The Secret Seaside: 7 Shocking Filming Locations Of Netflix's 'The Perfect Couple' Revealed
The Perfect Couple, the star-studded Netflix limited series that premiered on September 5, 2024, has captivated audiences with its luxurious New England setting and a murder mystery that unravels during a lavish wedding. While the six-episode drama, based on Elin Hilderbrand’s novel, is famously *set* on the exclusive island of Nantucket, the truth about its primary filming location is one of the show’s biggest secrets, revealing a sophisticated switch that provides the perfect, authentic backdrop for the high-stakes drama. The majority of the series, including the spectacular Winbury family mansion, was actually filmed in a beautiful, lesser-known coastal gem on Cape Cod.
As of late 2025, the question of "where was The Perfect Couple filmed" remains a top search query, driven by the show's stunning cinematography and the irresistible allure of the New England coastal aesthetic. The production team skillfully used a combination of primary and secondary locations to create the convincing illusion of Nantucket Island, but the real star of the show is a town just across the water, providing a fresh, unique look at a classic summer locale.
The Perfect Couple: Cast & Production Profile
The Netflix series is an adaptation of the 2018 novel by Elin Hilderbrand, created by Jenna Lamia and directed by Susanne Bier. Its ensemble cast is packed with A-list talent, lending significant star power to the murder-mystery genre. The series premiered on Netflix on September 5, 2024.
- Title: The Perfect Couple (Limited Series)
- Release Date: September 5, 2024 (Netflix)
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama
- Based On: The 2018 novel by Elin Hilderbrand
- Showrunner: Jenna Lamia
- Director: Susanne Bier
- Key Cast Members (Entities):
- Nicole Kidman as Greer Garrison Winbury (The matriarch and a famous novelist)
- Liev Schreiber as Tag Winbury (The wealthy groom’s father)
- Eve Hewson as Amelia Sacks (The bride)
- Billy Howle as Benji Winbury (The groom)
- Meghann Fahy as Merritt Monaco (Amelia’s best friend)
- Dakota Fanning as Abby Winbury (The groom's sister)
- Jack Reynor as Thomas Winbury (The groom's brother)
- Sam Nivola as Shooter Dival (A wedding guest)
- Isabelle McNally as Lola Winbury (Thomas’s wife)
The Primary Deception: Why Chatham, MA Stood in for Nantucket
The central question of the series is not just who committed the murder, but where the lavish, ill-fated wedding was actually held. While the narrative is firmly rooted in the high-society world of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the majority of the filming took place on the mainland in the seaside town of Chatham, Massachusetts.
Chatham, located on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, was chosen as the production's "home base" for practical and aesthetic reasons. The town offers the same shingle-style architecture, pristine beaches, and exclusive, coastal New England charm that defines Nantucket, but with greater logistical ease for a large-scale Netflix production.
Showrunner Jenna Lamia confirmed that filming largely in Chatham allowed the production to achieve an "authentic Cape and island feel" without the complexities of transporting a massive cast, crew, and equipment to Nantucket Island for the entire duration of the shoot. This strategic choice is a common practice in Hollywood, where a location's visual double provides a more accessible set.
1. The "Summerland" Mansion: Eastward Point, Chatham
The most iconic and crucial location in *The Perfect Couple* is the Winbury family’s magnificent waterfront estate, "Summerland." In the series, this is Amelia and Benji’s wedding venue on Nantucket. In reality, the grand, shingle-style home is a private property located in the exclusive Eastward Point neighborhood of Chatham.
The Eastward Point community is a wealthy enclave of single-family homes, known for its stunning coastal views and private association beaches on Pleasant Bay. The property used as "Summerland" perfectly embodies the opulence and grandeur required for a family like the Winburys, complete with sprawling lawns and direct water access, making it a spectacular, yet secretive, central entity of the show.
2. Nantucket's Essential Role: B-Roll and Establishing Shots
Despite the Chatham location serving as the primary set, the production did not skip Nantucket altogether. To ensure the series felt true to Elin Hilderbrand’s original novel and its iconic setting, a small crew was dispatched to the actual island to capture crucial B-roll and scenic establishing shots.
These shots were used to seamlessly interweave the authentic Nantucket landscape into the narrative, providing visual cues that ground the story on the island. Iconic Nantucket locations and entities referenced or subtly featured include:
- Downtown Nantucket: Shots of the historic streets and harbor were used to set the scene.
- Bartlett’s Farm: A well-known local entity and farm on the island, specifically referenced in the script to maintain local flavor.
- Sankaty Head Road: The area around the Sankaty Head Lighthouse, known for its dramatic coastal views, likely contributed to the scenic footage.
The Supporting Coastal Entities of Cape Cod
Beyond the Eastward Point mansion, the town of Chatham and the wider Cape Cod area provided a wealth of supporting locations that helped build the series' world of wealthy New Englanders and local law enforcement. The production utilized several specific municipal and commercial entities during its filming schedule.
3. Chatham's Municipal Buildings
For scenes involving the investigation of the murder, the production utilized local government and public service buildings in Chatham. The Chatham Police Department was reportedly used for exterior and possibly interior shots, lending authenticity to the law enforcement portions of the plot. The distinct architecture of these Cape Cod municipal buildings further solidifies the setting.
4. The Beaches and Harbors of Cape Cod
The series is saturated with beautiful beach and water scenes, which are integral to the plot and the atmosphere of the novel. These were primarily filmed at Chatham's various beaches, which include:
- Pleasant Bay: The water surrounding the Eastward Point neighborhood, providing the stunning backdrop for the "Summerland" estate.
- Chatham Lighthouse Beach: Known for its wild, dynamic coastline and the iconic Chatham Lighthouse, this area offers the dramatic, windswept scenery characteristic of the Outer Cape.
- Fish Pier: The working Chatham Fish Pier may have been used for scenes requiring a more authentic, less manicured coastal feel, contrasting with the Winbury's luxury.
5. Local Businesses and Infrastructure
To create a fully realized world, the production incorporated several local businesses and infrastructure entities of Chatham. While specific names are often kept under wraps for privacy, the use of local restaurants, inns, and shops for various interior scenes helped to inject a true "Cape Cod" atmosphere into the show. The meticulous set dressing and location scouting ensured that every detail, from the hydrangeas to the weathered shingles, screamed "New England summer."
The logistical operation involved the Barnstable County film commission and local town officials to manage traffic and permits, further establishing the network of entities involved in bringing the production to life.
Topical Authority: The Allure of the Cape & Islands
The decision to film *The Perfect Couple* predominantly in Chatham, while setting it in Nantucket, highlights the unique and powerful visual brand of the "Cape and Islands" region of Massachusetts. This area is a goldmine for filmmakers seeking a specific kind of affluent, picturesque, and slightly isolated summer setting.
The series is a perfect example of a "location-as-character" narrative, where the setting itself—with its grand estates, churning ocean, and tight-knit community—plays a crucial role in the mystery. The switch from Nantucket (the story's entity) to Chatham (the filming entity) was a masterstroke of production design, delivering the visual authenticity fans expected while streamlining the complex logistics of a major production. The result is a series that not only answers the question "where was The Perfect Couple filmed" with a surprising twist, but also showcases the unparalleled beauty of Cape Cod's most sophisticated town.
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