Couples looking for an exquisite destination wedding setting on an elite island will love the natural splendor of Martha’s Vineyard. Its natural beauty beams on beaches, cliffs and lighthouses lighting picture-perfect spots to host a celebration. The magical blend of nature and nostalgia beckons beachgoers to savor summertime wonder. While many couples wish to tie the knot under a sparkling summer sun, shoulder season may be the island’s best-kept secret.

“The shoulder season on Martha’s Vineyard is a hidden gem; guests are still able to enjoy the restaurants and shopping without the crowds of summer,” says Matt Moore, general manager at Winnetu Oceanside Resort. The lovely property is available for weddings between mid-May to the end of June, or Labor Day weekend to the middle of October.

The only resort at South Beach in Edgartown, the charming seasonal boutique hotel offers accommodations ranging from hotel rooms, 1-4 bedroom suites and private homes. Skip along its 11 acres fronting South Beach and you can see why it is a coveted venue as evidenced last summer when it launched Obama’s big 6-0 party.

Your guests can enjoy good old-fashioned fresh-air activities like playing pool, tennis, corn hole and picnics on the lawn or beach. They can also enjoy a two-island adventure to the Winnetu’s sister property The Nantucket Hotel, shuck oysters on a private tour with renowned oyster farm Signature Oyster Farms or hop on a bi-plane at nearby Katama Airfield.

Couples can host their ceremony on the resort’s grand lawn or on South Beach. If you opt to host your ceremony at a church downtown, your guests can hop aboard one of the resort’s antique vehicles. Kick off the celebration by enjoying cocktails and ocean views on the deck and enjoy dinner and dancing at the Dunes Restaurant. If you’re looking to discover a sandy slice of nirvana to tie the knot, the Winnetu is an ideal spot.

While you’re on the island be sure to check out:

• Menemsha Hills is a magical place to stroll or sit on a bench overlooking the ocean
• Clay Cliffs at Aquinnah, all roads just seem to lead here
• Long Point Conservation Area 632-acre stroll, all that remains of a broad prairie with scattered woods formed many years after the last ice age.
• Kayak or SUP Sengkontacket Pond with Island Spirit Kayak
• Visit to Island Alpaca Farm in Oak Bluffs
• Tour the eye-popping 318 Gingerbread Cottages at Wesleyan Grove

Photos courtesy of (in order of appearance): Winnetu Oceanside Resort (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th); Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce (4th)