The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Venues in New Jersey
Of the million decisions to make when planning your perfect wedding, we know there’s literally nothing more important than the venue. Whether you’re looking for the natural, rustic vibes of local farms and vineyards or a bohemian, vibrant seaside affair, luckily there are plenty of options for wedding venues South Jersey style. But which one? Yep, it’s the biggest question of all. Once the venue is decided, it’s so much easier to consider food, photography, outfits, entertainment, color schemes … and everything else!
Of the hundreds of weddings that we’ve had the honor of experiencing around the globe, we simply love so many beautiful places throughout the state for this most-special day. We’re lucky here to have all kinds of landscapes and backdrops to make amazing memories to last a lifetime. Couples can choose among wineries, upscale hotels, farms, beachfront estates, and so much more. There are plenty of things to consider, of course, including the number of guests you’re inviting, your budget, and requirements. Overall, choosing a New Jersey wedding venue comes down to how you want your big day to be remembered.
This shouldn’t be overwhelming, but exciting! Let’s take a look at some of the options.
Coastal Vibes
Ever wanted to rent out your own private, coastal island? Bonnet Island Estate is the place for you. This plantation-style South Jersey wedding venue has perfect views of the waterfront for photos and an intimate Boathouse Chapel for the ceremony. Your guests will be able to enjoy sunset on the dock overlooking the quiet wetlands, as birds share in the joy of your special day.
Located in Cape May, the Congress Hall Hotel has the honor of being America’s oldest seaside resort. During the last 200 years, it was once known as the “Summer White House,” and you can enjoy the same oceanfront views on your wedding day. This resort has more than 100 guest rooms, as well as a grand lawn for outdoor ceremonies and a ballroom that fits 225 guests. If you prefer sand in between your toes, they can organize that, too.
- The Asbury Hotel
Some may scoff at the Jersey Shore, but Asbury Park remains the place for hip romance. The Asbury Hotel is anything but garish, with the lovely Asbury Hall & Terrace providing a ceremony space under the trees or on their rooftop with ocean views. Their on-site coordinator helps to make sure your guests are happy. Plus, they even comp a room for the bridal couple for the trendy, chic affair.
- Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel
Enjoy Victorian charm at the 100-year-old Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park for an European seaside wedding many only dream of. Just steps from the beach itself, this opulent hotel has five luxury ballrooms from which to choose, providing the opportunity for different ambience for a ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception for both large and intimate events.
Located on Diamond Beach, near Wildwood Crest and Cape May is ICONA Diamond Beach, where you can bliss out with a ceremony on the soft, white sand beach. The ICONA team actually has three different venues located within minutes of each other, so couples won’t have to worry about scheduling headaches. Instead, they can work with in-house caterers and have sunset photo sessions with the sea lapping at their feet.
The Stone Harbor Yacht Club is a private social club located in New Jersey, United States. It was established in 1932 and is located overlooking the Stone Harbor Basin. The club offers recreational activities such as sailing, boating, swimming, and fishing to its members. It also hosts social events throughout the year, including holiday parties, dances, and live music performances. The clubhouse features a restaurant and bar area, lounge, and outdoor deck with beautiful waterfront views.
Outdoorsy and Dreamy
- Lake House Inn Estate
Just across the border in Perkasie, Pennsylvania, the Lake House Inn overlooks Lake Nockamixon. That–along with its formal garden, new 5,000-square-foot ballroom, and 1,000-square-foot cobbled terrace makes for a perfect outdoor wedding vision. Guests can enjoy cocktails on the terrace and cigars later by the firepit while watching birds sharing the beautiful lakeside vista. The ballroom fits 300 guests, but smaller, award-winning spaces are also available for the day or evening.
Abbie Holmes Estate in Cape May is a popular South Jersey wedding venue for boho-chic, outdoorsy affairs. To arrive at the Springhouse Chapel, the bridal party will cross a sweet bridge to arrive to up to 200 guests and say “I do.” Then, the party can continue at the Conservatory, featuring a big dance floor and space for a sit-down dinner or cocktail-style evening. For smaller events, couples can book the Farm House, Sunroom, or Porch for a heritage, charming vibe.
- Rock Island Lake Club
Most couples choose to get married along the lake at the Rock Island Lake Club , which is tucked into a cove of trees with a soundtrack of nearby waterfalls. If weather is a concern, they also have a indoor option with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lake. The receptions here include a cocktail hour on the deck with three bars, pouring more than 30 beers on tap, followed by a sit-down dinner and dancing. It’s hard to go wrong.
Ready to sail away into the sunset? The Mallard Island Yacht Club is the spot to start a beautiful love story near Barnegat Bay. This club features gardens, docks, and other dreamy photo locations. To book the club, there’s a site fee with an option for reserving the entire estate. Rental costs range by season and day, from $16,000 to $26,000 for the entire estate. You’ll also be able to work directly with an exclusive caterer.
Located in Stone Harbor, The Reeds at Shelter Haven is a romantic South Jersey wedding venue right on the bay offering seaside views. We think it’s special among South Jersey wedding venues for its Sweet Grass Ballroom, which has wall-to-wall sliding glass that transforms the space into an open-air floor for up to 220 guests. Dramatic fireplaces add to the indoor/outdoor feel. Enjoy cocktails by the bayside veranda after an intimate ceremony on the breathtaking sundeck.
A Refined Love Affair
- Park Chateau Estate & Gardens
Park Chateau Estate & Gardens is on a lush 15 acres in East Brunswick, where each corner of the property is filled with flowers and landscaping reminiscent of a romantic French countryside. Have the ceremony in the gardens, then schedule formal photos on the grand staircase of their formal gallery. The ballroom’s crystal chandelier is just one part of the elegance for your big day, which can be capped off with a night in the bridal suite in the estate.
