The Perfect Couple: The Shocking Truth About Where The Netflix Series Was REALLY Filmed (It's Not Nantucket!)

Contents

The Perfect Couple, the star-studded, six-episode limited series that premiered on Netflix on September 5, 2024, immediately captivated audiences with its luxurious setting and gripping murder mystery plot. Based on the novel by "Queen of the Summer Read" Elin Hilderbrand, the show is famously set on the ultra-exclusive island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, where a lavish wedding is derailed by a shocking death. However, fans of the show and the book are often surprised to learn the truth behind the series' glossy aesthetic: the vast majority of the show was not filmed on Nantucket at all.

The quest to find the perfect backdrop for the Winbury family's opulent wedding led the production team to a different, yet equally charming, seaside location. This article, updated for late 2024, reveals the precise locations used to bring the high-stakes drama to life, detailing the specific towns and properties that stood in for the iconic Massachusetts island, providing a fresh and unique look at the show's incredible geography.

The Star-Studded Cast and Key Characters of The Perfect Couple

The success of the series, directed by the Emmy-winning Susanne Bier and helmed by showrunner Jenna Lamia, is due in no small part to its incredible ensemble cast. The drama revolves around the powerful Winbury family and the couple whose wedding day is ruined by a sudden death, providing a wealth of entities and characters to track.

  • Nicole Kidman as Greer Garrison Winbury: The formidable, wealthy, and highly critical matriarch of the Winbury family and a famous mystery novelist.
  • Liev Schreiber as Tag Winbury: Greer's husband and the patriarch of the family, whose past is scrutinized after the body is discovered.
  • Eve Hewson as Amelia Sacks: The bride-to-be, a young woman from a less affluent background who is marrying into the powerful Winbury family.
  • Billy Howle as Benji Winbury: The groom, Tag and Greer’s son, whose wedding to Amelia is the central event of the series.
  • Dakota Fanning as Abby Winbury: Benji's sister and a key character whose perspective helps unravel the mystery.
  • Meghann Fahy as Merritt Monaco: A friend and character whose sudden death kicks off the central mystery.
  • Isabelle McNally as Celeste Winbury: A character whose name was changed from the book's version, highlighting a key difference between the novel and the series.

The Primary Filming Location: Chatham, Massachusetts (The Deception)

The biggest revelation for fans is that the majority of The Perfect Couple was filmed in Chatham, Massachusetts, a picturesque and historic fishing town located on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod. While the narrative is firmly rooted in the high-society world of Nantucket, the production team chose Chatham for its similar aesthetic, stunning waterfront properties, and logistical advantages.

The Winbury Mansion: Eastward Point's Waterfront Estate

The most crucial and recognizable location in the entire series is the opulent Winbury family estate, known as "Summerland," where the fateful wedding takes place. In the show, the house is meant to be a Nantucket landmark. In reality, the mansion is a sprawling, multi-million dollar waterfront property located in the exclusive Eastward Point neighborhood of Chatham.

Showrunner Jenna Lamia confirmed that this magnificent home served as the "home base" for the entire production. The estate perfectly captures the old-money, coastal luxury described in Elin Hilderbrand's novel, providing the perfect stage for the family's secrets to unravel. The property features expansive lawns, private beach access, and the classic shingle-style architecture synonymous with the New England coast.

Cape Cod's Supporting Role: Beyond Chatham

While Chatham was the main hub, the production utilized other areas of Cape Cod to fill out the scenic shots, ensuring the series maintained its authentic coastal Massachusetts feel.

  • Chatham's Downtown: The charming downtown area of Chatham, with its boutique shops, historic inns, and classic New England streets, was used for various scenes depicting the town's atmosphere. The area is famous for its lighthouses and picturesque harbors.
  • Mattapoisett: Another significant location that stood in for a Nantucket property was a six-million-dollar home in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. This specific location, though not on Cape Cod, was used for certain exterior shots and is an example of the production casting a wide net to find the most visually stunning and luxurious properties.

The Authentic Nantucket Locations (A Nod to the Novel)

Despite the extensive filming in Chatham and Cape Cod, the production did make a point of filming a few iconic, establishing shots on the actual island of Nantucket to honor the novel's original setting and give the series an undeniable sense of place.

Brant Point Lighthouse

One of the most recognizable Nantucket landmarks featured in the series is the Brant Point Lighthouse. This iconic, often-photographed lighthouse marks the entrance to Nantucket Harbor and is a visual shorthand for the island's maritime heritage and charm. Using this real-life entity helped to anchor the show's setting in the minds of viewers familiar with the region.

The Nantucket Vibe: Setting the Tone

The choice to film on Cape Cod while setting the story on Nantucket highlights a common practice in filmmaking known as "doubling." Chatham, with its similar architecture, pristine beaches, and affluent atmosphere, provided the necessary visual luxury without the logistical and cost challenges of filming a major limited series entirely on an island. The result is a seamless, visually rich experience that transports the audience directly into the world of the wealthy Winbury family.

Topical Authority: The Perfect Couple's LSI Entities

The series is a treasure trove of entities that contribute to its topical authority and thematic depth. Key LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords and entities naturally woven into the show's narrative and production include:

  • Elin Hilderbrand: The best-selling author whose book provided the source material.
  • Susanne Bier: The acclaimed director, known for her work on other high-stakes thrillers like The Night Manager and The Undoing, bringing a distinct visual style to the series.
  • Jenna Lamia: The showrunner and writer who adapted the novel for the screen, making key changes to characters and plot points.
  • Cape Cod: The larger geographical region encompassing Chatham, providing the backdrop for the show's coastal ambiance.
  • Shingle Style Architecture: The distinctive architectural style of the Winbury mansion and many other homes featured, characteristic of New England coastal estates.
  • Murder Mystery: The central genre of the series, drawing comparisons to other high-profile murder mysteries in exclusive settings.
  • Limited Series: The format of the show, consisting of six episodes, which allows for a contained, intense narrative.

In summary, while The Perfect Couple takes viewers on a dramatic journey to the fictionalized Nantucket of the Winbury family, the real-life magic behind the scenes unfolded primarily in the breathtaking seaside town of Chatham on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The production successfully leveraged the stunning New England coastal landscape to create one of Netflix's most visually captivating and talked-about limited series of 2024.

The Perfect Couple: The Shocking Truth About Where The Netflix Series Was REALLY Filmed (It's Not Nantucket!)
where was perfect couple filmed
where was perfect couple filmed

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