding pictures, but Belmont Lake just offers much better picture opportunities, I couldn`t pass it up, and my husband agreed. And we have some stunning pictures with a variety of backgrounds.

Kel, you are right

Where did you go up? I went to West Babylon High School. I agree, Belmont Lake is a better photo spot. I didn't think of it. There is also a golf course- Bergan? Something like that. I have never been there so I am not sure if it is okay for photos. There might also be some other spots near the water that I don't know about.

michele31

I grew up in Bay Shore. I`m not really sure where Bergen Point Golf Course is, but I think it`s even further west than Argyle Park from Rt. 231 and John Anthony`s, which would make it a bit more out of the way for someone getting married on Deer Park Ave. But maybe it`s just a few more minutes. I`m not sure. The other place we did consider was Gardiner Park, which is east of Rt. 231 on Montauk Hwy, past the Robert Moses Causeway exchange. It`s a very rustic park setting .. lots of trees, a little pond, and not a long walk at all from the parking lot. But, like with Argyle, we just didn`t feel it offered the same variety as Belmont Lake, and it just seemed to us that Belmont would be a much smoother trip. I`ve seen really bad days on Montauk Hwy where the traffic just crawls, especially right in town there by the Babylon Bike Shop, Don Ricardo`s, the movie theatre, etc. For pictures on the beach, I heard from somewhere, maybe my photographer, that they have used a beach down by John Anthony`s. Instead of bearing left (that last left at the fork just before coming up on John Anthony`s), you would continue on toward the right fork. I`ve never gone down that way, though, and didn`t really consider going to a beach. I just figured late September would probably be too windy to be on a beach .. all that sand blowing around! :) Plus, we knew we`d have shots with the water from the deck of John Anthony`s, so we wanted a park setting. Another place on the water for pictures that I did think about was down by the Captree Boat Basin. Instead of making the left into the Captree Boat Basin parking lot, you follow the road around to the right, and it leads to a parking lot overlooking the water, the water tower and last bridge over to the Robert Moses beaches. You can also get a decent view of the lighthouse from there. I`ve gone down there several times to practice taking pictures, but it can get extremely windy there .. as can any place right off the ocean.