- Natirar
The special 1912 renovated mansion at Natirar is the popular spot for nuptials, with a 5,000-square-foot ballroom fitting up to 225 guests. The highlight of the ballroom is definitely the 26-foot living water of local flora, which is just asking to be an Instagram-worthy backdrop. The venue also includes a conservatory, reception area, and bridal suite. It’s also home to a cooking and wine school, so you can also expect spectacular cuisine here in Peapack and Gladstone.
- The Ryland Inn
This elegant estate in Whitehouse Station is a restored, 200-year-old equestrian estate, making The Ryland Inn a dreamy wedding venue in New Jersey. The grand ballroom, which can accommodate 225 guests, combines country flair with modern conveniences, including a stone fireplace and six chandeliers. Ceremonies can be held both in and outside, after the wedding party prepares in the bridal suite and groom’s cottage on site.
- Pleasantdale Chateau
If “fairytale wedding” is what you’re after, check out Pleasantdale Chateau. This grand estate is tucked away with a winding driveway into a grove of century-old oak trees and behind stone walls. Inside, your guests will discover manicured grounds, ponds, and gazebos– as well as details like 17th century tile floors in the entry hall. The grand ballroom seats 350 guests under 35-feet-high ceilings. If that’s not enough, let the story of your love be written on mosaic pillars and glass ceilings of the observatory.
- Indian Trail Club
With panoramic lake views and bluestone terraces, there are plenty of outdoor places for a memorable ceremony and party at Indian Trail Club. But even the lake house, established in 1959, has huge windows that offer beautiful views of Franklin Lake. That makes this a lovely venue in any season. Plus, you get to work with their in-house executive banquet chef and his team for either buffet or plated receptions that will make both your heart and your stomach happy!
- Maritime Parc
In Liberty State Park in Jersey City, Maritime Parc has two distinct venues, both with fun, cityscape views. Couples can choose between the Sky Room and the Aviary, which both have wraparound patios where guests can enjoy cocktails and savor the work of Chef Siversen. The flexibility here makes it a chic spot for both intimate and extravagant weddings.
- Park Savoy Estate
You’ll love the refined beauty of the Park Savoy Estate, a mansion that was renovated in 2011 to resemble one of the great properties of Newport. Opulence is the word here, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a private bridal suite and a grand ballroom. Couples work with a maitre’d to help execute an event menu, floor plan, and all the details needed to execute your special day without a flaw.
Rustic Romance
Of course, weddings and wine go hand-in-hand, but having your wedding on a 50-acre vineyard in the same microclimate as Bordeaux, France is taking it to the next level. Willow Creek Farm & Winery has been located on Cape May for 15 years, but in the last few years it is becoming a top wedding destination. Packages can include horse-drawn carriage entrances and well-paired menus for dinners in their 12,000-square-foot Grand Tasting Room. Guests can wander through the vines, toasting to your love with some of the best locally produced wines.
This lovely country estate may be surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmlands, garden arbors, and waterfalls, but don’t expect musty smells and cow manure. Quite the opposite, The Ashford Estate is more like a taste of the English countryside in Allentown. The ballroom, complete with gold Chiavari chairs with ivory cushions, holds up to 275 guests. You’ll work with their chef, Jack McCann, who was recently honored by the International Caterers Association as Chef of the Year.
- The Inn at Fernbrook Farms
Located among the peaceful farmlands of Chesterfield, The Inn at Fernbook Farms offers a historic setting of a three-story, Georgian Manor House dating back to 1750. This all-inclusive venue even offers a five-room master suite and six guest rooms, where family and friends can prepare for the day’s festivities. Rates range from $5,000 to $12,000 for the entire, 230-acre, fresh air farm. If you love farm-to-table dining, you’ll love the seasonal produce and proteins available for an unforgettable dinner.
- The Historic Smithville Inn
It’s hard to find a bad review of The Historic Smithville Inn, a historic dining hall surrounded with cobblestone walking paths and sweet gardens. Built in 1978, the inn can accommodate up to 175 guests who can be warmed by the fireplaces during the winter. Couples can choose between buffet-style meals or more formal, multi-course dinners, as well as custom-designed wedding cakes and possible open bar options. While your guests mingle, the wedding party can also use smaller, private rooms to get ready–and excited.
- Meadowburn Farm
This historic dairy farm now boasts formal flower gardens and the working traditions of animal husbandry. Located along the Wawayanda Creek in Vernon, Meadowburn Farm is a 590-acre property with opportunities for cocktails in the evergreen garden and dinner in the tent nearby in the meadow. It’s possible to also rent out the numerous guesthouses on the property for up to 20 members of the wedding party and your family to enjoy the peaceful bliss of the countryside.
Located in Galloway, The Carriage House is known for its gourmet Italian cuisine and top customer service. There are plenty of options for couples, from smaller outdoor ceremonies for 100 to larger affairs of up to 400 in the Grand Savannah ballroom. Pictures on the balcony overlooking the ballroom are sure to bring smiles. Some also choose this location for bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, and post-ceremony brunches.
Once you’ve found the perfect backdrop, it’s time to find a photographer and videographer who can capture the style and feel of these best New Jersey wedding venues. Be sure to work with someone you feel comfortable with, so your memories aren’t filled with stiff, awkward poses with a pretty background. Your memories–just like these venues–should be filled with enough easy laughter and love to last a lifetime.
We’d love to hear about your wedding plans! Contact us here to get in touch!
